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Assignment #3

The document discusses proxemics and different cultural distance zones during communication. It explains the intimate, personal, social and public zones and how therapeutic communication typically occurs in the personal zone. It also discusses how facial expressions can influence a listener's response and provides examples of therapeutic communication techniques for a student nurse interacting with a client diagnosed with schizophrenia.

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Jen jen Aala
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
44 views4 pages

Assignment #3

The document discusses proxemics and different cultural distance zones during communication. It explains the intimate, personal, social and public zones and how therapeutic communication typically occurs in the personal zone. It also discusses how facial expressions can influence a listener's response and provides examples of therapeutic communication techniques for a student nurse interacting with a client diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Uploaded by

Jen jen Aala
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1.

Proxemics is the study of distance zones between people


during communication.

a. Discuss how clients from


various cultures have specific distance zones of communication.

Proxemics, as you correctly mentioned, is the study of the distance


between individuals during communication. It explores how people
use and perceive space in various social and cultural contexts.
Edward T. Hall, an anthropologist, introduced the concept of
proxemics and identified four primary distance zones: intimate,
personal, social, and public.

When working with clients from different cultures, understanding


their specific distance zones is crucial for effective communication
and building rapport. Cultural norms significantly influence
individuals' comfort levels with physical proximity, and these norms
can vary widely across different societies.

1. Intimate Zone
In many Western cultures, the intimate zone includes the space
between physical contact, such as a hug, and the distance it takes
to whisper to a friend. There are very few public interactions that
take place within a certain distance. In fact, handshakes which
involve contact with the body are not usually carried out in close
proximity: rather than standing together as a pair of greeters
extend their arms outward from their bodies to touch each other's
hands, they move apart.

2. Personal Zone
It's a place where people interact with family members or good
friends. Sometimes strangers break into people's private space or,
in some cases, their intimate spaces.

3. Social Zone
When it comes to interacting with friends, you're probably keeping
a social distance when you talk to your colleagues in the office. In
fact, if two of your colleagues at work are carrying on a secret
affair, they may unconsciously adjust their personal space from a
social distance to a more intimate one. They don't realize that
they're broadcasting a signal to other people.

4. Public Zone
Used for public speaking. When presenting in public, individuals
make a series of unconscious changes to their behavior. For
example, they're more likely to talk loudly and can change their
body positions in order to project a message that goes farther. And
as is often the case, if these changes lead to a problem, we are just
aware of them.
B. At which zone does therapeutic communication take place
between the nurse and the client?

Personal zone is often used in therapeutic communication between


nurses and clients. The personal zone typically ranges from about 18
inches (46 cm) to 4 feet (122 cm) and is considered appropriate for
most social and professional interactions, including healthcare
settings.

In this distance range, healthcare professionals may establish


contacts with their clients and maintain a high level of professional
excellence while respecting personal boundaries. Without causing
the client to be uncomfortable or invader, this zone will allow
efficient verbal and nonverbal communication.
2. The human face produces the most visible, complex, and
sometimes confusing nonverbal messages.

a. Discuss how facial expression may affect the listener’s


response during communication.
As facial expressions are capable of presenting a wide range of
emotions, intentions and views, they have an important role in
communications. In communication, the listener's response may be
influenced by his or her face expression.

In the listener, facial expressions may bring about an emotional


response. In fact, the warmth and friendly smile that brings
openness and acceptance to listeners can make them happy and
supportive of a speaker. On the other hand, a frowning face or
scowl could indicate concern, disappointment and disagreement
that can lead listeners to respond in either defensive or
concerned ways.

The verbal messages are accompanied by facial expressions,


which provide other signals that help the listener comprehend
what the speaker is trying to communicate. During
communication, clarity and accuracy may be enhanced by the
presence of a clean and congruent face expression. The listener
can be confused with ambiguous or conflicting facial
expressions, which lead to misinterpretation of the speaker's
message and uncertainty in its content.

Expressive facial expressions, which convey the speaker's level


of interest and interest in the conversation, may draw the
attention of the listener. A lively and animated facial expression
may indicate enthusiasm, passion, or genuine interest,
encouraging the listener to remain attentive and engaged. On
the other hand, a flat or neutral expression may indicate
indifference and boredom which could lead to listeners losing
focus.
The expression of facial expression contributes to the
creation of trust and rapport between communicators. A
warm and sincere smile, which encourages the listener to be
more accepting and open to the message of the speaker,
can foster a sense of connection and trust. On the other
hand, insincere or contradictory facial expressions can
undermine confidence and rapport within the
communication process by raising doubts about a speaker's
honesty or sincerity.

In situations in which the listener is expressing distress,


facial expressions may convey empathy and emotional
comfort. The listener may be reassured that their feelings
have been heard and respected, facilitating effective
emotional communication and support, by expressions of
compassion and empathy like a concerned expression or an
empathetic nod.

Overall, facial expressions play an important role in


influencing the listener's response to the communication by
expressing emotions, enhancing understanding and clarity,
engaging attention, fostering trust and rapport, and providing
empathy and emotional support. The power of facial
expressions is recognised by effective communicators and they
try to use them well in order to improve the quality and effect
of their interaction.
3. A student nurse is initiating a conversation with a client
diagnosed with schizophrenia.

a. Discuss several therapeutic communication techniques.


Speak slowly and make the conversation short and precise.
Have eye contact and introduce yourself. You must be
culturally sensitive and aware of the client's background.
Consider the cultural differences that may affect the way
we communicate and think. This allows us to adapt our
communication to the client's linguistic preferences. Look at
your own nonverbal signals, such as facial expression, body
language, and tone of voice. In order to create a
comfortable atmosphere for the client, maintain a calm,
nonthreatening attitude. It is important to note that each
client is different, and the efficiency of these techniques
may vary. In adapting communication strategies to meet the
individual needs of clients with schizophrenia, flexibility,
patience, and continuous assessment of client responses are
crucial. Additionally, collaboration with the interdisciplinary
healthcare team is crucial to ensuring comprehensive care
for individuals with mental health conditions.
b. Include ways in which nonverbal messages accompany
verbal messages.

Non verbal communication is often accompanied and


complemented by other forms of communication, which play an
important role in communicating further layers of meaning and
facilitating a more complete understanding between
communicators. Here are the ways nonverbal messages can be
accompanied by a verbal message:

Facial expressions provide emotion, attitude and reaction


are transmitted by the face. A smile can be a sign of
happiness or acceptance, while frowning faces may
indicate anger or disagreement. The expression of the face
may enhance or undermine a spoken message, giving
valuable context to interpretation.

Body Language is greatly influenced by gestures, postures


and movements of the body. Open and relaxed body
language, for example, may indicate a willingness to listen
while crossed arms or tense postures can be perceived as
defensive or uncomfortable. Body language tends to
reinforce or contradict the spoken words, which can affect
the overall message.

Eye contact can serve as a sign of attentiveness, sincerity or


confidence. In a conversation, keeping the right eye contact
signals commitment and interest. However, cultural norms
and individual preferences should be taken into account
when prolonged or intense eye contact is perceived as
intimidating.

Different messages can be communicated in the way that


individuals position their bodies. It is possible to display
interest and emotion by leaning forward, while slouching
might indicate indifference or tiredness. Mirroring, where
people unconsciously mimic each other's postures, can be a
sign of rapport and connection.

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