Chronemics and Proxemics

There's a lot of knowledge one can gain about human communication from understanding the concepts of chronemics and proxemics. Chronemics outlines the idea that the significance of time, and the interpretation of time, is a cultural creation. It looks to study how different cultures use, manipulate, and interpret time, thereby explaining the differences and helping small groups understand how people can interpret time differently. It is particularity important to small group and team communication because it helps a group understand how to orient and direct a group with different or irregular time perceptions. I find that chronemics is a dynamic and interesting concept that helps one understand that the meaning and value of time, something we all take as natural fact, can have multiple interpretations and meanings across cultures. It allows for a group, and a individual, to anticipate and account for differences and conflict that may arise when trying to schedule or facilitate group interaction.
Proxemics is another useful concept that offers just as much understanding into the dynamics of interpersonal and small group communication. Proxemics deals with the space between individuals during communication. It specifically looks at the distance of people communicating in relation to the level of communication they are involved in. This is a fairly understandable idea for most of us, as we all feel that we have a certain amount of “personal space”, and feel uncomfortable when it is encroached upon. Proxemics simply labels and organizes these feelings we have on communicative distances and helps us understand how to influence communication through it.
I think that trying to define universal laws that cover all cultures when trying to understand their chronemics and proxemics is out of the question. I feel that there is no way you could concretely say that a certain level of regard for time, or disregard for it, is the right way. I think that significance is not something that can be enforced, or ruled over. People will always hold differing feelings over how their time should be managed, and the proper way to incorporate time into groups. The same goes for the proximity of individuals to each other.

Principles of Non-Verbal Communication

I found the eight principles of nonverbal communication to be a useful explanation on the factors of communication that most of us take for granted and do autonomously. The principles outline the minute interactions that are continuously carried out during group communication. I think that understanding nonverbal communication as a system of principles creates manageable actions that one can think about and act upon during interaction inter personally and in small groups. I found the two most interesting principles to be how interpretation of nonverbal communication is guided by the context and power relationship in which they are sent, and the statement that women, in general, are more sensitive to sending and receiving nonverbal cues. These two concepts, at least in my own life, seem to always be true.
Understanding that nonverbals can be interpreted differently depending upon the levels of power between the parties, or the environment in which they are sent, is a valuable thing to know. I think that we all have an intrinsic understanding of this concept, as we are constantly exemplifying it. An easy place to find context/power playing upon our nonverbal would be at work. Our workplaces, as environments, contain many societal and cultural norms that may change or restrict our use of nonverbal. Understanding how these norms and regulations on the signals we are sending in a workplace context is important. Say you were to send a emblem at work to someone that placed more significance upon the context of non verbals in the workplace , you might get into trouble. Something like winking and smiling in the workplace could be interpreted much differently by a coworker than by someone you meet in a bar.
This bring me to the next principle about nonverbals that I find constantly happening in real life. The principle stated that women are more sensitive to sending and receiving, and responding accurately to non verbal messages. I've noticed that this principle proves true fairly often. Girls I hang out with constantly seem to notice cues that I would have never noticed. I've also noticed that this sensitivity can be a double-edged sword, because sometimes over interpretation of signals can produce more confusion than needed. My mother and I are constantly battling because of this. She seems hypersensitive to nonverbal communication that she perceives me to be sending, and this can often cause conflict over the meaning of the signals. However, I don't want to generalize or overstate that this principle is always true, because I think that another big area of confusion between men and women is that men think that women are perceiving every little signal they send.
This goes to show just how important understanding nonverbals can be. We can become much better at avoiding confusion if we improve our abilities to properly recognize, interpret, and send nonverbal communication.

