It’s very amazing to know that we all communicate nonverbally (through body language, facial expressions, and voice) by most. Same fact excites many enthusiasts to jump start reading others and why not. Knowing someone’s thoughts and intentions is decisive but critical is to interpret them more accurately.
Interpreting this article is quite easy because we all are aware of different words that have been put together in an acceptable sequence and by following grammatical rules. Shifting their positions, dropping them or defying grammar would lead to irregularity or confusion and perhaps make no sense at all. Same rule applies for interpretation of body language, kinesics, and nonverbal communication also.
Interestingly, body language has its own vocabulary and syntaxes. We communicate nonverbally through group and serial of different signals as like words create sentences. Combination of different sensory stimulus, facial expressions, gaze, gestures, movements, postures, and para linguistic aspects convey distinct message. Most of us try to interpret each of them in isolation that often leads us to complete misunderstanding. Like composing sentences, we need to put them together. This method is called as CLUSTERING. A cluster clearly makes sense of distinct nonverbal message. Let’s take an example of it.
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| Putting all pieces together |
Interestingly, body language has its own vocabulary and syntaxes. We communicate nonverbally through group and serial of different signals as like words create sentences. Combination of different sensory stimulus, facial expressions, gaze, gestures, movements, postures, and para linguistic aspects convey distinct message. Most of us try to interpret each of them in isolation that often leads us to complete misunderstanding. Like composing sentences, we need to put them together. This method is called as CLUSTERING. A cluster clearly makes sense of distinct nonverbal message. Let’s take an example of it.
Most of us know that crossing arms over chest is a self-defensive or controlling action. As it clearly appears, we cover vulnerable parts of upper body (torso). Definitely, it's not a welcoming or open approach. But crossing arms isn't a clue to self-defense only when it is put in different clusters. Look at these pictures and find what each person is likely to feel or express. Keenly observe their facial expressions, posture (especially neck), eyebrows, and gaze.
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| Warning or Criticizing (Left) Helpless, Sad, and Fearful (Center) Disagree or Disappointed (Right) |
Also, we need take physical environment or specific
situation into account while looking at a person crossing arms on chest.
This old lady wearing sweater is protecting herself from cold by crossing arms so that maximum body heat would be retained. Even here, her posture gives an idea about how intensely she would be suffering from cold. Look at hunched back, lowered chin that protects neck and legs tightly held together.
Interpreting body language by clusters is very crucial to understand overall mood or conditions of person in any given circumstance.
Related Articles:
1) Body Language Brain 2) Basic emotional expressions 3) Reading Body Language - Congruence 4) Reading Body Language - Proxemics 5) Reading Body Language - Context 6) Reading Body Language - Micro Expressions 7) Reading Body Language - Para Language 8) Reading Body Language - Common Postures 9) Reading Body Language - Common Facial Expressions 10) Reading Body Language - Common Hand Gestures
In many interviews and in many recruitment process,many times body language is a key point to judge the candidate.
ReplyDeleteAlong with body language,his facial expressions
is also a point of judgement.
Really simple yet effective approach to explain the process.
ReplyDelete