1. [edit] Understanding body language
The technique of 'reading' people is used frequently. For example, the idea of
mirroring body language to put people at ease is commonly used in interviews.
Mirroring the body language of someone else indicates that they are understood.
Body language signals may have a goal other than communication. Both people
would keep this in mind. Observers limit the weight they place on non-verbal cues.
Signalers clarify their signals to indicate the biological origin of their actions.
[edit] Physical Expression
Physical expressions like waving, pointing, touching and slouching are all forms of
nonverbal communication. The study of body movement and expression is known as
kinesics. Humans move their bodies when communicating because, as research has
shown[citation needed]
, it helps "ease the mental effort when communication is difficult."
Physical expressions reveal many things about the person using them. For example,
gestures can emphasize a point or relay a message, posture can reveal boredom or
great interest, and touch can convey encouragement or caution.[4]
• One of the most basic and powerful body-language signals is when a person
crosses his or her arms across the chest. This can indicate that a person is
putting up an unconscious barrier between themselves and others. It can also
indicate that the person's arms are cold which would be clarified by rubbing
the arms or huddling. When the overall situation is amicable, it can mean that
a person is thinking deeply about what is being discussed. But in a serious or
confrontational situation, it can mean that a person is expressing opposition.
This is especially so if the person is leaning away from the speaker. A harsh or
blank facial expression often indicates outright hostility.
• Consistent eye contact can indicate that a person is thinking positively of what
the speaker is saying. It can also mean that the other person doesn't trust the
speaker enough to "take his eyes off" the speaker. Lack of eye contact can
indicate negativity. On the other hand, individuals with anxiety disorders are
often unable to make eye contact without discomfort. Eye contact is often a
secondary and misleading gesture because we are taught from an early age to
make eye contact when speaking. If a person is looking at you but is making
the arms-across-chest signal, the eye contact could be indicative that
something is bothering the person, and that he wants to talk about it. Or if
while making direct eye contact a person is fiddling with something, even
while directly looking at you, it could indicate the attention is elsewhere. Also
there are three standard areas that a person will look which represent different
states of being. If the person looks from one eye to the other then to the
forehead it is a sign that they are taking an authoritative position. If they move
from one eye to the other then to the nose, that signals that they are engaging
in what they consider to be a "level conversation" with neither party holding
superiority. The last case is from one eye to the other and then down to the
lips. This is a strong indication of romantic feelings.
2. • Disbelief is often indicated by averted gaze, or by touching the ear or
scratching the chin. When a person is not being convinced by what someone is
saying, the attention invariably wanders, and the eyes will stare away for an
extended period.[5]
• Boredom is indicated by the head tilting to one side, or by the eyes looking
straight at the speaker but becoming slightly unfocused. A head tilt may also
indicate a sore neck or Amblyopia, and unfocused eyes may indicate ocular
problems in the listener.
• Interest can be indicated through posture or extended eye contact, such as
standing and listening properly.
• Deceit or the act of withholding information can sometimes be indicated by
touching the face during conversation. Excessive blinking is a well-known
indicator of someone who is lying. Recently, evidence has surfaced that the
absence of blinking can also represent lying as a more reliable factor than
excessive blinking. [1]
It should be noted that some people (e.g., people with certain disabilities, or those on
the autistic spectrum) use and understand body language differently, or not at all.
Interpreting their gestures and facial expressions (or lack thereof) in the context of
normal body language usually leads to misunderstandings and misinterpretations
(especially if body language is given priority over spoken language). It should also be
stated that people from different cultures can interpret body language in different
ways.
[edit] Examples list
• Hands on knees: indicates readiness.[6]
• Hands on hips: indicates impatience.[6]
• Lock your hands behind your back: indicates self-control.[6]
• Locked hands behind head: states confidence.[6]
• Sitting with a leg over the arm of the chair: suggests indifference.[6]
• Legs and feet pointed in a particular direction: the direction where more
interest is felt[6]
• Crossed arms: indicates submissiveness.[7]
Body language is a form of non-verbal communication involving the use of stylized
gestures, postures, and physiologic signs which act as cues to other people. Humans,
sometimes unconsciously, send and receive non-verbal signals all the time.
[edit] How prevalent is non-verbal communication in
humans?
Some researchers put the level of nonverbal communication as high as 80 percent of
all communication when it could be at around 50-65 percent. Different studies have
found differing amounts, with some studies showing that facial communication is
believed 4.3 times more often than verbal meaning, and another finding that verbal
3. communication in a flat tone is 4 times more likely to be understood than a pure facial
expression. Albert Mehrabian is noted for finding a 7%-38%-55% rule, supposedly
denoting how much communication was conferred by words, tone, and body
language. However he was only referring to cases of expressing feelings or attitudes,
such as when a person says "I do not have a problem with you!" when people
commonly focus on the tone of voice, and body language of the person, rather than
the actual words said. It is a common misconception that these percentages apply to
all communication.[8]
[edit] Body language and space
Interpersonal space refers to the psychological "bubble" that we can imagine exists
when someone is standing way too close to us. Research has revealed that there are
four different zones of interpersonal space. The first zone is called intimate distance
and ranges from touching to about eighteen inches (46 cm) apart. Intimate distance is
the space around us that we reserve for lovers, children, as well as close family
members and friends. The second zone is called personal distance and begins about an
arm's length away; starting around eighteen inches (46 cm) from our person and
ending about four feet (122 cm) away. We use personal distance in conversations with
friends, to chat with associates, and in group discussions. The third zone of
interpersonal space is called social distance and is the area that ranges from four to
eight feet (1.2 m - 2.4 m) away from you. Social distance is reserved for strangers,
newly formed groups, and new acquaintances. The fourth identified zone of space is
public distance and includes anything more than eight feet (2.4 m) away from you.
