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.
Roles of Nonverbal Communication
Body language plays many roles in social interactions. It can help facilitate
the following:
Earning trust: Engaging in eye contact, nodding your head while
listening, and even unconsciously mirroring another person's body
language are all signals that you and someone else are bonding. 2
Emphasizing a point: The tone of voice you use and the way you
engage listeners with your hand and arm gestures, or by how you take
up space, are all ways that affect how your message comes across. 13
Revealing truths: When someone's body language doesn't match
what they're saying, we might intuitively pick up on the fact that they
are withholding information, or perhaps not being honest about how
they feel.
Tuning in to your own needs: Our own body language can reveal a
lot about how we're feeling. For instance, are you in a slumped
posture, clenching your jaw and/or pursing your lips? This may be a
signal that the environment you're currently in is triggering you in
some way. Your body might be telling you that you're feeling unsafe,
stressed, or any number of emotions.14
What does body language tell you about a person?
Body language can tell you when someone feels anxious, angry,
excited, or any emotion. It may also suggest personality traits (i.e.,
whether someone is shy or outgoing). But, body language can be
misleading. It is subject to a person's mood, energy level, and
circumstances.
While in some cases, a lack of eye contact indicates untrustworthiness,
for instance, it doesn't mean you automatically can't trust someone
who isn't looking at you in the eyes. It could be they are distracted and
thinking about something else. Or, again, it could be a cultural
difference at play.
How to Improve Your Nonverbal
Communication
The first step in improving your nonverbal communication is to pay attention.
Try to see if you can pick up on other people's physical cues as well as your
own.
Maybe when someone is telling you a story, you tend to look at the floor. In
order to show them you're paying attention, you might try making eye
contact instead, and even showing a slight smile, to show you're open and
engaged.15
What is good body language?
Good body language, also known as positive body language, should convey
interest and enthusiasm. Some ways to do this include maintaining an
upright and open posture, keeping good eye contact, smiling, and nodding
while listening.
1. Body Language Interpretation
LIPS With a true, genuine smile, the corners of the mouth turn up and the eyes narrow and
wrinkle at the corners.
Insincere smiles generally don’t involve the eyes. They can happen in
response to discomfort.
A smirk or partial smile that follows a microexpression of displeasure or contempt can
suggest uncertainty, disdain, or dislike.
A smile accompanied by lasting eye contact, a long glance, or a head
tilt can suggest attraction.
Compressed or narrowed lips can suggest unease.
Quivering lips Can suggest fear or sadness.
Pursed lips may indicate anger or disagreement.
Open, slightly parted lips tend to mean someone feels relaxed or generally at ease.
EYES Blinking People tend to blink rapidly when under some sort of stress.
often suggests dishonesty, but this isn’t always the case.
You may have heard that rapid
blinking working through a difficult problem
feeling uncomfortable
Someone’s blinking may speed afraid or worried about something
up when they’re:
Pupil Your pupils will typically when you feel positively toward something or someone.
dilation dilate. These feelings might involve romantic attraction, but this
isn’t always the case.
Dilation happens in response to the arousal of your nervous
system, so you may also notice dilated pupils when
someone’s angry or afraid.
When you don’t like something, your pupils will usually
contract, or get smaller.
Gaze direction If you’re talking to someone whose eyes keep wandering
Your eyes tend to follow what toward the buffet table, they might have more interest in
you’re interested in, so eating than talking at the moment. Someone looking toward
tracking the movement of the exit may want to leave.
someone’s gaze can give you
information about their mood. People also tend to move their eyes down or to one side
when:
working through a problem
recalling information or memories
thinking about something difficult
Eye Blocking includes things like:
blocking
covering your eyes with a hand Blocking is generally unconscious, but it tends to suggest
closing your eyes briefly, such how you really feel. People often block their eyes when
as in a long blink irritated, distressed, or faced with something they don’t
rubbing your eyes particularly want to do.
squinting
It can also suggest disagreement or reluctance. You know
the house needs a good cleaning, but when your partner
suggests taking a day for chores, your hand might go to your
eyes before you realize it.
Arms People often cross their arms Vulnerable
when feeling: anxious
uninterested in considering another perspective
Interestingly, crossed arms can If someone crosses their arms while smiling, leaning back,
also suggest confidence. or showing other signs of being at ease, they probably feel
somewhat in control of the situation, rather than vulnerable.
The arms can also give someone a sense of protection. Keep
an eye out for behaviors like:
1. holding something against the chest
2. bringing an arm to rest on a chair or table
3. putting an arm out to create distance
4. using one arm to hold the other behind the back
These gestures subconsciously suggest that a person doesn’t
feel entirely comfortable with the situation and needs to
steady or protect themselves in some way.
an unwillingness to hear what someone has to say,
especially when arms are also crossed.
Feet can also reveal information. Note the direction a
Crossed legs can also suggest person’s feet face during a conversation.
If their feet point away, they may feel more like leaving the
conversation than continuing it. If their feet point toward
you, the person is likely enjoying the conversation and
hoping to continue it.
Many people use gestures for emphasis when speaking. This
can have some direct benefits, as researchTrusted Source
suggests we tend to answer someone’s question faster if
they make gestures while asking.
The more enthusiastic the gesture, the more excitement
someone’s likely feeling. It’s also fairly common for people
to gesture toward someone they feel particularly close to,
often without realizing it.
Here are some more specific things to watch for:
Hands an unconscious reflection of openness.
Outstretched hands with palms
up may be
anger or frustration, especially in someone trying to
Clenched fists can suggest
suppress these emotions. You might notice their facial
expression remains neutral, even relaxed.
touching the cheek
that someone is considering something carefully or has a lot
of interest in what you’re saying.