Body language spoken word

1. shrugged (the answer isn’t “shrugged off” because that means to get rid of – usually a feeling – and does relate to shoulders)
2. raise
3. tapping (the answer isn’t stamping because stamping is when you are very angry not impatient)
4. widen    gapes  (don’t forget the “s”)
5. blushed

Body Language

You may think your mother tongue is English or other languages, but you are wrong. The language you are talking with the most is not the one you speak with it by using your tongue. The first language we all should learn how to talk with is body language.

Body language is the physical and non-verbal behavior with which we can transfer our means and communicate. Knowing about body language techniques helps us communicate better and more effectively. By using its methods, we can be the best in our negotiation, communication and public speaking.

The importance of learning body language

Body language is one of the non-verbal communication skills which has an essential position in our daily life from usual regular talks to professional negotiations.
We can identify others’ intentions and messages better when we know body language, and we can control what we want to say.
The words don’t matter so much.

Before you start a conversation in crowd, you see their behavior and body moves.

When you see someone for the first time at a party, you judge them for being a friend or foe by noticing their body language. Researchers believe that words transfer the message, but body language shows our feelings and personal perspectives. Sometimes they refer to it as a replacement for verbal messages. For example, can a woman look at a man and scares the hell out of him only by that look?

Professionals should know what others are doing by listening to their voice and predict what they want to say by seeing their moves and body language.

Body language is the ability to know the emotions and behavior of the ones around you.

How can body language spoil our emotions?

Body language clarifies our emotional conditions. Every gesture, every move is critical to show our feelings. For example, a fat man who is worried about his weight pulls his double chin and a woman who is concerned about her fat flank, lowers her shirt all the time. Someone who is defensive sits with folded arms or has his legs crossed or maybe even does both.

The key to read body language is to understand people’s feelings besides we listen to what they say and notice their conditions while they talk. This way we can distinguish truths from lies.

But body language is more complicated than to know the whole character of someone only by learning a few points. To read body language, we usually have to analyze several gestures and behaviors at the same time.

Is the ability of body language inherent or acquired?

Let me ask you a question first. When you sit with folded arms, do you put your right arm on the left or your left arm on the right?
Most people don’t know which one until they actually try it. Sit with folded arms right now and then change your arms’ positions. You’ll know which one is easier for you.
Evidence has shown that this gesture is genetically and can’t be changed.
It’s true that there are many different cultures, but most of the main body language signs are the same in different countries.
Albeit there is still debate that which one is acquired and has become a habit and which one is inherent.

For example, most men put their coats on starting with the right sleeve while most women do the same starting with the left sleeve.

Albeit this one is because men use their right hemisphere more than the left hemisphere and for women, it’s the opposite.

Some important points:

When you hear from people in different positions or see their gestures, you can’t be sure about their right perspective; you have to consider these three rules before you judge:

Principle 1: Try to notice all the moves at the same time

One of the most common mistakes in reading body language is to interpret one move aside from the others.
For example, scratching your head means sweating, uncertainty, dandruff, flea, forgetting things and lying. To know which one is correct depends on other gestures at the same time as this one.

Body language has words and phrases like all languages. Every move is like a word.
For example, “dressing” means:
– a sauce for salads
– a piece of material used to cover and protect a wound.
– Putting some clothes on
– size or stiffening used in the finishing of fabrics.
– a fertilizing substance such as compost or manure spread over or plowed into a land.

The moment you put “dressing” in a sentence with other words, you know the meaning of it.
A correct sentence must have at least three words; body language is the same.

Principle 2: look for harmony

Researches have shown that the non-verbal signs have a five-time impact over verbal talks. Imagine you see a politician talking about embracing young spirits and their ideas, but he stands with his folded arms and his head below. Once, Freud was listening to one of his clients talking about how happy she is with her marriage but she was playing with her ring, taking it off and on. At this moment Freud understood she’s lying and she is not happy with her marriage.

Principle 3: read the signs at the specific situation they happen

For example, when you see someone with folded arms in snowy weather while he puts his leg on the other and his chin is down, it probably means he’s cold. He’s not defensive at this situation. Or he may be polite to sit with folded arms. But when the same person sits in front of you with the same gestures while you are selling something to him, it means he doesn’t agree on your offer.

The importance of body language in communication

Have you ever noticed that you see others’ body language in a party before you communicate with them?
Imagine you are at a party and you want to talk to someone. First, you see their body moves and facial expression. Is this person angry or happy?
Then you decide. If the person is happy, you start with a sentence that makes him even happier, a joke for instance.
But if he’s angry, you know you have to start talking more seriously and not making a joke.

You must know that learning body language affects your behavior too.
Imagine you are going to a meeting. When you know about body language, you know you have to be well-dressed, polite. The steps you are taking while you walk and your gestures are essential for the first impression. Now that you have learned body language, you do things so that they receive your message quickly.

The way you look at the others at the table on a meeting, your eye-contact and the way you shake their hand have a profound effect on how the session may continue.

Unmannerly secretary and salesperson

It must have happened to you several times when you want to buy something, and you don’t have a good feeling about the salesperson.
The secretary may treat you very politely, but yet, you don’t feel great about her/him.
In this case, you may regret buying from them and leave the store. You rather buy from a place where its staff makes you feel great.

Communicating with the boss

Sometimes, you want to talk to one of the staff who has a higher position. They treat you awfully, the way it alters the way you think about them.
For example, sometimes the manager won’t look at us when we are talking to him, and he’s playing a game on his phone.
In this situation, not only you feel bad, but also you think he disrespects you. On the other hand, the manager thinks he is doing great because he doesn’t encourage him to be rude.

Communicating with friends

There are many times that verbal talks of our friends and relatives are the same, but after a while, we tell them: hey, why are you acting like this?
They say: like what?
And we often say: like this.

There is a joint in all this talk! Our friend or relative conveys a lousy feeling to us without changing his/her word. It shows how powerful non-verbal communication is.

What is its role in all this?

Professor Albert Mehrabian was born in an Armenian family in Iran. He’s a Psychologist in the communication field, and he pointed out to an interesting subject in one of his researches which people such as Brian Tracy always refers to.
He found out that all our communication effects include three parts:
1- words
2- the tone of voice
3- body language

another interesting thing is that the effectiveness rate of each part depends on how we communicate.

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It’s a good idea to watch one of Creativity works videos about Professor Mehrabian’s theory on communication and body language.

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As you know, most speakers and professionals focus on words and pay less attention to their tone and movements while this research has shown that the words have the least impression of almost 7%. It’s 38% for the sound of voice, and 55% is for body language!

It’s fabulous indeed. It means teachers who sit behind a desk and teach, use only 7% of their teaching ability. It’s a disaster because most people- not just teachers- ignore this in their methods and communications.

Now it makes sense to justify why people prefer to watch TV than listen to the radio and prefer to listen to the radio instead of reading a book.

Till now we talked about non-verbal signs. Now we want to see how to use them to have better communication.

First, we should know which parts of our body and in which situation.

Maybe this categorizing is not common, but it can simplify things:

1- regular interpersonal communication:

Body language comes in handy in these kinds of communications (communicating with a salesperson, manager, etc.) which we have many of them in our lives. For example, if we are not willing to listen to them, our movements show it too! (of course, there are solutions to that which we explain in other articles.)

2- public speaking:

Body language is essential in public speaking and presentations which is the primary goal of this organization) and we have to pay very close attention to it.
First, we have to be careful that our body language won’t make the audience feel terrible. Second, we have to impress the audience with our movements for example, when we show a significant amount, opening our arms will help.

3- Audience analysis

We have to see if the audience is willing to hear what we are saying. Are they telling the truth or lying? Does the person trust us or not?

We intend to explain all this in other lengthy articles.

I am an instructional designer! The one who loves to improve the quality of my life and others in a real sense. To achieve this goal, I am keen on using neuroscience to design cognitive interventions.
I am pleased that since the establishment of +1 in 2012 we have used the slogan of being more effective than one single person to make the world a much prettier place to live.

If you want to skip the background theory and history then go straight to the body language signals and meanings.

Body Language Basics and Introduction

Body language is a powerful concept that is well understood by successful people. 

The study and theory of it have become popular in recent years because psychologists have been able to understand what we ‘say’ through our bodily gestures and facial expressions, so as to translate and reveal our underlying feelings and attitudes.

• Body Language is also referred to as ‘non-verbal communications’, and less commonly ‘non-vocal communications’.
• The term ‘non-verbal communications’ tends to be used in a wider sense, and all these terms are somewhat vague.

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Definitions

As explained, the terms body language and non-verbal communications are rather vague.

So what is body language? And more usefully, what might we regard it to be, if we are to make the most of studying and using it?

• The Oxford English Dictionary (revised 2005) definition is:
• «Body language — noun — the conscious and unconscious movements and postures by which attitudes and feelings are communicated [for example]: his intent was clearly expressed in his body language.»
• The Oxford Business English Dictionary offers a slightly different definition. Appropriately and interestingly the Oxford Business English Dictionary emphasizes the sense that it can be used as a tool, rather than it being an involuntary effect with no particular purpose:
• «Body language — noun — the process of communicating what you are feeling or thinking by the way you place and move your body rather than by words [for example]: The course trains sales people in reading the customer’s body language.»
• The OED dictionary definition of kinesics — the technical term for the study of body language (and more loosely of body language itself) — depends on the interpretation of ‘non-verbal communication’:
• «Kinesics — the study of the way in which certain body movements and gestures serve as a form of non-verbal communication… [and] body movements and gestures regarded as a form of non-verbal communication.»

Body language is more than those brief descriptions.

• Body language certainly also encompasses where the body is in relation to other bodies (often referred to as ‘personal space’).
• It certainly also includes very small bodily movements such as facial expressions and eye movements.
• Body language also arguably covers all that we communicate through our bodies apart from the spoken words (thereby encompassing breathing, perspiration, pulse, blood pressure, blushing, etc.)

In this respect, standard dictionary definitions do not always describe the phrase fully and properly.

We could define it more fully as:

«Body language is the unconscious and conscious transmission and interpretation of feelings, attitudes, and moods, through:

• Body posture, movement, physical state, position and relationship to other bodies, objects and surroundings,
• Facial expression and eye movement,

(and this transmission and interpretation can be quite different to the spoken words).«

Words alone — especially emotional words (or words used in emotional situations) — rarely reflect full or true meaning and motive. 

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Defining what Body Language Entails

Clarification of terminology: For the purposes of this article, the terms ‘body language’ and ‘non-verbal communications’ are broadly interchangeable. This guide also takes the view that it is the study of how people communicate face-to-face aside from the spoken words themselves, and in this respect, the treatment of the subject here is broader than typical guides, which are limited merely to body positions and gestures.

