Journal #1

     When I registered for this class, I didn't really know what to expect from it. Non-verbal communication seemed pretty simple to explain, until I watched the videos and did the reading. I guess I really hadn't thought about how the way we dress, all our gestures or emblems, as well as facial and eye expressions really communicate to people. I found Paul Ekman's research very interesting. I had not thought about how universal our facial expressions are. I hadn't thought of them as being able to be classified into the 7 areas he listed, joy, anger, fear, disgust, sadness, surprise and contempt. Like he said, the face came make many expressions, but these 7 are the ones that are universally recognized by all humans.
     As I sat and observed people in the mall, I found myself really watching their movement as well as their facial expressions. I enjoy watching people and really listening when others are talking. I think the art of communicating is quickly being lost thanks to technology. Without being able to see a persons expressions and hear the tone of their voice, it is difficult to know how to interpret the feelings of the other person in a written conversation. I watch my teenage kids struggle to really communicate with other people outside of their close circle of friends and family and it make me sad.
     I am looking forward to learning and studying more on this subject over the next month. I think this is something that can help me with my own communication skills. I work closely with a variety of people, mainly students, and I think by better understanding how they and I am communicating in a non-verbal way will benefit us both. I also hope to pass on some of the things I learn to them as well as my own children.