Learning about the body language is a skill. If we can interpret the body language of others then we can better understand what he feels and thinks, whether his words are matching with his words or not. To interpret body language you have to observe a person from top to bottom. So let us take them one by one:-
EYES
One way to read a person’s mind is through his eyes. Studies says that dilated eye pupil tells us about how much a person is interested in the topic going on. When a person is feeling guilt he will not look directly into the eyes but on the sides and he generally looks down if he is feeling shy. Like other signals these can also be interpreted in many other ways. When lying a person will look away many times, rub his eyes and blink more frequently because directly looking in one’s eye with strong posture shows confidence. If a person is not interested in a particular topic and is thinking something else then he will look away many times. In some cultures it is said that looking continuously in other people’s eye shows disrespect for them. But it mostly depends how you are gazing, whether a person is blinking more than the normal.
EYEBROWS
Movements of Eyebrows are another way to know about the others feelings. When a person is surprised or shocked he will raise his eyebrows and moving both of them up and down while greeting shows the acknowledgement of their presence. Lowering of eyebrows with squinted eyes depicts that a person is trying to understand what others are saying. A person who pushes his eye glasses many times with frown and raised eyebrows shows his disagreement.
LIPS AND MOUTH
If a girl is biting her own lip slowly and gently and moves the tongue on lips show her attraction towards a boy. Some do this intentionally to attract boys but in a very natural way. Some people touch their chin many times while talking to gather the attention on their lips.
ARMS AND HANDS
Crossed arm
Some people cross their arms as it is their habit which shows that they are of reserve nature. They want to remain away from social influence or they are not feeling comfortable. If a person remains crossed arm when you are talking then he may be suspecting or doubting you on something. It also shows defensiveness and if he remains crossed arm when he is talking then this shows that he is hiding or lying something. So we can say that he crosses arms as he may be feeling nervous. One reason for crossing arms can be cold weather which indicates nothing except the person is feeling cold. If a person places his arms at the back of his neck it shows his interest and open mindedness towards the topic and his wait to express his feeling on the topic.
Hands in pocket
If you put your hands in pocket it gives the message that you are nervous or uncomfortable, keeping yourself away from a particular action, feeling bored, not confident and it also shows your inattentiveness to a particular talk instead confident and steady hand gestures should be used to convey yourself more expressively.
Clenched fist
Clenched fist shows angriness, frustration, defensiveness or restricting yourself to express your opinion. It can also show confidence but in rare situations. on the whole we can say that clenched fist gives negative impression.
Handshake
A firm handshake gives the impression that the person is confident and has power. While a wilted handshake gives the impression that a person is tensed, stressed or feeling nervous. In the former case mostly palm points downwards and in later palm mostly points upward. You should stand up while shaking hand because if you remain sitting it shows that you do not care about the other person and can offend him. Do not squeeze the hand very hardly instead shake firmly.
LEGS AND FEET
Tapping, weight shifting or foot movement means that you are scared, nervous or excited. Weight shifting clearly tells that the person is feeling bored and is uncomfortable with the specific talk.
If anybody is standing firmly without crossing legs and with confident shoulder line it depicts that he is relaxed and confident. If the legs are at more distance than normal it depicts that the person does not have control on body. Crossed legs show the shyness. While sitting crossed legs generally comes with crossed arms and it shows that you are in a protective mode.
HEAD AND HAIR
A head tilted than the normal shows sympathy or trying to assure his honesty. Lowered head shows that a person is hiding something. Sometimes a person lowers his head when praised and depicts shyness.
If somebody brushes his hair back with fingers then this shows that he does not agree with what you are saying. A person fiddling with his hair shows self-consciousness. Wrapping your fingers with hair or playing with them means the person wants to convey the message that “I have a good attraction powerâ€. But twirling shows boredom.
SMILE
The most common expression on the face is smile. A smile not only with lips but also with the eyes and cheeks show genuineness and artificial smile only with lips shows dishonesty or disinterest. These two can be easily distinguished.
LAUGH
Excess of laughing shows that the person is very jolly by nature and is happy at the moment. Sometimes people engage in a laugh to cover their dishonesty and nervousness.
MIMICRY
If someone mirrors you or mimics you then this shows that he is very much comfortable with you and is interested in you.
LEAN
When you are saying something then if the other person lean towards you this means he is interested in your talk but if he leans backward it shows his disinterest.
These are some of the signals that our body gives unintentionally which depicts our inner feelings and state of mind. Different people with different cultures live on earth so it is possible that there may be some differences between interpretation and body language.
