Chapter 14. Gestures: Perceptions and Responses
Stella Lybrand Norman
Goals
To provide an opportunity for participants to examine the perceptual biases operating in their interpretations of gestures.
To increase awareness of the ambiguity inherent in various forms of nonverbal communication.
To demonstrate how one gesture can elicit different feeling responses among different persons.
To examine the principle that verbal and nonverbal communication must be congruent to be effective.
Group Size
An unlimited number of subgroups of six participants each.
Time Required
Approximately one and one-half hours.
Materials
A copy of the Gestures Response Sheet for each participant.
For each subgroup, a set of six Gestures Pictures (the pictures are to be cut apart).
A pencil for each participant.
Physical Setting
A room large enough for each subgroup to converse freely in a circle, or a separate room for each subgroup.
Process
The facilitator gives a brief introduction, stating the goals of the activity. (Five minutes.)
The large group is divided into subgroups of six participants each, and the members of each subgroup are instructed to sit in a circle, facing outward so that they will be able to concentrate more fully on their writing task. A copy of the Gestures Response Sheet and a pencil are given to each participant. A set of six Gestures Pictures is given to each subgroup, one to each member in numerical sequence around the circle.
The facilitator states that each member is to study his or her picture ...
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