Body Language (Part-V)

                                          BODY LANGUAGE (Part-V)

1) Eye Signals:

As like other parts of body like limbs, heads, eyes also have great impact and effect in determining body language. Eyes are termed as the windows to one’s souls. They reveal the most accurate of all human communication signals. On a person getting excited, the pupils dilate contract into beady eyes when one is angry or suspicious.

(i)  Gaze Behavior—

A person who is dishonest cannot hold another person’s eyes for long duration. A person, on finding another attractive, can hold their gaze for a long time with his pupils dilated. A person issuing a non-verbal challenge contracts his eyes and holds the gaze for a long time.

(ii) Business gaze—

when discussing business matters, one can imagine a triangle on the other person’s forehead and keep his gaze directed there to create a serious atmosphere. As long as the gaze doesn’t drop below the level of the other’s eyes, the control of the interaction can be maintained.

(iii) Social gaze—

To develop a social atmosphere, one needs to drop one’s gaze below the other person’s eye level, focusing on the triangular area, which in this case lies between the eyes and the mouth.

(iv) Intimate gaze— 

The intimate gaze focuses across the eyes and below the chin to the other parts of body. When one is near, the gaze is on the triangular are between the eyes and the chest or breast. When one is far, the gaze is between the eyes and the crotch.

(v) Sideways gaze—

This glance indicates either interest or hostility. When it is accompanied by slightly raised eyebrows or a smile, it shows interest and is especially used as a courtship gesture. When the sideways glance is combined with a frown or the corners of the mouth turned down, it denotes a hostile, suspicious or critical attitude.

(vi) Eye block gesture—

This gesture involves closing one’s eyes for a few seconds as if for a moment erasing the other person from his mind. When a person becomes bored or uninterested or feels superior to the other, he blocks the person from his sight by closing the eyelids for a few seconds. When a person feels superior, his head is tilted backwards and is accompanied by the eye block gesture, indicating that he is looking down his nose.

2) Other popular body languages:

(i) Straddling a chair—

When a person is under physical or verbal attack, he normally 

straddles a chair, which shields his body. More chair-straddlers are aggressive and dominant, trying to take control of a group of bored people.

(ii) Picking imaginary fluff—

When a person is not in agreement with the other’s opinions but feels compelled to give his opinion, he picks imaginary pieces of lint from his clothing, complementing the gesture by looking away from others towards the floor.

(iii) Head gestures—

The nodding of the had is a universal gesture signifying ‘yes’ and the shaking of head meaning the opposite ‘no’. However, there are some places where the gestures have totally opposite meaning. When a person has a neutral attitude on what he is hearing, the basic head position is with his head up, occasionally nodding. When he tilts his head to one side, he is showing interest in what he hears. A negative and judgemental attitude is indicated when the head is down.

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Body Language (Part-IV)

                     BODY LANGUAGE (Part-IV)

In this article i am going to discuss about the body language relating to limbs as well as face, their meanings and how they are delivered.

1. Hand to face gestures:

(i) The mouth guard-- The mouth guard involves the hand covering the mouth with the thumb pressed against the cheek, implying that the person wishes to suppress something being voiced. A person using this particular gesture while speaking is telling a lie while if he/she uses this gesture when someone else is speaking indicates that he/she feels that the other person is lying. Some people camouflage their gesture by faking a laugh.

(ii) The eye rub-- When a men lie, they rub their eyes vigorously; if the lie is a big one, they will often look away, generally towards the floor. Women, on the other hand, conscious of their looks, use a small, gentle rub just below the eye; they generally avoid eye contact with the listener, preferring to look up at the ceiling.

(iii) The ear rub-- A person wishing not to head what the other person is saying, discreetly puts the hand around or over the ear. This body language is seen mostly in young children as they shut out both ears what they don’t want to hear. When a person pulls at his earlobe or bends the entire ear forward to cover the ear hole, it indicates that he had heard enough or want to speak now.

(iv) The collar pull-- When a person realizes that his lie has been caught, he tends to pull his collar, probably to ease the stinging sensation in his neck caused by the lie. This gesture is also used when a person is angry or frustrated and by pulling at the collar away from the neck, he hopes to allow cool air to circulate around his neck to calm himself down.

(v) Fingers in the mouth-- A person under pressure invariably put his fingers in his mouth, unconsciously trying to relieve his stress. This body language is an external expression for an inner need for reassurance.

(vi) Cheek and Chin gestures-- A person supporting his head with his hand, indicates his boredom, lack of interest or attempts to not fall asleep. The continual foot tapping and finger-drumming on the table are signs of impatience and not boredom. When a person has negative or critical thoughts, his thumb supports his chin while his index finger points vertically up the cheek. While making decision, his hand will move to the chin and begin a chin-stroking gesture.

(vii) Decision making gestures-- A bespectacled person might remove his glasses from his face and put one end of the frame in his mouth, instead of using chin-stroking gesture. A person may put his pencil tip or fingertip in his mouth while making decision, any objects in his mouth suggesting that he is unsure and needs assurance in making a quick decision. When a person is making decision, his hand may be stroking his chin but as he begins to lose interest in the speaker, his head begins to rest on his chin.

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