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MASTER LIST of Gestures and Body Language!

Gestures and body language

matter a lot in fiction because nonverbal communication is so important. Gestures can help readers visualize a scene and get a feel for the characters. They can also set up lines of dialogue so you don’t have a string of he said, she said, he asked, etc., running down the page.

How to describe body language and gestures in writing may seem simple, but I find that when I’m in the middle of writing a scene, sometimes I draw a blank! It’s easy to wind up with characters who are nodding and shrugging all the time. Hopefully this list will help make writing body language easier.

You might want to consider which gestures or what body language is typical for each of your characters. For instance, one of my characters in the novel I just finished tends to hug herself when she’s nervous, while another has a habit of rubbing at his shoulder when he’s uncomfortable. They only do it a few times each throughout the book, but I think details like that make characters feel more solid.

For a great guide to what body language means, I recommend What Every BODY Is Saying , by former FBI counterintelligence offer Joe Navarro and body language expert Marvin Karlins.

Some of the things in my list are not exactly body language or gestures, but are useful for dialogue tags. As with my list of facial expressions , I’ve included some different ways to say the same thing. There are some longer phrases and sentences, which you can obviously rewrite and adjust as you like, although you don’t have to.

Let me know if you have gestures or body language to add to this list! 

Master List of Gestures and Body Language

he lowered his head she hung her head he ducked she bowed her head he covered his eyes with a hand she pressed her hands to her cheeks

she raised her chin he lifted his chin

her hands squeezed into fists his hands tightened into fists she clenched her fists she balled her fists he unclenched his fists her arms remained at her sides

he shrugged she gave a half shrug he lifted his shoulder in a half shrug she gave a dismissive wave of her hand

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she raised a hand in greeting he waved

she held up her hands he lifted his hands she held up her palms he threw his hands in the air she brushed her palms together he rubbed his hands together she made a steeple of her fingers he spread his hands they gesticulated he waved his hands she clapped her hands he snapped his fingers she held up a finger he pointed she gestured with a thumb he jerked his thumb toward… she extended her middle finger toward him he gave her the finger she gave him the thumbs up

she put her hands on her hips she shoved her hands in her pockets he jammed his hands in his front pockets she rested a hand on her hip she jutted out her hip

she folded her arms he crossed his arms over his chest she hugged herself he wrapped his arms around himself she rocked back and forth

she spread her arms wide he held out his arms she held out her hand they extended a hand

he shook his head she nodded he bobbed his head she tilted her head he cocked his head she inclined her head he jerked her head in the direction of… she turned her face away he looked away

his breaths quickened she panted she was breathing hard his chest rose and fell with rapid breaths she took in a deep breath he drew in a long breath she took in a sharp breath he gasped she held her breath he let out a harsh breath she exhaled he blew out his cheeks she huffed he sighed she snorted

she laughed he giggled she guffawed he chuckled she gave a bitter laugh he gave mirthless laugh she tittered he cackled

she rubbed her shoulder he kneaded his shoulder he rolled his shoulders she tensed her shoulders he massaged the back of his neck she rubbed her temples she rubbed her hands on her thighs

she ran her hand through her hair he threaded a hand through his hair he raked his fingers through his hair he shoved his hair back away from his face she toyed with a lock of hair she played with her hair she twirled her hair she wrapped a curl around her finger she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear she undid her ponytail and shook out her hair she tossed her hair he buried his hands in his hair he stroked his beard he scratched his beard

she tugged at her earlobe he bit a nail she chewed on a cuticle she picked at her nails she inspected her fingernails he plucked at the cuff of his shirt she picked a piece of lint from her sleeve he adjusted the lapels of his jacket she fiddled with her earring / bracelet he twisted the wedding ring on his finger she played with her cell phone he tugged at his shirt collar he adjusted his tie she smoothed down her skirt

she scratched her nose he scratched his head he rubbed his forehead she rubbed her eyes she pinched the bridge of her nose he held his nose

she slapped her forehead he smacked his forehead he facepalmed he slapped a hand over her mouth she covered her mouth with her hand she pressed her fingers to her lips he held his finger up to his lips he rubbed his chin

she pressed a hand to her throat he clutched his chest he leaned against the wall she bounced on her toes she jumped up and down he tapped his foot she stomped her foot

she folded her hands in her lap she drummed her fingers on the table he tapped his fingers on the table he slammed his hand on the table she pounded her fist on the table she set her palms down flat on the table he rested his hands on the table she set her hands on the table, palms up he leaned back in his chair she hooked her feet around the chair legs he gripped the arm of the chair she put her hands behind her head he put his feet on the desk they fidgeted she jiggled her foot he swung his leg she crossed her legs he uncrossed his legs she crossed her ankles in front of her she stretched out her legs in front of her he sprawled out he put his feet on the desk

she cringed he shuddered she flinched he shivered she trembled his body shook she cowered he shrank from… she huddled in the corner

she gestured with her coffee cup

they gesture with their pen

he pulled away she jerked away he turned away she jolted upright he stiffened she straightened he tensed he jumped she jumped to her feet he stood up she rose from her seat

she relaxed he hunched she slouched her shoulders sagged his shoulders slumped she wilted he went limp he rolled his shoulders she squared her shoulders

she clasped her hands behind her back he puffed out his chest she thrust out her chest

he propped his chin on his hand she rested her chin on her palm he yawned she stretched

he turned around she whirled around he pivoted she reeled

she stepped away she drew nearer he leaned closer she inched forward he loomed closer he paced she shifted from one foot to the other he swayed on his feet she dragged her feet

she pumped a fist he thrust his fists in the air she punched the air

A slightly expanded version of this list of body language and gestures appears in my book Master Lists for Writers: Thesauruses, Plots, Character Traits, Names, and More. Click on the cover to check it out!

