Body Language
DEFINITION
Body language is a type of nonverbal
communication in which physical behaviors are
used to express or convey information. Such
behavior includes facial expressions, body
posture, gestures, eye movement, touch and the
use of space. Body language exists in
both animals and humans. It is also known
as kinesics.
The conscious and unconscious movements and
postures by which attitudes and feelings are
communicated.
KINESICS is derived from Greek word “KINESIS” with the
meanings “ motions”
HISTORY
HISTORY
Various Rituals
HISTORY
The Snobbery of Nobles
HISTORY
The Greeks
HIPPOCRATES ARISTOTLE
HISTORY
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
HISTORY
Julius Fast (1919-2008)
IMPORTANCE
What's your body telling you?
Some research suggests we send 93% of our messages non-
verbally
Your body language should be chosen as carefully as you choose
your words.
Prof. Albert Mehrabian Rule
38 % VOCAL (intonation , pitch, pauses , etc)
55 % NON VERBAL (body language)
7 % VERBAL (Conveyed through words)
GENERAL IMPORTANCE
Daily life
Better understanding
Personnel confidence
Management
Result orientated conversation
PROFFESSIONAL
IMPORTANCE
Descriptions (to subordinates or
students)
Clarity
Investigations
Disguise
Understanding
Seven Types of Body Language
1. How you sit or stand (posture)
2. Facial Expressions
3. Clothing and Grooming
4. Gestures (hand, foot, eye movements)
5. Eye Contact
6. Voice Tone
7. Personal Space
THE EYES
THE EYES
“Eyes are so transparent that through them one sees the soul”
“Look a person in the Eye when you Talk to him”
Eye contact: paying attention, interest, to convey trust
Too much eye contact: dominance, lack of respect, threat, wish to
insult
Too little eye contact: not paying attention, impolite, insincere,
shy
Withdrawing eyes: signal of submission
THE EYES
People who look to the sides a lot are
nervous, or distracted.
If someone looks down at the floor a lot,
they are probably shy or upset or hiding
something.
Sometimes looking down and away from the
body can indicate shame or guilt.
Dilated pupils mean that the person is
interested.
Eyes focused far away indicate that a person
is in deep thought or not listening.
FACIAL EXPRESSION
CAN FACE SPEAK?
• HAPPINESS
• SADNESS
• DISPLEASURE
• ANGER
• FEAR
• INTEREST
MIRRORING
MIRRORING
Someone mirroring you is sign that they
are liking you and want to establish
contact.
Gestures in conversation
“LET YOUR BODY TALK ON YOUR BEHALF”
SOME COMMON GESTURES
EXAGGERATED MOVEMENTS OF HANDS :
passion or interest in the subject.
FREQUENT REACHING FORWARDS OR
SUPERFLUOUS HAND GESTURES : trying to
convince.
SHOULDER SHRUG : I don’t know
PUFFED CHEST : pride or achievement
SUCKED STOMACH : I am not as fat as I look
FINGER CROSSING : protection
PALM IN PALM : Authority
HAND GRIPPING WRIST : Frustration
• THUMB UPPING : best luck , victory
• THUMB DOWN : rejection, disapproval
• RUBBING PALM TOGETHER : positive expectation
• THUMB AND FINGER RUB : money expectancy
• HANDS CLENCHED TOGETHER : confident
• STEEPLING HANDS : frustrated , request or confident
about something
• V SIGN OF FINGERS : V for Victory
• Hands in pocket : aggression
• nose touching : listener
doubting speaker’s words
• eye rub : avoiding eye
contact, lying
• chin stroking : Thinking or
making a decision
• Hands on hips : aggressive,
readiness
HEAD POSITION
HEAD POSITION
Head nodding : invited for a response, or
voluntarily while listening
Head held high : Superiority, fearlessness,
arrogance
Head tilted to one side : A signal of interest
Lowered heads : indicate a reason to hide
something (how ever its sign of respect in some
cultures)
CLOSNESS
CLOSNESS
The closer they are, the warmer they are
thinking of you. If you move slightly closer
to them and they move even closer to
you, they probably really like you or are
very comfortable around/by you. But this
could also mean that they have a special
comfort with you.
WHEN YOU INVADE
MY SPACE
Reactions to an invasion of your
space
• Feel troubled
• Get defensive
• Become aggressive
• Retaliate
POSTURE AND STANCE
• SAGGING : Depression
• FORWARD LEAN : Positive Attitude
• BACKWARD LEAN : Negative Attitude
• ARMS FOLDED ACROSS THE CHEST :
unsympathetic
• ARMS HELD LOOSE : open positive attitude
• UPRIGHT POSTURE : high status , I am the boss
• BOWING HEAD : lower status
FEET
FEET
Tapping, excited, nervous, scared
Sitting with feet crossed at the ankles,
generally at ease.
Standing with feet close together, trying
to be "proper“.
Some people point their feet to the
direction of where they want to go or
their interest.
Research has indicated several behaviors that may
communicate someone is lying.
Poor eye contact
Crossing arms and legs
Covering mouth
Face reddening
Mumbling
Move less than usual
Unusual changes in volume, rate, tone, or pitch of voice
Mid-sentence cut-off
- using “um”, “ah”, “like”, “You know” (stalling for time)
Abrupt changes in nonverbal communication
Discrepancies (differences) in non-verbal (actions) and verbal
(what’s being said)
REMEMBER
NO PROVED SCIENCE
VARIES IN DIFFERENT CULTURES.
MOVEMENTS MAY HAVE MEDICAL OR
PHYSICAL REASONS.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAVE SOME
UNIQUE GESTURES.
ALWAYS KEEPS RELATIVE CONTEXT
IN MIND.
BODY LANGUAGE TREE
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