White Priveledge

I feel that White men privilege is something like a huge, mysterious cloud of meaning that looms over our society, covering some in its shadow, and passing by others unnoticed. I think that it refers to the underlying conception that puts white males in positions of authority, literally or figuratively, in the minds of people. It spawns from the dominance that the white male has pushed over others throughout history. One could say that a white male has typically been behind every western conflict that has ever arisen. Slavery, oppression over native Americans, women, immigrants, all seemingly resulting from the great white man's objectives. the results and reconciliation of all these conflicts have the white man in today's world in a precarious position. White man privileged has become something that those who are not a "white man" can never experience. It is having confidence that you will probably never be the victim of oppression, subjugation, or tyranny. That you will always be represented equally, politically, as well as in the media. That people will never question your authority based on gender or race. Its this weird thing that seemingly gives white men these additional rights, ones that are not written, and are rarely brought up. I think its an interesting concept, and one that does affect me personally, being one of these white males. Although i could go and say that "oh, this cant be true! because I've had to struggle just as hard blah blah blah.. Life's unfair for me to!", i know that saying that wouldn't be true. I know that there ARE things out there that I'm unaware of, that I dont have to worry about, being a white male. Ive rarely if ever have to consider if how I;m being treated is related to my skin color or gender. I dont really have to worry about being a victim of racism, or aggression, based upon me being a white male. And I can always be sure to find something in the media that represents me or my group.
I entirely agree that this concept is part of the way we communicate. Whether its evident or not. But as I've realized through many classes and experiences, that sometimes the things that are the most important, are often unseen. And white privileged is a form of unseen oppression. It symbolically places the white male ideal upon all other peoples, making it some "gold standard" of being. But unfortunately, one that most can never achieve. I feel that the best way to deal with this silent oppression is to bring it to light, open it up, be aware of it and try to change it.

Getting Stereotyped

I think that the majority of people have, at some point, been stereotyped for some reason or another. This is a fairly common happening, and as Harris(1999) states, " Stereotyping as a form of categorization is part of the human condition(p.72)." Understanding this, I figured that it would be easy to think of a time when I've had to deal with stereotyping. But it was tough. And I realized that for me, a middle class white guy in a fairly suburban area, the situations of stereotyping could seem minor compared to those that outside of my own particular context. I think that when i have been stereotyped, it hasn't been for negative things really, and if it had been I didn't really notice. i think that the majority of times i notice some type of stereotyping its in "good fun", but rooted in these notions of who can or cant do what. I often catch crap for wanting to go out and dance when i go out with a group of friends. This is influenced by Number 1: That guys aren't supposed to dance, as it is an effeminate thing to do, and Number 2: That white guys cant dance. Both of these work into Harris's ideas that stereotypes perpetuate myths about groups of people. The first one is stating that to dance is to lessen your masculinity, and that those who dance for a profession, or out of fun, are innately less "manly" that others. Although these assumptions and stereotypes are constantly being challenged by today media, with movies where male lead characters retain their masculinity while being passionate about dance, thereby changing those stereotypes constantly (Billy Elliot, Step Up). So for me, the idea that i should or shouldn't want to dance, although going against a stereotype for a guy, isn't really a big deal anymore. I think that although people may always use stereotyping as a means of categorization, that one day it will slowly dissolve to the bare minimum of usefulness. Because as we become a more and more diverse culture, integrating and globalizing, we realize that stereotyping is an ineffective means to predict peoples behavior.

Figuring out problem solving

Discussion on problem solving. I think that the outlining of how to make a choice in the decision making process to be particularly valuable. I think that understanding how and why we make the decisions we do can be an integral part of being a better communicator as well as improving the outcomes of so many scenarios we find ourselves in everyday. Because we are problem solving creatures by nature, our minds seem to have been built to find solutions. Over time though, and through the expansion on more and more ways to solve problems, our brains nowadays can sometimes be overwhelmed with to many choices for a solution. I think that a Harris(1999) outlines a great system for making a rational, effective, and promising choice.(p. 150) One of the things I liked about her questions for small groups when faced with making a choice was that it isn't a short list. Good decisions can sometimes take a long time to make. They are most likely thought out, considerate, and logical decisions that help get the group from point A to point B effectively. The first part of the system asks "how well does..." the solution interact with the rest of the problem, or the solution already in place. Knowing if a solution is really going to meet all your goals, how well it can meet those goals, and accommodates all the restrictions with the least amount of trade-offs , is an important level to meet when looking for the right choice. But, finding those win-win situations is rare, especially in groups. There are typically a multitude of choices, and not all of them negative, each having their own pros and cons. Just think of the last time you tried to decided upon what food to eat with a large group. What everyone wants to eat may be different for everyone, but everyone may agree that each choice sounds appetizing. What do you do when all the choices sound promising? What about looking at the underlying pro's and con's of each meal choice? The cost, distance, and level of service, are all parts of each choice to consider, and something we all have done without ever really thinking about it. Being able to better understand how choices are made, and how to make the best one, can be hugely beneficial in this simple situation, as well as majorly complex ones. Just don't try doing it with politics or religion with people, it might get ugly.

