Relationships Tips

Secrets of the Opposite Sex


Secrets of the Opposite Sex

Many jokes, problems, and conversations revolve aroundcommunications differences between men and women. Women areoften teased for gabbing, nagging and chattering on aboutnothing. Men are often accused of not listening, not payingattention, or dominating the conversation when conversingwith a woman. These problems occur because each genderroutinely misinterprets the other's nonverbal and verballistening cues.

During conversation, most women tend to give considerablenonverbal communications feedback, such as nodding andsmiling, as well as frequent verbal feedback, like:

> "I know what you mean"

> "Uh, huh"

> "Right. Exactly!"

This type of feedback lets the speaker know he or she ismaking sense. It is the typically feminine communicationsstyle developed from childhood onward.

Most men, on the other hand, do not provide much nonverbalcommunications feedback, tending to remain silent whenlistening to a speaker. They focus on what the speaker issaying, and consider it to be polite to be expressionlessand silent. This is the typically male communications stylelearned from early childhood. These differences inlistening styles often cause dysfunctional communicationsbetween men and women.

When a man speaks with a woman, he may frequentlymisinterpret the listening cues provided by the womanbecause his primary experiences are with men; and viceversa.

Her nonverbal feedback (nodding and smiling) and verbalcomments ("I know what you mean," etc.) are usually merelyintended by her to indicate that she understands his pointand that he is making sense. His usual interpretation,however, is that she is providing significant encouragementfor him to keep on talking! Because most men find itdifficult to resist such positive encouragement, it is notsurprising that they may appear to dominate suchconversations.

When a woman speaks with a man, she may often misread hislistening cues. His normally sparse nonverbal feedback(little or no change in facial expression) and generalsilence while she is speaking are usually intended by him toindicate that he is paying close attention and concentratingon her words.

Her usual interpretation, however, is that he must be boredand/or she is not making sense to him. Because most womenfind it difficult to proceed under such negativecircumstances, a typical reaction is to cut short additionalremarks, or to repeat some things for attemptedclarification, or even to ask if he understands what shesaid. He may then misinterpret her reaction to be anindication that she was just gabbing, or chattering, thatshe was nagging him, or that she is unsure of what she wassaying. Each becomes a victim of his/her own listeningcues, while the stereotypical gender differences arereinforced and passed on as absolute truths!

To help make mixed gender conversations work more smoothly,men and women need to understand more about the other'slistening cues. Men should try to provide more nonverbal andverbal feedback while listening to female speakers.

They should also realize that the typically moredemonstrative verbal and nonverbal feedback provided bywomen is generally intended as subtle encouragement for thespeaker - it is not a rousing endorsement of the speaker'soratory skills. Women should learn not to be overlyconcerned if the men they are talking with don't provide thescope of listening cues they are accustomed to receiving.They should understand that, usually, if a male listener isquiet and stone-faced, he is listening intently.

So ladies, if you see that face, don't ask him if heunderstands what you just said!

Kirstin Carey is a consultant, award winning speaker, and author of "PowHERful Communications for Women Who Want to be Heard." As a woman business owner, Kirstin fully understands what is necessary for women to be successful entrepreneurs. To find out how you too can love your business everyday and live the entrepreneurial life you want, visit http://www.powherful.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Relationships, communication theme of Friday's Warner Robins council retreat
Macon Telegraph (blog)
After ending at 7 pm Friday, the retreat will continue Saturday from 8 am to 3:30 pm OV Brantley, a former attorney for Fulton County governmental bodies, told council members their internal relationships are important to strong operations and images.

and more »


CBC.ca

Depression Linked To Adolescent Bullying
Medical News Today
"Often the assumption is that problematic peer relationships drive depression. We found that depression symptoms predicted negative peer relationships. We examined the issue from both directions but found no evidence to suggest that peer relationships ...
Depressed Adolescents More Likely to be BulliedPsychCentral.com
Depressed adolescents likelier to be bulliedTimes of India
Depressed adolescents more likely to be targets of bullying: StudyHealthJockey.com
U.S. News & World Report -Expatriate Healthcare
all 46 news articles »


Cara Dorris '15: The fiction of relationship?
The Brown Daily Herald
Most people will tell you that there are two types of relationships at Brown: rigid, Facebook-official romances and hurried, efficient and occasionally chronic hookups. Though there are exceptions, most of us brag that we're too busy, even too selfish ...

and more »


PsychCentral.com

Optimal conversation lowers stress in relationships
Times of India
Young couples who easily engage in rewarding conversations with their partners, experience less relationship stress and higher satisfaction, say researchers. According to research from Kansas State University, young adults who have optimal conversation ...
Going With the Flow of Talk Brings Couples CloserPsychCentral.com

all 12 news articles »


Healthy relationship examples crucial for youth, experts say
Maxwell Gunter Dispatch
In the race to stop domestic violence, educating children before they date can provide the awareness for healthy relationships when they become adults. In the crucial years before youth start dating, parents and peers impact children's perceptions of ...

and more »


Relationships Art Exhibit at the SCAHC Gallery in Sussex
NorthJersey.com (press release)
In the Relationships Art Exhibit, the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council is asking artists to explore, well, relationships—any relationship. And what seems to be a traditional subject for art can prove to have numerous possibilities when viewed ...

and more »


Jamie Kennedy Talks Relationships, Valentine's Day Plans and Playing 'Cupid ...
Hollywood Reporter
As for his research of the role, the actor joked, "I went to Zales," before admitting, "I think I've been in enough relationships that that was my research." Not that he claims to know what he's doing. "Being in all of my relationships, I'm even more ...

and more »


At NRC Hearing, Signs Of Improving Relationships
Fox Business
However, it offered several hints that personal relationships on the five-member commission may be improving less than two months after they boiled over at a pair of congressional hearings. The tensions have raised questions about the nuclear safety ...

and more »


Love Triangles: And Kitty Makes Three
Patch.com
When pets and relationships collide, there are better answers than dumping one of the feuding parties. This shorthair cat is available for adoption from the Santa Monica Animal Shelter. For more information, contact Sharon Hardy, owner of Sweet Potato ...

and more »


HipHopDX

The Dead End Theory: 15 Rapper Relationships That Ended In Break-Up
HipHopDX
by DX Staff From Eminem and Mariah Carey's bittersweet triste to Darlene's immortal gangsterism, and the Kelis and Nas shakedown, HipHopDX looks back at some high-profile Rap relationships. While Love and Hip Hop is currently a hit reality show, ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2010