An interaction that I wish to share is a scene that took place during the recent holidays in a computer cybercafé. I was playing a computer game with my four other friends. As the objective of the game was to work together to destroy an enemy base, cooperation between my friends was quite important.
The use of
active listening was when before the level started, my friend who was a much
more experienced player, was giving out instructions on how to eliminate the
enemy forces. I usually address him as the leader due to being highly skilled.
My other 2 friends were listening and acknowledging him. The tone of the voices
also showed interest when they provided feedback after he completed his briefing.
This indicates that the whole group was quite actively engaged. However, I also noticed that one of my friends who was a
female, was sitting awkwardly at times and was looking slightly confused. She was not speaking out much and prefer to
just nod whenever instructions were given out. I feel that she might have been
nervous and she could also feel left out due to different skill levels. I
conclude that this might be due to the expectations that girls are usually told
not to play computer games.
Some forms of
non-verbal skills were used, like turning their chairs towards the leader and their
facial reaction being quite serious while giving constructive feedback. After
having the briefing, we started the game and there were quite a few moments
where some of us were shouting in a heated exchange and there were a lot of
gestures to portray different action for example when a game character dies, a
friend would shrug loudly and cover his face. One of my friends who was a
female didn’t show much hand gestures as much the other guys did. She would
also congratulate the other guys by patting on their backs when the game is
completed. I conclude that this might be due to gender difference and that she
uses touch gestures to express her emotions.
In conclusion,
all five of us have shown different ways of using active listening skills and
non-verbal behavior to express ourselves. I believe that with the consistent
display of such observation skills would help me
reflect on how to overcome certain weaknesses so that I
can excel in a schooling or working environment.
Hi Aziz
ReplyDeleteThis feedback is on the content of the post.
The only difference in the use of non-verbal cues between the males and female is that of gestures during the game. But during the briefing, they were on the same page - this information about their behaviour at that time seems to be irrelevant to the discussion of how gender is a possible influencing factor in the interaction.
Also, as mentioned in class, you need to explain how you assess gender (vs. other possibilities, like personality) to be the possible influencing factor. Your research on this could be about gender roles and expectations, particularly on the use of non-verbal cues. Hope this helps.
Please revise before Wednesday. Thank you.
Hey, Aziz, interesting observant you had there. I want to add in and evaluate based on your story, I think gender influence is a factor to communication.
ReplyDeleteFor this instance, you're making a stand that man plays more computer game than women. I truly agree on that, I do have female friends who is a gamer too and there is absolutely no expectation of what and how the females can or cannot do especially when it is about computer gaming.
On top of that, although females were associated with good characteristics, they, however, use nonverbal communication differently. Women are better than men at interpreting nonverbal signal. They are also better at reading unintentional nonverbal messages such as signals of deception. Your friends whom mostly male, rely more on obvious gestures and are more likely to use their hands to express themselves. Women, on the other hand, tend to use more subtle and restrained gestures and exhibit deferential gestures, such as lowering the eyes when interrupted or confronted.
You mentioned that your friend is feeling nervous. Women tend to use an emotional connection to establish communication. Women also generally rely more on facial expressions to convey their meaning or the intensity of their feelings.
The reason that your friend is patting when congratulating her friends is because women use touching as an expression of friendship or sympathy or maybe probably friend-zoned.
-khairulanwarAR
Hello
ReplyDeleteI agree that by gaming as a team do really allow you to see different kind of people on how they act as a team player. From the guy who is "leader" he is able to lead you guys due to experience but he lack of paying attention to his other team member.
While for the girl in the team, there is always a clear judging that girls are weaker in gaming. But with this thinking we have applied the perceptual error of stereotyping. As there are good player that are female such as team yp, which is a group of girls playing competitive. But by her small action of patting, is the best non-verbal act for her as girls are least gestures towards guys compare to them with their girl friends.
I shall end this by concluding that, the male "leader" friend would need to be more observant to his surrounding friend which shown that you have. Non-verbal is mostly shown in between the guys, but the girl tried to give some encouragement. Is really good that you have such friends around cause they will be there to encourage you and lead you when you needed some.
Hello Aziz, your post was very descriptive in terms of what had happened in the cybercafé. You explained in detail what was done by your friends and how they used hand gestures to express themselves during the run-time of the game. Things such as covering their face as their character in-game dies, shouting to one another to communicate and shroud loudly too. It shows that you were observant even though you were playing games.
ReplyDeleteYou've also concluded that the girl was not expressing herself like the other guys because girls are usually told not to play computer games. In my opinion it is not true because as what Leon had said, there are a few professional girl gamers out there playing computer games on a competition level.