6 posts tagged “non verbal communication”
Today we'll continue with some finger body language gestures. I will mention some rude gestures as well as they play a big role in nowadays' nonverbal communication.
I'll start with the thumb. We use it up or down. Thumb-up means agreement and approval. Thumb-down the opposite. Sideways usually waggled means uncertainty. Thumb up or down has a long history. These were used even in Roman times. These gestures were decisive whether gladiator should stay alive or be killed.
When somebody has his hands in the pockets and thumbs are sticking out of pockets usually this is a sign of confidence and control. So that can indicate authority.
Checking up nails usually means boredom as well as fidgeting fingers can also mean boredom or tense.
Biting nails can mean uncertainty or nervousness.
Fluttering fingers may indicate fear or uncertainty.
Fingers grossed are the hope for luck (national lottery in UK).
Now a bit of rude body language. A lot of it was new to me. But knowing some gestures won't lead to misunderstandings. Some of them are cross-cultural.
The most popular in western countries is the finger gesture, made by extending the middle finger and bending the others. It has quite a few names. One of the known variations is extending thumb as well. Using both hands for the finger gesture means 'dirty double'. If somebody shows back of the hand with extended three middle fingers this says 'read between the lines'.
The finger gesture ( 'up yours') symbolizes penis and has a long history and actually disputive origin. It's mentioned in some Antient Roman and Antient Greek writings and this gesture was ment to insult the other person. Actualy it is believed that the spread of this gesture has connection to the geographical influence of both Roman Empire and Greco Roman civilization.
Another variation of the origin dates to the first century of Mediterranean world where it was used to divert the threat of evil eye.
This gesture has a lot of variations. Italians use bent elbow to insult the other person.
Another very common variation is V gesture. It is commonly spread in UK (true), Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and India. I actually didn't know about such gesture when I just came to England. Once I was ordering two drinks in a bar. As the music was quite loud I had to use finger body language to help me. And I think you guessed what happened... Yes I was ordering two drinks using V gesture. Thankfuly everything end up in a friendly way. Since that time I use the reverse palm - facing the other person if I need something double. Actually this latter gesture means peace in non verbal communication.
Some other variations. Showing little finger indicates small penis. The index and little fingers pointing upwards says that the man is cuckold or it may also mean 'evil eye'
Now some cross cultural meanings. In Iraq and some other middle eastern countries the 'thumb up' gesture means the same as western 'the finger' gesture. Although they say in Iraq these gestures were adopted to the western patern.
Some African and Carrebian countries use all five fingers with palm facing forward to call someone a bastard (literally saying 'you have five fathers').
In some areas in Sri Lanka they use index finger for the same as middle finger in western countries.
In Egypt they pull the middle finger inside the palm. This gesture considers very vulgar.
To read nore on body language, please visit my site Improving Communication in Business and Personal Life
sources:www.wikipedia.org,www.changingminds.org
Certainly our body use all parts when it comes to non verbal communication.Even teeth can "talk" a language.Primarely their role is to bite,tear and grind.
Bititng mostly is used for for food.If person is biting someone else,that's probably means that primitive instincts took over rational thinking.We may also bite our lips,while thinking or processing some information.Far more pleasant biting is used by lovers.Gentle biting is similar to touch as it stimulates nerve receptors.
Another signal teeth can send is through smile.Showing off teeth while smiling usually indicates a genuine feeling of satisfaction.
When person feels very cold,their teeth might chatter.Chattering can also inicate extreme fear.Very often it is accompanied by whole body shaking.
Some times people tap their teeth with nails.This can mean a mild frustration,boredom or thinking.
When somebody is grinding teeth,that usually signals that the person is very angry and keeps all the negativity inside themselves at that moment.
Not to much of teeth body language.But we love their job connected to eating process.
Tomorrow we'll disscuss what lips can express and what signals they send to others.
Improving Communication in Personal and Business Life
We've disscussed eye contact topic in one of my earlier post.But I believe I can add to it more information.
Eye contact takes place when two people look at each other's eyes at the same time.It's one of the forms of non verbal communication.They believe it has a large influence on social behavior. Frequency,longevity and interpretation of eye contact differs from culture to culture.
By looking at somebody's eyes,we acknowledge them and show interest in them.This also makes you aware of where the other person is looking.If somebody says something when other person is looking away and they make an eye contact,that's called to grab attention.
Long eye contact
Just because eye contact is very important during conversation doesn't mean we have to stare untill the end of it.Prolonged eye contact might look threatening, so it's fine to look away and back again.
Sometimes breaking eye contact can indicate that person's feelings had been touched (good or bad emotions),e.g. insulted.In this case person looks away and doesn't want to sustain eye contact.Such movement can happen when somebody has thoughts that cause the same inner discomfort.
Doe eyes
An eye softening, with muscles around the eyes relaxed and a slight defocusing (because person tries to watch the whole person) is often called doe eyes.That usully indicates sexual desire,especially when gaze is prolonged and the pupils are dilated.
More about eye body language in tomorrow's post.Stay tuned...
