The mall has always been one of the most crowded places where everyone shares a common purpose to shop. It is a perfect spot for meeting friends that helps people to relax. The majority of people state that it is one of their favorite pastimes. On a Sunday evening, I went to the local mall. I decided to go there on the weekend because I knew it would be full of people. I was going to stay there only for several hours. Through the noise of rustling bags and the ringing of cash registers, I could hear people’s conversations reaching me from all over the mall. Usually, I come there to buy something for myself or for my family members and friends. However, this time, my aim was to observe the usage of non-verbal communication by the mall’s customers.
Firstly, I came up with an idea to observe emblems, gestures that do not require any additional interpretation. When I entered the first store, I noticed two girls trying to pick dresses for the prom. It was interesting to observe their communication because it was partially like a fashion show. Each time the dress fit one of them, the other one demonstrated a thumb-up sign indicating approval. However, when the outfit did not suit or fit, they showed a thumb-down sign to each other or shook their heads, demonstrating objection.
Secondly, illustrators, gestures that accompany verbal communication, drew my attention. There was an elderly couple looking for a men’s suit store. It was evident that they got lost in the huge mall with hundreds of various stores. However, when the woman finally found the shop, she immediately moved her thumb upwards and moved her head, showing the direction. I believe this was an unconscious gesture that she used only for similar situations.
Next, I decided to focus my attention only on regulators, gestures that either prolong or terminate the conversation between people. One of the women standing at the cash desk at the jewelry store impressed me the most. A young cashier, probably a trainee or a new worker, calculated the total purchase cost very slowly. In return, the customer directed several comments at the girl about her work and repeatedly looked at her watch and raised her eyebrows. Most likely, her gestures were unconscious, but she made the cashier understand that she was in a hurry and thus aggressively disposed towards her.
Surprisingly enough, the most impressive gestures used in the course of communication were adaptors, which are gestures that make a person feel comfortable during communication. A young girl entering the mall immediately attracted my attention. A young man was waiting for her near the entrance with a big bunch of flowers. They spent some time talking and went to the coffee shop. I noticed that the girl was very shy because she probably liked the boy. She did not know what to do with her hands, and she continually twirled her hair. To my surprise, the boy was also very nervous and restlessly tapped his foot to relieve the stress. However, the waiter eased the situation and served food and drinks. At that time, the tension between the young couple disappeared.
Finally, yet importantly, I decided to observe the most widespread type of non-verbal communication. These were the affect displays, facial expressions caused by certain emotions. Interestingly enough, almost all people were incorporating them into their conversations. However, one family expressed them more than others. The parents together with their son were passing a numerous number of stores that interested the boy. He frowned, and his shoulders were slumped, showing that he was very disappointed. Finally, when the parents reached the toy store and offered their son to choose anything he likes, his facial expression immediately changed to a happy one. He was looking at the toys in the shop with a big smile on his face.
Overall, this experience was highly useful, and I felt like I engaged myself in the activities and conversations that occurred in the mall. I noticed that non-verbal communication is a big part of people’s lives, and everyone knows how and when to use it properly. However, sometimes people use it unconsciously, and it only proves its important role in the social lives of people throughout the world.
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