The ability to understand body language can lead to success in both personal and professional relationships, because nonverbal communication gives up to 60% meaning in interpersonal communication. Therefore, paying attention to the body language signals that other people send and being able to read them effectively are very useful skills. With a little attention, you can learn to read body language accurately. And with enough practice, reading body language will become your natural ability.
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Method 1 of 5: Reading Emotional Cues
Step 1. Watch for crying
In most cultures, crying is considered an emotional outburst. Crying is often seen as a sign of sadness or grief, but crying can also be an expression of happiness. Crying can also result from laughter and humor. Therefore, when assessing crying, you should look at other cues to determine the appropriate crying context.
Crying can also be forced or manipulated to gain sympathy or to deceive others. This practice is often known as "crocodile tears", a colloquial expression that takes on the myth that crocodiles "cry" when they catch prey
Step 2. Look for signs of anger and/or threats
Signs of threatening include drooping eyebrows, bulging eyes, and an open or curved mouth.
Arms crossed firmly over the other is a common sign that someone is angry and withdrawn
Step 3. Look for signs of anxiety
When a person shows anxiety, facial movements and blinking of his eyes increase, and his mouth is straight in a thin line.
- Anxious individuals may also move or squeeze their hands, unable to keep them in one position.
- Anxiety can also be conveyed when a person appears to be tapping their feet involuntarily or moving them restlessly.
Step 4. Notice the embarrassed expression
Shyness can be signaled by averting the eyes or turning the gaze, turning the head, and displaying a controlled or even tense smile.
If a person stares at the floor a lot, he or she may be shy, shy, or timid. People also tend to look down when they're upset, or trying to hide something emotional. Usually when a person is in the process of staring at the floor, he or she is thinking and feeling unpleasant emotions
Step 5. Notice the form of arrogance
Someone shows arrogance by showing a small smile, tilting their head back slightly, and placing their hands on their hips.
Method 2 of 5: Reading Proximity Gestures
Step 1. Assess proxemic and haptic, or distance and touch settings
This is one way of communicating the status of interpersonal relationships. Physical closeness and touch signal love, affection, and love.
- People in close relationships require less personal space than strangers.
- Note that personal space varies by culture; Please remember that what is considered close in one country will be considered far in another.
Step 2. Read the gaze
Research has found that when two people engage in an interesting conversation, their eyes stay focused on the other person's face about 80% of the time. They don't just focus on each other's eyes, but focus on the eyes for a few minutes, then move to the nose or lips, then back to the eyes. They may stare at the table every now and then, but always look back into the eyes of the other person.
- When someone looks up and to the right during a conversation, it usually means they are bored and don't care about the conversation.
- Dilated pupils mean the person is interested in what is happening. But keep in mind that many substances can cause pupils to dilate, including alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, illegal drugs and more.
- Eye contact is also often used as an indication of honesty. Eye contact that is too aggressive or persistent indicates that the person is well aware of what message he or she is trying to convey. People who are trying to cheat may bend eye contact so they don't appear evasive, which is generally considered an indication of lying. However, keep in mind that as noted earlier, there is a great deal of individual variation in how to evaluate eye contact and lying.
Step 3. Pay attention to posture
If a person puts their arms behind their neck or head, they are signaling that they are open to what is being discussed or that in general they are just relaxing.
- Firmly crossed legs and arms are usually a sign of rejection and lack of acceptance of others. In general, when the body is positioned in this way, it is a sign that the person is closing himself off from others, both mentally, emotionally, and physically.
- One study that studied 2,000 recorded negotiations to assess the body language of negotiators showed that there was no agreement in every case where the participants crossed their arms or legs.
Method 3 of 5: Reading Signs of Interest
Step 1. Evaluate eye contact
Eye contact is a sign of attraction, as is blinking your eyes more than an average of 6 to 10 times per minute.
Winking one eye is also a sign of flirting or interest. But keep in mind that this method is culturally specific; some Asian cultures do not like the blink of an eye and consider it rude
Step 2. Pay attention to certain facial expressions
Smiling is one of the most obvious signs of attraction. Make sure you know how to interpret a forced smile with a genuine smile. You can tell a fake smile from a genuine smile because a fake smile doesn't reach your eyes. A sincere smile generally causes thin wrinkles around the eyes (smile wrinkles). If someone is faking a smile, you won't see this frown.
Raising an eyebrow is also considered a sign of seduction
Step 3. Consider posture, hand movements, and standing
Generally people who are attracted to each other try to close the distance between each other. Maybe they lean more towards each other but it can also be more direct, in the form of touch. A light pat or caress is a sign of interest.
- Interest can also be signaled by their feet pointing or facing the person they are attracted to.