Lena
Improving Conversation in Business and Personal Life
article adapted from changingminds.net
Cheeks are part of the face and actively take part in non verbal communication.But to add to that,their role is not as significant as of other "fellow mates".Non the less...
We can pull in or blow out our cheeks.When we draw them in and purse our lips,that indicates disapproval.
If we draw in our cheeks to such extent that the bottom lip curls,it can mean pensiveness,which is usually connected with discomfort. A good hint for that would be furrowed brow.
Blown out cheeks accompanied with rounded eyes and raised eyebrows may mean uncertainty of what to do next. If at the same time person blows air from the mouth,then it is really difficult with the answer...
Kids may blow in and out their cheeks just for fun.And sometimes it's really funny.
When someone chews the inside of the cheek or mouth,that can be hidden sign of nervousness.It may also indicate judging of what the other person says or lying.
Pushing cheek with the tongue can show pensiveness, as the person tries to figure out the answer.
Another sign of body language is touching the cheeks.Most often we touch our cheeks in surprise or horror.
Emotions are best seen through the color of cheeks.Red cheeks can be sign of embarrassment.Just watch them become red.Although some people have natural red cheeks. Red cheeks can also mean anger. Other signs of anger are enlarged and staring eyes.Our cheeks become red when we are ashamed.
On a contrary cheeks become pale when blood drains from them.Usually this happens when we are frightened. Pale cheeks can also mean coldness.
For more information on body language visit www.milukh.com
material adapted from www.changingminds.net
Yesterday I set in front of my laptop all day trying to set up my website with xsitepro.It was deep night when I almost fell down from my chair while listenning to audios.I was very sleepy.So I decided to put alarm on and go to have a 2-3 hr sleep.Today in the morning first thing to do...you tell it.
I had to go to GP with my son.So after spending some time with things on a course I had to leave home and go to surgery.When we were out on a street I had such a feeling like I'm in a different world - sun,slightly cold wind,fresh air,people walking around,cars.Hmm.something I saw quite ago.I'm getting used to computer world,I guess.At least this is good for brains as David Power says.That made me think "When would I practice what I have learned so far about non verbal communication?"I almost haven't time to watch other people's body language.
I decided to try my skills on doctor,whom we had to visit.We've been consulting him before and I had a good impression about him.So today I found out why.
Once we met,we had a good eye contact with a smile.When we were talking he used opened gestures of wellcomeness:no crossed arms or legs,body turned straight to me(not half sideways),his arms were open with palms up,a good eye contact through all conversation and smile when appropriate.And it looked like he really cared what I was talking about.When we left his cabinet I said to myself "I think he's really nice person".No wonder he left a good impression last time.
Do you communicate with your hair?
Similar question...Do you think what you wear has an impact on the results you get?
The way you present yourself helps you a lot in getting what you want especially if your body language supports everything else.These are all parts of non verbal communication.
We'll leave the wardrobe part for Jennifer Skinner.She knows this from A to Z.Her posts always prove that.
So,let's come back to hair.Hair is part of the body,so it also sends some nonverbal signals to the rest of the world.
Nowadays hair can be cut and shaped in various ways.That helps people to express themselves and underline their uniqueness.As people have different tastes,there would be always some that would like your haircut and some,who won't.But everyone would tolerate any kind of hair style as long as it's clean and tidy.
Conventional cut indicates a person who follows social rules in most cases.Traditionally,men have less choice than women, with hair cut reasonably short.Men with very short hair or "scinheads" are considered to be more aggressive.Although few of my friends do cut very short,but only because it's easier to look after it this way.
Long hair is more typical between young "drop-outs".Long hair can mean rebellion.If hair is unkempt and dirty most of the time that's definitely somebody who's lack of care and probably self-esteem.
Women have a much wider choice.That's probably for attraction men and outcoming the female competition.Having a long hair is traditional and feminine.Those women,who cut their hair short are considered to be career oriented and if that's the case,they'd probably have less time to make themselves girls with curls.Female short hair might also indicate the desire to be male or a rebellion against womanhood (errrrrr).But it can mean nothing at all,just a desire for a change.Saying that,I might decide to cut my hair short(I'm considering this for a while already,just can't decide out of so many options) and I would never think of myself being a man.:-)
Now getting closer to body language here.Hair does have a connection to flirting stuff and attracting female or male of one's desire.Mostly it is widely used by women and it's easier to do with long hair.By the way,is it true,guys,that you prefer long hair to short in women?What about color?
So,how can we flirt using hair? Well,tossing and touching are great for that.Tossing the head throws hair backwards,drawing attention to it.And this can be a romantic gesture.Throwing back long hair opens the face and that can mean an invitation to communication,this time preferrably verbal.
Usually we stroke hair just to make sure it's perfectly coiffed and can mean an invitation to stroke as well.To say it shorter,playing with hair can be really flirtatious and can be considered as invitation for other person to do it for you.That can be a start of romantic relationship....But that's what April Braswell is expert in.
So I'll leave you with this today.See you tomorrow.
