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Non-Verbal Messages being sent in the Picture
The picture shows a group of young and middle-aged men seated together in a room which appears to be a room only for smokers. Every person in the room holds a lit cigarette in their hand. The messages mainly conveyed in this photo are the act of smoking itself that helps to indicate that all of them are smokers, and they are in a room where they can share a common habit. By laughing and talking to one another, they are trying to show that they hold similar interests, and they are most comfortable together with the people of their own kind. It also conveys the message of smoking as an attractive activity where one can sit at ease and smoke away. The overall effect of the scenario depicts it as an inviting and welcoming activity that calls people towards it.
Nonverbal communication codes used to deliver the messages
There are various codes being used to convey these messages without the use of words. The very first signal is the cigarette itself. Where men see a large group of people sitting together and bearing a familiar interest, they rush to that place without the need of questioning the nature of the place. Hence, when they look at a room that is full of people who are smoking, sends an automatic signal that the room is a smoking room specifically for smokers. The body language of the people also conveys a specific attitude associated with smoking and smokers. Casually holding a cigarette between two fingers and inhaling away, sitting together and sharing light is another behaviour, rushing in from outside and quickly lighting a cigarette as if their life depended on it. Considered a stereotype of depicting a person as ‘cool’ or highly socially acceptable, smoking a cigarette involves the use of this nonverbal code.
What effect does each message have on the other people in the image
The major influence that each person has on one another is the message conveyed by smoking itself. If a person did another person inside the room smoking, it would obviously make him want to smoke as well. Also, it serves as a signal to those who wish to smoke but cannot do so because of some allocated rules, they would definitely rush to this place where they know they will be able to smoke freely without restriction. It also sends a signal as to enforce the act of smoking to others, encouraging them to smoke. The non-verbal yet effective message is to invite others to smoke without telling them to do so. But the act of doing it itself is very provoking. The people in the picture look quite pleased and ‘satisfied’ by smoking, hence the message of smoking as an activity to sooth the nerves is conveyed with much effect.
Nonverbal communication skills and strategies that could be used to communicate effectively in this situation.
The most basic impact of the strategies that can be applied here is to discourage the audience from smoking, which is rendered an unhealthy habit. Also, it has been observed that usually the verbal form of preventing one from smoking has not been so successful. With that aim in mind nonverbal techniques can be used. The first is the use of signs such as no smoking with short phrases like ‘Smoking is injurious to health’ or ‘Smoking Kills’. These can at least create a sense in an individual that the act of smoking is itself disliked. Others can be like medically related posters of the detrimental effects of smoking which include cancers of the lung or heart diseases and significantly decreased lifespan of a smoker. With the use of effective visual aids, a person’s viewpoint on smoking can be altered to quite an extent.