- Palms facing up are also another sign of romantic attraction because the gesture shows openness.
Step 4. Be aware of gender differences in showing interest
The way women and men show interest through body language can be very different.
- Men tend to bring and point their torso in the direction of the person they are attracted to, while women reciprocate the attraction by pulling their torso away and leaning back.
- An interested man might raise his arms above his head, at a 90-degree angle.
- When a woman shows interest, her arms may be spread apart, and her hands may touch the body in the area between her hips and chin.
Method 4 of 5: Reading Signs of Power
Step 1. Pay attention to eye contact
Eye contact, as a kinetic channel, is the primary way many people communicate dominance. People who have dominance will freely stare and observe others when making direct eye contact. He was also the last person to break eye contact.
If you want to assert power, keep in mind that constant eye contact can be intimidating
Step 2. Assess facial expressions
People who express dominance will also refrain from smiling in an attempt to communicate seriousness and may otherwise frown or purse their lips.
Step 3. Evaluate hand movements and standing
Hand movements can indicate dominance; pointing at others and big gestures are ways of showing status. Also, when a person stands straight with their legs spread apart but remains relaxed, that is another way of showing dominance.
The dominant individual also shakes hands firmly. He usually places his hands up with palms down; His grip was firm and long to show control
Step 4. Pay attention to how to organize personal space
People of high status are generally able to create a greater physical space between themselves and people of lower status. Individuals with high status will also take up more physical space to show dominance and mastery of the situation. In other words, expansive poses hint at power and accomplishment.
- Power is also shown in a standing position instead of sitting. Standing-especially in the forward position-is considered a more powerful pose.
- A straight back with straight shoulders pulled back, not leaning forward, shows more confidence. On the other hand, slouching and slumping shoulders indicate a lack of confidence.
- The dominant individual will also lead from the front and walk in front of the group or through the doorway first. He loves being up front.
Step 5. Watch how and when he touches
People who state status have more choices when it comes to touching because they feel more confident in their position. Generally, in an unequal situation where there is one person of higher status, he will touch the lower status person with more frequency.
In social situations where both people are of equal status, they will touch each other in the same way
Method 5 of 5: Understanding Body Language
Step 1. Recognize that reading body language is complex
Nonverbal behavior itself is complex because everyone is different and carries themselves in different ways. Reading body language is very difficult because when interpreting the cues that other people send you have to consider the context as a whole. For example, did he mention today that he was fighting with his wife or that he didn't get a promotion at work? Or does he look anxious at lunch?
- When interpreting other people's body language, if possible also consider their personality, social factors, verbal behavior, and circumstances. While this information is not always readily available, it is helpful for reading body language. Humans are complex creatures, so don't be surprised if the way we carry ourselves is also complex.
- You can compare reading body language to watching your favorite TV series; You don't just watch one scene in your favorite TV series, but entire episodes to understand that one scene. Maybe you also remember the previous episodes, the history of the characters, and the overall plot of the story. You should also look at the overall context when trying to read body language.
Step 2. Remember to consider the differences that each individual has
There is no one-size-fits-all assessment when it comes to reading body language. If you're trying to be able to read a person's body language accurately, you may have to "study" the person for some time. What is right for one person may not always be right for another.
For example, when lying, some people will break eye contact, while others will try to maintain eye contact more than usual so that they are not suspected of lying
Step 3. Be aware that there are differences in body language based on culture
The meaning of messages in emotions and body language expressions is very culturally specific.
- For example, in Finnish culture, a person makes eye contact as a sign that he or she is approachable. On the other hand, Japanese people think that making eye contact is an expression of anger.
- Another example, in Western culture, a person who is comfortable with you will lean towards you and turn his face and body directly towards you.
- Note that certain people with disabilities also have unique body language. For example, people with autism often avoid eye contact while listening and are easily agitated.
- Note that while some physical expressions that describe emotions vary by culture, some research shows that certain body language expressions have universal meaning across cultures. This applies especially in the way of communicating dominance and submission. For example, in almost all cultures a lowered posture indicates submission.
Step 4. Note that the interpretation will differ according to the nonverbal channel used
Nonverbal channels are a means of conveying messages or cues without words. Important nonverbal channels are kinesis (eye contact, facial expressions, and body language), haptic (touch), and proxemic (personal space). In other words, the means of delivery determine the message.
- Generally, facial expressions are the easiest to read, then body language, and then personal space and touch.
- Even though it has its own channels, there is still a huge variety. For example, not all facial expressions are easy to understand. Generally pleasant facial expressions are easier to read than unpleasant facial expressions. One study found that people were better able to accurately interpret happiness, satisfaction, and excitement when compared to anger, sadness, fear, and disgust.
