First Lieutenant Zebulon Hanley crosses the finish line to become the winner of the 20th U.S. Air Force Marathon men's full marathon division. Note how one can read his sense of celebration simply from his facial expressions and hand gestures. Photo: Rich Oriez/U.S. Air Force.
Body language is a collective term that refers to the various physical and visual cues people use to communicate ideas or emotions. Sometimes body language is used in conjunction with speech to underscore what is being said, as when people move their hands and arms while talking. It can also be used by itself to send a message, as with a shrug of the shoulders or a wag of the finger. Body language encompasses a wide range of physical movements, including facial expressions, posture, gestures, touch and bodily proximity.

Despite the emphasis that is placed on the spoken word, more than half of what we communicate to others is through body language alone. Furthermore, people tend to give more credence to nonverbal cues than to spoken ones. Most of us have probably asked people how they are doing and had them reply, "I'm fine." However, if they say, "I'm fine," but their slumped shoulders and lack of eye contact suggest otherwise, are they fine or not? It is hard to know with absolute certainty. Most people consider a verbal response to be a cover for a deeper truth revealed by that person's demeanor.

Since each person's body language is unique and develops over many years to become second nature, it can be difficult to change without conscious effort, just like any habit. For this reason, body language can be a more accurate sign of how a person is feeling than words. It is much easier to casually say, "I'm fine," when we are not than it is to mask the underlying posture or facial expressions connected with being upset.

Body language can be either intentional or unintentional. When we are conscious of it, we can use it to our advantage by adding emphasis to what we say or reinforcing our ideas. However, when we are unaware of it, we can send mixed messages or even contradict our spoken words. Imagine a man nodding his head in agreement while at the same time saying, "No." In such a case, the spoken message is contradicted by the nonverbal message, which hinders clear communication.

Different Types Of Body Language

Facial expressions are the most easily recognized form of body language. Smiling, for example, says a lot about your mood before any words are spoken. Movement of the eyes, eyebrows, eyelids and lips all send subtle nonverbal signals. While they can be used alone, facial expressions are usually modifiers that emphasize or amend what is being said. A wink might indicate that you are not being as serious as you sound, for example. Eye contact, or lack thereof, also sends signals about confidence and attentiveness, both on the part of the speaker and the listener.

Public speaking often involves hand and arm gestures. Photo from public domain.
Gestures, mainly of the arms and hands, are another way people communicate nonverbally. Waving goodbye is a clear hand signal, as is the "thumbs-up" sign, which indicates agreement or positive reinforcement. People gesticulate, or move their hands as they talk, in order to clarify what they mean. When giving directions to a place, most people will supplement their words by a gesture like pointing. Such gestures are not required to convey something, but they help emphasize the words by pairing them with visual cues.

Body posture also sends strong nonverbal signals. Standing upright with your shoulders back and head held high conveys confidence, while slumped shoulders and an averted gaze suggests the opposite. Facing someone squarely during a conversation indicates engagement, whereas standing sidelong or leaning casually at a right angle might suggest disinterest or distractedness. Good posture can also show respect, as when students sit upright in class rather than slumping in their chairs.

Touch and proximity are two forms of body language that typically indicate intimacy. People tend to have the most physical contact with and stand nearest to those they know intimately well, such as a romantic partner or family member. In these relationships, personal space is reduced to almost nothing. Outside of these small groups, touching becomes less common, to the point where a handshake might be the only acceptable way for two strangers to make physical contact at first.

It is important to consider that body language is no more universal than any other form of communication and that different cultures send the same message in varying ways. Greeting customs differ widely from country to country and include shaking hands, kissing cheeks, or bowing at the waist. Each of these gestures employs a certain amount of proximity and touch, and someone expecting to be bowed to might be embarrassed by the idea of kissing someone else's cheek. When interacting with people from other countries or cultures, it is a good idea to learn what is customary for them and make adjustments in order to avoid awkwardness.

What Messages Are Communicated Through Body Language?

Messages conveyed through body language do not possess the same level of detail or complexity that spoken language does. It would be difficult to explain a high-level math problem through gestures and facial expressions alone. However, body language successfully communicates emotional states or intentions, often more forcefully than words do. A boy hopping around frantically while cradling his hand conveys more about the pain he is in than if he simply says, "Wow, that hurts!" Furthermore, someone running at you with raised, clenched fists clearly shows aggression regardless of what that person might be saying.

