4 posts tagged “decoding body language”
Babies have innate ability to communicate through body language. They are programmed to understand nonverbal signals that adults send them. Words would have some meaning and understanding at much later stage and it's just near second birthday when they start use simple sentences to communicate their needs.
Newborns can see just about 20-30 cm away, but right from the start can recognise human face. They are attracted to human face much more than to anything else. And it is very important to keep babies on hands at such distance so they can see the face. As babysitter expert Lisa pointed in one of her recent posts it is important to talk to babies even if they can't understand words just yet. By trying to get into baby level parents would also smile, do funny faces, rock, sing etc. A lot of body touching is involved massaging, tickling, cuddling, kissing etc.
One of the first body language expressions that babies master is smiling. They use a lot of nonverbal signals to show their feelings and needs. For example waving arms and kicking to show their happiness, turning away when they don't want something (like food), banging on something or throwing things to get attention, pointing or taking parent's hand to lead to desirable thing and much much more.
Babies learn body language by observing and imitating adults. It can be to such great level that sometimes parents see themselves in those small bodies. So it's important for parents to watch what signals they send through out the day.
Body language help babies in learning new skills and parents should encourage this. Singing, clapping, stamping, dancing, laughing are just few examples.
Very often, especially with smaller babies parents use body gestures to demonstrate what baby should do. For example when they try to feed baby they might also open and close their mouth and even do swallowing movements or putting two hands together to one of the ears to show it's time to sleep etc.
Babies are best in reading and decoding body language. They understand the mood and emotions of adults from little cues. A wag of the finger, a stern look, shake of the head, nodding, smiling, outstretched arms ready for hugs etc.
Babies are also the best in manipulating parents. They know when and how to press the "button" to get what they want. How it comes we have to learn a lot of skills, like influence and persuasion, again once grown up?
For more information on body language visit Improving Communication in Business and Personal Life
Arms are appendages that can freely move. With the help of arms we are able to accomplish so many things I bother mentioning here. Arms take part in a language of deaf-and-dumb. They are extremely useful parts of the body and can be helpful in decoding body language.
By the way, when you suspect somebody in deceit pay attention for arms kept still. Usually that is the first place the liar starts to control theirselves. They can hold one arm with another to make them both still.
Our arms are extremely helpful in supporting real talk. People articulate their words, emphasizing their meaning. It really help bonding with a small child and eases communication process with them.
We can observe what kind of person is the speaker as they wave their hands during talk. When somebody is excited or confident they tend to wave more frequently and in bigger amplitude. Less confident people use less waving space and it's close to the body.
Arms can show friendly and threatenning gestures as well as actions. Saying that, slow moves often with curved arms show friendliness or comfort, whereas quick direct moves toward target considered as threat. Arms can be used both as weapon and defensive tools. Martial arts are another way of nonverbal communication.
Crossing arms has so many meanings. Generally speaking they can serve as a doorway to the person. So crossing them make a block between person and the outer world. That can be done to block attack or hide something within the person inner self.
Crossed arms show a straight signal and can make others feel rejected, so they may send the according respond like disagreeing.
Crossed arms may mean inner discomfort or vulnerability of the person or lack of trust in other person.
The extent of the crossing shows how firmly the person is closed. If crossing arms is supported with crossed legs as well than it's a big cut out.
Croosed arms is not always a negative sign. People may cross arms when they are cold. Sometimes we fold arms using it as a relaxing position.
To break crossed-arm position a person can give the other person something to hold.
So,defined crossed arms as defensive position, we can say that noncrossed arm position (usualy held still across the body) means confidence and trust. This may also indicate power.
More specific on parts of arms in future posts.
Improving Communication in Business and Personal Life
source:www.changingminds.org
Yesterday I gave the introduction to what I would be covering in the next couple of days.As we moved from the top to bottom,I'll start with the head today.
