Height

Here is a revision of a little quiz to introduce the topic of height in a nonverbal or other communication class.  It contains both historical and contemporary personalities and should play well in the classroom.

The Self-test

Try estimating the heights of the following famous people whom you’ve probably read about or heard about (but probably not seen in person) by circling the guessed height. In each of these examples, one of the heights given is correct.

1.      Baby Face Nelson (bank robber and murderer in the 1930s): 5ʹ5ʺ, 5ʹ11ʺ, 6ʹ2ʺ

2.      Ludwig Van Beethoven (influential German composer): 5’6”, 6’0”, 6’5”

3.      Kim Kardashian (media personality): 5’2”, 5’5”, 5’8”

4.      Buckminster Fuller (scientist, credited with inventing the geodesic dome): 5’2”, 5’10”, 6’3”

5.      Bruno Mars (singer): 5’5”, 5’8”, 5’10”

6.      Mahatma Gandhi (Indian political leader whose civil disobedience led to India’s independence from British rule): 5’3”, 5’8”, 6’0”

7.      Jada Pinkett Smith (actor): 5’0”, 5’6”, 5’9”

8.      Joan of Arc (military leader, burned for heresy at age 19, and declared a saint) 4’11, 5’4”, 5’10”

9.      T. E. Lawrence of Arabia (adventurer and British army officer) 5’5”, 6’0”, 6’5”

10.  Salma Hayek (actor): 5’2”, 5’5”, 5’8”.

The Follow-up

This exercise was designed to see if you would overestimate the heights of a number of these people. Fame seems to be associated with height, and so most people would think these people were/are taller than they really were/are. The specific heights for all are the shortest heights given above: Baby Face Nelson, 5¢5ʺ; Ludwig Van Beethoven, 5¢6ʺ; Kim Kardashian, 5’2”; Buckminister Fuller, 5¢2ʺ; Bruno Mars, 5’5”; Mahatma Gandhi, 5¢3ʺ; Jada Pinkett Smith, 5’0”; Joan of Arc, 4¢11ʺ; T. E. Lawrence, 5¢5ʺ; and Salma Hayek, 5¢2ʺ.      

Nonverbal Mistakes

Here’s an article on body language that you should avoid; body gestures that can create a negative impression in another person. It's best to look at these gestures as creating negative impressions under certain circumstances but, certainly, not in all situations:

1. Crossing your arms across your chest can indicate defensiveness.

2.      Leaning forward can indicate aggressiveness.

3.      Breaking your eye contact too early in the interaction.

4.      Putting your hands on your hips when standing can indicate aggressiveness.

5.      Taking a step or two back when asked a question or for a decision.

6.      Putting your hands behind your back or in your pockets can make you look overly stiff.

7.      Nodding more than usual can make you look less than serious.

Body Language

Take a look at this Body Language infographic. It was created by and sent to me by Brietta Mengel. Thank you, Brietta.  It should make for interesting discussions in interpersonal communication or in nonverbal communication, even with the old (and greatly misused) Mehrabian study. 

Body Language

The second edition of Shelly Hagen's The Everything Body Language Book has recently been published. I had the privilege of serving as "technical reviewer." I think both students and instructors will find it an interesting read.

Body Language, Dating, and Courtship

Just in time for Valentine's Day--suggestions for body language you'll want to avoid.