Understanding Body Language

well, it’s my first post i hope you like it.

when i was browsing to do my assignment i found some interesting articles about body language.

sources :

• wikipedia
• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/body-language-gestures.html
• http://www.wikihow.com/Read-Body-Language.html

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, 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.

• 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 their 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 can also be a secondary and misleading gesture because cultural norms about it vary widely. 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Body Language and Gestures

• Brisk and Erect walk This body language means confidence.
• Person standing with hands on hips This body language means readiness and aggression
• Person sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly This body language means boredom.
• Person sitting with legs apart This body language means an open and relaxed person.
• Person tapping or drumming with his fingers This body language means that the person is impatient.
• Patting/fondling hair This body language means lack of self confidence and insecurity.
• Tilting head quickly This body language indicates interest in some person or thing.
• Person walking with hands in pockets, shoulders hunched This body language shows a person in dejection
• Person brings hand to cheek : The person is evaluating and thinking
• Touching, slightly rubbing nose : The person is rejected, in doubt and maybe lying.
• Rubbing the eye : The person is in doubt or disbelief.
• Hands clasped behind back : The person is angry, frustrated and apprehensive.
• Person Stroking chin This indicates that the person is trying to make a decision.
• Person looking down, face turned away Just means disbelief.
• Someone biting nails This is a proof of insecurity and nervousness.
• Pulling or tugging the ear:  The person is indecisive.
• Person with prolonged tilted head Indicates boredom

Some people 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.

Body language and space

terpersonal space refers to the psychological “bubble” that we can imagine exists when someone is standing 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, and also pet animals.
• 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.

how to read body language

1. Pay attention to how close someone is to you. The closer they are, the warmer their opinions are of you. The farther away that someone is, the less they actually care of the situation or person. If you move slightly closer to them, do they move slightly further away? That means they don’t want your interaction to be any more personal than it already is. If they don’t move further away, then they are receptive. And if they respond by getting even closer to you, they probably really like you or are very comfortable around/by you.
2. watch their head position

• Overly tilted heads are either a potential sign of sympathy, or if a person smiles while tilting their head, they are being playful and maybe even flirting.
• Lowered heads indicate a reason to hide something. Take note if someone lowers their head. If it is when he is complimented, he may be shy, ashamed, timid, keeping distance from the other person, in disbelief, or thinking to himself or herself. If it is after an explanation, then he may be unsure if what he said was correct.
  • It should be noted that some cultures see this as a sign of respect.
• Cocked heads mean that they are confused or challenging you, depending on eye, eyebrow, and mouth gestures. Think of how a dog slightly cocks its head when you make a funny noise.

3.Look into their eyes

• People who look to the sides a lot are nervous, lying, or distracted. However, if a person looks away from the speaker, it very well could be a comfort display or indicate submissiveness. Looking askance generally means the person is distrustful or unconvinced.
• If someone looks down at the floor a lot, they are probably shy or timid.
• Some cultures believe that looking at someone in the eyes is a sign of disrespect, so this could explain why someone is avoiding eye contact with you.
• Dilated pupils mean that the person is interested. Keep in mind, however, that many drugs cause pupils to dilate, including alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA, LSD and others. Don’t mistake having a few drinks for attraction. Also, some people have permanently dilated pupils (a condition known as mydriasis).

4. See if they’re mirroring you. Mirroring is another common gesture. If someone mirrors, or mimics your appearance, this is a very genuine sign that they are interested in you and trying to establish rapport with you. Try changing your body position here and there. If you find that they change theirs similarly, they are mirroring.

5. Check their arms.

• People with crossed arms are closing themselves to social influence. Though some people just cross their arms as a habit, it may indicate that the person is (slightly) reserved, uncomfortable with their appearance, or just trying to hide something on their shirt. If their arms are crossed while their feet are shoulder width or wider apart, this is a position of toughness or authority.
• If someone rests their arms behind their neck or head, they are open to what is being discussed or just laid back in general.
• If their hands are on their hips, they might be waiting or impatient.

6. Be aware of nervous gestures:

• If someone brushes their hair back with their fingers, this may be preening, a common gesture if the person likes you, or their thoughts about something conflict with yours. They might not voice this. If you see raised eyebrows during this time, you can be pretty sure that they disagree with you.
• If the person wears glasses, and is constantly pushing them up onto their nose again, with a slight frown, that may also indicate they disagree with what you are saying. Look to make sure they push up their glasses with an intent, not casually adjusting them. Look for pushing on the rim with two fingers, or an extra motion of wiggling the side of their glasses. The frown or raised eyebrows should tip you off.
• Lowered eyebrows and squinted eyes illustrate an attempt at understanding what is being said or going on. It’s usually skeptical. This is presuming they are not trying to observe something that’s far away.

7. Watch their feet:

• A fast tapping, shifting of weight, laughing, or movement of the foot will most often mean that the person is impatient, excited, nervous, scared, or intimidated.
  • Note though that some people with ADHD will constantly jiggle their legs. It doesn’t mean anything, it’s entirely subconscious and, while eccentric, it can’t be stopped.
• If the person is sitting, feet crossed at the ankles means they’re generally at ease.
• If while standing, a person seems to always keep their feet very close together, it probably means they are trying to be “proper” in some way.
• If they purposely touch their feet to yours, they are flirting!

Tips :

• It’s easy to spot a confident person; they will make prolonged eye contact and have a strong posture. Long eye contact can also be found in lovers’ eyes.
• If a person talks at a fast rate and mumbles or isn’t clear on what they are saying they are lying (trying to stall for time) or not telling the full truth (being vague). (But be aware that some people do actually mumble)
• Don’t isolate yourself by constantly examining body language when interacting with people. Otherwise, there is no reason to gain a social upper hand anyway. This is paralysis by analysis.
• Watch the face, it will usually give off a quick involuntary and sometimes subconscious twitch when something happens that irritates, excites, or amuses them.
• Observing in context is key to understanding body language.
• Keep in mind that each person has their own unique body language called baseline behaviors.
• When observing others, be subtle about it.

Pay special attention to changes in body language rather than the body language itself.

 

so that’s all. hope you like it.