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What You See Isn't Always What You Get

Mary M. Eicholtz, Ph.D.
Mount Union College
 Alliance, OH 44601
330-829-9750
eicholmm_@muc.edu
National Communication Association Convention
San Antonio, TX
November 2006

Goal:
The goal of this exercise is to introduce students to each other through assumptions and non-verbal communication. Additionally, it demonstrates how first impressions influence our ideas about who to meet and who to listen to. (This exercise can be used for alternative goals as outlined at the end of this proposal.)

Rationale:
This exercise introduces students to one another during the first week of class while exposing their assumptions about people as depicted by non-verbal messages. Appropriate for a public speaking course, hybrid basic course, group communication course, or interpersonal course, students are asked to identify individuals with specific characteristics just by looking at them. No talking is allowed. We often make judgments about people even before we meet them based on their clothing, posture, facial expressions, gestures, and accessories. Sometimes these assumptions are correct and sometimes they are very wrong. In interpersonal communication, these impressions are important in our decisions about whether or not to initiate a conversation and possibly a relationship. In public speaking, we analyze speakers before they start speaking. This exercise shows students when we can trust those first impressions and when we cannot. At the same time, students get to know one another a little better.

Approximate Time: 25-30 minutes

Materials:
"What do you See" handouts, Large Numbers 1-12 on 8 1/4 x 11 paper

Directions:
This exercise is best conducted when students know very little about each other, perhaps during the first week of class. I often use it on the first day of class even before I pass out the syllabus.

Group students into groups of 8-12. Have students form a circle with their desks or chairs. Distribute a 8 Y2" x 11 piece of paper with a number (1 – 12) on each sheet. This number should be displayed prominently so everyone can see it either taped to the front of their desks or on the floor in front of their chair. Students will be identified by this number throughout the exercise.

Distribute the "What You See" handouts to each student. Each student should follow the instructions on the handout without talking to anyone in their group. Total silence should be observed during this part of the exercise. Ask one student to tally the results using the grid at the bottom of the handout. If the groups are too large, or time is limited, results can be extracted during the debriefing. However, students often like to find out what people think of them. Have students share results in their groups. Ask them to verify correct information about themselves and correct any misconceptions.

Debriefing Questions:
Which result was the most surprising to you? Why did you select a particular individual as the smartest or most athletic (or any other characteristic listed)? What did their non-verbal cues communicate? Were you correct? Why or why not? What generalizations do we make about people based on their outward appearance? How does that hinder (or assist) us in getting to know them? Why would that be important in deciding whether to listen to someone speak?

Typical Results:
Students are often surprised about the assumptions people make about them and rarely think about the assumptions they make about others. A lively discussion generally ensues and the instructor can take it in a variety of directions. During the process, they learn something about their classmates.

Alternate Goals:
This exercise can also be used with lessons about self-concept vs public perception, stereotyping, gender generalizations, intercultural assumptions, etc. by just reworking some of the questions to fit the theme.

What You See?
Using the numbers in front of your classmates, identify the person that best represents the answer to each of the following questions. No talking!

  1. Who is a total stranger? You don't even know their name.
  2. Whom do you know by sight from campus, but don't know anything else?
  3. Who looks athletic?
  4. Who looks smart?
  5. Whom do you know best?
  6. Who looks like they would be a good friend?
  7. Whom do you consider the prettiest/most handsome?
  8. Who do you think is the oldest?
  9. Who do you think is the youngest?
  10. Whom would you like to get to know better?
  11. Whom do you think you could trust?
  12. Whom would you want to work with in a group?
  13. Who looks the happiest?
  14. Who looks the richest?
  15. Who would you not want to fight with?
  16. Who looks like a cat lover?
  17. Who works out at the gym?
  18. Who spends time outdoors?
  19. Who drives the hottest car?
  20. Who likes to read?

Scorekeeper:
 For each question above, determine how many votes were cast for each student in your group in the chart below. For example, if 3 people said #1 looked athletic, you would put a 3 in the square below Q1 and beside #1.
Student

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4

Q5

Q6

Q7

Q8

Q9

Q10

Q11

Q12

Q13

Q14

Q15

Q16

Q17

Q18

Q19

Q20
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12


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