Defining what behaviours or actions constitute «Body Language» is not as simple as it may seem:

• Does body language include facial expression and eye movement? — Usually, yes.
• What about breathing and perspiration? — This depends on the definition used.
• And while tone and pitch of voice are part of verbal signals, are these part of body language too? — Not normally, but arguably so, especially as you could ignore them if considering only the spoken words and physical gestures/expressions.

There are no absolute right/wrong answers to these questions. It’s a matter of interpretation.

A good reason for broadening our scope is to avoid missing important signals which might not be considered within a narrower definition.

Nevertheless, confusion easily arises if definitions and context are not properly established, for example:

• It is commonly and carelessly quoted that ‘non-verbal communications’ and/or ‘body language’ account for up to 93% of the meaning that people take from any human communication. This statistic is actually a distortion based on Albert Mehrabian’s research theory, which while itself is something of a cornerstone of body language research, certainly did not make such a sweeping claim.
• Mehrabian’s research findings in fact focused on communications with a strong emotional or ‘feelings’ element. Moreover, the 93% non-verbal proportion included vocal intonation (paralinguistics), which are regarded by many as falling outside of the definition of «body language».

Care must, therefore, be exercised when stating specific figures relating to percentages of meaning conveyed, or in making any firm claims in relation to body language and non-verbal communications.

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Body Language Tends to Include:

• How we position our bodies
• Our closeness to and the space between us and other people (proxemics), and how this changes
• Our facial expressions
• Our eyes especially and how our eyes move and focus
• How we touch ourselves and others
• How our bodies connect with other non-bodily things, for instance, pens, cigarettes, spectacles and clothing
• Our breathing, and other less noticeable physical effects, for example, our heartbeat and perspiration

Note. Depending on the definition you choose to apply these may vary

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Body Language Tends Not to Include:

• the pace, pitch, and intonation, volume, variation, pauses, etc., of our voice.

Arguably this last point should be encompassed by body language because a lot happens here which can easily be missed if we consider merely the spoken word and the traditional narrow definition.

• Voice type and other audible signals are typically not included because they are audible ‘verbal’ signals rather than physical visual ones, nevertheless, the way the voice is used is a very significant (usually unconscious) aspect of communication, aside from the bare words themselves. Consequently, voice type is always important to consider alongside the usual factors.
• Similarly, breathing and heartbeat, etc., are typically excluded from many general descriptions but are certainly part of the range of non-verbal bodily actions and signals which contribute to body language in its fullest sense.

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The Importance of Body Language

It is safe to say that body language represents a very significant proportion of meaning that is conveyed and interpreted between people. 

• Many body language experts and sources seem to agree that between 50-80% of all human communications are non-verbal. So while the statistics vary according to the situation, it is generally accepted that non-verbal communications are very important in how we understand each other (or fail to), especially in face-to-face and one-to-one communications, and most definitely when the communications involve an emotional or attitudinal element.

Understanding and Awareness

• Importantly, understanding body language enables better self-awareness and self-control too.

• When we understand non-verbal communication we become better able to refine and improve what our body says about us, which generates a positive improvement in the way we feel, the way we perform, and what we achieve.

• Body language enables us to understand more about our own and other people’s feelings and meanings

• Our reactions to other people’s eyes — movement, focus, expression, etc — and their reactions to our eyes — contribute greatly to mutual assessment and understanding, consciously and unconsciously.

• With no words at all, feelings can be conveyed in a single glance. The metaphor which describes the eyes of two lovers meeting across a crowded room is not only found in old romantic movies. It’s based on scientific fact — the strong powers of non-verbal communications.

Life Advantage

• Our interpretation of body language, notably eyes and facial expressions, is instinctive, and with a little thought and knowledge, we can significantly increase our conscious awareness of these signals: both the signals we transmit, and the signals in others that we observe.
• Doing so gives us a significant advantage in life — professionally and personally — in our dealings with others. 

First Impressions

Body language is especially crucial when we meet someone for the first time.

• We form our opinions of someone we meet for the first time in just a few seconds, and this initial instinctual assessment is based far more on what we see and feel about the other person than on the words they speak. 
• On many occasions, we form a strong view about a new person before they speak a single word.

Consequently, body language is very influential in forming impressions on first meeting someone.

The effect happens both ways — to and from:

• When we meet someone for the first time, their body language, on conscious and unconscious levels, largely determines our initial impression of them.
• In turn, when someone meets us for the first time, they form their initial impression of us largely from our non-verbal signals.

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The Two-Way Effect of Body Language

This two-way effect continues throughout communications and relationships between people.

Body language is constantly being exchanged and interpreted between people, even though much of the time this is happening on an unconscious level.

• Remember — while you are interpreting (consciously or unconsciously) the body language of other people, so other people are constantly interpreting yours.

The people with the most conscious awareness of, and capabilities to read, body language tend to have an advantage over those whose appreciation is limited largely to the unconscious.

You will shift your own awareness from the unconscious into the conscious by learning about the subject, and then by practising your reading of non-verbal communications in your dealings with others.

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Background and History of Body Language

Philosophers and scientists have connected human physical behaviour with meaning, mood and personality for thousands of years, but only in living memory has the study of body language become as sophisticated and detailed as it is today.

Studies and written works on the subject are very sparse until the mid-1900s.

Early History

The first known experts to consider aspects of body language were probably the ancient Greeks, notably Hippocrates and Aristotle, through their interest in human personality and behaviour, and the Romans, notably Cicero, relating gestures to feelings and communications. Much of this early interest was in refining ideas about oration — speech-making — given its significance to leadership and government.

Isolated studies appeared in more recent times, for example, Francis Bacon in Advancement of Learning, 1605, explored gestures as reflection or extension of spoken communications. John Bulwer’s Natural History of the Hand published in 1644, considered hand gestures. Gilbert Austin’s Chironomia in 1806 looked at using gestures to improve speech-making.

Charles Darwin Study of Body Language

Charles Darwin in the late 1800s could be regarded as the earliest expert to have made a serious scientific observation about body language, but there seems little substantial development of ideas for at least the next 150 years.

Darwin’s work pioneered much ethological thinking. Ethology began as the science of animal behaviour. It became properly established during the early 1900s and increasingly extends to human behaviour and social organization. Where ethology considers animal evolution and communications, it relates strongly to human body language. Ethologists have progressively applied their findings to human behaviour, including body language, reflecting the evolutionary origins of much human non-verbal communication — and society’s growing acceptance of evolutionary rather than creationist theory. 

Austrian zoologist and 1973 Nobel Prizewinner Konrad Lorenz (1903-89) was a founding figure in ethology. Desmond Morris, the author of The Naked Ape, discussed below, is an ethologist, as is the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins (b. 1941) a leading modern thinker in the field. Ethology, like psychology, is an over-arching science that continues to clarify the understanding of body language.

Later Research on Body Language

The popular and accessible study of non-verbal communication as we know it today is very recent.

In his popular 1971 book ‘Body Language’, Julius Fast (1919-2008) wrote: «…kinesics [body language and its study] is still so new as a science that its authorities can be counted on the fingers of one hand…»

Julius Fast was an American award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction work dealing especially with human physiology and behaviour. His book Body Language was among the first to bring the subject to a mainstream audience.

Significantly the references in Julius Fast’s book (Birdwhistell, Goffman, Hall, Mehrabian, Scheflen, etc — see body language references and books below) indicate the freshness of the subject in 1971. All except one of Julius Fast’s cited works are from the 1950s and 1960s.

The exception among Fast’s contemporary influences was Charles Darwin, and specifically his book The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, written in 1872, which is commonly regarded as the beginnings of the body language science, albeit not recognised as such then.

Sigmund Freud and others in the field of psychoanalysis — in the late 1800s and early 1900s — would have had a good awareness of many aspects of the concept, including personal space, but they did not focus on non-verbal communications concepts or develop theories in their own right. Freud and similar psychoanalysts and psychologists of that time were focused on behaviour and therapeutic analysis rather than the study of non-verbal communications per se.

A different view of human behaviour related to and overlapping body language, surfaced strongly in Desmond Morris’s 1967 book The Naked Ape, and in follow-up books such as Intimate Behaviour, 1971. Morris, a British zoologist and ethologist, linked human behaviour — much of it concerned with communications — to human ‘animalistic’ evolution. His work remains a popular and controversial perspective for understanding people’s behaviours, and while his theories did not focus strongly on body language, Morris’s popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s contributed significantly to the increasing interest among people beyond the scientific community — for a better understanding of how and why we feel and act and communicate.

Body Language Terminology — Physiognomy, Kinesics, Proxemics and Kinaesthetics

An important aspect of body language is facial expression, for which quite early ‘scientific’ thinking can be traced:

• Physiognomy is an obscure and related concept to body language. Physiognomy refers to facial features and expressions which were/are said to indicate the person’s character or nature, or ethnic origin. The word physiognomy is derived from medieval Latin, and earlier Greek (phusiognominia), which originally meant (the art or capability of) judging a person’s nature from his/her facial features and expressions. The ancient roots of this concept demonstrate that while body language itself is a recently defined system of analysis, the notion of inferring human nature or character from facial expression is extremely old.
• Kinesics (pronounced ‘kineesicks’ with stress on the ‘ee’) is the modern technical word for body language, and more scientifically the study of body language. The word kinesics was first used in English in this sense in the 1950s, deriving from the Greek word kinesis, meaning motion, and seems to have first been used by Dr Ray Birdwhistell, an American 1950s researcher and writer on body language. (See references ).

The introduction of a new technical word — (in this case, kinesics) — generally comes after the establishment of the subject it describes, which supports the assertion that the modern concept of body language — encompassing facial expressions and personal space — did not exist until the 1950s.

• Proxemics is the technical term for the personal space aspect of body language. The word was devised in the late 1950s or early 1960s by Edward Twitchell Hall, an American anthropologist. The word is Hall’s adaptation of the word proximity, meaning closeness or nearness. (See personal space)
• From the word kinesics, Ray Birdwhistell coined the term kine to refer to a single body language signal. This is not to be confused with the ancient and same word kine, meaning a group of cows. Neither word seems to have caught on in a big way, which in one way is a pity, but in another way probably makes matters simpler for anyone interested in the body language of cows.

The Greek word kinesis is also a root word of kinaesthetics, which is the ‘K’ in the VAK (‘see hear feel’) learning styles model.

• Kinaesthetics (also known as kinesthetics), the study of learning styles, is related to some of the principles of body language, in terms of conveying meaning and information via physical movement and experience.

Body language is among many branches of science and education which seek to interpret and exploit messages and meaning from the ‘touchy-feely’ side of life.

For example, the concepts of experiential learning, games and exercises, and love and spirituality at work — are all different perspectives and attempts to unlock and develop people’s potential using ideas centred around kinaesthetics, as distinct from the more tangible and easily measurable areas of facts, figures words and logic.

These and similar methodologies do not necessarily reference body language directly, but there are very strong inter-connections.

