M3: Failure to Communicate Film Clips Table

Instructions: Complete this table for each film clip you choose to analyze. Remember to complete each section of the
table for all three clips you view.

Film Clip
Title
Big Bang
Theory

Character(s)
Sheldon
Penny

Communication
Problem(s)

What Happened?
Sheldon wakes
Penny from her
sleep to discuss
dating Leonard with
her.

Penny was woken from

her sleep, so she was
not in the right mindset
to discuss anything.
Sheldon further
confused her by giving
her three topics to
choose from when
really, he wanted to
simply discuss one of
the three.
Sheldon got in Pennys
personal space and it
aggravated her.
He undermined her
intelligence by asking
her if she understood a
term.
He discussed her
shampoo in the mist of
discussing information
about Leonard.
He didnt read her nonverbal cues

Suggestions or Solutions for

Resolving the Communication
Difficulties

Sheldon could wait to

discuss the issue with her
when she is awake and
prepared to communicate.
Sheldon could have only
discussed the issue about
Leonard, so as to avoid any
confusion or barriers.
Friend and Cook (2013),
state that communication
should be kept meaningful.
Sheldon clearly lacked this
ability.
Sheldon could maintain an
appropriate distance when
communicating with Penny.
If Sheldon would learn to
watch himself during
communication, he would
be able to better adjust his
own behavior based on the
behavior of the receiver of
his message (Friend &
Cook, 2013).

M3: Failure to Communicate Film Clips Table

Film Clip
Title

Character(s)

Communication
Problem(s)

What Happened?

Suggestions or Solutions for

Resolving the Communication
Difficulties

appropriately.

12 Angry Men

There is one
main man
speaking and
11 other men
sitting around
a table.

The main man

speaking expresses
his opinion, through
a very blunt and
direct approach,
throughout the entire
video clip. At the
very end he
demands that
everyone listen to
him. One other man

One man dominated

the entire conversation.
His opinions and ideas
were shouted in anger.
The other individual
men responded by
moving away from the
table and facing away
from the man speaking.
The main man
eventually lowered his

Sheldon could be more

sensitive when interacting
with Penny (i.e., do not
assume she doesnt
understand a word). If she
doesnt understand a word,
she should be able to ask
for clarification, before it is
assumed that she is
incapable.
Sheldon should have paid
attention to Pennys nonverbal behaviors to make
sure that he adjusted his
communication efforts so
that Penny was more
receptive.
The participants should have
followed a set communication
plan where they first addressed
the issue (see KU M3 videos).
This would have allowed for a
clear focus and more valued
conclusion.
All participants should have
been given a voice to share
their thoughts and ideas in a
respectful manner. That is, the

M3: Failure to Communicate Film Clips Table

Film Clip
Title

Character(s)

Communication
Problem(s)

What Happened?

voice, at which point,

another man responded
in a manner that shut
him down completely.

finally responds that

he has. He then tells
him to sit down and
not speak again.

Suggestions or Solutions for

Resolving the Communication
Difficulties

Best in Show

Dad of Dog
(Adult Male)
Mom of Dog
(Adult Female/
Wife of Dad)

The Dad/Mom failed

to take the dogs
favorite toy with
them to the show.
The mom was told

The Dad yelled at the

dog he became
visibly anxious.
The Mom yelled at the
Dad, and then they

listeners should have shown an

interest in the speaker, as well
as the speaker should have
created a trusting and safe
environment (Friend & Cook,
2013).
Instead of moving away from
the table (i.e., displaying
disapproval through non-verbal
actions), the men should have
remained seated and taken
turns sharing their thoughts
and ideas while the other men
actively listened.
At the conclusion of the
discussion, the men should
have come to a consensus.
Thereafter, they should have
restated the issue and the
agreed upon terms for
clarification and assurance that
all stakeholders were heard
properly.
The dog should have never
been part of the conversation,
because it is unable to
effectively communicate with its
owners. The owners should

M3: Failure to Communicate Film Clips Table

Film Clip
Title

Character(s)

What Happened?

Show Dog
Hotel Manager
Hotel Maid
Pet Store
Clerk

to go back to the
hotel to find the toy
where she got into a
verbal conflict with
the hotel manager,
hotel maid, and
eventually the pet
store clerk.

Communication
Problem(s)

both yelled at each

other.
The Mom screamed
and yelled hurtful
stereotypes towards the
maid.
The Mom yelled mean
words at the hotel
manager.
The Mom calmly asked
for the toy at the pet
store, but then became
irate when the clerk
failed to present the toy
she was asking for.
No one took the time to
truly listen during the
communication
scenarios.

Suggestions or Solutions for

Resolving the Communication
Difficulties

have remained calm so that the

dog could remain calm, too.
The Dad and Mom should have
shared their ideas with one
another in a calm manner
providing clear and concise
needs. They should have
stated the problem, discussed
how it made them personally
feel, and then worked together
to come up with a solution to
the problem. The solution
should have been one they
both agreed to.
The Mom should have stated
what she was looking for to the
hotel staff. She should have
then asked them if they could
help her find it. No hurtful
comments should have been
made; that is, she should have
utilized culturally sensitive
feedback (Friend & Cook,
2013). And, she should have
thanked them for their help,
even if the outcome wasnt
what she wanted. This would
have built a trusting
relationship instead of building

M3: Failure to Communicate Film Clips Table

Film Clip
Title

Character(s)

What Happened?

Communication
Problem(s)

Suggestions or Solutions for

Resolving the Communication
Difficulties

communication barriers.
At the pet store, the Mom
should have pulled up a photo
of the toy she was speaking of
(e.g., on Google). She could
have also described why the
exact toy was important for the
dog, because descriptive
feedback is important during
effective interpersonal
conversations (Friend & Cook,
2013). She could have also
been more detailed in her
expectations so that the store
owner wasnt grasping for
products. She should have
thanked him for his help
despite things not working out
to her advantage.