An Observational Study On The
Nonverbal Behavior Elicited By Male UP Mindanao Students When Flirted Upon By
FemalesE
Ariel James A. Matela
98 05599
March 29, 2001
I. Introduction
a.
Statement of the Problem
Nonverbal communication is defined as
messages expressed by nonlinguistic means (Adler et. al., 1998). First among all the avenues of nonverbal
communication is the body. You
communicate your thoughts and feelings frequently and accurately through body
movements, facial movements and eye movements.
This study investigates the usage and meaning of nonverbal
communication in everyday life.
Furthermore, it should be noted that this study utilized observation,
with utmost objectivity, as a means to know the results and arrive at
conclusions.
b. Objectives and Significance of the Study
This study was conducted in an effort to investigate the
nonverbal mechanisms that male students exhibit when flirted upon by
females. Also, this study aims to give
additional information and knowledge about how men react when they are flirted
upon.
Moreover,
this study aims to add to the continuous search for knowledge and learning of
other students. This study aims to answer the following questions:
* What male
UP Min students think of flirting women?
*
How they react (nonverbally) to flirting?
* What they
think of women who flirt?
Furthermore, the main objective of this study is to find out
their use of nonverbal communication in scenes that are part of everyday life.
This study
deals on the different types of nonverbal communication that are involved in
flirting situations. Examples of which
are kinesics and proxemics.
- Definition of Terms
AFFECT DISPLAY – facial
movements that convey emotional meaning; they show anger and fear, happiness
and surprise, eagerness and fatigue (DeVito, 1994)
FLIRT
- to show
amorous interest without any depth of feeling
KINESICS - bodily
movements (Adler et. al. , 1998)
PROXEMICS - refers to the
use of space in communications ( Hall, 1959)
II. Review of Related Literature
Since studies on nonverbal communication with relation to UP
Mindanao students and flirting have not yet been conducted, this study will serve
as the first of its kind.
Nonverbal
communication contributes a great deal to shaping perceptions (Adler et. al,
1992). These perceptions include those
that are elicited by males when situations of flirting occur. All nonverbal behavior communicates
information. Mehrabian in 1972 found
out that 93% of emotional impact of a message comes from a nonverbal
source. What people do often conveys
more meaning than what they say.
The eyes
and face are perhaps the most visible parts of the body. However, according to
Carroll and Russell (1996, as cited in Adler et. al., 1998), the nonverbal
messages from the eyes are not the easiest to read. The eyes are regarded as the most important nonverbal messages
systems. Messages communicated by the
eyes vary depending on the duration, direction and quality of the eye behavior
(DeVito, 1994). Gazes and glances are
usually signals of the looker's interests.
Druckmann in 1982 found out that gazing is also a good indicator of
liking. Several studies show that a great
amount of eye contact can influence verbal responses. Argyle in 1988 (as cited
in DeVito, 1994) used the durations of the gazes to analyze the messages of his
subjects. He has found out that if a
person’s gaze lasts for less than 1.18 seconds, then that person might be
uninterested, shy or preoccupied. On
the other hand, if a person’s gaze lasts for more than 1.18 seconds, it can
convey that that person may have an unusually high interest.
Kinesics is
another type of nonverbal communication.
These bodily movements are divided by Ekman and Friesen (DeVito, 1994)
into five different types: emblems, illustrators, affect displays, regulators,
and adaptors. This study utilized the
affect display, which includes postures, gestures, and physical orientation. These movements can range specifically from
hand signals, head twists and turns. In
many situations, even in the most casual of conversations, extra messages are
communicated by various parts of the body.
Unconscious messages are also constantly being transmitted, for
instance, in the way a person sits or stands on the position of their hands or
feet (Guinness, 1990).
Facial
movement is another type of nonverbal communication. These facial movements communicate types of emotions as well as
selected qualities or dimensions of emotions. (DeVito, 1994). Ekman, Friesen and Ellsworth (1972) stated
that facial messages may communicate the following “emotion categories”:
happiness, fear, anger, surprise, sadness, and disgust/contempt.
Touch also
plays a large part on how people respond to others. This may involve caressing and holding, feeling, prolonged
holding and accidental brushing (Hall, 1959).
Another type of nonverbal
communication is proxemics. It is
divided into four distances namely: intimate, personal, social and public. Personal distance (which was used primarily
in this study) ranges from 18 inches to four feet. The range of space that was set as the “normal” tendency for the
subjects to elicit is from personal to intimate.
III. Methodology
This study
was done using observation, experimentation, and interview schedule. The observation and experimentation was
conducted with a female accomplice. The accomplice was to flirt with a male
subject who is a student from UP Mindanao.
This “flirting” involved touching, eye contact, and verbal
communication. Since the main objective
of the study was to find out the nonverbal behavior and mechanisms elicited by
the subjects, the use of tape recorder was not utilized. The accomplice’s primary objective was to
draw out reactions from the subject.
