 Here is the example that I showed you in class  Remember, this is only to serve as a guide  You should not COPY any of this material  When you complete your analysis, compare your write up to this example  Ask yourself: “Did I tie multiple concepts together? Did I provide examples? Did I use terminology from the textbook?”  Remember, you are always welcomed to stop by my office to ask questions

 The film Crash serves as an effective guidepost by illustrating how individuals should not behave when communicating with one another. Although there are several examples, I will focus on the relationship between Christine Thayer and Officer Ryan.

 During the car crash scene, Christine communicates both nonverbally and verbally that she does not wish to be saved by Officer Ryan. Her tears, screaming, and arm gestures to push him off help communicate this clearly. Having seen earlier parts of the movie and by reading Officer Ryan’s facial expressions (e.g. a look of surprise), viewers understand that Christine’s response is influenced heavily by the historical context and the beginning relational history that she has with Officer Ryan.

 While they do engage in impersonal communication earlier in the film, the unpleasant experience they shared served as relational history and also causes Christine to read Officer Ryan’s attempt to help as an inappropriate, sexual advance. Here, the movie illustrates how using communication to cause harm to others (the dark side of communication) can impact future encounters and the way in which messages are decoded. Perhaps if Officer Ryan had not sexually assaulted Christine earlier in the film, she would not have read his current attempts to help as another inappropriate sexual encounter.

 The encounter between Christine and Officer Ryan also illustrates examples of emotions and the way in which they are communicated verbally and nonverbally. Reflecting back to Christine’s reaction to Officer Ryan as her “rescuer”, one can see how she communicates her disdain for him by communicating emotionally. Her crying and yelling communicated her anger, as well as her pain from their previous encounter.

 In addition, we also see how communication effects can lead to a change in perceptions and self-concept. For example, you can tell from Officer Ryan’s nonverbals (e.g. facial expressions) that Christine’s emotional outburst caused him to feel shame. Her emotional outburst explained her perception of the officer. This resulting shame, in turn, caused him to re-evaluate his own self-concept. Thus, the film illustrates how our negative actions can impact future communication encounters. In addition, it illustrates how communicating our emotions can have large impacts on others.