According to studies, only a tenth of the information a person conveys in words. The rest is gestures, facial expressions and intonation. For the first intuitive "scan" of a person takes about 10 seconds. People do not always say what they think, but the body does not know how to lie. Hidden feelings find their way out through gestures. The psychology of non-verbal communication is very broad and multifaceted. By learning to understand human gestures and their meanings, it will be much easier to find out the truth.
Gesture classification
When the emotional background of a person rises, he ceases to monitor his body. But when trying to unravel the thoughts of others, it is necessary to take into account situational factors so that the judgment is correct. For example, if a person crosses his arms over his chest in severe frosts, this can only mean that he is cold, and not secrecy and isolation.
Human gestures are divided into types:
- generally accepted;
- emotional;
- ritual;
- individual.
Hand movements
Studying human gestures and their meanings, special attention should be paid to hands. It is their movements that make up most of the communication. Many of them became so familiar and mundane that they ceased to notice them. But even simple gestures on closer examination may be entertaining.
Handshake
When one person greets another, the manner of giving a hand can tell a lot. Powerful people feed her palm down. When there is respect, the hand moves edge down. If a person is flexible and able to find compromises, he holds it out with his palm up. Morally weak people shake their hands uncertainly and very weakly, while aggressive people, on the contrary, shake their hands very strongly, at which time their hand is fully extended and strained.
Open and closed gestures
Thinking about how to understand a person by gestures, you need to know that they are open and closed. The former refers to those movements when a person spreads his arms to the side or shows his palms. They indicate that he is ready for contact and open for communication.
Closed gestures include those that help a person build a psychological barrier. The body can be closed not only by hands, but also by foreign objects. Such manipulations indicate that a person does not trust the interlocutor and is not ready to open before him. It can be fingers locked in the lock or arms crossed.
Studying human gestures and their meanings, experts came to the conclusion that people who put their hands on their hands or clasp their hands behind their backs, feel superior to others and are characterized by high conceit. Hands clasped in a pocket can testify to aggression when at the same time the thumb remained outside.
Touching face
If during the conversation the interlocutor constantly touches the face, ears or neck - this should alert. Most likely he is lying. Hand movements around the mouth may indicate that a person lacks support and approval. But external factors should be taken into account: the interlocutor may scratch his eyes and touch his nose due to a cold or allergies.
People who are passionate about something often back their cheeks. If a person scratches his chin, then he is in the process of making some important decision.
Slopes
To find mutual understanding, it is important to know what the facial expressions and gestures of a person testify to. The psychology of non-verbal communication is the key to success. Many movements are carried out at a subconscious level, so it is almost impossible to control them.
When a person feels sympathy for the interlocutor and is ready to make contact with him, he usually leans toward him. If he sits, the body can move forward, but his legs remain in place. Leaning to one side, he demonstrates a friendly attitude. When the interlocutor leans back in the chair, he may have got bored with the conversation, and he has lost interest in him.
Personal boundaries
Why do you need to know how to read human gestures? People have certain rules regarding their personal territory and space. A man who loves to violate them and invade other people's borders, loves to show strength and show off in public. Confident people often take a little more space: they stretch their legs, comfortable position their hands. A chained man tries to take the pose of an embryo.
Not everyone is ready to let the interlocutor into their personal space. If a person internally tenses, crosses his arms and moves back, then he is not ready for close contact.
If a person is far away ...
A person who becomes away from the other person seems arrogant. But in fact, he is simply afraid to get close to others. He may be annoyed by the appearance or topic of the conversation, and he wants to stop talking faster. Often people who are used to distance themselves experience fear in their hearts.
Motion copy
Wanting to understand how to understand a person by gestures, it is worth paying attention to whether he is copying other people's movements. When the interlocutor imitates, this indicates that he feels sympathy and is positive.
Rocking
Such movements, as well as appropriate gestures and facial expressions of a person speak of internal anxiety or impatience. In moments of excitement, adults can swing from heel to toe to calm down a bit. But the interlocutor is unlikely to like this behavior: it distracts and knocks down the speaker, preventing him from concentrating.
Fidgeting
When people start to get nervous, their body can give out a lot of different information. Fidgeting speaks of an internal state no less than facial expressions and gestures. When a person feels insecure, he makes various movements, for example, wringing his hands or fidgeting in a chair. This helps him to distract from an unpleasant situation.
If the interlocutor constantly fiddles with a tie, perhaps he has lied or simply wants to leave the society in which he is located.
