Reading Body Language - Proxemics

We have seen that how clusters and congruence are basics of reading body language. Now we move towards understanding the importance of interpersonal distance in body language and nonverbal communication. The science of interpersonal distance is called as PROXEMICS. Most of us don’t realize that interpersonal distance really affects on communication and relationship. So let's take a real life example so it clearly makes sense of closeness.

It's an usual day in company and you start routine work. Suddenly, team leader informs that some newly recruited members are joining your team. You are asked to gather at some place for introduction with them face-to-face. Until this moment both parties might not have seen each other so little amount of nervousness coupled with excitement lurks inside everyone's mind. While looking at each other, both parties smile nervously and avoid prolong eye contact. Formal hand shake, exchanging few words and mutual introduction takes place at a safe distance from each other.

At the beginning, getting face-to-face is filled with anxiety. Glancing at either side, looking down, hovering gaze, putting hands in pocket, giving nervous look - smile, grabbing things in palms, moving torso away or crossing arms over chest can be observed being unconsciously done by both parties. New joiners form their own group. They don't come close or interact voluntarily like seniors or experienced colleague. Accidental touch is regretted.

Some days pass and regular interactions take place between you and new joiners. Apart of work, everybody shares and complement with each other. It gives opportunity for judging and knowing each other consciously or unconsciously. We naturally tend to figure out mutual strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Also, it's not necessary that every member of team become close companion of other. Some personal reservations, threats or complexes motivate us to form bod with more like minded persons.

Initial awkwardness, shyness and disorientation slowly fades. Interactions happen at close distance as compared to earlier days. Touching, seating closer, whispering, handling person stuff or prolonging eye contact becomes normal. Everybody starts looking at each others faces. Strong rapport establishes by time. Meeting and greeting each other brings excitement and freshness at workspace.

It seems like a magic - gradual shrink of interpersonal space and development of new relationship. Why we tend to stay away from new people and get closer gradually (or drift away) ? Certainly, it's worth interesting to know.

Interpersonal space or distance is crucial factor for judging how a person or object is favorable to our interest. It's the survival mechanism of subconscious mind of gathering visual clues and letting us to decide whether to move towards it, let it to move towards you or step back and run away from it. When space required to watch (hear and smell also) and decide the strategy is invaded or trespassed without unknown intentions, we feel very uncomfortable or stressed. Limbic system starts sending flight or fight signals to body.

Dr. Albert Meharabian, the leading proxemist has defined four different zones around body. Each zone is a circular area in which we let other to enter or stay depending upon kind of relationship we want with them.

1) Intimate Zone (from 6 to 18 inches): This is the zone a person guards as individual property. Only romantic partner, close friends and relatives are allowed to enter in it.

2) Personal Zone (from 18 to 48 inches): This is the distance we keep from others during friendly interactions, social gatherings or parties.

3) Public Zone (from 4 to 12 feet): This is the distance we keep from strangers or persons with little acquaintance.

 
4) Social Zone (above 12 feet): This is the comfortable distance we maintain while  interacting or addressing to large group of people.

Radius of each zone may vary culture, society or geography wise.

Related Articles:

1) Courtship and Dance 2) Cabin of chief 3) Making true friends 4) Positive Body Language 5) Secret of Metropolitan nervousness 6) Elevator Etiquettes 7) Reading Body Language - Context 8) Reading Body Language - Clusters 9) Reading Body Language - Congruence 10) Reading Body Language - Context 11) Reading Body Language - Micro Expressions 12) Reading Body Language - Para Language 13) Body Language - Common Postures 14) Reading Body Language - Common Hand Gestures 15) Inside Interrogation Room

Reading Body Language - Congruence

Under the series of reading body language, we came to know about clustering. Cluster is the door step for clear nonverbal interpretation. Now, let’s move forward to authenticate massage that a cluster passes.

Generally, our brain maintains coordination among facial expression, movement, stance and tone of voice. More synchronization takes place among them; more effectively and correctly message gets across. It’s called as CONGRUENCE. But what if someone wants to distract others from exactness? Our deliberate cleverness comes into play for same.

In practical life, we find ourselves in very awkward situations in which passing exact message may not be in best interest for some reasons. Anxiety of being perceived wrong in the eyes of others starts leaking out through lack of control. Ultimately we try to cover up by verbal crafting but mind doesn't warrant to distract from truth. Synchronization among various parts of body fades away and a cluster appears to be non-congruent with spoken words.

There are two persons saying, "I'm open to new challenges.". One person has crossed arms over chest with false smile on face while the other has opened arms wide and seems ready to embrace. Who would you believe to be ready for challenges?

Who's actually ready for challenges?

Related Articles:

1) Reading Body Language - Clusters 2) Body Language Brain 3) Basic emotional expressions 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

Reading Body Language - Clusters

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.

Putting all pieces together

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.

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.

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