Bloom’s Taxonomy and Kolb’s Learning Styles are also helpful perspectives in appreciating the significance of kinaesthetics, and therefore body language, in life and work today.

The communications concepts of NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) and Transactional Analysis are closely dependent on understanding body language, NLP especially. 

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Body Language — Nature or Nurture?

Body language is part of human evolution, but as with many other aspects of human behaviour, the precise mixture of genetic (inherited) and environmental (learned or conditioned) influences is not known and opinions vary.

Julius Fast noted this, especially regarding facial expressions. To emphasise the shifting debate he cited for example:

• Darwin’s belief that human facial expressions were similar among humans of all cultures, due to evolutionary theory.
• Bruner and Taguiri’s (see references) opposing views — in the early 1950s, after thirty years of research, they largely rejected the notion that facial expressions were inborn.
• and Ekman, Friesan and Sorensen’s findings (see references) — in 1969, having discovered consistent emotional-facial recognition across widely diverse cultural groups, which supported Darwin’s evolutionary-centred ideas.

The discussion has continued in a similar vein to the modern-day — studies ‘proving’ genetic or environmental cause — ‘nature’ or ‘nurture’ — for one aspect of body language or another.

The situation is made more complex when one considers the genetic (inherited) capability or inclination to learn body language. Is this nature or nurture?

Body language is part ‘nature’ and part ‘nurture’. It is is partly genetic (inborn — ‘nature’), and partly environmental (conditioned/learned — ‘nurture’).

• The use and recognition of certain fundamental facial expressions are now generally accepted to be consistent and genetically determined among all humans regardless of culture.
• However the use and recognition of less fundamental physical gestures (hand movements for example, or the winking of an eye), and aspects of personal space distances, are now generally accepted to be environmentally determined (learned, rather than inherited), which is significantly dependent on local social groups and cultures.
• Certain vocal intonation speech variations (if body language is extended to cover everything but the spoken words) also fall within this environmentally determined category. (See the ‘other audible signals’ section.)

In summary, we can be certain that body language (namely the conscious and unconscious sending and receiving of non-verbal signals) is partly inborn, and partly learned or conditioned. 

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Body Language and Evolution

The evolutionary perspectives of body language are fascinating, in terms of its purpose and how it is exploited, which in turn feeds back into the purpose of body language at conscious and unconscious levels.

Why did Body Language Evolve?

For various reasons people intentionally and frequently mask their true feelings. (Transactional Analysis theory is very useful in understanding more about this)

In expectation of these ‘masking’ tendencies in others, humans try to imagine what another person has in their mind. The need to understand what lies behind the mask obviously increases according to the importance of the relationship.

• Body language helps us to manage and guard against these tendencies, and also — significantly especially in flirting/dating/mating rituals — it often helps people to communicate and resolve relationship issues when conscious behaviour and speech fails to do so.

Body language has evolved in spite of human awareness and conscious intelligence: rather like a guardian angel, it can help take care of us, connecting us to kindred souls, and protecting us from threats.

While the importance of body language in communications and management has become a popular interest and science in the last few decades, human beings have relied on kinesics instinctively in many ways for many thousands of years.

The Evolution of Body Language

• Early natural exponents of interpreting body language were explorers and tribal leaders, who had to be able to read potential foes — to know whether to trust or defend or attack.
• Earlier than this, our cavemen ancestors certainly needed to read body language, if only because no other language existed.

Humans have also learned to read the body language of animals (and vice-versa), although humans almost certainly had greater skills in this area a long time ago. Shepherds, horse-riders and animal trainers throughout time and still today have good capabilities in reading animal body language, which for many extends to the human variety. Monty Robert, the real-life ‘Horse Whisperer’ is a good example.

Body language, and the reading of non-verbal communications and feelings, are in our genes. 

Gender differences: Interestingly, women tend to have better perception and interpretation of body language than men. This is perhaps a feature of evolutionary survival since females needed these skills to reduce their physical vulnerability to males and the consequential threat to life, limb, and offspring. Females might not be so physically vulnerable in modern times, but their kinesic capabilities generally continue typically to be stronger than the male of the species. Thus, women tend to be able to employ body language (for sending and interpreting signals) more effectively than men.

Katherine Benziger’s theories of brain types and thinking styles provide a useful additional perspective. Women tend to have more empathic sensitivity than men, which naturally aids their awareness and capabilities. Aside from gender differences, men and women with strong empathic sensitivity (typically right-basal or rear brain bias) tend to be better at picking up signals.

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The Six Universal Facial Expressions

It is now generally accepted that certain basic facial expressions of human emotion are recognized around the world — and that the use and recognition of these expressions are genetically inherited rather than socially conditioned or learned.

While there have been found to be minor variations and differences among obscurely isolated tribes-people, the following basic human emotions are generally used, recognized, and part of humankind’s genetic character:

These emotional facial expressions are:

1. Happiness
2. Sadness
3. Fear
4. Disgust
5. Surprise
6. Anger

Charles Darwin was first to make these claims in his book The Expressions of the Emotions in Man and Animals, published in 1872. This book incidentally initially far outsold The Origin of Species, such as its wide (and controversial) appeal at the time.

Darwin’s assertions about genetically inherited facial expressions remained the subject of much debate for many years.

Paul Ekman

In the 1960s a Californian psychiatrist and expert in facial expressions, Paul Ekman, (with Sorenson and Friesen — see references) conducted and published extensive studies with people of various cultures to explore the validity of Darwin’s theory — that certain facial expressions and man’s ability to recognize them are inborn and universal among people. Ekman’s work notably included isolated tribes-people who could not have been influenced by Western media and images, and essentially proved that Darwin was right — i.e., that the use and recognition of facial expressions to convey certain basic human emotions is part of human evolved nature, genetically inherited, and not dependent on social learning or conditioning.

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Body language is instinctively interpreted by us all to a limited degree, but the subject is potentially immensely complex. Perhaps infinitely so, given that the human body is said to be capable of producing 700,000 different movements (Hartland and Tosh, 2001 — see references).

As with other behavioural sciences, the study of body language benefited from the development of brain-imaging technology in the last part of the 20th century. This dramatically accelerated the research and understanding into connections between the brain, feelings, thoughts and body movement. We should expect to see this effect continuing and providing a more solid evidence base for body language theory, much of which remains empirical, i.e., based on experience and observation, rather than a scientific test.

Given the potential for confusion, the discussion below highlights some of these analytical considerations.

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Context

Body language also depends on context: in a certain situation, it might not mean the same as in another.

Some ‘body language’ is not what it seems at all, for example:

• Someone rubbing their eye might have an irritation, rather than being tired — or disbelieving, or upset.
• Someone with crossed arms might be keeping warm, rather than being defensive.
• Someone scratching their nose might actually have an itch, rather than concealing a lie.

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Sufficient Samples/Evidence

A single body language signal isn’t as reliable as several signals:

• As with any system of evidence, ‘clusters’ of body language signals provide a much more reliable indication of meaning than one or two signals in isolation.
• Avoid interpreting only single signals. Look for combinations of signals which support an overall conclusion, especially for signals which can mean two or more quite different things.

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Culture/Ethnicity

Certain body language is the same in all people, for example, smiling and frowning (and see the six universally recognizable facial expressions above), but some body language is specific to a culture or ethnic group.

For more information see examples of cultural body language differences below.

Awareness of possible cultural differences is especially important in today’s increasingly mixed societies.

• Personal space preferences (distances inside which a person is uncomfortable when someone encroaches) can vary between people of different ethnicity.

In general, this article offers interpretations applicable to Western culture.

If you can suggest any different ethnic interpretations of body language please send them and we’ll broaden the guide accordingly.

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Age and Gender

Many body language signals are relative. A gesture by one person in a certain situation can carry far more, or very little meaning, compared to the same gesture used by a different person in a different situation.

• Young men for example often display a lot of pronounced gestures because they are naturally energetic, uninhibited and supple. Older women, relatively, are less energetic, adopt more modest postures, and are prevented by clothing and upbringing from exhibiting very pronounced gestures.

So when assessing body language — especially the strength of signals and meanings — it’s important to do so in relative terms, considering the type of person and situation involved.

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Faking/Deception

Some people artificially control their outward body language to give the impression they seek to create at the time.

• A confident firm handshake, or direct eye contact, are examples of signals which can quite easily be ‘faked’ — usually temporarily, but sometimes more consistently.

However while a degree of faking is possible, it is not possible for someone to control or suppress all outgoing signals.

This is an additional reason to avoid superficial analysis based on isolated signals, and to seek as many indicators as possible, especially subtle clues when suspecting things might not be what they seem. Politicians and manipulative salespeople come to mind for some reason.

• Looking for ‘micro gestures’ (pupils contract, an eyebrow lifts, corner of the twitch) can help identify the true meaning and motive behind one or two strong and potentially false signals.

These micro gestures are very small, difficult to spot and are subconscious, but we cannot control them, hence their usefulness.

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Boredom, Nervousness and Insecurity Signals

Many body language signals indicate negative feelings such as boredom, disinterest, anxiousness or insecurity.

The temptation upon seeing such signals is to imagine a weakness on the part of the person exhibiting them.

This can be so, however the proper interpretation of body language should look beyond the person and the signal — and consider the situation, especially if you are using body language within personal development or management. Ask yourself:

• What is causing the negative feelings giving rise to the negative signals?

It is often the situation, not the person — for example, here are examples of circumstances that can produce negative feelings and signals in people, often even if they are strong and confident:

• Dominance of a boss or a teacher or other person perceived to be in authority
• Overloading a person with new knowledge or learning
• Tiredness
• Stress caused by anything
• Cold weather or cold conditions
• Lack of food and drink
• Illness or disability
• Alcohol or drugs
• Being in a minority or feeling excluded
• Unfamiliarity — newness — change

Ask yourself, when analysing body language:

• Are there external factors affecting the mood and condition of the individual concerned?

Do not jump to conclusions — especially negative ones — using body language analysis alone. 

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Quick Reference Guide: Translation of Gestures, Signs and Other Factors

When translating body language signals into feelings and meanings remember that one signal does not reliably indicate a meaning.

• Clusters of signals more reliably indicate meaning.

Note. This is a general guide. This should not be used alone for making serious decisions about people. Body language is one of several indicators of mood, meaning and motive.  This is a guide, not an absolutely reliable indicator, and this applies especially until you’ve developed good capabilities of reading signs.

Even ‘obvious’ signs can be missed — especially if displayed as subtle movements in a group of people and if your mind is on other things — so I make no apology for including ‘obvious’ body language in this guide.

It is important to remember that cultural differences influence these signals and their interpretation. This guide is based on ‘Western World’ and North European behaviours. What may be ‘obvious’ in one culture can mean something different in another culture.

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Body Language Signal Translation

The body language signals below are grouped together according to parts of the body.