Head tilts
The head bowed to one side is a sign that the person is interested in the conversation, he is ready to listen and is interested in continuing it. Such human gestures and their meanings are unambiguous and suggest that he is fully focused on the perception of information.
Nodding and sharp movements
Psychologists have long noticed that if a person does not like what he hears, he unconsciously makes a sharp movement of his head in the opposite direction from the speaker. Thus, he creates a barrier between himself and the source of discomfort.
People who constantly nod in response to the interlocutor’s speeches are used to pleasing everyone. They really want everyone to like and get the approval of others. As a rule, these people are not self-confident enough and are afraid to be rejected.
If a person shakes his head from side to side, then he expresses an internal disagreement with the interlocutor.
Head down and head up
The person who talks with his head lowered is humble and uncertain, he suffers from low self-esteem. Perhaps at the moment he is experiencing depression or deeply unhappy.
An upturned head and a bulging chin are a sign of aggressiveness and hostility. Perhaps a person feels an impending threat and is ready to go to any extremes to protect himself.
If the interlocutor constantly throws his head back, this may indicate contempt or arrogance.
Scratching
This movement does not matter only when a person is sick with something. In other situations, it is an indicator that the interlocutor is feeling awkward or insecure. It is much easier to find contact with others if you know what facial expressions and gestures of a person mean. The psychology of non-verbal communication will help to solve the situation without bringing it to conflict. Sometimes people can scratch their heads if they don’t like something. By offering the interlocutor an alternative option in time, you can avoid disputes and criticism.
Often a person scratches himself if he does not understand the question. By changing the wording and explaining in more detail what is required of him, you can give him time to prepare an answer.
Shoulder movements
Such gestures may indicate that a person is indifferent to what is happening, or he is lying. It can also be regarded as uncertainty in the spoken words. During an untruthful story, people shrug their shoulders very quickly. Such juggling helps them to get together and look collected and calm. Raised shoulders are a sign of insecurity.
Flirting gestures
When a person wants to attract the attention of the opposite sex, he touches his hair or straightens his clothes. Sometimes there is increased gesticulation and agitation. Women can wrap a lock of hair on their fingers or adjust makeup. Men, when dealing with a lady who arouses their sympathy, want to appear strong and confident. They put their hands on their belts or put them in their pockets, play with a belt, attracting attention.
Disguised gestures
They help a person achieve the desired level of calm and security. Instead of directly crossing hands, various objects are used: cufflinks, watch straps or bracelets. But the result of these manipulations is always the same: one arm is across the body, thus creating protection. This indicates nervousness.
Hand hanging
For full communication it is very important to understand what human gestures mean. If during a conversation one hand dangles randomly, draws some lines or describes circles, this may indicate that the interlocutor is cheating.
If a person wants to express criticism or is dissatisfied with what is happening, he often takes this position: one hand props his chin, and the index finger is straightened. The other hand can support the elbow. If, in conjunction with this, one or two eyebrows are omitted, then inside the person clearly does not approve the interlocutor.
Rubbing the neck
When a person rubs his ear or neck during communication, most likely he does not fully understand what is required of him. His assurances that everything is clear to him is a hoax. Of course, if such actions are not caused by yesterday's draft and pain.
Hand covered mouth
The sign language of a person gives out what is currently happening inside, and exposes all emotions. The interlocutor may remain silent, but if he disagrees with something, then involuntarily cover his mouth with his hand. In order to correct the situation in time, it is necessary to analyze exactly which words caused such a reaction. Then distrust will not go to the next stage and will not transform into hostility.
Gestures of lies
Most often, a person, lying, tries to cover his mouth with his hand. This gesture comes from childhood. So do the children who inadvertently betrayed someone else's secret or told a lie.
During a lie, a person feels uncomfortable and is afraid of exposure, so he is nervous. When people try to pull themselves together, they scratch the tip of their nose. This may be a fleeting involuntary movement.
The friction of the century may also indicate that the person you are talking to is telling a lie. If the deception is quite serious, a person can look away or lower, stroking his neck or ears. But all these signs should be considered in conjunction.
Useful Tips
- People who want to emphasize their unwavering position can make firm gestures with their hands to focus on moving from one topic to another. Visually demonstrate such gestures of people photo.
- If the situation is very tense, it is worth using hand movements to slightly discharge it. Serious phrases can be illustrated with funny gestures. This will a little cheer up the audience and charge the atmosphere with a positive.
- Do not become a clown and make ridiculous movements. Gestures and facial expressions should draw attention to the main conversation, and not distract from it. In addition, they should be clear to everyone present.