Say What? Obscuring Behavior

Appropriately entitled 'obscuring', the second square on the SAVI grid is made up of verbal behaviors that are topic/factual in orientation, but ultimately avoid the true maintenance of topic.  Avoidance occurs by generating statements 'as if' the information found within is factual, when in fact reality could very well be something completely different:

• mind reading
• predictions (negative or positive)
• gossip
• joking around
• thinking out loud
• social ritual

'Mind reading' occurs when the speaker is engaged in verbal behavior where he or she talks as if s/he knows another person's thoughts better than the person himself or herself.  Examples include statements like, "I know you think this is a bad idea!"  And, "He thinks anything to do with reform policy is a waste of time!"

'Predictions', either negative ("That'll be the end of the line for him!") or positive ("That's going to solve all our problems!"), always introduce ambiguity into a conversation.  After all, who can really say with 100% accuracy what will work or not, or whether everything is going to be fantastic or not.

'Thinking out loud' includes comments like, "Well, it's like... you know... I mean... right!" 

'Social ritual' includes statements like, "Nice to meet you," "So glad you could come," "Thank you so much for the lovely gift!" 

'Obscuring' behavior can seem quite charming and entertaining.  When there's work to be done or problems to tackle, however, 'obscuring' behavior will decrease productivity and morale every time.