Body language basics

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Body language, also known as body language, is simply understood as a stroke of your hair, the way you place your hands on your hips, the way you move, a handshake or simply eye contact. Gestures and body language expressions convey many of the same messages as verbal communication.

1. What is body language?

Hair tossing, handshakes, eye contact, and smiling are more than just body movements - they're part of nonverbal communication, accompanied by emphasis and emotion.
"Body language represents a separate communication beyond words," says Ross Buck, PhD, professor of communication science and psychology at the University of Connecticut. "Body language exists alongside language, but it also includes emotions and largely happens on a subconscious level."

2. Some basic body language

Handshake: A handshake can say more than a hello, it means "nice to meet you". The most important detail of a handshake is the contact between the palms. The contact between the palms shows goodwill, honesty and openness, and that the interaction between two people is sincere. The "superficial" handshake has a very unpleasant feel, often expressed by the detail of the palms not touching each other
There are also other types of handshakes:
The “bone crusher” type: Type This handshake shows someone who may be insecure and is trying to make an over-the-top or even threatening greeting. Handshake Down: A person may be trying to show dominance through a handshake. Eye Contact: Although rules for eye contact vary from culture to culture, in the United States eye contact represents honesty and straightforwardness. Eyes are a powerful part of body language cues, and eye contact can reveal everything from interest, to discomfort, happiness, and pain.
Stroking or playing with hair: When a woman reaches out, strokes and tucks her hair behind her ear, the gesture shows grace, openness, or flirting, or she's trying to get your attention. .

3. Use body language to your advantage

If you want to make better use of your body language, you need to think about your activities for the day and how you want to express yourself through your body language.
Although you consider yourself friendly, if you go straight to your office and avoid making eye contact with anyone you meet in the aisle, it can send the opposite signal to your co-workers. your career.
Think about how your morning went, what did you do in the afternoon, how did you have an afternoon? Ask yourself questions like: Am I smiling? Have I made eye contact with people? Once you have recognized your body language, you can control it more effectively.
How can you use body language to your advantage? Most importantly, you should trust yourself. "Body language says so much, that you can use it to gauge the sincerity behind someone's words." Ross Buck said.
If a person is telling you something, and he covers his mouth, he may be lying. If a person rubs his hands from his forehead down all over his face, he may be trying to mask an emotion, like stress or anxiety. Either way, if what a person is saying contradicts his body language, your intuition can give you a sense that something is not right.
However, whether you are trying to improve or better control your body language or are trying to understand someone else's language through their body language, always keep in mind first value of verbal communication. "If you pay too much attention to body language, rather than what you are saying or what someone is saying to you, you may miss out on more important information from the verbal communication process." Buck said.

4. Some situations should use body language

A basic understanding of body language, combined with verbal communication, can come in handy in almost any situation in your daily life. Here are some common situations where body language can be effective in communicating.
First Dates First dates and body signals will help you understand more about the person you are dating.
Men tend to talk a lot on first dates when they are interested in women. If you also care about the person, make eye contact and listen.
If either of you on the first date shows signs of disinterest, and looks around the room and avoids eye contact, it's a sign that this person doesn't want a second date.
First Date Tips When a man touches a girl's waist or lower shoulder to help her through a certain door, it's a sign of confidence and interest. For women, the length of the touch can convey many messages to them. For a first date, short touches of less than a second are appropriate, while touches that are too long can convey a more intimate meaning.
Job interview First and foremost, don't sit down while you wait for the interviewer to come and greet you; it puts you in an awkward situation where you have to get up and start grabbing your things in a strange state of disarray.
Instead, stand and wait, or sit on the arm of a chair. And when your interviewer arrives, make eye contact, raise your eyebrows slightly, smile, and then shake hands.
During an interview, making eye contact while listening to show your interest in the person speaking is a good strategy, but don't stare. Sit neatly in your chair instead of sliding down, and when you're done with the interview, show strength by shaking hands well.
Having dinner with in-laws "One of the most important body language signs you should convey during your first meeting with your future in-laws is eye contact with your fiancé. Your parents-to-be both want to know that you care and care for their children. The best way to convey a message that you are "the only one" to your partner is by looking at them. with love in your eyes.

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Article reference source: webmd.com