Similar to a Cluster, Context makes a nonverbal message more clear to understand. CONTEXT is an environment, background, circumstance, setup or situation according to which any nonverbal message should be interpreted, decoded or analyzed. Without understanding or analysing the context, reading body language can and does mislead a body language reader.
While understanding or revealing the meaning, context is critically important than the content itself. However, most of us couldn't establish the context in the first place, Hence let's see how exactly two different environments, circumstances, situations or surroundings can give two different meanings to the same expression, movement or action.
There are two different persons taking out their frustration, following a sequence of events. One person is standing in the audience gallery while watching a football/soccer match with his favorite team (or a specific player) playing in it whereas another person is a senior police officer who is standing inside the police station with his colleagues.
Actually, both of them are in two completely different situations or circumstances while expressing their feelings as a result of something they have witnessed or have been exposed to at the given moment. Here, the context plays very crucial role in understanding what they want to convey nonverbally.
Both of them suddenly yell and smash fist on their palm. Smashing fist on the palm is one of the ways of taking out frustration (sadness with anger) over unexpected or impending failure, loss or shortfall. We punch our fist on the palm because we cannot punch or hit the person who caused the failure, loss or shortfall in the first place.
On first hand, the young football fan smashes his fist on palm after watching an ace player missed the goal post during the last few minutes of the second half. He takes out his frustration over the wasted opportunity by his favorite team (or a specific player) in making the goal for winning the match at the end.
On the other hand, the police officer listens that a criminal who was arrested after a year long pursuit succeeded in escaping from prison a few minutes ago. He smashes his fist on his palm, yelling “Damn it!”. He takes out his frustration because all efforts he and his team took in arresting the criminal got wasted.
If the correct context (a good example presented in above image) can't be established then even a well know cluster can give an entirely wrong message to an interpreter which happens with most of us all the time and throughout our entire lives.
Related Articles:
1) Body Language Brain 2) Clusters 3) Congruence 4) Proxemics 5) Micro Expressions 6) Para Language 7) Postures 8) Hand Gestures 9) Challenges 10) Interpretation 11) Baseline 12) Basic Bodily Clues 13) Is Human Communication 93% Nonverbal? 14) Artificial Intelligence and Body Language
While understanding or revealing the meaning, context is critically important than the content itself. However, most of us couldn't establish the context in the first place, Hence let's see how exactly two different environments, circumstances, situations or surroundings can give two different meanings to the same expression, movement or action.
There are two different persons taking out their frustration, following a sequence of events. One person is standing in the audience gallery while watching a football/soccer match with his favorite team (or a specific player) playing in it whereas another person is a senior police officer who is standing inside the police station with his colleagues.
Actually, both of them are in two completely different situations or circumstances while expressing their feelings as a result of something they have witnessed or have been exposed to at the given moment. Here, the context plays very crucial role in understanding what they want to convey nonverbally.Both of them suddenly yell and smash fist on their palm. Smashing fist on the palm is one of the ways of taking out frustration (sadness with anger) over unexpected or impending failure, loss or shortfall. We punch our fist on the palm because we cannot punch or hit the person who caused the failure, loss or shortfall in the first place.
On first hand, the young football fan smashes his fist on palm after watching an ace player missed the goal post during the last few minutes of the second half. He takes out his frustration over the wasted opportunity by his favorite team (or a specific player) in making the goal for winning the match at the end.
On the other hand, the police officer listens that a criminal who was arrested after a year long pursuit succeeded in escaping from prison a few minutes ago. He smashes his fist on his palm, yelling “Damn it!”. He takes out his frustration because all efforts he and his team took in arresting the criminal got wasted.
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If the correct context (a good example presented in above image) can't be established then even a well know cluster can give an entirely wrong message to an interpreter which happens with most of us all the time and throughout our entire lives.
Related Articles:
1) Body Language Brain 2) Clusters 3) Congruence 4) Proxemics 5) Micro Expressions 6) Para Language 7) Postures 8) Hand Gestures 9) Challenges 10) Interpretation 11) Baseline 12) Basic Bodily Clues 13) Is Human Communication 93% Nonverbal? 14) Artificial Intelligence and Body Language