However, only the subject’s nonverbal reaction was taken into
consideration. After each experiment,
the subject is told about the nature of the study. During some of the experiments, a video camera recorder was
utilized. A total of 15 subjects were
experimented during the first week and second week of March 2001.
The
interview was done with subjects that are all from UP Mindanao. The respondents were asked a few questions
(see Appendix) on flirting and some of their experiences. These interviews were conducted on 23 male
UP Mindanao students. The interviews
were done during the first week of March.
In trying to understand and analyze
the behavior elicited by the subjects in the experiment, the utmost objectivity
was ensured. Also, the use of the FAST
or Facial Affect Scoring Technique by Paul Ekman (DeVito, 1994) was
employed. This FAST analyzes the facial
expressions by dividing it into three areas: eyebrows and forehead, eyes and
eyelids, and lower face (from the nose bridge down to the jaw). The eyebrows and the forehead can show the
different expressions. A frown is
emphasized in this area. The feeling of
fear can be elicited most in the eyes and eyelids area, and disgust and happiness
can be emphasized more in the lower face.
The gazes that were elicited from the
subjects were also analyzed.
This was done by using this equivalence
table:
|
DURATION OF GAZE |
POSSIBLE MEANING |
|
< 1.18 seconds |
Uninterested, shy, preoccupied |
|
> 1.18 seconds |
Unusually high interest |
This table is just constructed from the statement made by
Argyle in 1988 (DeVito, 1994). It should be noted that this table is just one
part of the analysis and does not represent the whole of the methods.
The
evaluation of the use of space is based on Edward Hall’s division and
definition of the personal spaces or personal territory. 12 to 25 feet and is the distance maintained
between a speaker and his/her audience.
Social space ranges from 4 to 10 feet and is used for communications
with business associates or this can also be the space used to separate
strangers using public areas such as train stations and bus stops. Personal space is about 2 to 4 and is used
when communicating with friends, family members and also to separate people
falling in line in teller machines.
Intimate space, the closest among all, ranges out to one foot and
involves a high probability of touching, embracing and whispering.
It should
also be noted that the accomplice and the subject do not personally know each
other.
IV.
Results
and Discussion
A.
EXPERIMENT
FIGURE 1.1
In eye contact, 67% of the subjects
have elicited eye contact, as we can see in Figure 1.1. These subjects did not avoid eye contact and
as much as possible maintained it. This
represents their great interest in the situation. The rest of the subjects (33%) avoided eye contact. This shows a feeling of shyness or
uneasiness with the situation. It has
been found out that male UP Mindanao students that were experimented with do
not avoid eye contact and show great interest in flirting situations.
Figure 1.2 shows how the subjects utilize space. It has been found out that 60% of the
subjects maintained personal space or a distance ranging from two to four
feet. This just shows that the subjects
are interested in the situation and thus maintain a close distance from the
girl. 27% of the subjects have employed social space. This shows that those subjects maintain a
stranger type of relationship with the girl.
Also, this may show lack of interest in the flirting situation. A small amount of the subjects elicited a response
of great interest since 13% of them maintained a distance that is regarded as
intimate. None of the subjects stayed
away from the girl. This chart just
shows that the subjects are really interested in the flirting situation with
respect to the closeness of the distance they maintained.
FIGURE 1.2
FACIAL MOVEMENTS ELICITED
BY MALE UP MINDANAO STUDENTS WHEN FLIRTED UPON BY FEMALES FIGURE 1.3
LEGEND:
3 happiness/excitement ----32%
5 eagerness-------------------28%
4 surprised -------------------25%
6 no reaction ----------------- 9%
1 fear
------------------------3%
2 anger
----------------------3%
Figure 1.3 shows that 32% of the subjects elicited
happiness and excitement and another 28% showed eagerness. 25% of them were surprised, 9% had no
reactions, 3% showed fear and another 3% showed anger. This figure shows that most of the subjects
do not feel threatened nor do they feel bad about the situation. In fact, it is evident that the subjects are
very happy and eager with what is going on around them at that time.
Several body movements have also been educed by the subjects. Most of them showed constant
flicking of the hands, which means that they are quite tensed about the
situation. Also, they showed constant nodding which meant that they
were interested in the conversation or what the accomplice is talking
about. Moreover, movements of the body
from side to side or constant swaying
meant that some of the subjects feel tensed about the situation. Those who showed steady or stiff bodies are the small amount of the subjects that
do not feel okay about the situation.
Also, most of the subjects have used
their hands as aids in expressing themselves.
These findings show that most of the subjects express
themselves not only verbally but nonverbally as well. They use their nonverbal capabilities to facilitate their
expression of their feelings. Also,
these results show that most of the subjects felt all right if they were
flirted upon by females. These results
have shown that the use of nonverbal communication mechanisms is effective in
dealing with situations that are part of everyday life.