People's body language often betrays their true feelings because it is automatic, or done instinctively. A woman seated next to you on a plane might tell you that she is not nervous, but if you observe that she is tightly gripping the armrest, you probably would conclude otherwise. It is much rarer for people to "lie" with their bodies than with their words, in part because body language happens subconsciously.

There is usually a direct connection between what we feel and how we act. Eating sour food might make us pucker, while hearing a sudden noise can make us jump in surprise. We do not usually plan these behaviors in advance. Therefore, body language is a visible sign of how we are reacting to our environment. Learning not to react by keeping our body language in check takes practice. Poker players train themselves to hide their emotions from fellow players. New players will often reveal a good or bad hand by spontaneously showing delight or disappointment, but seasoned players learn to mask these emotions.

Couple in the metro, showing similar postures. Photo: Gideon/Flickr.
Body language also allows for indirect communication when bluntness would be uncomfortable or risky. When two people flirt with each another, they may not come out and say, "I find you attractive," but the way they use their bodies in each other's presence can indicate mutual attraction more subtly. Standing close to someone, smiling, facing the person squarely while listening, and using gentle touches all indicate unspoken attraction.

Our body language says a lot about who we are, what we are thinking, and how we feel. A confident person often exhibits body confidence: standing with upright posture, shaking hands firmly, touching people when appropriate, and leaning in close to converse. A shy person, in contrast, might face slightly away from other people, refrain from touching others, and avoid eye contact. These personal traits are revealed more through body language than verbal communication.

Techniques For Using Body Language Effectively

Being able to use body language effectively begins with increased awareness of it. For most of us, body language is an afterthought, something that happens automatically. However, as with any habit, it can be changed over time with effort and practice. Being mindful of your own body is similar to focusing on your breathing. Most of the time we breathe without thinking about it, but once our attention is focused on the act, we can change the rate and size of our breaths with ease.

After making note of your own body language, ask yourself what messages you are sending with it. If you avoid eye contact, what does this say to other people? You may be an engaged listener, but will other people think so if you never look them in the eye? If you view yourself as a happy person but do not smile much, will other people believe you to be happy? It is helpful to understand that your true self is not always accurately reflected in your physical conduct.

The process of self-awareness can be distracting and time-consuming, so it is best to change small things at first. When you stand, what do you do with your hands? Are they in your pockets, at your sides, or perhaps clasped behind your back? Do you make firm eye contact or avoid someone else's gaze? Once you make a habit of noticing these things, it becomes easier to maintain constant awareness. This, in turn, will help you decide which new body habits you want to adopt.

Body language is important in both informal and formal settings, such as job meetings. Photo: Nguyen Hung Vu/Flickr.
When you have advance notice of some kind of formal interaction, such as a job interview, plan ahead for how you want to be perceived. Confidence is important in job interviews, so practice firm handshakes and establishing eye contact ahead of time. If you usually have a slumped seated posture, practice sitting upright with your feet firmly on the floor. Even if these behaviors do not feel natural, they will help reinforce what you hope to convey with your words. If you avoid eye contact while telling a prospective employer that you are confident you can do the job, you weaken your message.

The Relationship Between Body Language And Emotion

An underlying connection often exists between how we feel and how we behave. We cower in fear or smile when we are happy not because we plan to but because our bodies instinctively react in certain ways. Biting your fingernails is a habit that indicates nervousness.

It might seem to be a given that what people think or feel is revealed through their behavior, and for the most part, this is true. Consider the body language of people in victorious circumstances, such as a football player who has just scored a touchdown, a runner who is first across the finish line, or a politician who has won an election. These victors typically raise their hands high over their heads in celebration. It is an almost universal reaction to winning.

Research suggests, however, that certain poses create corresponding feelings rather than vice versa. For example, a confident body posture can lead to feelings of confidence, or a powerful stance can lead to feelings of power. A real-world application of this is to stand with your arms raised and head held high, like an athlete who has just won a race, for two minutes before heading into a job interview or any other situation where you need to feel successful. The theory is that this winning pose in itself will help to create feelings of success and self-assuredness.

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