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Essay / The Meaning of Body Language in a Conversation
Body language is a very powerful tool. Since the dawn of time, humans have used body language as a means of communication. It's the first impression when you interact with someone new or someone you already know. Nonverbal communication can sometimes say more than words themselves through facial expressions, gestures, postures and eye movements. There are many ways to read someone while having a simple conversation. A person interested in the conversation will usually have their feet pointed toward you, while a person who is not interested will have their feet pointed toward you. This means they want to leave. Body language is something that the majority of us neglect every day of our lives. It's something we constantly observe but don't think about much. Even children use nonverbal communication with each other and with their parents. A child knows he has made a mistake when his parents get upset and show anger. Before a single word comes out of the parents' mouths, their faces say it all. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay It has been proposed that body language may account for 60-65% of all interactions. It's important to understand body language, but it's also important to pay attention to other cues like context. In many cases, instead of focusing on a single action, you should look at the signals as a group. Think about how much a person can express with a simple facial expression. A smile can be an indication of approval or happiness. A frown can indicate disapproval or disappointment. Our facial expressions can, in some cases, reveal our true feelings about a specific situation. Even if you say you feel good, you might be convinced otherwise by the expression on your face. The expression on a person's face can even help determine whether we trust or believe what the person is saying. One study found that a slight raise in the eyebrows and a slight smile were the most reliable facial expressions. This expression, suggested by researchers, conveys friendliness and trust. The eyes are often called the "windows to the soul" because they are capable of revealing a lot about what a person is feeling or thinking. Taking note of eye movements is a natural and important part of the communication process when you engage in conversation with another person. If people make direct eye contact or look away, how hard they blink, or if their pupils are dilated, you can find common things. When a person looks directly into your eyes during a conversation, it means they are interested and alert. However, prolonged eye contact can be threatening. On the other hand, breaking eye contact and often looking away can mean the person is distracted, embarrassed, or trying to hide their true feelings. Throughout the animal kingdom, making eye contact is almost always threatening. Confronting a dog or bear and looking it directly in the eyes can be a threatening gesture and cause it to attack you. Blinking is natural, but you need to pay attention to whether a person is blinking too much or not enough. When feeling anxious or uncomfortable, people often blink more quickly. Pupil size can be a very subtle nonverbal cue forcommunication. Although light levels in the environment control pupil dilation, emotions can sometimes also cause minor changes in pupil size. For example, you may have used the word "eyes in the bedroom" to describe the look a person makes when they are attracted to someone else. For example, very dilated eyes can mean that a person is interested or even excited. When reading body language, gestures and mouth movements can also be important. Chewing the lower lip, for example, may suggest that the person is experiencing feelings of worry, anxiety, or insecurity. If the person yawns or coughs, covering their mouth may be an effort to be respectful, but it may also be an attempt to hide a frown of disapproval. Smiling may be one of the biggest indicators of body language, but smiles can also be perceived in several ways. A smile can be sincere, or it can be used to express false happiness, sarcasm, or even cynicism. Tightening of the lips can be an indicator of disappointment, disapproval or distrust. Sometimes, when worried, anxious, or stressed, people bite their lips. When people want an emotional reaction to be concealed, they may cover their mouth to avoid smiling or smirking. Slight changes in the mouth can also be subtle indications of how an individual is feeling. When the mouth lifts slightly, the person may feel happy or hopeful. On the other hand, a slightly lowered lip can be a sign of disappointment or rejection. Gestures can be among the most direct and obvious body language signals. Waving, pointing, and using fingers are all very common and easy to understand gestures. However, some gestures can be cultural, so giving a thumbs up or peace sign in another country may have an entirely different meaning than in the United States. In some situations, a clenched fist can indicate anger. As gestures of approval and disapproval, thumbs up and thumbs down are often used. Americans use the "ok" gesture made by touching the thumb and index finger in a circle, while extending the other three fingers can be used to mean "ok" or "everything is fine." However, in some parts of Europe the same signal is used to imply something very vulgar and completely opposite of what Americans use it for. It is also convenient for the arms and legs to project non-verbal information. Crossing your arms can be a sign of defensiveness. Crossing your legs or moving your feet away from another person can suggest a person's dislike or discomfort. Some subtle signs, such as widening the arms widely, may be an attempt to appear larger or more dominant, while holding the arms close to the body may be an effort to narrow or withhold focus. When observing body language, pay attention to some of the following signs that arms and legs may express. Sometimes when a person is standing with their hands on their hips, it can be a sign that they are in control or that they believe they are the authority figure. Tapping your fingers quickly and continuously is almost always a sure sign of impatience or annoyance. A very important and obvious form of nonverbal communication is the way one carries one's body. The term posture refers to the way we hold ourselves as well as the overall physical fitness of an individual. Posture can convey a multitude of information..