Head gets the most attention,while communicating.It has many parts that send nonverbal signals to the opponent.I'll be covering them in my further posts.Today I'm concentrating on head positions and movements,which are affected by neck muscles.
Lowering head
This gesture has a lot of meanings.It can be greeting,agreement or confirmation,subduing or shame.Other parts of body will help to distinguish which one exectly it is.
A single nod with the head means greeting.
Lowering head can be agreement with the other person or it can be a signal of power.
It can be a gesture "from the past" having a defencive meaning,as neck is very volnurable part of the body.So it can occur as a result of any possible threat and not necessarely physical.Literaly,it makes body smaller and protects the neck.
Lowering head,complemented with lowering eyes,can be a sign of submission or shame (you can add red cheeks here as well).These are driven by affection or fear.
Finaly,it can just mean that the person is tired,so the person's head will sag.
Raising head
If person raised a lowered head it can mean an interest.This is usually accopmpanied with the eye contact and raised eyebrows.
A quick flick upwards can be a sign of query.
Looking at the ceiling with raised head can show that the person is bored or is deeply thinking.Another example when the person wants to focus on some sound and averts his/her eyes to be able to concentrate on it.
Nodding and shaking head
Nodding is a gesture of confirmation in most cultures and negation in few,like Sri Lanka and Bulgaria.When nodding means agreement it's usually accompanied with a smile and other approval gestures.A strong nodding probably indicates a strong agreement,a slow one should be questioned as it indicates conditional agreement.
Shaking head shows disagreement or disapproval.The speed of swinging indicates the strength of disapproval.If the head is lowered while swinging that's a particular disagreement as person doesn't even want to look in the eyes of opponent.
Nodding or shaking at the moment of talking is the encouragement for the other party to agree.This one works very often.
Nodding when somebody else is speaking means agreement and encouragement to continue.
Short and sharp nod can show that the person wants to strike the other person,e.g to emphasise some point in the conversation.
Saying something positive and shaking head at the same time is a negative sign.This may be when person doesn't believe what he/she is saying.
Tilting head
This sign can show that the person is interested in what's being discussed.It can be a flirting signal,showing an interest as well.
If,while tilting,the head is pushed forward as if person wanted to look at you from different angle,that can be curiosity,query or uncertainty.The greater the tilt,the greater the signal.
On the contrary,if head is pulled back it shows that the person has suspicion (defencive sign).
Tilting head at the angle of each side means doubt in most cultures.
If tilted head is supported with a hand it can mean both - tiredness or continued interest.
Rotating head
Rotating head in circle movement is extrimely rare and basically person just exercises stiff neck,although this may be boredom as well.
A slight rotation when nodding or shaking can show incomplete approval or disaproval,e.g.indicating external agreement with a hint of disagreement (that can be actually significant,when person feels coerced to agree).
A slight head turn shows just one eye to the other person.This position can be used as act of dominance or even giving "an evil eye".
Chin pointing
We can point by chin at a person or a thing,just anything we have interest at.We can also point a direction,usually when our hands are busy.Some times this gesture is also used as a greeting.If somebody points at a person without looking at him/her it can be insulting.
Touching the head
People touch head in different places.This is mostly done while being anxious.When people are concerned they usually stroke or touch preferred place.
Covering eyes with sunglasses is easy way to hide some emotions,as eyes' pupils are the only thing we can't control.
People stroke their chin or touch their nose when they are thinking,judging or making decisions.
When we are bored or tired we tend to prop our chin with the hand.This gesture can also mean that we are evaluating something or just thinking.
We can scratch the back of our head,when we don't know the answer and trying to figure it out from the outside world.
That's the power of non-verbal communication.Many people who earn their living by playing games know a big deal about decoding and interpreting body language signs.Just by watching other players give them the better position in the game and they can work out better steps in the game.
Tomorrow we'll continue body language talk...
Reading and Decoding Body Language
Materials used for the article:wikipedia.com;changingminds.org
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