Left and right are for the person giving the signals and making the movements.

This is a summary of the main body language signals. More signals and meanings will be added.

Suggest any other signals that you wish to know, and we’ll add them.

These are the body language signals that will be discussed below:

• Eyes 
• Mouth
• Head 
• Arms
• Hands 
• Handshakes 
• Legs and feet 
• Personal space

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Eyes

Our eyes are a very significant aspect of the non-verbal signals we send to others. To a lesser or greater extent we all ‘read’ people’s eyes without knowing how or why, and this ability seems to be inborn.

Eyes — and especially our highly developed awareness of what we see in other people’s eyes — are incredible:

• For example, we know if we have eye contact with someone at an almost unbelievable distance. Far too far away to be able to see the detail of a person’s eyes — 30-40 metres away or more sometimes — we know when there is eye contact. 
• Also, we can see whether another person’s eyes are focused on us or not, and we can detect easily the differences between a ‘glazed over’ blank stare, a piercing look, a moistening eye long before tears come, and an awkward or secret glance.

We probably cannot describe these and many other eye signals, but we recognise them when we see them and we know what they mean.

When we additionally consider the eyelids, the flexibility of the eyes to widen and close, and for the pupils to enlarge or contract, it becomes easier to understand how the eyes have developed such potency in human communications.

What does it mean when eyes look left and right? 

• Eyes tend to look right when the brain is imagining or creating, and left when the brain is recalling or remembering. This relates to right and left sides of the brain — in this context broadly the parts of the brain handling creativity/feelings (right) and facts/memory (left). 
• This is analysed in greater detail below, chiefly based on NLP theory developed in the 1960s. Under certain circumstances ‘creating’ can mean fabrication or lying, especially (but not always — beware), when the person is supposed to be recalling facts. Looking right when stating facts does not necessarily mean lying — it could, for example, mean that the person does not know the answer, and is talking hypothetically or speculating or guessing.

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eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Mouth

The mouth is associated with very many body language signals, which is not surprising given its functions — obviously speech, but also those connected with infant feeding, which connects psychologically through later life with feelings of security, love and sex.

• The mouth can be touched or obscured by a person’s own hands or fingers, and is a tremendously flexible and expressive part of the body too, performing a central role in facial expressions.
• The mouth also has more visible moving parts than other sensory organs, so there’s a lot more potential for a variety of signalling.
• Smiling is a big part of facial language. As a general rule real smiles are symmetrical and produce creases around the eyes and mouth, whereas fake smiles, for whatever reason, tend to be mouth-only gestures.

Unlike the nose and ears, which are generally only brought into action by the hands or fingers, the mouth acts quite independently, another reason for it deserving separate detailed consideration.

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eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Head

The head is very significant in body language. The head tends to lead and determine general body direction but it is also vital and vulnerable being where our brain is, so the head is used a lot in directional (likes and dislikes) body language as well as in defensive (self-protection) body language.

• A person’s head, due to a very flexible neck structure, can turn, jut forward, withdraw, tilt sideways, forwards, backwards. All of these movements have meanings, which given some thought about other signals can be understood.
• The head usually has hair, ears, eyes, nose and a face, which has more complex and visible muscular effects than any other area of the body.

The head — when our hands interact with it — is therefore dynamic and busy in communicating all sorts of messages — consciously and unconsciously.

eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Arms

Arms act as defensive barriers when across the body, and conversely indicate feelings of openness and security when in open positions, particularly when combined with open palms. Arms are quite reliable indicators of mood and feeling, especially when interpreted with other body language signals.

This provides a good opportunity to illustrate how signals combine to enable safer analysis.

For example:

• Crossed arms = possibly defensive
• Crossed arms + crossed legs = probably defensive
• Crossed arms + crossed legs + frowning + clenched fists = definitely defensive and probably hostile as well

While this might seem obvious written in simple language, it is not always so clear if your attention is on other matters.

Body language is more than just knowing the theory — it is being aware constantly of the signals people are giving.

eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Hands

Body language involving hands is extensive. This is because hands are such expressive parts of the body and because hands interact with other parts of the body.

Hands contain many more nerve connections (to the brain) than most if not all other body parts. They are extremely expressive and flexible tools, so it is natural for hands to be used a lot in signalling consciously — as with emphasizing gestures — or unconsciously — as in a wide range of unintentional movements which indicate otherwise hidden feelings and thoughts.

A nose or an ear by itself can do little to signal a feeling but when a hand or finger is also involved then there is probably a signal of some sort.

Hands body language is used for various purposes, notably:

• Emphasis, (pointing, jabbing, and chopping actions)
• Illustration (drawing, shaping, mimicking actions or sizing things in the air — this big/long/wide/etc., phoning actions, etc)
• Specific conscious signals like the American OK, the thumbs-up, the Victory-sign and for rude gestures
• Greeting people and waving goodbye (which might be included in the above category)
• and more interestingly in unconscious ‘leakage’ signals including interaction with items like pens and cigarettes and other parts of the body, indicating feelings such as doubt, deceit, pressure, openness, expectation

Body language experts generally agree that hands send more signals than any part of the body except for the face. Studying hands, therefore, yields a lot of information — hence the section below is large.

There are many cultural body language differences in hand signals. The section below focuses on Western behaviour. Much applies elsewhere, but avoid assuming that it all does.

eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Handshakes

The firmness of a handshake is not the reliable indicator of firmness of character that many believe it to be. Firm handshakes tend to be those of confident people, especially those who have spent some time in business and who realise that most people in business consider a firm handshake to be a good thing. Handshakes that are uncomfortably firm show a lack of respect or awareness, especially if used in cultures (Eastern especially) where firm handshaking is not normal.

A Quick History of Handshaking

Handshaking evolved from ancient times as an initial gesture of trust, to show that no weapon was being held. Naturally also the handshake offers the most obvious way to connect physically as a way to signal trust or friendship. In more recent times, especially from the 1800s onwards, a handshake became the way to confirm a commercial transaction. Handshaking by women became common practice much later, reflecting the change of social attitudes and the increasing equality of women, for whom a hundred years back such physical contact was considered improper. Women have throughout time generally been subservient to men, hence the very subservient female curtsey gesture (also spelt curtsy), which survives now only in traditional situations such as meeting royalty or ending a stage performance.

eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Legs and Feet

Legs and feet body language are more difficult to control consciously or fake than some body language of arms, hands and face. Legs and feet can, therefore, provide good clues to feelings and moods, if you know the signs.

Aspects to consider when interpreting body language of leg and feet:

• Men and women sit differently, which needs to be considered when reading leg body language. Partly due to clothing and partly due to sexual differences, men naturally exhibit more open leg positions than women, which should be allowed for when interpreting signals. Certain open-leg male positions are not especially significant in men but would be notable in women, especially combined with a short skirt.
• Older women tend to adopt more modest closed leg positions than younger women, due to upbringing, social trends, equality and clothing. Again take account of these influences when evaluating signals.
• Also, consider that when people sit for half-an-hour or more they tend to change their leg positions, which can include leg crossing purely for comfort reasons. Again allow for this when interpreting signals.
• Leg signals tend to be supported by corresponding arms signals, for example, crossed arms and crossed legs, which aside from comfort reasons generally indicate detachment, disinterest, rejection or insecurity, etc.

Note. Where the terms ‘leg-crossing’ and ‘crossed legs’ are used alone, this refers to the legs being crossed at both knees. The ‘American’ or ‘Figure-4’ leg cross entails the supporting leg being crossed just above the knee by the ankle or lower calf of the crossing leg. This makes a figure-4 shape, hence the name. The posture is also called the American leg cross because of its supposed popularity in the US compared to the UK, notably among males.

eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Personal Space

The technical term for the personal space aspect of body language is proxemics. 

• The word was devised by Edward Twitchell Hall (b.1914), an American anthropologist and writer on body language and non-verbal communications, especially relating to cross-cultural understanding. His 1963 book, «Proxemics, A Study of Man’s Spacial Relationship», no doubt helped popularize the new word. Edward Twitchell Hall is an interesting character and one of the founding fathers of modern theory. His other books are listed in the body language references section below. 
• Robert Ardrey is cited by Julius Fast as another significant expert and writer in personal space.

Proxemics — personal space — is defined as (the study of) the amount of space that people find comfortable between themselves and others.

Personal space dimensions depend notably on the individual, cultural and living background, the situation and relationships. However, some general parameters apply to most people, which for Western societies, are shown below.

There are five distinct space zones, which were originally identified by Edward T. Hall and which remain the basis of personal space analysis today. The first zone is sometimes shown as a single zone comprising two sub-zones.

eyes | mouth | head | arms | hands | handshakes | legs and feet |  personal space

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Mirroring — Matching Body Language Signals

When body language and speech characteristics are mirrored or synchronized between people this tends to assist the process of creating and keeping rapport (a mutual feeling of empathy, understanding, trust).

The term synchronized is arguably a more accurate technical term because mirroring implies visual signals only when the principles of matching body language extend to audible signals also — notably speech pace, pitch or tone and so on. Mirroring in this conscious sense is not simply copying or mimicking. Mirroring is effective when movements and gestures are reflected in a similar way so that the effect remains unconscious and subtle. Obvious copying would be regarded as strange or insulting.

The Relevance of Matching Body Language Signals

• ‘Mirrored’ or synchronized body language between two people encourages feelings of trust and rapport because it generates unconscious feelings of affirmation.
• When another person displays similar body language to our own, this makes us react unconsciously to feel, «This person is like me and agrees with the way I am. I like this person because we are similar, and he/she likes me too.»
• The converse effect applies. When two people’s body language signals are different — i.e., not synchronized — they feel less like each other, and the engagement is less comfortable. Each person senses a conflict arising from the mismatching of signals — the two people are not affirming each other — instead, the mismatched signals translate into unconscious feelings of discord, discomfort or even rejection. The unconscious mind thinks, «This person is not like me or he/she is different to me, I am not being affirmed, therefore I feel defensive.»

Advocates and users of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) use mirroring consciously, as a method of ‘getting in tune’ with another person, and with a little practice are able to first match and then actually and gently to alter the signals — and supposedly thereby the feelings and attitudes — of other people, using mirroring techniques.

Examples of Mirroring Body Language

• Speech pace or speed is an example. When you are speaking with someone, first match their pace of speaking, then gently change your pace — slower or faster — and see if the other person follows you. Often they will do.
• People, mostly being peaceful cooperative souls, commonly quite naturally match each other. To do otherwise can sometimes feel uncomfortable, even though we rarely think consciously about it.
• When another person leans forward towards us at a table, we often mirror and do likewise. When they lean back and relax, we do the same.
• Sales people and other professional communicators are widely taught to mirror all sorts of more subtle signals, as a means of creating trust and rapport with the other person, and to influence attitudes.

See NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Empathy for related information. 

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Body Language of Seating Positioning

Lots of unnecessary friction is created in work and communications situations due to ignorance and lack of thought about seating positions. The ‘science’ of where people sit in relation to each other, on what and around what, is fascinating and offers opportunities for improving relationships, communications, cooperation and understanding.

Here are some guidelines:

These points are generally for the purpose of a leader or someone aspiring to lead, or coach, counsel, etc. They also relate to one-to-one situations like appraisals, interviews and so on.

DONT’s —  Less Favourable Seating Positions

• Sitting opposite someone creates a feeling of confrontation. For one-to-one meetings, especially with emotional potential (appraisals for example) take care to arrange seating before the meeting to avoid opposite-facing positions. If you cannot arrange the seating give very deliberate thought to seating positions before you sit down and/or before you invite the other person to sit — don’t just let it happen because commonly, strangely, people often end up sitting opposite if free to do so.
• Consider the rules about personal space. Do not place chairs so close together that personal space will be invaded. Conversely sitting too far apart will prevent building feelings of trust and private/personal discussion.
• Sitting opposite someone across a table or desk adds a barrier to the confrontational set-up and can create tension even when the relationship is good and strong. It’s easy to forget this and to find yourself sitting opposite someone when there are only two of you at the table. 
• Sitting behind a work-desk (the boss behind his/her own desk especially) and having someone (especially a subordinate) sit in a less expensive lower chair across the desk emphasises the authority of the boss and adds unhelpfully to the barrier and the confrontational set-up. This seating arrangement will increase the defensiveness of anyone already feeling insecure or inferior. This positioning is favoured by certain bosses seeking to reinforce their power, but it is not helpful in most modern work situations and is not a helpful way to increase respectful natural authority anyway. 

DO’s — Favourable Seating Positions

• Sitting at a diagonal angle of about 45 degrees to another person is a comfortable and cooperative arrangement. This is achieved naturally by both sitting around the same corner of a square table, which also enables papers to be seen together without too much twisting.
• The same angle is appropriate for and easy-chairs around a coffee-table. A table ceases to become a barrier when people are sitting at a diagonal angle, instead, it becomes a common work surface for studying papers, or exploring issues together.
• Sitting side by side on a settee is not a good arrangement for working relationships. It threatens personal space and obstructs communications.
• Low settees and easy chairs and low coffee tables cause people to sink and relax back are usually unhelpful for work meetings. For this reason, much seating in hotel lounges is entirely unsuitable for work meetings. People naturally are more alert and focused on using a higher formal table and chairs.
• Interviews and appraisals can benefit from relaxed or more formal seating depending on the situation. Importantly — make a conscious choice about furniture depending on the tone of the meeting, and how relaxed you want the meeting to be.

The 45-degree rule is approximate and anyway, under most circumstances, seating angles are influenced by furniture and available space. Importantly, simply try to avoid opposite or side-by-side positions. An angle between these two extremes is best — somewhere in the range of 30-60 degrees if you want to be technical about it.

In large gatherings of 20-30 people or more, a ‘top table’ is often appropriate for the leader and guest speakers. While this seems like a throwback to more autocratic times, it is perfectly workable. Groups of people above a certain size are far more likely to expect firm direction/leadership, if not in making decisions, certainly to keep order and ensure the smooth running of proceedings. Therefore seating arrangements for large groups should provide a clear position of control for the chairperson or event leaders.

Other Information on Seating Position

• Round tables are better than square or oblong tables for group and team meetings. Obviously, this works well because no one is at the head of the table, which promotes a feeling of equality and teamwork. King Arthur — or the creator of the legend (King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table) — opted for a round table for this reason. The term ’round table’ has come to symbolise teamwork and fairness, etc., for a long time. Unfortunately, round tables are not common in offices, which means thinking carefully about the best seating arrangements for square or oblong tables.
• A confident leader will be happy to avoid taking the ‘head of the table’ position, instead to sit among the team, especially if there are particular reasons for creating a cooperative atmosphere. Conversely, it is perfectly normal for a leader to take the ‘head of the table’ if firmness is required in chairing or mediating, etc. It is usually easier to chair a meeting from the head of the table position.
• Theory suggests that when a group sits around a table the person sitting on the leader’s right will generally be the most loyal and aligned to the leader’s thinking and wishes. A (likely) mythical origin is said to be that in Roman times a leader would place their most loyal supporter to their right because this was the most advantageous position from which to attempt an assassination by stabbing (given that most people then as now were right-handed). Assassination by stabbing is rare in modern work meetings, so positioning an opponent on your right side (instead of allowing the normal opposite positioning to happen) can be a useful tactic since this indicates confidence and strength.

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Body Language in Different Cultures

Here are some brief pointers concerning body language variations and gestures in cultures that differ from Western (US/UK notably) behaviour. We welcome refinements and additions to this section. Please send any you can contribute.

Eye Contact

Eye contact (other than unwanted staring) is generally regarded as a positive aspect of body language in Western cultures, which in this context typically refers to European people and descendants. A specific difference regarding eye contact can be found in some black Caribbean cultures, however, whereby young people tend to be instructed not to look at someone eye to eye when being told off or disciplined. When cultures meet obviously this provides the potential for friction, given the ‘Western’ expectation in such situations, for example, «Look at me when I’m talking to you» (Thanks R Fox).

Thumbs-Up and Handshaking/Hand Movements

• In Arab countries the thumbs-up gesture is rude. Also, Arab handshaking tends to be more frequent and less firm — on meeting and departing, even several times in the same day.
• In Islam, the left hand and right hands have religious connotations which generally dictate that the left hand is not used for touching (for example shaking hands) or eating. 
• Beckoning gestures in Eastern cultures are commonly made with the palm down, whereas Western beckoning is generally palmed up.

Head Nodding/Movements

• People in/from parts of India may shake their heads from side to side as a sign of agreement and active listening. In the UK/west we tend to nod our heads to agree and affirm and to show we are listening, whereas in India it is not unusual for people to move their heads from side to side in giving these reactions. It is also seen as a respectful practice. Incidentally, on this point, sideways head-shaking of this sort is not a vigorous twisting movement; it is usually more of a sideways tilting of the head from one side to the other (Thanks S Churchill).
• In some countries, Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria for example, moving the head up/down or from side to side may have additional or different meanings to those conventionally interpreted in the UK/US. Specifically, in Turkey, aside from using conventional (US/UK-style) head nodding and shaking, some people may also signal ‘no’ by moving their head up. 
• In Japan, the male bow is still commonly used, when the depth of the bow increases with the amount of respect shown, and is, therefore, a signal of relative status between two people.
• In The Netherlands, people touch the temple with the index finger in order to indicate someone (or an action) is smart or intelligent. Touching the forehead with the index finger means someone (or an action) is stupid or crazy. In Russia, these meanings are reversed.

Sign of Disrespect or Wrongdoing in other Cultures

• Filipino people can find it offensive/uncomfortable when beckoned by a repeatedly curled index finger — the gesture evokes feelings of having done something wrong and being chastised for it.
• In some Australian Aboriginal cultures, it is disrespectful to look an elder, or person of a rank above you, in the eyes. It is a sign of respect to drop your eyes, (whereas in Western culture not meeting somebody’s gaze is commonly considered to be a negative sign, indicating deceit, lying, lack of attention, lack of confidence and so on).
• The American-style ‘OK’ sign — a circle made with thumb and index finger with other fingers fanned or outstretched — is a rude gesture in some cultures, notably Latin America, Germany and the Middle East.
• The offensive British/Western two-fingered V-sign is not necessarily offensive in Japan and may be considered positive like the Western palm-outwards ‘victory’ or ‘peace’ V-sign in the West.

• The eyebrow flash may be considered rude or to carry sexual connotations in Japanese culture. Informal male-female touching is less common and can be considered improper in Japan.

• Showing the soles of the feet is insulting/rude in many Asian and Arab cultures, especially pointing the foot or feet at anyone. Feet are considered ‘inferior’ parts of the body compared with the dignity of the face.

Japanese Body Language Insights

Here are some Japanese body language insights, especially for doing business in Japan (thanks R Wilkes):

• High-pitched laughter means nervousness.
• On introduction, do not offer a handshake. Depth of bow is impossible to judge without immense experience: it is sufficient for a Westerner to bow shallowly.
• Business cards should be exchanged at the first possible opportunity. The card received should be held in both hands, examined carefully and then stored, preferably in a wallet, on the upper half of the body. Holding a person’s identity in one hand is casual/disrespectful. The trouser pocket is a rude place.
• Blowing one’s nose into a handkerchief in public is perceived as obscene.
• Japanese businesses (unless they cannot afford it) have two types of meeting room: a Western-style room with a central table, and a room with sofas. The sofa room is for non-antagonistic meetings. In general, the 45-degree rule seems to apply here — better to sit on adjacent sides than across from one another. This room can be a great place to cut deals. Nevertheless, the ‘table’ room is where transactions are formalised. There the host of the meeting sits nearest to (and preferably with his back to) the door. 
• This is probably chivalric in origin — he is first in the way of any invader to the room.) His team sits on the same side of the table in descending rank. The chief guest sits opposite him and similarly, the minions decline to the side. 
• The head of the table is not generally used in bilateral (two parties) meetings except by people brought in to advise on components of the agenda. A great boss may spend much of the meeting with his eyes closed. He is considering what is being said by the subordinates and does not need visual distraction. However, if he has a firm steer to give, he will instruct his deputy and this will be relayed immediately.
• Loss of eye contact is quite normal with lower-ranking people: if they drop their head, this indicates deep thought.
• Otherwise, pure body signals are quite similar to Western ones, with one notable exception: touching the tip of the nose from straight-ahead signals ‘I/me’.
• The Japanese language does have a word for ‘no’ but it is rarely used in business for fear of causing offence or loss of face. «Yes, but…» is substantially more acceptable.

We welcome refinements and additions for body language in other cultures. Please send anything you can contribute.

(Thanks to D Ofek, G van Duin, L Campbell, F Suzara, M Baniasadi, S Aydogmus, DD, and particularly to R Wilkes for the Japanese section.) 

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Flirting, Courtship, Dating and Mating

Many signals in flirting, dating and mating body language are covered in the general translation signals above and the fundamental principles of social/work body language also apply to the development or blocking of sexual relationships. Of course, lots of flirting, and more, goes on at work, but for the purposes of this article, it is easier to keep the two situations separate.

The Importance of Context

Again, context plays a highly relevant. There are some differences that can completely change the nature of a signal given in a sexual context. 

