Topic > My observation of a couple at a restaurant: non-verbal...

INTRODUCTION On September 12, 2014, I observed two people; Person A and Person B. The observation took place at Applebee's, a local restaurant, starting at 7:21 pm and ending the observation at 8:06 pm. I was serving their table for the evening, allowing me to observe them up close. The restaurant had quieted down from the dinner crowd, leaving them one of three tables in the smoking section, normally occupied by eight. Along with the fading exterior light, the interior lighting was dim, making the dining experience quieter and more intimate. The background noise was filled with the soft roar of other groups' conversations, and a jazz station played quietly from the speakers overhead. OBSERVATION OF PERSON A Person A was a male of approximately 24 years of age. He was tall and thin with a short, dark haircut and brown eyes. The first nonverbal observation I made about Person A was about the way she was dressed. He was wearing a blue collared shirt and dark jeans. Her outfit was coordinated with a pair of brown suede shoes. I think he took his time putting this outfit together. Another non-verbal observation I made was his smell. As I approached the table, I caught a subtle whiff of men's cologne. The smell, however, was not overpowering. The next observations concern his interactions with Person B. Person A constantly reached across the table and held Person B's hand. Whenever possible, he touched Person B in some way, holding his hand or massaging his arm . Another observation was his use of personal space. After approaching the table, Person A had his arm around Person B and was holding him close. In this case there was no need for personal space for Person A. A quarter of...half of the paper......none of Person B's giggles, it was his facial expressions. I could tell from the smile on his face that he was enjoying dinner with Person A. His smile was genuine. This was mirrored between both of them, which strongly suggested that they both had fun together. CLOSURE In conclusion, it appears that Person A and Person B were on a date. From the way they were dressed to the way they laughed, it was evident that they were more than friends. The observations made it clear to me that they enjoy their time together and enjoyed dinner and company that particular evening. Their similar nonverbal cues of holding hands, lack of personal space, posture, and happy facial expression confirmed that they were on a date and that they cared about each other. I am confident in my conclusion because the nonverbal cues were so clear. I enjoyed watching and serving this couple.