Communication Accommodation Theory

When I communicate with different people I use different communication strategies.  In fact communication accommodation theory “suggests that all people adapt their behavior to others to some extent” (Beebe, Beebe, & Redmond, 2011, p. 112). 

Some examples of this change in communication strategies are; if speaking to a child I adjust my vocabulary so I can be understood.  When talking with other professionals I use jargon they understand, but wouldn’t use the same language when talking with a family new to our early childhood program.  Beebe, Beebe, and Redmond support this practice, “We are suggesting, rather, that you be aware of what your communication partner is doing and saying, especially if there are cultural differences between you, so that your message is understood and you don’t unwittingly offend the other person” (2011, p. 112). 

It is important that I develop a set of strategies to communicate with diverse people.  Some of those strategies include adapting my message due to information I know about the person, adapting based on what I perceive the other person to be thinking or feeling, or adapting based on my history with the person. 

Non-verbal Communication and Television Show

The show I decided to watch is Betas.  This is a new Amazon original television series.  I have never watched it or seen previews for it. 

The Sound Muted:

In the opening sequence the show introduces several characters in an office.  It zooms in on a few, and I am assuming that these are the main characters.  Character 1 is working on a computer and looking around at the other characters.  From his body language he seems annoyed, because he is being distracted while trying to get work done.  A little bit into the show two of the characters leave and get into a car.  They are talking to each other and appear to be friends.  They are talking in a carefree way with lots of smiles, laughing, and the occasional punch in the shoulder.  Both of these characters seem to be friendly and familiar.  Throughout the show it jumps around to different scenes, and this may be due to the fact that it is the pilot for the show and they are introducing several people.  It was difficult to determine communication between characters  as there were a lot of scenes with characters either alone or in a large group.  In the large group sequences the communication and body language was hard to decipher, as it changed and the camera jumped around a lot. 

What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

The Sound On:

I made many assumptions on this show that were incorrect.  I didn’t know that there was a narrator for the show, and he explained a lot about the premise of the show and the background of many of the characters.  This would have helped explain some of the exchanges as well as the relationships the characters had.  I assumed that the two characters I observed in the car with friends, however after listening to it with the sound I realized they were father and son.  This explained some of the touching, and the way the one character reacted to the others words.  I also confused annoyance with a person making a plan.  The facial expressions and body language seemed to be annoyance, but they were actually showing character 1 being devious. 

I made some incorrect assumptions, and some that were correct when watching this show on mute.  It is interesting to watch body language and facial expressions.  They are so easily confused without knowing what is going on.  Had I known the characters and the show I would have known their character.  What the character was about, who they related to, what their goals were, etc.  This would have helped me decipher their communication better. 

Competent Communication

When I think of a person I know that is a competent communicator I think of my husband.  I think one of the greatest strengths he has as a communicator is his ability to listen.  He is an active listener.  He nods his head, makes eye contact, turns his body when listening, and then when he speaks he is able to validate what I have said or someone else has said and then communicate what he wants to say.  Then, when he is actually communicating what he has to say he speaks clearly, concisely, and with a calm and even voice.  He speaks with his hands, but only enough to support his point, and convey positive body language.  I would like to work on how he changes his body language to convey a confident but approachable demeanor when speaking.  People respect what he has to say, because he presents it in such a way that it is hard to disagree.  I have some solid opinions, and if I can model his mode of communication I could get my point across more effectively.