Answer:
The public situation to observe, in which a number of people interact, is at a mall.
1. Brief setting description:
A mall is a public proxemic elliptical zone, where personal space and interaction is frontal.
2. Answer the following questions about the nonverbal communication normally used in this setting.
3. According to the different distances given in the material in chapter 4, which types of distance are used most often in this setting.
Explanation:
1. Public space like malls sometimes are difficult to manage and could lead to conflict, so nonverbal cues are important to know and manage at these spaces.
2. Altough verbal communication is important, nonverbal communication, has existed previously long before the malls existed, using behavior as an expression tool instead of words. Nonverbal communication at a crowded and noisy mall is a necessary competence, as verbal communication is limited here, you need to use unique abstract messages as pointing out a person’s rare outfit or to send an specific signal to a friend that you think is a loser, to void conflicts.
3. According to the types of distances, the mall belongs to the outer personal subzone, and it covers from 2.5 feet to 4 feet, which is suitable to have mall-like conversations, as these need to be private but not interpersonally close. Speaking with the departament stores´ reps in this zone, is a a nearly intimate professional communication, but still we can briefly engage in light social touching that eases conversations, self-opening to get closer to the rep.
