Lesson in Social Psychology, Introduction to Psychology and General Psychology

1. Socializing with Body Language
Prepared by:
Orlando A. Pistan, MAEd-GC
Psychology Instructor

2. Socializing with Body Language
According to experts, 55% of what we convey
comes from body language, 38% from the tone
of voice, and only 7% from what we actually say.
This means that when we face someone, we
have to take into account these three factors . In
addition to what a person’s appearance may
suggest.
So if you want to gain insights into someone’s
personality when dealing with them, pay
attention to the following clues.

3. 1. Eye Contact
 If someone literally cant take their eyes off
you, it could mean “interest”.
 If you look someone in the eye and they
cant look back at you, it’s a sign that they
are either “nervous” or they are “hiding
something” from you.
 If you look still, to someone and it makes
them squirm, it could mean they are “lying”.

4. 2. Eye Brows
 Eye brows can convey how comfortable a
person is.
 Surprise, Worry and Fear can make the eye
brows go up.
 Raising one’s eye brow in a casual and
relaxed conversation is difficult.
 If someone talking to you raises their eye
brows in the middle of a talk, it means
theyare pretty much uncomfortable.

5. 3. Smile
 When it comes to smiling, the mouth can
lie, but the eyes can’t.
 Genuine smiles reach the eyes.
 People often smile to hide what they are
thinking or feeling.
 Look for crinkles (wrinkles) at the corners of
their eyes. If they aren’t there, that smile is
hiding something.

6. 4. What they say.
 If you meet someone and all they do is talk
about how wonderful someone is, or praise
their colleagues, chances are they are
pretty “Decent” persons themselves.
 Studies shows that the more a person rate
others as kind, polite, loving and well-
mannered, the more likely they are to also
possess these traits.
 However, the reverse is also true. It is also
likely that they have history of depression
and personality disorder.

7. 5. Paralanguage
 Paralanguage is non-verbal communication
such as your tone, pitch or manner of
speaking.
 If someone is answering you in monotone,
they are unattached to your concept and
not interested.
 When someone is using sarcasm, it actually
means the opposite of what is being said.
 Put attention to the emphasis someone
puts on words and how they say it.

8. 6. Side Glance
 People that are warm and interested will
have their body facing you and look you in
the eyes.
 If someone immediately glance away to the
side upon meeting you, this is a
subconscious body language that they are
looking for escape.

9. 7. Nodding
 Nodding is usually a sign that someone agrees
with you.
 But exaggerated nodding may signal “anxiety
about approval”.
 When someone nods excessively, it means
they are worried about what you think of
them; or that you doubt their ability to follow
instructions.
 Frequent nodding could also be unconscious
gestures that are cues for the other person to
“get a move on”, just like when a person
keeps looking at his watch or touches their car
keys.

10. 8. Rubbing Hands
 It is believed that the hands broadcast
what the head is thinking.
 Rubbing hands mean a person has a
positive feeling about something.
 People do it when they are hopeful and
excited.

11. 9. Leaning in or away.
 If a person leans in toward you, is an
indication that they are interested in what
you have to say.
 It is also a sign of “respect”. When people
come closer during a conversation, it shows
that they want to confide in you. You are
trustworthy and valued.
 Leaning away means they are tired of the
conversation or they are uncomfortable.

12. 10. Crossed arms and legs
 Crossed arms and legs are not a good sign,
they are physical barriers. It suggests that
the person is not open to what you are
saying.
 Even when they are smiling and seemingly
engaged in a pleasant conversation, their
body language tells the story.
 Psychologically, crossed legs, or arms, signal
that a person is mentally, emotionally and
physically blocked off from what is in front
of them.

13. 11. Shoes
 Studies shows that a person’s shoes
accurately reveal one’s personality.
 Nervous people would have very clean
or new shoes.
 Friendly persons wears practical shoes.
 Aggressive people wear ankle boots.

14. 12. Overall appearance
 If a person has their hair in place,
their clothing pressed, and they
show attention with styles, they are
very detailed oriented.

15. 12. Overall appearance
 Someone with the more casual
wardrobe and messy hair might be
creative;

16. 13. Copying Body Language
 If you’ve never tried observing and
assessing people before, this is
probably you haven’t noticed. But
pay close attention to it in the
future. Because when someone
mimics your body language, it
means they feel so good about you
that they want to harmonize with
you.

17. 13. Copying Body Language
 It is a sign that your conversation
with each other is going well and
that both parties are receptive to
messages.
 This is done unconsciously. When we
are comfortable with people, we
tend to do what they do.

18. Socializing with Body Language
Assessing people isn’t easy. But if you can
do it, it is a fantastic skill to have.
Of course everyone is different, so
interpreting their words and actions may
or may not be always accurate.
But hopefully with these tips, you’ll be
well on your way to becoming better in
assessing people.

19. Socializing with Body Language
Thank you for paying
attention.