• Sitting opposite someone is an example, which is confrontational at work, but is often intimate and enabling for sexual and romantic relationships: full constant eye-to-eye contact is helpful for intimacy, as is full-frontal facing between male and female for obvious reasons.
• Personal space must also be considered in a different way in social-sexual situations compared to work and non-sexual situations: At work, the primary consideration is given to respecting the personal zones and not invading closer than the situation warrants. In a sexual flirting context, however, personal space becomes the arena for ritual and play and within reason is more of a game than a set of fixed limits.
• Dancing is a further example of how body language operates at a different level in sexual-social situations. Different tolerances and tacit (implied) permissions apply. It’s a ritual and a game that humans have played for thousands of years. Dancing relates strongly to the attention stage of the dating/mating/courtship process. 

And while not technically part of body language, the environment is a vital aspect of dating and mating. The environment in which the dating activity is pursued equates to market/audience-targeting in business. People seeking a mate are effectively marketing themselves. Commonly people head to where everyone else goes — to nightclubs and dating websites — but crucially these environments are highly unsuitable markets for many people, for instance, those not good at dancing and those not good at writing and communicating online. Just as a business needs to find the best markets and ways of reaching its target audience, so in dating people can seek environments where they can best display their strengths and where relevant ‘buyers’ will be.

Knowing about flirting body language becomes more useful in a favourable environment.

Lastly, in many ways, courtship echoes the selling and advertising model AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action). This is also known as the Hierarchy of Effects since steps must be successfully completed in order to achieve the sale at the end. For example, nothing happens without first attracting attention, a point commonly ignored by people looking for a mate. The attention stage is even more critical in crowded and highly competitive environments such as nightclubs and dating websites.

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Female Indications of Interest in a Male

Females have very many more ways of attracting attention to themselves than males, and so are able to express interest and availability in far more ways than males tend to do.

Female interest in males is relatively selective. Male interest in females is, by comparison, constant and indiscriminate. This is due fundamentally to human mating behaviour, which evolved over many thousands of years, in which essentially women control the chase and the choice and men respond primarily to female availability and permissions. These differences in behaviour perhaps mainly exist because females produce one viable egg per month, about 500 in a lifetime, whereas males make several hundred sperm every day. 

As with interpreting body language generally, beware of concluding anything based on a single signal. Clusters of signals are more reliable. Foot pointing, knee pointing, and leg-crossing signals can all be due simply to comfort, rather than expressions of interest or sexual appeal.

Aside from the specific flirting and sexual attraction signs below, females also express interest using the general signalling explained in the earlier sections, e.g., prolonged direct eye contact, active responsive listening, attentive open alert postures and body positions and so on.

Here are the most common female flirting body language signals and meanings, according to experts on the subject:

• Eye contact — anything more than a glance indicates initial interest.
• Eye catch and look away — establishing eye contact then looking away or down is said by many experts to be the standard initial signal of interest designed to hook male reaction. The reliability of the signal meaning is strengthened when repeated and/or reinforced with longer eye contact.
• Eye-widening — interest, simultaneously increasing attractiveness/appeal.
• Eyelash flicker — subtle movement of eyelashes to widen eyes briefly.
• Pupil dilating — interest, liking what is seen, arousal.
• Looking sideways up — lowering head, slightly sideways, and looking up — also known as doe-eyes, with eyelashes normally slightly lowered — displays interest and vulnerability/coyness, most famously employed by Diana Princess of Wales, notably in her interview with Martin Bashir in the battle for public sympathy following her split with Prince Charles.
• Shoulder glance — looking sideways towards the target over the shoulder signals availability and hence interest.
• Smiling — obvious sign of welcoming and friendliness.
• Moistening lips — lips are significant in signalling because (psychologists say) they mimic the female labia, hence the potency of red lipstick (suggesting increased blood flow) and moistening/licking the lips.
• Parted lips — significant and potent attraction signal.
• Preening — especially of hair, which exposes the soft underarm.
• Flicking hair — often combined with a slight tossing movement of the head.
• Canting (tilting) head — also exposes neck.
• Showing inner wrist or forearm — a soft vulnerable area and erogenous zone.
• Straightening posture — standing taller, chest out, stomach in — a natural response to feeling the urge to appear more appealing.
• Self-touching — drawing attention to sexually appealing parts of the body; neck, hair, cleavage, thigh, etc. — additionally self-touching is said to represent transference/imagining of being touched — and of course demonstration of what it would be like for the target to do the touching; teasing in other words.
• Self thigh-stroking — usually while sitting down — same as self-touching.
• Standing opposite — normally a confrontational positioning, but flirting allows direct eye contact and optimizes engagement. Refer also to personal space rules: less than 4ft between people is personal; less than 18 inches is intimate and only sustainable when there is some mutual interest and attraction, especially when direct facing and not in a crowded environment. N.B. Crowded environments distort the personal space rules, where implied permissions (e.g., for public transport and dense crowds or queues) override normal interpretations.
• Leaning forward — sitting or standing; leaning forwards towards a person indicates interest and attraction.
• Foot pointing — direction can indicate a person of interest.
• Knee-pointing — as foot pointing.
• Leg twine — a tight-leg cross ‘aimed’ (combined with eye contact) at a target, or when sitting one-to-one, increases sexual allure since it emphasises leg shape and tone. When employed flirtatiously, female leg crossing and uncrossing also has obvious sexual connotations and stimulate basic urges in males.
• Shoe-dangling — positive signal of relaxation or of greater promise, especially if the foot thrusts in and out of the shoe.
• Pouting — pouting involves tightening the lips together; the tongue rises to the roof of the mouth as if ready to swallow. Pouting displays various emotions, not always a sexual one, for example, projection of the lower lip indicates upset. An attraction pout looks more like the initial forming of a kiss.
• Picking fluff — removing fluff, hair, etc., from the target’s clothes is playing in the intimate personal space zone, in which the fluff picking is merely a pretext or excuse.
• Fondling cylindrical objects — phallic transference, for instance using pens, a dangling earring, a wine glass stem, etc.
• Mirroring — mirroring or synchronizing gestures and positions is a signal of interest and attraction. See mirroring.

When considering body language in such detail, remember that males and females rely greatly on conversation and verbal communication to determine mutual attraction as soon as the situation allows. Body language in flirting can be significant in indicating a strong match, but just as easily can merely be an initial filtering stage that progresses no further because other (infinitely variable) personal or situational criteria on either or both sides are not met.

Important note. Also bear in mind that a lot of flirting happens for fun with no intention of proceeding to the sexual or romantic attachment. The purpose of this page is chiefly to explain body language signals, not to explain human relationships.

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Male Interest in Females

As stated earlier there are reasons for the relative sparseness of male signals compared to female flirting signals. Men believe they take the lead, but actually, mostly women do.

Male signals of interest in females essentially follow normal body language rules, for example, widening eyes, dilated pupils, forward-leaning, prolonged direct eye contact, active listening reactions and these come into play once eye contact and/or proximity is established.

The most prevalent signals males use to announce their availability and attract female attention are summarised below. Under many circumstances, these might be categorised under the headings ‘pathetic’ or ‘amusing’. The male of the species, despite a couple of million years of evolution has yet to develop much subtle body language in this area.

• Posturing — erect stance, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in.
• Wide stance — legs apart (standing or sitting) — to increase size.
• Cowboy stance — thumbs in belt loops, fingers pointing to the genital area.
• Hands in pockets — thumbs out and pointing to genitals.
• ‘Chest-thumping’ — a metaphor describing various male antics designed to draw attention to themselves, often involving play-punching or wrestling other males, laughing too loudly, head-tossing, acting the fool, etc.
• Room scanning — males who are available and looking for females tend to scan the room, partly to look for available females, but also to indicate they are available themselves.
• Dress — clothing: style, fit, cleanliness, etc — is all an extension of personality and is, therefore, part of kinesics.
• Preening and grooming — adjusting clothes, ties, cuffs, sleeves, tugging at trouser crotch, running hands through or over hair, etc.
• Smell — certain smells are attractive to females but it’s a complex and highly personal area yet to be understood well. 
• Tattoos — here’s an interesting one, commonly ignored in conventional body language flirting guides. Tattoos have dramatically altered society’s perceptions in the past generation. Previously considered indicative of lower class, lower intellect, sailors, soldiers, builders, etc., nowadays they are everywhere on everyone. Tattoos have been a significant part of human customs for thousands of years. They are decorative, and also (in evolutionary terms) suggested strength and machismo, since the process of obtaining them was painful and even life-threatening. Certain females are attracted by tattoos on men, especially extensive markings. It’s a drastic step to improve one’s love life, but worthy of note, because the subject is not as simple and negative as traditionally regarded. Tattoos are significant attention-grabbers, and given the variety of subjects featured, also provide interesting talking points.
• Body piercings — again more complex than traditionally considered, piercings do attract attention and signify the wearer to be different.
• Dancing — dancing, in a suitable place, of course, has for thousands of years been an opportunity for males and females to display their physical and sexual potential. With the exception perhaps of pogo-ing and head-banging, most dance styles replicate sexual movements — lots of rhythmic hip and leg work, contorted facial expressions, sweating and occasional grunting, etc. For those blessed with a level of coordination, dancing offers an effective way of attracting attention, especially in crowded competitive situations. For the less rhythmic, the lesson is to find a different environment.

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Stages of Courtship

The initial stages of a (usually) male-female sexual relationship are commonly represented as quite a structured process, summarised below.

• Incidentally, courtship traditionally refers to the early stages of a male-female relationship leading up to sex, babies, marriage and family life, (followed for many by mutual tolerance/indifference/loathing and acrimonious break-up). 
• Flirting is a common modern term for the early stages of courtship, or the beginnings of extra-marital affairs, which is misleading since most flirting happens for fun and rarely progresses beyond non-sexual touching.

If considering flirting/courtship body language in the context of dating and mating, it is useful to recall the selling and advertising model AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action), and especially that nothing happens without first attracting attention.

• Significantly, women are said generally make the first move — by signalling interest through establishing eye contact, and then confusingly for men, looking away.

Where the process reaches past the first stage, here broadly is how it is said by body language experts to unfold:

1. Eye contact (females typically lower or avert their eyes once firm contact is made)
2. Returned eye contact (by male)
3. Mutual smiling
4. Preening, grooming, posturing (male and female)
5. Moving together as regards personal space (male typically walks to female)
6. Talking
7. Attentive active listening (or simulation of this, sufficient mutually to retain sense of mutual interest)
8. Synchronizing/mirroring each other’s body language
9. Touching (more significantly by the female; subtle touching can happen earlier, and at this stage can become more intimate and daring)

Modern Day Courtship

• A generation ago this process took a little longer than it does today. Alcohol accelerates things even more.
• There will be variations of the above sequence in body language books and no doubt in real life too.

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Bowing and Curtseying

Although now rare in Western society bowing and curtseying are interesting because they illustrate the status and relationship aspects of body language, which are so significant in one-to-one situations.

