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Learn how to read and use body language, a vital form of communication that conveys emotions, intentions, and attitudes. Find out how to interpret facial expressions, gestures, posture, and microexpressions, and how to mirror and influence others with body language.
- Body language is a vital form of communication, but most of it happens below the level of conscious awareness. When you wait for a blind date to ar...
- The face is the first place to look , arching eyebrows might indicate an invitation of sorts, and smiling is another indication that the person we...
- If a person repeatedly touches your arm, places a light hand on your shoulder, or knocks elbows with you, the person is attracted to you and is d...
- A common form of body language is mirroring another person’s gestures and mannerisms; mirroring also includes mimicking another person’s speech pat...
- When you want to persuade or influence a person, mirroring can be an effective way to build rapport. Salespeople who use this with prospective cl...
- People who are attracted to one another indeed copy each other’s movements and mannerisms. In fact, many animals mirror as well. That is why cats...
- If you tilt your head while looking at a baby, the baby relaxes. Why is that? The same applies to couples who are in love, tilting the head expos...
- Eye blocking , or covering your eyes, expresses emotions such as frustration and worry. And sometimes the eyelids shut to show determination, while...
- When you’re stressed out, touching or stroking the neck signals a pacifying behavior. We all rub our necks at the back, the sides, and also und...
- What Is Body Language?
- Why Is Body Language So Important?
- Open Body Language Examples
- Closed Body Language Examples
- What Are The 11 Types of Body Language?
- Body Language Mini FAQ
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Body language is the science of nonverbal signals such as gestures, facial expressions, and eye gaze that communicate a person’s emotions and intentions. In total, there are 11 types of body language that we use to communicate. Unlike words, body language is often done subconsciously and constitutes a large part of our communication. Our founder at...
Body language is a key part of how we communicate with each other. It helps show our feelings and attitudes, even when our words say something different. Being good at understanding body language can make conversations better and help people get along well. People who are good at reading body language typically excel in their careers, have great re...
The Eyebrow Flash
When someone does an eyebrow flash, you’ll typically see their eyebrows raise slightly for less than ⅕ of a second. What it Means: The eyebrow raise is a great sign of interest. People tend to use the eyebrow flash in 3 main ways: 1. The eyebrow flash can show interest professionally, as when giving approval, agreeing to something, thanking someone, or seeking confirmation. It’s used as a nonverbal “yes” during conversation. 2. The eyebrow flash can also show interest romantically. 3. Or the...
The Equal Handshake
An equal handshake has these 7 elements: 1. good eye contact 2. a warm, genuine smile 3. an extended arm with a slight bend at the elbow 4. fingers pointing downward while approaching the other person’s hand 5. this one’s the big one—EQUAL pressure during the hand clasp 6. slight forward lean toward the other person 7. a slow release after 1–2 seconds What it Means:This handshake is a breath of fresh air and signals mutual respect for both parties. An equal handshake signals confidence, openn...
Authentic Mirroring
Displaying similar body language to other participants during a social situation. What it Means: Mirroring is a highly rapport-building cue that signals a desire to connect with someone else. People tend to mirror only whom they like, and seeing someone else mirror our own body language creates a feeling of similarity and likeness. The Science: Mirroring is powerful. Studies have shown that mirroring leads to the following: 1. Greater compliance4https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21375122/with r...
Crossed Ankles
The feet are crossed, and one ankle lies on top of the other. This can be done whether sitting or standing—or even with the feet on the table. What it Means:A person crossing their ankles might feel uncomfortable and closed-off, although there is an exception (I’ll talk about that below). The tighter their ankles are locked, the more anxiety or stress the person may be experiencing. Women often sit with their ankles locked8https://www.amazon.com/What-Every-Body-Saying-Speed-Reading/dp/0061438...
Hand Clasping
When we don’t have someone else to hold onto, we might choose to hold our own hand. Sometimes we interlace our fingers, and other times we hug one hand on top of the other. Here’s an interesting fact: every time we interlock our fingers, one thumb is on top, and this is our dominant thumbPeoplewatchig. For most people, it feels super weird if we switch thumbs and put our dominant one underneath! What it Means:Interlaced fingers are a form of “self-hug.” Essentially, people who perform this ge...
Blading
Have you ever seen a fencing bout before? These guys are on their feet, constantly moving back and forth in a game of who-can-stab-the-other-guy-first. It’s basically chess but with swords. But the way that fencers use their stance is exactly what people do when closing off. When blading, the torso is turned away, maximizing reach, while minimizing damage to the oh-so-vulnerable frontal parts in the event of contact. Since up to 90%16https://www.livescience.com/what-causes-left-handedness.htm...
Besides open and closed, body language can be further broken down into 11 different channels, including facial expressions, body proxemics, and ornaments.
Here are some other questions I’ve been asked about body language, which I’ve compiled into a mini FAQ: I hope this article has been useful to you! To continue the guide, please click on the next article link below. And if you have any other questions about body language, please leave a comment below so I can potentially add it to the mini FAQ! To ...
Learn how to decode body language with 23 essential cues and their meanings. Discover how to use body language to communicate interest, respect, confidence, and rapport in various situations.
- Facial Expressions. Think for a moment about how much a person is able to convey with just a facial expression. A smile can indicate approval or happiness.
- The Eyes. © Verywell, 2017. The eyes are frequently referred to as the "windows to the soul" since they are capable of revealing a great deal about what a person is feeling or thinking.
- The Mouth. Mouth expressions and movements can also be essential in reading body language. For example, chewing on the bottom lip may indicate that the individual is experiencing feelings of worry, fear, or insecurity.
- Gestures. Gestures can be some of the most direct and obvious body language signals. Waving, pointing, and using the fingers to indicate numerical amounts are all very common and easy to understand gestures.
- Crystal Raypole
- First, a few things to keep in mind. According to Dr. Emily Cook, a marriage and family therapist in Bethesda, MD, body language plays an essential role in how we share information with others.
- Decoding the mouth. Share on Pinterest. If someone’s smiling, that’s a good sign, right? Not necessarily. Different smiles mean different things. The same goes for the position of someone’s lips.
- The eyes can say a lot. Eyes can convey a lot of information about someone’s mood and level of interest. Blinking. People tend to blink rapidly when under some sort of stress.
- Watching the arms and legs. Share on Pinterest. Although people usually use their arms and legs to make purposeful gestures, movements that happen more instinctively can also reveal a lot about emotions.
Body language is a range of nonverbal signals that you can use to communicate your feelings and intentions. These include your posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures. Your ability to understand and interpret other people's body language can help you to pick up on unspoken issues or feelings.
Oct 21, 2021 · Learn what body language is, how to interpret it, and why it matters for communication. Explore the types, tips, and pitfalls of nonverbal communication with examples and expert advice.
May 8, 2024 · Learn how to read and use body language to build better relationships at home and work. Find out the types, roles, and importance of nonverbal communication, and how to avoid common pitfalls and misinterpretations.
