Practical Applications of the Theories

Physiological/biological

• Mate selection?
• What sorts of nonverbal behaviors are biological, therefore cross cultural?
• What nonverbal behaviors of an individual result from her/his physiology?
• What attributions do we make to physiological factors?

Meaning

• In a new situation, look for the key meanings and how they are communicated
• In a relationship, see if certain messages/meanings repeat
• In a conversation, observe how the other person adjusts to you and you to him/her
• Examine your own interpretations of a friend or co-workers nonverbal presentation
• Do you have any biases in appearance cues – do you tend to stereotype?
• Are the specific messages to convey specific meetings in a group (handshake, facial expression, dress)?

Structure

• Are they any cues that repeat in a group? Setting?
• Does your friend have any characteristic gestures or expressions? When do they tend to occur?
• Do you have a specific facial expression, gesture, posture, etc.? How is this interpreted?

Rules

• What are the rules for a certain situation? How is this communicated?
• What nonverbal behaviors are appropriate? Inappropriate?
• In a conversation, what episode does the other person think is being enacted?