Introduction to Communication: COMM 101
syllabus

Journal 5: Nonverbal Rules

Below is a list of nonverbal behaviors that violate typical regulative rules (norms). Please choose one rule violation to perform. Write a response to the violation which answers the following questions: (For bonus points, bring a video to class of your violation as it occurs):

1. What action did you perform?
2. What nonverbal rule did this action violate? In which category of nonverbal (proxemics, haptics, etc.) does this violation most likely fall?
3. What was the response of other people in the situation? What was the response of onlookers? (To answer this question, you could record the interaction occurring if you choose, or explain it in your own words).
4. In your answer consider whether the reactions you noticed were verbal or non-verbal. Why would people respond to non-verbal violations in this way?

Potential Nonverbal Rule Violations:

• As you descend the stairs from Diana courtyard, choose someone coming out of Sykes and make continued eye contact with him/her as you walk toward, pass, and continue walking in the courtyard.
• Get on an elevator and face the other people in the elevator during your ride.
• During a meal, take a drink from someone else’s glass or eat some of their food.
• In the dining hall, work backwards in a busy salad bar line.
• While stopped at a red light, stare at the person driving the car next to you (Do not do this while your car is in motion).
• Walk across campus holding hands with a person of the same sex.
• Talk to someone while keeping your face 10-12 inches from his/her face.
• Give a quick back rub to the person sitting in front of you in a class.
• Shake hands with someone and continue to hold his/her hand for at least 30 seconds or longer.
• Wear a lot of perfume to a group meeting.
• While in conversation with someone, wink at him/her at least 10 times.
• Wear underwear on top of your clothes.
• Walk across campus waving both hands above your head.
• Sit in someone else’s regular seat (this only works if you have a regular seating arrangement).
• When engaging in a conversation with someone, mimic his/her body language. If they change position, you change position to match.