Introduction
Body language is an amazing thing, it adds to communication like nothing else could ever hope to do. This language may not be totally universal, but there are a few definite basics that any human could recognize. Some gestures, like throwing your arms up in triumph, are etched into the DNA that makes up every human that has ever existed. This fact has been proven several times in studies that observed the reactions of blind and deaf people. But body language isn't only scripted into our genes, it also makes up who we are.
In the video below Amy Cuddy discusses how, even if body language is faked, it can literally shape how we think about ourselves and how we feel in the environment around us. She terms it "high power" or "low power" poses, and what they boil down to is making yourself seem either big or small. This slight modification of you body's orientation forces your brain to adapt to whichever pose you might be in, whether it's fake or not. And as a result your brain's chemical makeup is altered and you start feeling differently than before. Her speech is truly amazing and could potentially help others learn how to "fake it til you make it."
In the video below Amy Cuddy discusses how, even if body language is faked, it can literally shape how we think about ourselves and how we feel in the environment around us. She terms it "high power" or "low power" poses, and what they boil down to is making yourself seem either big or small. This slight modification of you body's orientation forces your brain to adapt to whichever pose you might be in, whether it's fake or not. And as a result your brain's chemical makeup is altered and you start feeling differently than before. Her speech is truly amazing and could potentially help others learn how to "fake it til you make it."
Ten Worst Body Language Mistakes According to Forbes Magazine:
- Avoiding Eye Contact: When you don't look someone in the eyes, it can signal deception or a lack of respect.
- Slouching: Bad posture signals to others that you lack confidence and have poor self-esteem or low energy levels.
- Weak Handshake: A handshake that isn't firm will signal a lack of authority. One that is too firm could make you seem overly aggressive.
- Folding Arms: This stance creates a sense of being closed off and may signal to others that you are disinterested in them or don't buy into their message.
- Looking Down: If giving a presentation, when you look down while making a point, it loses all of its power and can may you look weak. In everyday interactions, it can make you look uncomfortable or self-conscious.
- Angling Body Away From Others: Too much physical distance, angling the body away from the person you're speaking with or not leaning into a conversation shows that you are uncomfortable, distrustful or disinterested in the subject.
- Fidgeting and Touching Hair: Fidgeting and playing with hair or clothes can reveal an excess of energy, which signals discomfort or anxiety.
- Invading Others' Space: When you are closer than 1.5 feet away from a colleague or you treat their possessions and office space as if it were your own, it signals disrespect and that you don't have a clear understanding of personal boundaries.
- Glancing At the Clock: Glancing at the clock or at your watch or even looking past a person who you're speaking with will communicate disinterest or arrogance.
- Frowning or Scowling: Scowls and frowns, often unintentional and unconscious, communicate unhappiness and disagreement.
Articles
- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/25/science/in-airport-screening-body-language-is-faulted-as-behavior-sleuth.html?_r=0: The main focus of this article is about how TSA officers fall short on reading body language. But it’s not just TSA officers, it’s everyone. The author discusses how even though TSA officers are trained in spotting certain behaviors, that doesn’t mean they are human lie detectors. In a study they tested the TSA people to see how well they could do at detecting deceptive behavior versus a normal, untrained, person. The results showed that TSA officials are no better than regular people when it comes to spotting liars, but they are much more confident in their abilities.
- http://www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2013/01/07/10-simple-and-powerful-body-language-tips-for-2013/: This article discusses tips and tricks on how to get the most out of a business meeting. A few simple tips that they suggest are: smiling to make things easier, send engagement signals to reach an agreement sooner, and diffuse resistance by handing the other person your business card. At the end of the article there is also a slideshow (shown above) showing the ten biggest body language mistakes, such as looking down or playing with your hair.
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The song called "Body Language" by Kid Ink describes how the girl he's been looking at hasn't been saying much, but he can read her body language. In the actual music video (which is not show due to explicit content) there wasn't much body language, mostly just women dancing along to the song. However, the main chorus where Kid Ink says he can read her body language portrays how people get by in day to day life. As a populous humans try to read each others movements to try and divulge that is appropriate or not. Although most fall short in doing this due to reading too much into a certain gesture.
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