Do you have thoughts or advice about how to use gestures or describe body language in writing? Let us know in the comments! Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!

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What is body language?

The importance of nonverbal communication, types of nonverbal communication, how nonverbal communication can go wrong, how to improve nonverbal communication, how to read body language, nonverbal communication and body language.

Your facial expressions, gestures, posture, and tone of voice are powerful communication tools. Here’s how to read and use body language to build better relationships at home and work.

While the key to success in both personal and professional relationships lies in your ability to communicate well, it’s not the words that you use but your nonverbal cues or “body language” that speak the loudest. Body language is the use of physical behavior, expressions, and mannerisms to communicate nonverbally, often done instinctively rather than consciously.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, when you interact with others, you’re continuously giving and receiving wordless signals. All of your nonverbal behaviors—the gestures you make, your posture, your tone of voice, how much eye contact you make—send strong messages. They can put people at ease, build trust, and draw others towards you, or they can offend, confuse, and undermine what you’re trying to convey. These messages don’t stop when you stop speaking either. Even when you’re silent, you’re still communicating nonverbally.

In some instances, what comes out of your mouth and what you communicate through your body language may be two totally different things. If you say one thing, but your body language says something else, your listener will likely feel that you’re being dishonest. If you say “yes” while shaking your head no, for example. When faced with such mixed signals, the listener has to choose whether to believe your verbal or nonverbal message. Since body language is a natural, unconscious language that broadcasts your true feelings and intentions, they’ll likely choose the nonverbal message.

[Read: Effective Communication]

However, by improving how you understand and use nonverbal communication, you can express what you really mean, connect better with others, and build stronger, more rewarding relationships.

Your nonverbal communication cues—the way you listen, look, move, and react—tell the person you’re communicating with whether or not you care, if you’re being truthful, and how well you’re listening. When your nonverbal signals match up with the words you’re saying, they increase trust, clarity, and rapport. When they don’t, they can generate tension, mistrust, and confusion.

If you want to become a better communicator, it’s important to become more sensitive not only to the body language and nonverbal cues of others, but also to your own.

Nonverbal communication can play five roles:

• Repetition: It repeats and often strengthens the message you’re making verbally.
• Contradiction: It can contradict the message you’re trying to convey, thus indicating to your listener that you may not be telling the truth.
• Substitution: It can substitute for a verbal message. For example, your facial expression often conveys a far more vivid message than words ever can.
• Complementing: It may add to or complement your verbal message. As a boss, if you pat an employee on the back in addition to giving praise, it can increase the impact of your message.
• Accenting: It may accent or underline a verbal message. Pounding the table, for example, can underline the importance of your message.

Source:  The Importance of Effective Communication , Edward G. Wertheim, Ph.D.

The many different types of nonverbal communication or body language include:

Facial expressions. The human face is extremely expressive, able to convey countless emotions without saying a word. And unlike some forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions are universal. The facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, surprise, fear, and disgust are the same across cultures.

Body movement and posture. Consider how your perceptions of people are affected by the way they sit, walk, stand, or hold their head. The way you move and carry yourself communicates a wealth of information to the world. This type of nonverbal communication includes your posture, bearing, stance, and the subtle movements you make.

Gestures. Gestures are woven into the fabric of our daily lives. You may wave, point, beckon, or use your hands when arguing or speaking animatedly, often expressing yourself with gestures without thinking. However, the meaning of some gestures can be very different across cultures. While the “OK” sign made with the hand, for example, usually conveys a positive message in English-speaking countries, it’s considered offensive in countries such as Germany, Russia, and Brazil. So, it’s important to be careful of how you use gestures to avoid misinterpretation.

Eye contact. Since the visual sense is dominant for most people, eye contact is an especially important type of nonverbal communication. The way you look at someone can communicate many things, including interest, affection, hostility, or attraction. Eye contact is also important in maintaining the flow of conversation and for gauging the other person’s interest and response.

Touch. We communicate a great deal through touch. Think about the very different messages given by a weak handshake, a warm bear hug, a patronizing pat on the head, or a controlling grip on the arm, for example.

Space. Have you ever felt uncomfortable during a conversation because the other person was standing too close and invading your space? We all have a need for physical space, although that need differs depending on the culture, the situation, and the closeness of the relationship. You can use physical space to communicate many different nonverbal messages, including signals of intimacy and affection, aggression or dominance.

