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Writer's pictureHeloisa Scanavini

An Introduction to Body Language - What the Person Beside You Is Really Saying



Have you ever been in a social situation where you found yourself wondering what is going on in the minds of those around you? There are always times when we are chatting away with someone, whether that be family, friends, or mere acquaintances, and it seems like as much as we try, we simply can't read what is going on in their minds.


Well, it turns out that maybe you were focusing too much on what the person was saying, and not enough on what their body was implying. Numerous studies have been conducted with varying degrees of success on the complex topic of nonverbal communication. However, the majority of experts agree that between 70 and 93 percent of communication occurs nonverbally. People often find themselves feeling skeptical of these statistics, but despite not noticing it, everyone communicates their emotions through their body stance. In case you happen to believe in these facts, or you are simply curious about what this article is rambling on about, keep reading to discover little tricks that can help you read the person next to you - because you can bet that there is something they aren't telling you with their words.


1. The Windows to the Soul


The eyes are sometimes referred to as the "windows to the soul" since they reveal so much about a person's sentiments or thoughts. It is natural and essential to observe the other person's eye movements when you are speaking with them. The frequency of someone's blinking, whether or not their pupils are dilated, and whether or not they are making direct eye contact or averting their gaze are common indicators to watch out for.


When someone looks into your eyes while speaking to you, it shows that they are focused and paying attention. On the other hand, a consistent tendency to look away and break eye contact may be a sign that someone is preoccupied, anxious, or trying to hide their true emotions.


The rate of a person's blinking can be used to read them on a very small scale. People typically blink faster when they are anxious or uneasy. Rare blinkers might be attempting to deliberately regulate their eye movements. Next time you are chatting with a friend, try to check for their blinking patterns - they might just be hiding something from you!


Additionally, Possible very modest nonverbal communication cues include pupil size. Along with environmental light levels, which regulate pupil dilation, emotions can occasionally have a little impact on pupil size. The brows can also reveal a lot. As soon as someone sees you, they decide they like you and want to see more of you. Before long, their eyes' pupil size enlarges, raising their brows in the process. This implies that the other person is also interested in what you have to say.


2. No Words Needed - The Mouth


Turns out people don't have to be talking - or doing anything, really - for their mouths to tell you something about them. There are many little actions from a person's mouth that can give you subtle hints about what they are thinking or disguising.


An indication of distaste, disapproval, or mistrust could be a tightening of the lips when someone is speaking or simply listening to a group of people. We've all exchanged small facial cues in social situations, but the next time, try to read more than just what your friend is saying. There are many other people in the room who are experiencing equally complex emotions as you are.


You can also tell whether someone is feeling stressed based on their lips. Whenever something stressful is happening, or you are feeling anxious, I can bet that you've bitten your lips as a reflex. By paying attention to those around you, you might just help a friend who is trying to hide their nerves.


3. How Close Are They to You?


They always say to save the best for last. These final hints are exceedingly useful when wanting to understand how those around us actually feel about us. Here are a few ways to know what the person sitting next to you feels about you - whether that be a friend or someone else. Similarly, you can use some of these tricks yourself - but the challenge is figuring out the reverse psychology.


Everyone who is in a relationship or seeking one should read this. According to studies, couples who get along physically tend to share the same sense of humor. The mirrored actions, however, go beyond simple gestures. If someone is interested in you, they may even attempt to imitate you.


Body language in groups has an intriguing dynamic, so this is the perfect opportunity to conduct body language espionage. According to Webb-Riley, if someone turns to face you in a crowd and speaks to you as if you're the only person there, you can usually tell if they like you.


Your feet are mostly under the direction of your unconscious mind since they are a component of the fight-or-flight reaction that activates when you are in danger. This makes them particularly revealing in social situations.


Of course, in this case, time is everything. When you touch someone during a chat with someone who seems interested, and you notice that person's feet are angling away from you, it signals that they could not be into you at all. However, if they continue to point their feet at you while looking elsewhere, that is a very strong sign that there is more to your connection.


Last but not least, I'm sure many of you have caught yourself doing this unintentionally. In a social setting, everyone is typically speaking with one another, which causes eyes to dart all over the place. However, as soon as someone cracks a joke and everyone starts laughing, your focus will shift to one particular individual in the crowd. It turns out that when laughing, people tend to look at the person with whom they most closely identify or with whom they may be seeking approval. The next time you are laughing with a group, pay attention to who is looking at you and who is not.



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