• Bowing — Bowing is mainly a male gesture. Bending the upper body downwards towards another person or group is a signal of appreciation or subservience. The bow was in olden times a standard way for men to greet or acknowledge another person of perceived or officially higher status. 
• The bow is also a gesture of appreciation and thanks which survives in entertainment and performance. 
• Male bowing traditionally varied from a modest nod of the head to a very much more pronounced bend of the body from the hips. Depth of bend reflects the depth of respect or appreciation. For added dramatic effect the feet may be moved tightly together. A very traditional Western bow involves a deeper bend combined with the (normally) right-leg pushing backwards or ‘scraping’ on the ground, hence the expression ‘bowing and scraping’. The effect can be augmented by the bower’s hand pressing horizontally on the stomach, and the other arm extended, or sweeping extravagantly in a circular motion, made all the more dramatic if combined with removing a hat. 
• Such behaviour is rare outside of Christmas pantomimes these days, however interestingly even in modern times, you will see men slightly nodding their heads in an involuntary ‘semi-bow’ when meeting a person and wishing to show respect or admiration. As such, the small nod or bow of a head can be a clue to perceived seniority in relationships. Bowing has long been more significant and complex in Eastern cultures, where the gesture carries a similar deferential meaning, albeit it within more formal protocols and traditions. The fundamental body language of bowing is rooted in showing subservience by lowering one’s gaze and body, literally putting the bower at a lower level than the other person. Bowing remains significant in Japanese culture.
• Curtsey/curtsy — The curtsey is the female equivalent of the male bow, and in their most extreme versions curtseying and bowing gestures are quite similar. A curtsey is a bend of the knees, combined with a slight bow of the head, and sometimes a lifting of the skirt or dress at each side, at knee-height, by both hands. 
• This skirt-lift dates from olden times when this prevented a long skirt from touching the wet or muddy ground. 
• The female curtsey gesture survives in traditional situations such as meeting royalty or ending a stage or dance performance, in which you might see an older more flamboyant and deeper curtsey entailing one knee bending sideways and the other leg bending behind. 
• Curtseying has effectively now been replaced by handshaking, although as with male bowing it is possible sometimes to see small head bows by women when meeting and shaking hands with someone regarded as superior or important.

Importantly, bowing and curtseying as conscious intentional gestures have effectively disappeared from Western behaviour, but importantly people’s body language continues to give much smaller unconscious signals which can be linked to these old formal gestures and their meanings.

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Glossary

This is not an exhaustive collection of body language terminology — just a summary of the main and most interesting definitions.

• Absorbed actions — actions stimulated through unconscious mirroring.
• Active listening — listening very attentively and empathizing and reflecting back understanding through body language and usually words too.
• Adaptors — small signals are given when anxious or when behaving in a way that does not comfortably match the feelings, for example, lip-biting or face-touching, which are self-comforting signals.
• Alerting/announcement gestures — indicating need to speak, for example raising a hand or taking a breath and lifting the shoulders.
• American leg cross — the ‘American’ or ‘Figure-4’ leg cross entails the supporting leg being crossed just above the knee by the ankle or lower calf of the crossing leg. This makes a figure-4 shape, hence the name. The posture is called the American leg cross because of its supposed popularity in the US compared to the UK, notably among males.
• Anthropology — the study of humankind in all respects — especially culturally, socially and in evolutionary terms, and how these key aspects inter-relate. The word anthropology is from Greek Anthropos meaning human being. Anthropology, like psychology and ethnology and ethology, is a science that over-arches the study of body language and provides useful (and for serious students, essential) context for understanding the reasons and purposes of body language. Anthropology has been studied one way or another for thousands of years and became established under that name in the 1500s. The Human Genome project, which basically mapped the human genetic code (started 1990, completed in 2003, and ongoing) is probably the largest anthropological study ever performed.
• Asymmetric/asymmetry — describing gestures or facial expressions, especially a smile, that are not symmetrical (equal on both sides), which tends to indicate incongruence or a mixed-signal and not what it might initially seem to mean.
• Auto-contact — describing self-touching gestures and actions.
• Autonomic/automatic signals — effectively involuntary stress-induced physiological behaviours, such as crying, shaking, blushing, quickened pulse-rate, and in extreme cases retching, vomiting, fainting, etc. Involuntary in the sense that it is virtually impossible to control these signals because they are controlled by the very basic part of the brain responsible for our most basic bodily functions. Breathing rate is perhaps the exception, which while in many cases will speed as a physiological response to stress, can often be controlled and slowed or deepened given suitable conscious effort.
• Back-channel signals — positive body language reactions to a speaker.
• Baton signals — gestures that reinforce the rhythm of speech.
• Barrier — describing signals in which the hands or arms or a table, or adjusting clothing, etc., form a defence or obstruction between two people, such a folded arms.
• Buttress stance — weight-bearing leg is straight, while the front leg is forward, usually with the foot pointing outwards from the body. Regarded as a signal of reluctance or readiness to depart.
• Cluster — term for a group of body language signals, which more reliably indicate meaning or mood than a single signal.
• Cognitive dissonance — conflicting understanding or feelings — cognition is understanding things through thought; dissonance is disharmony or conflict. This is a widely used term in psychology and the effect arises very commonly in relationships and communications. Conflicting body language signals can sometimes indicate this attitude or reaction in a person.
• Compliance — submissive behaviour, hence compliance signals or signs, which indicate this.
• Courtship — an old term for (typically) male-female relations from initial meeting through to going-out relationship stage. Courtship in olden times (broadly since the middle ages up until the mid-late 1900s) referred to quite formal steps of increasing familiarity between male and female, through to intimacy, perhaps with a little touching of hands or kissing, and lots of going out for walks and visits to the cinema or theatre, etc. Sex might not rear its scary head for weeks, months or years; and sometimes, especially if the female was from an elite or religiously obsessed family, not until the wedding night. Nowadays ‘courtship’ is a much speedier affair and among modern young people can be started, fully consummated and effectively forgotten in a matter of minutes.
• Denial — signals of denial effectively undo or contradict more conscious typically false or manufactured body language, thereby betraying true feeling or motive.
• Displacement — a stress signal typically prompted by suppression of natural reaction due to fear or other inhibition, for example biting fingernails, picking at finger(s) or thumb.
• Distraction — signalling prompted by stress, usually quite inappropriate to the needs of the situation, for example stretching and relaxing, or pausing to take a drink when an emergency arises.
• Emotional intelligence — also known as EQ, Emotional Intelligence is based on ‘feeling intelligence’ (rather than IQ — Intelligence Quotient — based on logical intelligence), and the capability to understand and communicate with others very empathically, which requires awareness of emotional behaviour and ability to deal with people sensitively. See Emotional Intelligence.
• Emphatic/emphasizing gestures — gestures that reinforce the meaning of spoken words, e.g., jabbing fingers, weighing hands.
• Erogenous zone — any part of the human body particularly sensitive to touching and sexual arousal — the word erogenous first appeared in the late 1800s which suggests when the effect was first analysed and recorded in any serious sense. The word erogenous derives from Eros, the Greek god of love (Cupid is Roman), from which the word erotic also derives. Erogenous zones contain a high concentration of nerve endings and are significant in flirting and sex. Aside from the obvious genital areas and bottoms and breasts, erogenous zones include necks, the inner side of arms and wrists, armpits and lips. Incidentally, the G in G-spot is named after Ernst Grafenberg (1881-1957) a German-born gynaecological doctor and scientist who as well as being an expert on the female orgasm, was first to invent and commercially market an IUD (intrauterine device or coil) for female birth control.
• Ethnology — the study of different ethnic people and their differences and relationships. Ethnology is a branch of anthropology, concerned with ethnic effects, and where this involves behaviour it certainly relates to body language. The word ethnology is derived from the Greek ethnos meaning nation. The establishment of the science and word ethnology is credited to Slovakian/Austrian Adam Franz Kollar (1718-1783), a nobleman, professor and librarian who became a Court Councilor for the Habsburg Monarchy of the Kingdom of Hungary, as it once was. The modern study and awareness of ethnology are arguably hampered by sensitivities around racism. Ethnic differences between people obviously exist, and ironically where over-sensitivity to racism and equality obstructs debate, society’s understanding of these issues remains clouded and confused.
• Ethology — ethology is primarily the science of animal behaviour, but increasingly extends to human behaviour and social organization. The word ethology first appeared in English in the late 1800s, derived from the Greek word ethos meaning character or disposition. Ethology became properly established during the early 1900s. Austrian zoologist and 1973 Nobel Prizewinner Konrad Lorenz (1903-89) was a founding figure. Desmond Morris, the author of «The Naked Ape», is an ethologist. So is the evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. Where ethology considers animal evolution and communications, it relates strongly to human body language. Charles Darwin’s work pioneered much ethological thinking.
• Eye flash — a sudden direct glance to attract attention or warn, usually followed by some other more specific signal.
• Eyebrow flash — quickly raising and lowering both eyebrows — typically in greetings, recognition, acknowledgement, or surprise. An eyebrow flash can therefore also be a signal of positive interest.
• Eye shrug — upwards eye-roll signalling frustration.
• Face frame — framing the face with the hands to hold or attract listeners’ attention.
• Haptics — the study of human touch, from the Greek word haptikos, meaning able to touch. The word haptics in this sense entered the English language in the 1800s, which indicates when human touch began to be a serious area of study.
• Hybrid expression — a term apparently originated by Charles Darwin, it refers to a facial expression that combines two seemingly different or opposing meanings, for example, a smile with a head-turn away from the person the smile is meant for. Hybrid expressions provide further emphasis on the need to avoid reading single signals. Combinations of signals and context are necessary, especially to make sense of hybrid expressions which contain different meanings.
• Illustrative gesture — gestures that shape or describe the physical dimensions of something by using the hands in the air.
• Index finger — first finger of the hand — usually the most dominant and dexterous finger, hence used mostly in pointing gestures.
• Kine — an obscure term describing a single body language signal (devised by expert Dr Ray Birdwhistell, c.1952, from the longer-term kinesics).
• Kinesics — the scientific term for the study of body language and more loosely meaning body language itself. Kinesics is pronounced ‘kineesicks’ with stress on the ‘ee’). The word kinesics was first used in English in this sense in the 1950s, from the Greek word kinesis, meaning motion.
• Labial tractors — a wonderful term for the muscles around the mouth. The word labial in phonetics means closure or part closure of the mouth, and additionally refers to the resulting vowel sounds produced, like w, oo, etc.
• Leakage — leakage signals are the small signs which are most difficult to control or mask, and which therefore offer clues even when someone is generally in good control of their outgoing signals.
• Mask/masking — using body language, usually intentionally, to deceive others as to true feelings or motives.
• Metronome/metronomic signals — these are any rhythmic tappings or movements which indicate a readiness or self-promoting to speak or take action- a term devised by body language expert Judi James.
• Micro-gestures — tiny body language ‘leakage’ signals, often unconsciously sent and interpreted, more likely to be seen and reacted to unconsciously rather than consciously, unless concentrating determinedly.
• Mime/miming gestures — gestures used consciously to convey a specific message, such as extending the thumb and little finger by the ear to say «Phone me,» or wiping imaginary sweat from the brow to express relief after a crisis subsides.
• Mirroring — the synchronizing or matching of body language (and speech characteristics), usually between two people, which helps build feelings of trust and empathy. Mirroring works like this because similar signals produce unconscious feelings of affirmation. When a person’s signals are mirrored the unconscious mind thinks, «This person is like me and agrees with the way I am. I like this person because we are similar, and he/she likes me too.» See NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), and Empathy. Pacing refers to the mirroring of someone’s speed of movement.
• NLP/Neuro-linguistic programming — a branch of psychology developed in the 1960s which combines language, body movement and thought to optimise self-control and development, and relationships and communications with others. NLP research has fuelled much of the analytical aspects of modern popular body language, notably mirroring and eye movements.
• Palm — inside surface of the hand — significant in body language because an open palm has for thousands of years indicated that no weapon is concealed, which survives as perhaps a genetically inherited signal of peace, cooperation, submissiveness, etc.
• Phallus/Phallic — phallus means penis, from the ancient Greek word phallus of the same meaning. Phallic refers to something which looks like or represents a penis, often called a phallic symbol. Phallic symbols are prevalent in psychology and aspects of flirting or sexual body language. The female equivalent term is a yonic symbol, from yoni, Hindu for vulva and a symbolic circular stone representing divine procreation. Yoni was originally an old Sanskrit word, meaning source or womb.
• Physiognomy — an obscure yet related concept to body language. Physiognomy refers to facial features and expressions which indicate the person’s character or nature, or ethnic origin. The word physiognomy is derived from medieval Latin, and earlier Greek (phusiognominia), meaning (the art or capability of) judging a person’s nature from his/her facial features and expressions.
• Physiology — the branch of biology concerned with how living organisms function, notable parts of the human body.
• Physiological signals — body language produced by the unconscious basic brain which controls bodily functions, which in body language can be signals such as sweating, blushing, breathlessness, yawning, weeping, feeling faint, nauseous, repulsion, etc.
• Primary emotions — first identified by Charles Darwin, typically represented as happiness, sadness, disgust, anger, fear, surprise, and linked to universal facial expressions and recognition.
• Proxemics — the technical term for the personal space aspect of body language. The word and much of the fundamental theory was devised by Edward Twitchell Hall, an American anthropologist in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The word is Hall’s adaptation of the word proximity, meaning closeness or nearness.
• Pseudo-infantile gestures — gestures of childlike vulnerability, often made to avert attack, attract sympathy, or induce feelings of compassion, attention, etc.
• Pupil — the round black centre of the eye which enlarges or contracts to let more or less light into the eye. The pupil generally enlarges (dilates) in the dark, and contracts in brightness. Enlarged pupils are also associated with desire and allure. Enlarged pupils are not a symptom of smoking drugs as commonly believed. This is probably a confusion arising from the fact that conditions are relatively dark when such judgements are made.
• Rictus — a fixed grimace, usually resulting from shock or nervousness. From the Latin word meaning ‘open mouth’.
• Scissor stance — standing leg cross. Various meanings very dependant on context and other signals.
• Self-motivating gestures — gestures signalling to attempt to increase mental work-rate or activity, like tapping the head repeatedly or making circular motions with the hands, as if winding the body up.
• Show — (noun) — a ‘show’ is a term recently adopted by body language commentators referring to a signal. The term is slang really, not technical. For terminology to become casually ‘hip’ in this way reflects the mainstream appeal of the body language as a subject.
• Steepling — forming the fingers into a pointed roof shape, often signalling elevated thinking or arrogance.
• Submission/submissive — describing body language which signals inferiority feelings towards another person. May be conscious and formal as in bowing, or unconscious as in slightly lowering the head and stance.
• Synchronizing — a technical term equating to mirroring or matching of body language between two people. Synchronizing is technically more appropriate since it naturally includes audible signals (voice pace and pitch, etc), whereas the mirroring term normally makes people think of visual signals only. The principles of synchronizing definitely include audible signals in addition to physical visual signs. See mirroring.
• Tell — (noun) — a ‘tell’ — a slang term similar to ‘a show’ recently adopted by body language commentators which means a signal.
• Tie signs/signals — signals between lovers or intimate couples which discreetly convey messages to each other and which are not usually intended for anyone else.

