How Did Our Body Language Originate?

Both nature and nurture had a part to play.

Some gestures were inborn and passed down genetically. While others were learnt while growing up in our respective cultures.

Researching on blind and deaf people (who could not have learnt gestures by watching or listening), studying cultures from different parts of the world, and observing apes revealed this.

For instance, when an infant shook his head from side to side to avoid his mother’s breast, it means that he had fed on sufficient milk. This gesture continued on in a person’s lifetime to indicate ‘no’.

How To Read Body Language

When reading body language, assess if a person’s spoken words agree with his body language. I may tell you that I am happy, but if you see me frowning, you will know that I am lying.

Observe a person’s body language in clusters. Many people make the mistake of focusing on one gesture to assess a person’s entire body language. In result, they make the wrong conclusion.

By looking at gestures in clusters, you will be able to reinforce your observations with the other observed gestures.

Assess the person’s body language in context of the situation. The folding of arms is a defensive gesture. However, if a person folds his arms in cold weather, he may just be keeping himself warm.

Be aware of other factors that can affect body language, such as:

• profession (a pianist may give a weak handshake to protect his hands)
• health
• clothing (tight clothing can restrict movement)
• disability
• culture and upbringing
• trauma

How To Detect Body Language Intuitively

A woman’s intuition or gut feeling, is merely a subconscious ability to detect a contradiction between a person’s gestures and spoken words. And this ability comes with practice.

Watch muted videos, and try to guess what is happening. Observe people and how they communicate nonverbally.

Practice, practice and practice. And be aware that the interpretation of body language may be inaccurate due to many factors.

Logen L.

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/944654