Violating a group norm

I think that the majority of people have felt the cold sting of violating a group norm at some point in their lives. Depending upon the scenario, violating a norm can be rather easy, and may pass unnoticed to you. This is the type that I typically end up violating. To me, norms in groups establish a structure. Having a structure to a group, allowing for the modeling of how things are, or should be done, is typically essential for the group to function cohesively. These can come in the most common forms, like the acting out of different relationships in workplaces. Because, although it is sometimes established externally, how we are supposed to interact with coworkers or bosses is something of a norm. In a stricter, more supervised environment, having the utmost respect for your boss, and understanding your "place" at work may be the norm. But norms in a workplace can vary from environment to environment. The norms of a laid back, smaller business may be different from a larger, more professional, corporate environment. Understanding how norms in groups can fluctuate is important in these types of situations, as you wouldn't want to show up to your bank job in shorts and flip flops, something you might of done at a surf shop. Jobs could be just one area where norms dedicated to how you look, act, and talk are an important part of a traditional, established system of doing things that that can be a snapshot of the norms for a larger system.How would throwing a wrench into these norms disrute the system, or affect you? Wheres another place where the norms might be different from the one's we're used to? How about family? Has anyone ever tried introducing a new friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, or whatever into your family? It can be an awkward time for the friend as they learn to adjust to new group norms. Cultural differences can also play a huge part in this awkwardness, imagine bringing your urban girlfriend to meet your rural family. What kinds of norms between the two would clash?
Like I said earlier, I usually find myself violating the more concealed group norms that I happen to find established around me. Sometimes though, I do this on purpose, especially if i find the norm to be archaic or illogical. Ive found that exposing these oft ridiculous norms we carry around is a good way to bring them up for discussion and interpretation. I like to know why we do the things we do, the reasoning behind the "that's just the way it is" mentality. This gets me in trouble sometimes, but that's OK, trouble's just part of the norm.

The Norms of SJSU

Since I was a student at San Jose State for only a short period of time, its pretty hard to distinguish any norms. I also dont think i know enough of the student body to really get an idea of the norms that have been established or are underlying. One norm I have established since starting here is with the administration. They are tough, not tough like "biker bar" tough, more like "tough luck" kinda tough, so I guess basically just cold. The reason I see this as an established norm is that many of my interactions, and other students as well, with the administration have left us jarred. This is probably because many students lives clash with the harsh admin environment that is San Jose State. And I don't blame them, the workers in the offices I mean, for they are just doing what they've been told to do, or what they find works, which is being strict on deadlines, finances, and help. This is the only norm I could think of for something at San Jose, and I dont know exactly how many other students feel the same or not.
When I'm not at school, I find the norms that me and my friends share to be subtle, and slight. This may be because I've become to in-tune to the ins-and-outs of being in this particular group that no longer see the specifics of our interactions. I think a norm that we are constantly playing out is our phone calls. We keep em short. This might be attributed tot he fact that the group I'm talking about are all my guy friends, but that's a whole different communication class and subject. But yeah, we don't spend a long time on the phone, and we are more than likely to get bored, speed up the conversation, or hang up, if one of us forgets this. This understanding that we have has come over years of being in proximity to each other. We've never really had a reason for having long talks, even when we were all going to different colleges. Like I said, this is probably a more gendered norm, but, its one that has proved itself time and time again. ..Actually someones calling me now.
Till next time.