Body language has a lot of power. Body language has been used by humans to communicate ever since they were born. When you interact with someone, whether it is someone new or someone that you know, body language can make a lasting impression. Face expressions can tell you more than just words. When having a casual conversation, you can use a variety of techniques to understand someone. People who are interested in the discussion will often point their toes towards you. Those who aren’t will point them away. They are indicating that they wish to leave. We all ignore our body language on a daily basis. We are always observing body language, but rarely give it any thought. Children use non-verbal communication to communicate with their parents and each other. The child can tell when the parent scrunches their face and displays anger. The parents’ face tells you everything before they say a word.
According to some estimates, body language accounts for between 60% and 65% of interactions. Body language is very important, but you also need to consider other factors such as context. It is better to focus on the group of signals rather than one specific action. Imagine how much an individual can say with a simple facial expression. Smiles can indicate approval or happiness. A frown may indicate disappointment or disapproval. Sometimes, our facial reactions can reveal the truth about how we feel. You may not feel as good as you think, but the expression on your face could convince you otherwise. It is possible to trust someone by the way they look. According to one study, the most trusted facial expressions were a slight increase of eyebrows with a mild smile. Researchers suggest that this expression transmits trust and friendliness.
The eyes can tell you a lot about someone’s thoughts or feelings. They are called “windows into the soul”. As you talk to someone, it is important to pay attention and take note of their eye movements. It is possible to find out if someone makes direct eye-contact or averts their eyes. They may also blink more or have dilated pupils. Direct eye contact during a discussion indicates that the person is interested and alert. Eye contact that is prolonged can be threatening. In contrast, a person’s tendency to look away or break eye contact may indicate that they are embarrassed or distracted. Eye contact is a threat to animals of all kinds. Face-to-face contact with a dog or bear can be a sign of aggression. It’s normal to blink. However, you should watch out for excessive or infrequent blinking. When people are feeling uncomfortable or stressed, they blink more.
The size of the pupil can be used as a nonverbal communication tool. Emotions can also affect the size of pupils. You might have heard the term ‘Bedroom Eyes’ to describe a person’s gaze when they are attracted to another person. Strongly dilated pupils may indicate that someone is excited or interested. Mouth gestures or movements are also important to consider when interpreting bodylanguage. For example, if someone is chewing on their lower lip it can indicate that they are feeling anxious, worried, or insecure.
When someone is coughing or yawning, covering their mouth may be an act of respect. However, it could also be a way to conceal a frown that indicates disapproval. Smiling can be seen in many different ways. A smile may be genuine or convey fake happiness, irony, or cynicism. Lip clenching may indicate disapproval, disappointment or distrust. When people are anxious, worried or stressed they may bite their lip. Covering the mouth can be done to cover up an emotional response. A slight change in the way a person’s mouth moves can give hints about how they feel. A person may feel hopeful or happy when their mouths slightly turn up. A slightly downward-turned lip can indicate disappointment or rejection.
The most obvious and direct body language signals are gestures. The most common gestures include waving and pointing. Some gestures are cultural. For example, a thumbs up or peace sign in one country could have a completely different meaning than in another. In some cases, clenching your fist could be a sign of anger. Thumbs up or down are commonly used as approval or disapproval gestures. The “okay” gesture is used by Americans to indicate ‘allright’ and ‘okay.’ This involves touching the index finger and thumb in a circular motion while extending the remaining three fingers. The same signal can be used in Europe to mean something completely different. It is also possible to use the legs and arms as nonverbal communication. Crossing the arms is a defensive sign. If you cross your legs or point your feet away, it may be a sign of discomfort or aversion. Some subtle signs, such as widening the arms to make them appear larger or dominant, can also be used to try to distract or reduce attention. Keep in mind the following body language signs when observing the arm and leg movements.
It can sometimes be an indication that a person believes themselves to be in control. It is almost always an indication of frustration or impatience to tap fingers quickly and repeatedly. Body language is a non-verbal way to communicate. The word posture describes how we hold our bodies and the overall shape of an individual. The posture of a human being can tell a lot of things about the person, including their mood and whether or not they are open-minded, confident, or submissive. It is an indication of confidence and alertness when a person walks straight back and looks forward. A person who walks with their back hunched down and looks downwards is insecure. Straight sitting can indicate that a person is paying attention and concentrating. In contrast, a person sitting with their back hunched may seem bored or uninterested. Personal space is a term we’ve heard before. Do you feel uncomfortable if someone gets too close? Edward T. Hall was the anthropologist who coined the word proxemics. It refers to how distance affects the relationship between two people. The physical distance between people can communicate a great deal of nonverbal communication.
Hall describes the four different levels of personal distance that can be found in various situations. This distance ranges from 6 inches to 18 inchs. This space tends to be reserved for close friends and family members. Personal distance is defined as 1.5-4 ft. The distance between family and friends is the personal distance. This distance is reserved for people you know but are not close to. The final distance is between 12 and 15 ft. The public distance is used to give presentations or speeches in front of a large audience. Personal space can also vary by culture. North Americans are used to a greater personal space. South America’s and Caribbean’s people have a far smaller personal area. South America embraces and touches its friends in a way that is considered odd or disrespectful to Americans. Understanding non-verbal communication will help you to better communicate with others. Take into account all non verbal aspects of the person. This includes verbal, tone and bodylanguage.
