Note the direction a person’s feet face during a conversation. The feet and legs can show nervousness and restlessness through:Ĭrossed legs can also suggest an unwillingness to hear what someone has to say, especially when arms are also crossed.įeet can also reveal information. These gestures subconsciously suggest that a person doesn’t feel entirely comfortable with the situation and needs to steady or protect themselves in some way. using one arm to hold the other behind the back.bringing an arm to rest on a chair or table.The arms can also give someone a sense of protection. If someone crosses their arms while smiling, leaning back, or showing other signs of being at ease, they probably feel somewhat in control of the situation, rather than vulnerable. Interestingly, crossed arms can also suggest confidence. uninterested in considering another perspective.People often cross their arms when feeling: You know the house needs a good cleaning, but when your partner suggests taking a day for chores, your hand might go to your eyes before you realize it.Īlthough people usually use their arms and legs to make purposeful gestures, movements that happen more instinctively can also reveal a lot about emotions. It can also suggest disagreement or reluctance. People often block their eyes when irritated, distressed, or faced with something they don’t particularly want to do. closing your eyes briefly, such as in a long blinkīlocking is generally unconscious, but it tends to suggest how you really feel.People also tend to move their eyes down or to one side when: Someone looking toward the exit may want to leave. If you’re talking to someone whose eyes keep wandering toward the buffet table, they might have more interest in eating than talking at the moment. Your eyes tend to follow what you’re interested in, so tracking the movement of someone’s gaze can give you information about their mood. When you don’t like something, your pupils will usually contract, or get smaller. These feelings might involve romantic attraction, but this isn’t always the case.ĭilation happens in response to the arousal of your nervous system, so you may also notice dilated pupils when someone’s angry or afraid. Your pupils will typically dilate when you feel positively toward something or someone. Someone’s blinking may speed up when they’re: You may have heard that rapid blinking often suggests dishonesty, but this isn’t always the case. People tend to blink rapidly when under some sort of stress. This includes verbal communication and active or empathic listening, as well as body language.Įyes can convey a lot of information about someone’s mood and level of interest. In short, for the most successful communication, it’s important to consider all aspects of communication. Being aware of boundaries some people may have around casual touch can help you avoid assuming someone dislikes you. People who prefer to avoid touching others may not shake hands or embrace when greeting someone. Someone with social anxiety might find it extremely hard to meet and hold someone’s gaze, for example. Psychological differencesĬertain mental health conditions can also impact someone’s body language. Autistic people may also have trouble reading body language. Neurodiverse people may also use and interpret body language differently than neurotypical people do.įor example, you might fidget when you’re bored, but neurodiverse people might fidget in order to increase focus, calm nervousness, or self-soothe in other ways. In others, it might just mean the other person acknowledges your words. Nodding indicates agreement in many cultures.People of other cultures, including many Eastern cultures, may avoid prolonged eye contact, as looking slightly down or to the side may seem more respectful. In many Western cultures, eye contact while speaking suggests openness and interest.Someone’s cultural background can have a big influence on how they use and read body language. Several things can impact how someone both uses and interprets body language. It’s important to keep in mind that body language isn’t universal. “So, when our brain gets a mixed message - say it hears, ‘I love you’ but sees a mean face or hears an insincere tone - it may prefer the nonverbal cues to the verbal ones,” she adds. “There’s evidence to suggest our brains prioritize nonverbal communication over verbal communication,” she says.
Emily Cook, a marriage and family therapist in Bethesda, MD, body language plays an essential role in how we share information with others.
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