![]() ![]() Science confirms that when people cross their arms, as I used to do, they are not interested in engaging with others or hearing new information. Let’s look in more depth at some examples of body language.įirst, our body posture sends all kinds of clear information about our mood or our readiness to interact with others (Phutela, 2015). In other words, effective displays (and interpretation) of body language are basic social abilities. Without the ability to read other people in this way, and communicate with our own body language, we will have trouble adapting socially (Rose & Clarke, 2009). To return to an earlier example, if a typically loving grandparent said, “It’s so great to see you,” and smiled, but showed reluctance in the rest of their body language, a grandchild might pick up on the discrepancy – although not necessarily consciously – and wonder what is wrong. For example, research studies have shown that when there is a mismatch between a person’s facial expression and what the rest of their body language is showing, we tend to trust the body language more (Meeren et al., 2005). Understanding body language is also important because we seem to trust it more than other forms of information. But is the fearful person about to lash out, shut down, or run away? Other aspects of body language can provide that additional information. For example, a person who is feeling fear may show it in their face, and that information is helpful to the people around them. Our body language communicates not just what we are feeling, but also what we might do next (de Gelder, 2006). Darwin saw all of this behavior as being adaptive – we engage in body language because it is an effective way to communicate with other beings. In his early writings, Darwin began to trace how certain facial expressions and bodily behaviors were related to certain emotions, both in humans and in other animals (Darwin & Prodger, 1998). In fact, our brains show a lot more activation when we watch dynamic body language – bodies in motion – than when we view body language that is static (Kret et al., 2010).īody language is so fundamental to interpersonal communication that the first modern scientist to study it in depth and describe its importance is none other than Charles Darwin. Interestingly, we seem to do better interpreting body language when it is unfolding in time – such as watching a person interact with somebody else – than we do when we just look at a photograph or see a person for only a moment (Atkinson et al., 2004). Next, we think more deliberately about what the different aspects of body language we are observing mean in combination: for example, what does your posture mean, and what does it mean in the context of your facial expression and words? First, we have an almost automatic, speedy reaction that is based in our gut understanding of what certain body language behaviors mean. Neuroscience tells us that we interpret body language in two stages (de Gelder, 2006). ![]() Think of how a loving grandparent might smile, open their arms wide, and even beckon you forward as they say, “It’s so good to see you, sweetie.” When our body language and our spoken words are in agreement, they emphasize each other. Our body language can communicate something opposite to what we are saying out loud, such as when somebody says they are not nervous, but the smile that accompanies this statement is not a genuine one (Harrison & Taing, 1997).Ĥ) Emphasizing what you’ve said. For example, I might tell you that I have a lot of work to do this week, and you might deduce from my raised shoulders and furrowed brow that I am worried about getting it all done.ģ) Contradicting what you’ve said. Sometimes, body language can add more layers of meaning to what is being said out loud. Instead of using words to send a message, we can sometimes say everything we need to say simply through body language.Ģ) Adding meaning to what you’ve said. Broadly speaking, the categories of body language are the orientation of the body (such as toward the other person speaking), hand gestures, eye contact, facial expressions, and our posture (Phutela, 2015).īody language can achieve at least four communicative goals (Phutela, 2015):ġ) Substituting for spoken language. ![]() Usually, the information we are conveying is related to our emotions, but it can also include more general cues about who we are. Body language is sometimes referred to as kinesics, and it includes all the ways that we use our bodies (but not our voices) to communicate information (Phutela, 2015). ![]()
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