Non Verbal Communication

Are We There Yet?

This was the first time that I have watched the sitcom,  Are We There Yet?  It was quite interesting but easy to follow along with even with the sound off.   The setting is based around a family in the beginning the show starts with a woman sitting at a computer looking at a pocketbook on the internet.   It is apparent that she wants the pocketbook but it is expensive.  Her husband pays her no attention he is looking at the mail.  The wife draws in his attention and it is apparent that he is shocked at how much the pocketbook costs.  At the same time their son enters the room, leaves with a piece of mail.  He sits down opens it up and starts dancing as he pulls out a new credit card.   The son appears to be between 10-13 years old.    

So far the son and mother were displaying non verbal skills that showed excitement and happiness. The father looked worried and nonchalant as he is unaware that the both of them have plans on shopping with a new credit card. 

When I watched the show with the sound on I realized that I was right on target.  Except that the husband had plans to purchase the expensive pocketbook for his wife as a surprise gift. When he gave her the gift she smiled, smelled the newness of the bag and walked around the room showing off the bag.  The husband was happy that she was happy but was upset to realize that she had already purchased the bag, and had returned it,  as he found her cell phone in the bag.  Meanwhile, their son was brought home by a neighbor and she gave the father receipts of the purchases he had delivered to her house, that the son had charged on his credit card.  The son tries to run away from his father by jumping on a motorized cart.  However, since the cart does not move that fast the father was able to follow him right out the front door.   At that moment the little boy looked worried and the father was upset.  

Basically from this assignment I realize that body language and all non verbal communication is just as important as verbal.  However, sometimes you can come to the wrong conclusions based solely on non verbal communication skills.  I think this assignment shows that in most cases assumptions can be misleading and it is important to ask questions before you cast judgments on people or situations.