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References, Sources and Books

Some of the older books listed here have since been republished by different publishers.

• Willhelm Wundt, The Language of Gestures, 1921
• Charles Darwin, The Expressions of the Emotions in Man and Animals, 1872, Murray
• Edward Twitchell Hall, The Silent Language, 1959, Doubleday
• E T Hall, Proxemics — A Study of Man’s Spatial Relationship, 1963, International Universities Press
• E T Hall, The Hidden Dimension, 1966, Doubleday
• J S Bruner and R Taquiri, The Perception of People, 1954, Handbook of Social Psychology, Addison Wesley
• Robert Ardrey, The Territorial Imperative, 1966, Dell
• Desmond Morris, The Naked Ape, 1967, Cape
• Julius Fast, Body Language, 1971, Pan
• D Hartland and C Tosh, Guide to Body Language, 2001, Caxton
• P Ekman, E R Sorenson and W V Friesen, Pan-Cultural Elements in Facial Displays of Emotion, Science Vol 164, No 3875, 4 Apr 1969
• C Boyes, Need to Know Body Language, 2005, Harper Collins
• E Kuhnke, Body Language for Dummies, 2007, Wiley
• Judi James, The Body Language Bible, 2008, Random House
• Other significant and founding body language writers include:
• Tinbergen, N; Watchtel, P L; Schlefen, A E; Ortega Y Gasset, J; Carpenter, C R; Cherry, C; Dittman, Parloff & Boomer; Frank, L K; Goffman, E; Kinzell, A F; Mehrabian & Wiener; Nielsen, G; Lorenz, K; Mahl, G F.
• The author Roger E Axtell writes entertainingly and informatively about international body language and behaviours.

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Other Audible Signals

This section is not particularly scientific. It is more for interest and to make a general point:

Body language and the spoken words themselves do not provide all the clues, there are others. Other audible signals (apart from the words themselves) also give lots of clues about feeling, mood, motive and personality.

Words themselves convey their own meaning, which is another subject, not least when we think about vocabulary, grammar, word-choice, etc. But what about all the other noises and silences from people’s mouths?

Other audible signals which are not generally regarded as part of body language or non-verbal communications include for example:

• Pitch (the constant musical note of the voice)
• Pace (speed or rate of talking)
• Volume — from whispering to shouting
• Volume variation (how volume changes in phrases or longer passages of speech)
• Intonation and ‘musicality’ (how the pitch changes according to what is being said)
• Timbre (quality or sound of the voice, and how this changes)
• Emphasis (of syllables, words or phrases)
• Projection (where the voice is being projected to — for example lots of projection as if talking to a big group, or none as if mumbling)
• Pauses, silences and hesitation
• ‘Erm’s and ‘erh’s
• Gasps, tuts, and other intakes and exhalations of breath
• Habits, such as «I think…,» «You know…,» «Like…,»
• Laughing and giggling (which can be interspersed within speech, or separate signals, such as nervous laughter)

And all sorts of other audible/vocal effects, including:

• Accents and dialects
• Accent affectations (‘received’ or conditioned, false or exaggerated — permanent or temporary, for example, social climbers, and ordinary people who have a ‘telephone voice’, or a voice for talking to authority figures)
• Mistakes (spoonerisms, malapropisms, mispronunciation)
• Drying up, being lost for words, stuttering (as distinct from a stammer)
• Overtalking (feeling the need to fill a silence)
• Interrupting
• Holding back (someone has something to say but isn’t saying it)
• Coughs and grunts (some types of coughing suggest something other than a tickly throat)
• Belching and burping
• Whistling
• Tongue clicking, teeth-sucking, raspberries, etc

Technically these signals are not body language or non-verbal communications, but all of these sounds (and silences) are quite different from the spoken words, and they can all convey more and/or different meaning compared to the spoken words themselves.

All of this audible signalling happens for a purpose. We might not easily know what the purpose is, but being aware of it is the start of being able to understand it better, in others, and possibly also in ourselves. Commonly the more noticeable unnecessary signals are embellishments or defensiveness — a kind of showing-off or protection.

Other aspects can be more subtle indicators of social background or aspiration, and thereby of relationship and attitude towards other people. These other audible signals represent a big and complex area that seems yet to have been researched and analysed to the extent that body language has. Also, cultural differences are potentially influential, which hinders translation and specific interpretation.

Despite this, initially simply being aware of these signals will begin to shape an appreciation of their significance, and in many cases their underlying meanings.

• Johari enthusiasts might enjoy seeking feedback and asking others about what their own signals mean, that is if you/they are aware of the behaviours.
• Certain principles of graphology (handwriting analysis) are helpful in understanding how people use words and language in a wider sense. The style and nature of our written and vocal expressions inevitably provide a reflection of our feelings and personality. 

I am grateful to Sandra McCarthy for her help in producing this guide to body language.

• Clean language — David Grove Questioning Method
• Empathy
• Presentation skills and techniques
• Mehrabian’s Communication Theory — Verbal, Non-Verbal, Body Language
• Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
• Team briefing process
• Transactional Analysis — Eric Berne (Early Theory)
• Transactional Analysis — Eric Berne (Recent Theory)
• Tree Swing Cartoons (New Versions)

• Computer processing of body language
• Display rules
• Mirror neuron
• Imitation
• Literal and figurative language
• Metaphor
• Mimoplastic art
• Smiley
• Facial Action Coding System
• Nonverbal learning disorder
• Autism spectrum
• Statement analysis
• Universal language

1. ^ For example, the posture of the body has a corresponding pattern of muscle tension i.e. how muscles in the face and neck are contracted or relaxed while the person’s head is tilted. This relationship is instinctively observed in conjunction with a person’s posture. Men and women have been found to be perceived differently in regard to this relationship between posture and muscle tension.^[25] According to Alain Mignault and Avi Chaudhuri and considered in regard to smiling:
   

   Indeed, a bowed head probably leads raters to perceive the contraction of the Zygomatic Major (Action Unit 12) and a raised head to perceive the contraction of the Triangularis (Action Unit 15). Second, although we found no significant difference in the perception of mouth contraction at zero degrees between male and female actors, a large difference is perceived at other head angles even though the expression itself is fixed.^[26]

   Such a correspondence can be deliberately manipulated to produce different effects. For example, an actor can pose in a confident manner, while relaxing muscles in the neck which would ordinarily be more contracted in conjunction with the pose. He may thereby make it appear that he is actually afraid and the pose is merely an attempt to appear confident.

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