This zone is used for speeches, lectures, and theater; essentially, public distance is that
range reserved for larger audiences.[9]
![[edit] Understanding body language
The technique of 'reading' people is used frequently. For example, the idea of
mirroring body language to put people at ease is commonly used in interviews.
Mirroring the body language of someone else indicates that they are understood.
Body language signals may have a goal other than communication. Both people
would keep this in mind. Observers limit the weight they place on non-verbal cues.
Signalers clarify their signals to indicate the biological origin of their actions.
[edit] Physical Expression
Physical expressions like waving, pointing, touching and slouching are all forms of
nonverbal communication. The study of body movement and expression is known as
kinesics. Humans move their bodies when communicating because, as research has
shown[citation needed]
, it helps "ease the mental effort when communication is difficult."
Physical expressions reveal many things about the person using them. For example,
gestures can emphasize a point or relay a message, posture can reveal boredom or
great interest, and touch can convey encouragement or caution.[4]
• One of the most basic and powerful body-language signals is when a person
crosses his or her arms across the chest. This can indicate that a person is
putting up an unconscious barrier between themselves and others. It can also
indicate that the person's arms are cold which would be clarified by rubbing
the arms or huddling. When the overall situation is amicable, it can mean that
a person is thinking deeply about what is being discussed. But in a serious or
confrontational situation, it can mean that a person is expressing opposition.
This is especially so if the person is leaning away from the speaker. A harsh or
blank facial expression often indicates outright hostility.
• Consistent eye contact can indicate that a person is thinking positively of what
the speaker is saying. It can also mean that the other person doesn't trust the
speaker enough to "take his eyes off" the speaker. Lack of eye contact can
indicate negativity. On the other hand, individuals with anxiety disorders are
often unable to make eye contact without discomfort. Eye contact is often a
secondary and misleading gesture because we are taught from an early age to
make eye contact when speaking. If a person is looking at you but is making
the arms-across-chest signal, the eye contact could be indicative that
something is bothering the person, and that he wants to talk about it. Or if
while making direct eye contact a person is fiddling with something, even
while directly looking at you, it could indicate the attention is elsewhere. Also
there are three standard areas that a person will look which represent different
states of being. If the person looks from one eye to the other then to the
forehead it is a sign that they are taking an authoritative position. If they move
from one eye to the other then to the nose, that signals that they are engaging
in what they consider to be a "level conversation" with neither party holding
superiority. The last case is from one eye to the other and then down to the
lips. This is a strong indication of romantic feelings.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/bodylanguage-160121175945/85/Body-language-1-320.jpg)
![• Disbelief is often indicated by averted gaze, or by touching the ear or
scratching the chin. When a person is not being convinced by what someone is
saying, the attention invariably wanders, and the eyes will stare away for an
extended period.[5]
• Boredom is indicated by the head tilting to one side, or by the eyes looking
straight at the speaker but becoming slightly unfocused. A head tilt may also
indicate a sore neck or Amblyopia, and unfocused eyes may indicate ocular
problems in the listener.
• Interest can be indicated through posture or extended eye contact, such as
standing and listening properly.
• Deceit or the act of withholding information can sometimes be indicated by
touching the face during conversation. Excessive blinking is a well-known
indicator of someone who is lying. Recently, evidence has surfaced that the
absence of blinking can also represent lying as a more reliable factor than
excessive blinking. [1]
It should be noted that some people (e.g., people with certain disabilities, or those on
the autistic spectrum) use and understand body language differently, or not at all.
Interpreting their gestures and facial expressions (or lack thereof) in the context of
normal body language usually leads to misunderstandings and misinterpretations
(especially if body language is given priority over spoken language). It should also be
stated that people from different cultures can interpret body language in different
ways.
[edit] Examples list
• Hands on knees: indicates readiness.[6]
• Hands on hips: indicates impatience.[6]
• Lock your hands behind your back: indicates self-control.[6]
• Locked hands behind head: states confidence.[6]
• Sitting with a leg over the arm of the chair: suggests indifference.[6]
• Legs and feet pointed in a particular direction: the direction where more
interest is felt[6]
• Crossed arms: indicates submissiveness.[7]
Body language is a form of non-verbal communication involving the use of stylized
gestures, postures, and physiologic signs which act as cues to other people. Humans,
sometimes unconsciously, send and receive non-verbal signals all the time.
[edit] How prevalent is non-verbal communication in
humans?
Some researchers put the level of nonverbal communication as high as 80 percent of
all communication when it could be at around 50-65 percent. Different studies have
found differing amounts, with some studies showing that facial communication is
believed 4.3 times more often than verbal meaning, and another finding that verbal](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)