Misinterpretation in Non-Verbal Communication: Real Life Experiences (Essay Sample)

MISINTERPRETATIONS IN NON VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Insert Your Name Here:
Insert Your Professor's Name Here:
Institution Affiliate:
Date:
Nonverbal communication is a type of communication that involves all other communication aspects apart from using words. Nonverbal involves gestures, body language, sense of touch, paralanguage, environmental features and personal objects such as clothes and jewellery. Both verbal and nonverbal communication can be controlled deliberately or unintentional. This means that in the two types of communications, our actions and outcomes can either be intentional or deliberate. Misinterpretations in non-verbal communication are bound to happen as tools used in this communication have many meanings.
Another reason why misinterpretation may occur in non-verbal communication is because many people are not conversant with meanings in non-verbal communication. For example, many people assume that if you are quiet either you are thinking, or you are upset. These are the assumptions many people make when one is silent. Silence may mean you are meditating, or you have nothing to say if you are engaging in a conversation.
I once encountered a situation that I felt my message was wrongly misinterpreted. I once accompanied my friend to visit her friend. I had refused to accompany her since I had a lot of issues at home. Whenever am stressed about something I normally keep to myself and try to find solutions in my silence. Her friends were talkative people unlike me. They found me awkward and kept asking me if I was fine. By keeping quiet, they thought I was uncomfortable which was not my intention. In this case, I had no control over my behavior.
In another incident, I had gone to visit my mother during lunch break. I had dressed in an official skirt suit as I was headed to an im