B. INTERVIEW:
The results of the interview were as follows:
|
TABLE 2.1
NUMBER OF MALE STUDENTS THAT WERE FLIRTED UPON BY FEMALES IN THE UP
MINDANAO SETTING |
||
|
Have been flirted |
Have not been flirted |
Do not know |
|
44% |
36% |
19% |
It has been found out that there is a
small difference between those who have been flirted and those who not. Table 2.1 shows that 44% of the interviewees
were flirted upon and 36% have not. A
19% share of the interviewees said that they do not really know if they were
flirted upon by the females.
TABLE 2.2
MALE STUDENTS WHO KNOW WHAT FLIRTING IS
|
|
|
Know what flirting is |
Do not know what flirting is |
|
81% |
19% |
It has been
found out that most of the students know what flirting is and only a few do
not. As have been seen in Table 2.1,
19% of those interviewed do not know if they were flirted upon by females. These 19% have said that the reason why they
do not know is that they really do not know what flirting is. In this Table (2.2), it can be seen that 81% of the interviewees know what
flirting is and also gave the signs of flirting (see Table 2.4).
|
TABLE 2.3 WHAT THE
MALE UP STUDENTS THINK ABOUT A GIRL WHO FLIRTS WITH THEM |
||
|
COOL |
Okay lang |
Cheap |
|
56% |
22% |
22% |
This table shows that most of the
students think that it is cool for a girl to flirt. The word cool also represents a feeling that it is more than all
right and it is a positive thing that a girl can do. Those who say that girls who flirt are just fine and those who
say that these girls are cheap ones have equal percentages. However, it can be found out that the
interviewees think that it is all right for the girls to flirt.
TABLE 2.3 NONVERBAL SIGNS THAT TELL IF A
GIRL IS FLIRTING
|
||||
|
Lip bite |
Hair flick |
Body movement |
Eye contact |
Touching |
|
20% |
18% |
22% |
26% |
14% |
This table shows that among all the
nonverbal signs and mechanisms that are used when a girl flirts, eye contact is
the most explicit sign of showing that she is flirting. This table also shows the other nonverbal
signs and mechanisms that women use to flirt with the males. This includes body movement, lip bit, hair
flicks and touching.
All of the tables have shown that all those
who were interviewed and experimented with find itr okay for women to flirt
with them. Also, this has shown that
male UP Mindanao students use their nonverbal mechanisms in order to
communicate with others in their everyday lives.
V.
Summary,
Conclusion and Recommendations
This study has found out that majority
of the male UP Mindanao students who were interviewed and conducted the
experiment are most likely to show some interest in flirting situations. These students have also said that when
females will flirt upon them, they would naturally show some interest and
interact with the girls. As some of them said: “ I would definitely flirt
back”. This study found out that some
students feel indifferent when flirted upon by females.
The nonverbal
cues that were employed by the respondents in the experiment include those that
have been set in this study. These are
kinesics and body movement, eye contact, facial movements, and proxemics. The facial movements were mostly of
eagerness, excitement and happiness.
The proxemics or the use of space was more of personal, which is about
two to four feet. This just shows that the students, even when
flirted still maintain a bubble of space within themselves, away from the
flirting girl. This is so since only a
few displayed the use of intimate space when flirted upon by the females. When one uses intimate space with a person
one does not know, it can be considered taking advantage or intrusion of privacy. Most of the subjects did not invade the
accomplices privacy and thus are only using personal space. The bodily movements showed anxiousness,
tense, nervousness and excitement.
This study has also found out that the students use nonverbal
communication in their everyday lives including those flirting situations. They use their nonverbal communication
mechanisms in trying to interact with others in their everyday communication
process.
This study has met its objective, which
is to find out the way students use nonverbal communication in their everyday
lives. It has also answered the
questions that were set like what male UP Min students would do when flirted
upon by women, how they react to flirting, and what they think of women who
flirt.
Further studies can still be conducted
on the nonverbal communication and mechanisms that are elicited by male
students by conducting more thorough surveys, interviews and experimentation.
APPENDIX
A
The following are the questions that were
asked in the individual interviews with male UP Mindanao students:
1.
Have
you been flirted by a female here in UP Mindanao?
2.
Do
you know what flirting is?
3.
What
do you think of a girl who flirts?
4.
What
nonverbal signs do you think show that a woman is flirting with you?
5.
What
will you do when females flirt with you?
REFERENCES:
Adler, Ronald, et. al. Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication. Fort Worth, Texas: Harcourt Brace &
Company, 1998
DeVito, Joseph.
Human Communication: The
Basic Course. New York: Harper Collins College Publishers, 1994
Druckmann, D, R.M. Rozelle, and J. Baxter. Nonverbal Communication: Survey, Theory
and Research. Beverly Hills, Ca:
Sage, 1982
Guinness Encyclopedia, The. Middlesex: Guinness
Publishing Ltd., 1990
Hall, Edward.
The Silent Language.
Greenwich, Connecticut: Fawcett Books, 1959
Mehrabian, A.
Nonverbal Communication.
Chicago: Aldine-Atherton, 1972
New
Lexicon Webster’s Dictionary, The. USA: Lexicon Publications, Inc., 1987
http://socpsych.lacollege.edu/flirting.html
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