GREENSBORO, N.C. — Ever wonder what that crossed-arm stance really means or why someone bites their lip when they’re nervous? You’re not alone! Many of us are fascinated by the silent language of body language. Today, we’re going to explore the mystery of body language by answering a few common questions.
Can you learn to ‘read’ body language accurately?
You can definitely improve your ability to interpret body language. You can develop an awareness of non-verbal signals people send by watching them. You can also recognize patterns of behaviors and associations between specific gestures and emotions, which increases your ability to read body language.
Consider body language as additional information in understanding someone, not definitive answers. However, realize that context, verbal cues, and individual differences impact the accurate interpretation of body language.
Can you control your body language to appear a certain way?
To a certain extent, you can manage your body language to seem a certain way. You can consciously adopt postures and gestures associated with specific qualities like confidence and openness, which will influence how you’re perceived in certain situations. Additionally, body language can help you regulate your emotions.
For example, showing a confident posture can boost your self-esteem. Consciously using body language can enhance your communication by emphasizing what you’re saying and maintaining congruency between your words and non-verbals. Keep in mind that the insincerity of your body language can give you away. Meaning it’s not believable.
What are the most important body language cues to pay attention to?
It’s important to understand that there’s no single “most important” body language cue, as every gesture can be interpreted differently depending on context, culture, and individual differences. Instead of looking at one individual cue, pay attention to the whole body.
Too many times, you focus on someone’s facial expressions. But the head is only a fraction of the body. If you’re only paying attention to the face, then you’re missing out on the nonverbals of the neck to the feet, which can tell you so much more.
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