Question

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A group of students made a list of guidelines for interpreting non-verbal behavior, but they made one mistake. Which item should be removed from the list of guidelines for interpreting non-verbal behavior?


maintain normal eye contact


look for patterns or clusters


always consider the context


pay attention to inconsistencies

Answer 1

Remove "maintain normal eye contact."

The other three are core rules for interpreting nonverbal behavior (look for clusters/patterns, consider context, note inconsistencies). Telling someone to "maintain normal eye contact" is guidance for sending nonverbal signals (and varies widely by culture), not a primary guideline for interpreting others' nonverbal cues.