Body Language

DEFINITION
 Body language is a type of nonverbal
communication in which physical behaviors are
used to express or convey information. Such
behavior includes facial expressions, body
posture, gestures, eye movement, touch and the
use of space. Body language exists in
both animals and humans. It is also known
as kinesics.

 The conscious and unconscious movements and

postures by which attitudes and feelings are
communicated.
KINESICS is derived from Greek word “KINESIS” with the
meanings “ motions”
HISTORY
HISTORY
Various Rituals
 HISTORY
The Snobbery of Nobles
 HISTORY
The Greeks
HIPPOCRATES ARISTOTLE
 HISTORY

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

 HISTORY

Julius Fast (1919-2008)

IMPORTANCE
What's your body telling you?
Some research suggests we send 93% of our messages non-
verbally

Your body language should be chosen as carefully as you choose

your words.

Prof. Albert Mehrabian Rule

 38 % VOCAL (intonation , pitch, pauses , etc)

 55 % NON VERBAL (body language)

 7 % VERBAL (Conveyed through words)

 GENERAL IMPORTANCE

 Daily life
 Better understanding
 Personnel confidence
 Management
 Result orientated conversation
 PROFFESSIONAL
IMPORTANCE
 Descriptions (to subordinates or
students)
 Clarity
 Investigations
 Disguise
 Understanding
Seven Types of Body Language
1. How you sit or stand (posture)
2. Facial Expressions
3. Clothing and Grooming
4. Gestures (hand, foot, eye movements)
5. Eye Contact
6. Voice Tone

7. Personal Space
THE EYES
 THE EYES
“Eyes are so transparent that through them one sees the soul”

“Look a person in the Eye when you Talk to him”

Eye contact: paying attention, interest, to convey trust

Too much eye contact: dominance, lack of respect, threat, wish to
insult

Too little eye contact: not paying attention, impolite, insincere,

shy

Withdrawing eyes: signal of submission

 THE EYES
 People who look to the sides a lot are
nervous, or distracted.
 If someone looks down at the floor a lot,
they are probably shy or upset or hiding
something.
 Sometimes looking down and away from the
body can indicate shame or guilt.
 Dilated pupils mean that the person is
interested.
 Eyes focused far away indicate that a person
is in deep thought or not listening.
FACIAL EXPRESSION
 CAN FACE SPEAK?

• HAPPINESS
• SADNESS
• DISPLEASURE
• ANGER
• FEAR
• INTEREST
MIRRORING
 MIRRORING

 Someone mirroring you is sign that they

are liking you and want to establish
contact.
Gestures in conversation

“LET YOUR BODY TALK ON YOUR BEHALF”

 SOME COMMON GESTURES
 EXAGGERATED MOVEMENTS OF HANDS :
passion or interest in the subject.
 FREQUENT REACHING FORWARDS OR
SUPERFLUOUS HAND GESTURES : trying to
convince.

 SHOULDER SHRUG : I don’t know

 PUFFED CHEST : pride or achievement

 SUCKED STOMACH : I am not as fat as I look

 FINGER CROSSING : protection

 PALM IN PALM : Authority
HAND GRIPPING WRIST : Frustration

• THUMB UPPING : best luck , victory

• THUMB DOWN : rejection, disapproval

• RUBBING PALM TOGETHER : positive expectation

• THUMB AND FINGER RUB : money expectancy

• HANDS CLENCHED TOGETHER : confident

• STEEPLING HANDS : frustrated , request or confident

about something
• V SIGN OF FINGERS : V for Victory
• Hands in pocket : aggression

• nose touching : listener

doubting speaker’s words

• eye rub : avoiding eye

contact, lying

• chin stroking : Thinking or

making a decision

• Hands on hips : aggressive,

readiness
HEAD POSITION
 HEAD POSITION
 Head nodding : invited for a response, or
voluntarily while listening

 Head held high : Superiority, fearlessness,

arrogance

 Head tilted to one side : A signal of interest

 Lowered heads : indicate a reason to hide

something (how ever its sign of respect in some
cultures)
CLOSNESS
 CLOSNESS
 The closer they are, the warmer they are
thinking of you. If you move slightly closer
to them and they move even closer to
you, they probably really like you or are
very comfortable around/by you. But this
could also mean that they have a special
comfort with you.
WHEN YOU INVADE
MY SPACE
Reactions to an invasion of your
space

• Feel troubled

• Get defensive

• Become aggressive

• Retaliate
 POSTURE AND STANCE

• SAGGING : Depression
• FORWARD LEAN : Positive Attitude
• BACKWARD LEAN : Negative Attitude
• ARMS FOLDED ACROSS THE CHEST :
unsympathetic
• ARMS HELD LOOSE : open positive attitude
• UPRIGHT POSTURE : high status , I am the boss
• BOWING HEAD : lower status
FEET
 FEET
 Tapping, excited, nervous, scared
 Sitting with feet crossed at the ankles,
generally at ease.
 Standing with feet close together, trying
to be "proper“.
 Some people point their feet to the
direction of where they want to go or
their interest.
Research has indicated several behaviors that may
communicate someone is lying.
 Poor eye contact
 Crossing arms and legs
 Covering mouth
 Face reddening
 Mumbling
 Move less than usual
 Unusual changes in volume, rate, tone, or pitch of voice
 Mid-sentence cut-off
 - using “um”, “ah”, “like”, “You know” (stalling for time)
 Abrupt changes in nonverbal communication
 Discrepancies (differences) in non-verbal (actions) and verbal
(what’s being said)
 REMEMBER
 NO PROVED SCIENCE
 VARIES IN DIFFERENT CULTURES.
 MOVEMENTS MAY HAVE MEDICAL OR
PHYSICAL REASONS.
 EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAVE SOME
UNIQUE GESTURES.
 ALWAYS KEEPS RELATIVE CONTEXT
IN MIND.
BODY LANGUAGE TREE
?