When I began my psychology studies, I remember being incredibly interested in everything related to nonverbal language and body language . In fact, one of my first external readings, which I started reading outside of the required coursework, had a lot to do with the keys to nonverbal communication . Today, a few years later, I’m going to delve deeper into this topic. Sit back and get comfortable, because we’re getting started!
Index [ hide ]
- 1 Introduction: What are body language and nonverbal communication?
- 2 Examples of non-verbal language
- 3 8 Nonverbal language techniques
Introduction: What are body language and nonverbal communication?
Table of Contents
Is body language the same as nonverbal language?
Can we include body language within nonverbal language? Is there another type of nonverbal language other than body language? Let’s take it step by step.
Body language refers to the way we express ourselves and communicate with others through our bodies. Gestures existed before words, so there must be a reason for that, don’t you think?
Thus, body language is a form of nonverbal communication , based on gestures , postures , and body and facial movements to convey information. Because when we speak, we accompany those words with body movements and gestures .
Unlike what happens with verbal language, non-verbal language appears and is carried out unconsciously , without us practically realizing it, but it is responsible for 93% of what we transmit according to the results of different well-known studies in this field.
Given the importance of this type of communication, it’s essential to understand it firsthand, especially if you want to be the best communicator and truly reach your audience. When body language and verbal communication are coordinated, and the two go hand in hand, the recipient believes the sender much more, trusts them, and finds what they say much more reliable.
If you’re interested in the keys to speaking confidently and safely, click HERE.
Examples of nonverbal language
In this section, we’ll look at various examples, focusing on the different parts of the body that are unconsciously present in nonverbal communication, in order to better understand their meaning. In other words, we’ll try to understand body language .
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FACE, HEAD AND NECK
Maintain eye contact
How many times have you heard that a person who doesn’t look you directly in the eye and instead looks away isn’t trustworthy? There you have it.
Although the opposite effect can also occur here: when someone stares at you for a long time and very closely, almost without blinking, and it’s someone you don’t know, it can sometimes provoke discomfort, doubt, and a lack of truthfulness, especially in certain cultures like the English. So be careful here.
Dilated pupil
Human beings are psychosomatic, meaning that the body influences the mind, and vice versa . Desire, pleasure, and attraction cause our pupils to dilate. So, when we see something pleasing and we really like it, our pupils dilate automatically and unconsciously, and we can’t do anything to prevent it.
Look sideways
It is an action that can mean boredom or distraction.
Wink
Complicity and need for closeness. This is a very common nonverbal gesture.
Raise eyebrows
It is a very clear indicator of surprise.
Open your mouth
As in the previous case, surprise.
Raise only one eyebrow
If we think of examples of nonverbal language, this is one of the clearest. What do you think Carlos Sober thinks? Well, what it implies is curiosity.
Frown
This is a very obvious symptom of anger.
Touching your nose
When we unconsciously touch our nose without it itching or without the cause being a tremendous urge to sneeze 😉 it can mean that the person is lying, or also that the person is angry and/or upset about something.
Nail biting
Another basic example of nonverbal language. A very specific and clear symbol of nervousness.
Occupy your mouth
This unconscious gesture indicates insecurity or the need to calm down because the person is nervous. In very young children, it can indicate the need to return to the mother’s safety. This is an example of nonverbal language that babies do a lot.
Biting the lower lip
If it’s done gently, delicately, and subtly, it’s a gesture that indicates attraction. If, on the other hand, it’s done abruptly, strongly, and forcefully, even to the point of showing teeth, it denotes nervousness.
Move your closed lips sideways, from right to left
It is a characteristic gesture of decision-making. Evaluation.
Fake smile
If the smile is genuine, natural, and spontaneous, the whole face will react, and the area around the eyes will appear wrinkled. Otherwise, we know when a smile is forced and fake if only the mouth moves, leaving the eyes unplanted.
Rest your chin on your hands
Its meaning will depend on how we place our hand:
- If the palm of the hand is open : boredom or lack of interest.
- If the palm of the hand is closed : it may mean that the person is observing carefully and evaluating.
Scratching your neck
When someone makes this gesture while talking to you, it means they’re unsure of what they’re saying. Insecurity.
Touching your ear
Sometimes this gesture can indicate a desire not to listen to the words being spoken. However, if it occurs in a conversation between two people, it can also indicate that one person thinks the other is hiding something.
Head high and chin forward
When a person makes this gesture, it can indicate that the person is expressing aggression and power.
Nod your head
If the person I’m talking to nods their head, it indicates interest and agreement with the message they’re receiving. But be careful here because if the gesture is performed several times in a row, very quickly, and somewhat abruptly, it’s hinting that they don’t want to listen any further and it’s time to stop or change the subject.
Tilt your head
It is a sign of submission by leaving the throat exposed.
FINGERS, HANDS and ARMS
In our blog post called Hand Gestures, we focused on this important part of the body, but below we’ll also look at other parts, such as the arms and fingers, step by step.
Drumming your fingers
Nervousness, impatience and/or worry.
Raise your closed fist
Victoria, show extra energy.
Closed fist with thumb pointing up or down or “Caesar’s sign”
If the finger points upwards it indicates mercy, OK, approval; on the contrary, when the finger is pointing towards the ground, it is an indicator of sacrifice, of defeat, of things not going as we expected, of lack of success.
Shrug
It refers to not understanding what’s happening. Not knowing.
Cross your arms
It may show rejection, disinterest, or give the impression that the person is defensive or unwilling to interact. “Closed off from the world.”
Crossing your arms is a gesture that recruiters and hiring managers look at a lot during job interviews, so keep this in mind if you have an interview coming up. And for more tips that can be very useful when looking for a job, be sure to read our post How to Prepare for a Job Interview.
