Making Use of the Psychology of Body Language

It is often believed that the only way to communicate thoughts and express feelings is orally. However, communication goes much deeper than what we simply state. When talking to someone, we communicate through our stance, hands and feet positioning, eye gaze, and even posture. In fact, all of these manifestations of body language account for about 60% of our communication and interactions with others. Body language is, essentially, a nonverbal reflection of our inner feelings and attitudes towards the person or people we are talking to, and if understood properly, can be used to our advantage in group settings to exert confidence and even overpower our insecurities.

To begin, body language can be used to understand how others may feel towards you or the conversation (disclaimer: these ideas should be taken cautiously - just because someone sat in a certain manner or pointed their feet a certain way does not necessarily mean they don’t want to talk and vice versa. Be mindful of these without taking them too seriously). Things such as eye gaze and blinking can be prime examples of the projection of feelings. Rapid blinking or not maintaining eye contact can signify discomfort, stress, distraction, or nervousness. In contrast, prolonged eye contact shows the other person is interested and comfortable. However, sometimes eye contact is not necessarily comfort but a display of confidence in themselves and can be taken as a threatening sign by the recipient. 

Another important aspect of body language is the position of the body. For example, open body language indicates an open mind. Arms akimbo (hands on hips), although “open,” do show control, dominance, and (perhaps excessive) confidence. The opposite is for closed body language, such as closed/crossed arms. As the stance suggests, the person might feel defensive, closed off, or unwelcoming, and if the whole body appears closed off and tense, it can be due to anxiety or hostility. 

To add to the previous paragraph, another huge aspect of body language is posture. It can represent how the person feels in the moment, be a projection of their beliefs of themselves, or (very importantly) be a tool to use when meeting and talking to people. A slouched posture, for example, can project a lack of confidence in oneself and could even decrease the validity of our words. Opposed to this, a straight back (not tense, know the difference) and raised gaze/head projects the opposite - confidence and security. This is where we can use posture to our advantage. 

After learning what you have read in these last few paragraphs, knowing how to identify body language in others can help us in the projection of our own subconscious. To many, one of the most important things is getting our point across, feeling listened to, and producing a sense of credibility and confidence. Maintaining good body posture, an open torso, hand movements to indicate what we are talking about, and a listening gaze are all positive signs of friendliness, comfort, and confidence in oneself. And as the saying goes, you can fake it until you make it - be a little more conscious of your next exchanges, learning and building upon them, so that what you learn turns into a true and positive belief of yourself. You will be able to make a subconscious habit, which will be extremely useful for all kinds of interactions and can help you get your point across in a better manner. 

Works Cited:

Cherry, Kendra. “Understanding Body Language and Facial Expressions.” Verywell Mind, 23 Feb. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-facial-expressions-4147228.‌