Touch the other’s arm
It is an indicator of closeness, proximity, and accompaniment.
Cross one arm in front of you to hold the other arm
Lack of self-confidence, since with this posture you are reflecting the need to feel hugged.
Bring your fingertips together
It means self-confidence and security . If you look closely, it’s a gesture we see all the time in political speeches. 😉
Putting or hiding your hands in your pockets
Step less ness, lack of interest, reluctance in the conversation or in that specific situation.
Join your hands behind your back
An indicator of confidence and lack of fear, as it exposes weak spots like the stomach, throat, and groin. I don’t know what you think, but in my case, thinking about this position reminded me of several high-status people positioned just like this. 😉
LEGS AND FEET
Cross your legs
When we sit and cross our legs, it can indicate a closed attitude. Typically, as the person feels more comfortable with the other person’s presence, their body language will become more open, and their legs will be further apart and the distance between their feet will be wider.
Tremor and repetitive movement of legs and/or feet
Nervousness, denotes anxiety.
Learn more about anxiety HERE.
Leg crossed over the other in the shape of an inverted “L”.
Competitive stance.
KEY POSITIONS
Power postures
Body erect, head forward, arms forward.
To emphasize the importance of this posture and how it affects us, we’re detailing an experiment conducted by Pablo Bromol, a psychology professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid. He divided his students into two groups: those who sat with their backs upright and chest out. Those who sat with their backs rounded, hunched over, and looked down at their knees, were also divided.
The groups were asked to hold these postures for several minutes and were also asked to describe themselves with three positive or three negative traits that would help or hinder them in their future work life.
At the end of the study, after relaxing and resuming their natural postures, they were asked to complete a questionnaire rating their potential for successful future career development.
The data obtained showed that the way in which students scored themselves depended on the positions they had previously adopted.
Thus, the group of students who kept their backs straight found it easier to think positive and empowering thoughts about themselves, and they also believed more strongly in the three traits they had listed. In contrast, the slouched-back group was unconvinced of their positive or negative traits and even had difficulty identifying them.
Want to learn more about power poses? Watch this video from our founder, Dafne Cataluña:
Hands on hips
It denotes presence and authority. It occurs when your feet are shoulder-width apart and your hands are on your hips. This posture also plays a role in the position of your chest; the further out it is, the more aggressive it communicates.
Expansive posture
We can observe this when we speak by keeping our feet slightly apart (shoulder-width apart) and our arms open, showing the palms of our hands. This posture conveys honesty and a sense of transparency and of not hiding anything.
8 Nonverbal Language Techniques
After explaining in the previous section what certain nonverbal body language gestures can mean, in this part of the article we’ll give you some key techniques and tips that will help you improve your social skills, especially when it comes to communicating and speaking in public. We also remind you that in our post on Public Speaking, you can delve deeper into the basics of good public speaking .
And if the topic of public speaking is what brought you here, and the article I just recommended in the previous paragraph isn’t enough for you… put on your headphones, turn up the volume, and hit play on our podcast #79 “Public Speaking.”
Don’t stop smiling
We already know that smiling is contagious, makes us feel good, bridges the gap, and if it’s sincere, natural, spontaneous, and relaxed, it’s even more so. So when you have to communicate and/or speak in public, make an effort not to appear serious and smile habitually. Smiling is a very important part of body language.
And when you smile, it produces a “mirror effect” in the person you’re talking to, which provokes and generates, thanks to the sensation of cause and effect, positive feelings that will make them relax and make everything flow much more smoothly.
If you want to learn more about laughter and smiling, be sure to check out our podcast #28, “Laughter is Your Best Ally,” on YouTube .
Express yourself a lot and well, but without going overboard.
Here you can include some of the examples listed above. You already know: while you’re talking, join your fingers to show confidence, don’t cross your arms, take your hands out of your pockets…
Use open gestures and movements
When you are presenting an idea, show the palms of your hands, stretch your arms and legs.
Don’t forget about head movements
Nodding when listening, not looking away, and keeping your chin up are essential.
If you’re nervous, try not to let it show.
Avoid biting your nails if you normally do, or constantly clearing your throat, or constantly playing with objects such as a pen, your wedding ring, your hair, your glasses, etc.
Control your body posture if you are sitting
Try not to lean back or slump in your chair so far that you can’t be seen upright. It’s good to have your arms visible on the table, and avoid having your hands clenched and/or crossed. Always keep your arms on the table. Avoid crossing your arms and legs.
Control your body posture if you are standing
Don’t stay completely still and rooted to the spot like a stake. The ideal and most advisable thing is to occasionally move naturally around the room and walk slowly around the stage, without ever turning your back on the audience.
Mimic the body language you see in the audience
It’s called the “mirror technique,” and by doing so, you’ll begin to establish a bond of trust. Do it subtly and carefully so it’s not too obvious. Without it being obvious 😉 You can imitate the tone of voice, certain postures, some facial expressions… Never copy gestures that don’t feel natural to you, nor do they immediately after your interlocutor makes them. It’s a matter of gradually adapting them and including them in your speech and body language.
With everything you’ve just read, if you put it into practice, you’ll become an expert in handling and interpreting body language techniques and nonverbal language. Now you know what you’re doing, rehearse and use these tricks in your public speaking, and from now on, take control of your presentation.
Coaching processes can effectively work on body language and nonverbal communication. So, if you, the reader, are a coach and need new tools and techniques to implement in your sessions, and want to take your communication to the next level and take care of every detail, check out our Online Strengths Coaching Expert Course.
Bibliography and data sources:
- González, JF (1998). Body Language. Keys to Nonverbal Communication. Edimat Books.
- Knapp, ML, & Hall, JA (2014). Nonverbal Communication: The Body and the Environment. Pyramid Editions.