Voice. It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it. When you speak, other people “read” your voice in addition to listening to your words. Things they pay attention to include your timing and pace, how loud you speak, your tone and inflection, and sounds that convey understanding, such as “ahh” and “uh-huh.” Think about how your tone of voice can indicate sarcasm, anger, affection, or confidence.

Can nonverbal communication be faked?

There are many books and websites that offer advice on how to use body language to your advantage. For example, they may instruct you on how to sit a certain way, steeple your fingers, or shake hands in order to appear confident or assert dominance. But the truth is that such tricks aren’t likely to work (unless you truly feel confident and in charge). That’s because you can’t control all of the signals you’re constantly sending about what you’re really thinking and feeling. And the harder you try, the more unnatural your signals are likely to come across.

However, that doesn’t mean that you have no control over your nonverbal cues. For example, if you disagree with or dislike what someone’s saying, you may use negative body language to rebuff the person’s message, such as crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact, or tapping your feet. You don’t have to agree, or even like what’s being said, but to communicate effectively and not put the other person on the defensive, you can make a conscious effort to avoid sending negative signals—by maintaining an open stance and truly attempting to understand what they’re saying, and why.

What you communicate through your body language and nonverbal signals affects how others see you, how well they like and respect you, and whether or not they trust you. Unfortunately, many people send confusing or negative nonverbal signals without even knowing it. When this happens, both connection and trust in relationships are damaged, as the following examples highlight:

• Jack believes he gets along great with his colleagues at work, but if you were to ask any of them, they would say that Jack is “intimidating” and “very intense.” Rather than just look at you, he seems to devour you with his eyes. And if he takes your hand, he lunges to get it and then squeezes so hard it hurts. Jack is a caring guy who secretly wishes he had more friends, but his nonverbal awkwardness keeps people at a distance and limits his ability to advance at work.
• Arlene is attractive and has no problem meeting eligible men, but she has a difficult time maintaining a relationship for longer than a few months. Arlene is funny and interesting, but even though she constantly laughs and smiles, she radiates tension. Her shoulders and eyebrows are noticeably raised, her voice is shrill, and her body is stiff. Being around Arlene makes many people feel anxious and uncomfortable. Arlene has a lot going for her that is undercut by the discomfort she evokes in others.
• Ted thought he had found the perfect match when he met Sharon, but Sharon wasn’t so sure. Ted is good looking, hardworking, and a smooth talker, but seemed to care more about his thoughts than Sharon’s. When Sharon had something to say, Ted was always ready with wild eyes and a rebuttal before she could finish her thought. This made Sharon feel ignored, and soon she started dating other men. Ted loses out at work for the same reason. His inability to listen to others makes him unpopular with many of the people he most admires.

These smart, well-intentioned people struggle in their attempt to connect with others. The sad thing is that they are unaware of the nonverbal messages they communicate.

[Read: Tips for Building a Healthy Relationship]

If you want to communicate effectively, avoid misunderstandings, and enjoy solid, trusting relationships both socially and professionally, it’s important to understand how to use and interpret body language and improve your nonverbal communication skills.

Find your space for healing and growth

Regain is an online couples counseling service. Whether you’re facing problems with communication, intimacy, or trust, Regain’s licensed, accredited therapists can help you improve your relationship.

Nonverbal communication is a rapidly flowing back-and-forth process that requires your full focus on the moment-to-moment experience. If you’re planning what you’re going to say next, checking your phone, or thinking about something else, you’re almost certain to miss nonverbal cues and not fully understand the subtleties of what’s being communicated. As well as being fully present, you can improve how you communicate nonverbally by learning to manage stress and developing your emotional awareness.

Learn to manage stress in the moment

Stress compromises your ability to communicate. When you’re stressed out, you’re more likely to misread other people, send confusing or off-putting nonverbal signals, and lapse into unhealthy knee-jerk patterns of behavior. And remember: emotions are contagious. If you are upset, it is very likely to make others upset, thus making a bad situation worse.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress, take a time out. Take a moment to calm down before you jump back into the conversation. Once you’ve regained your emotional equilibrium, you’ll feel better equipped to deal with the situation in a positive way.

The fastest and surest way to calm yourself and manage stress in the moment is to employ your senses—what you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch—or through a soothing movement. By viewing a photo of your child or pet, smelling a favorite scent, listening to a certain piece of music, or squeezing a stress ball, for example, you can quickly relax and refocus. Since everyone responds differently, you may need to experiment to find the sensory experience that works best for you.

Develop your emotional awareness

In order to send accurate nonverbal cues, you need to be aware of your emotions and how they influence you. You also need to be able to recognize the emotions of others and the true feelings behind the cues they are sending. This is where emotional awareness comes in.

[Read: Improving Emotional Intelligence (EQ)]

Being emotionally aware enables you to:

• Accurately read other people, including the emotions they’re feeling and the unspoken messages they’re sending.
• Create trust in relationships by sending nonverbal signals that match up with your words.
• Respond in ways that show others that you understand and care.

Many of us are disconnected from our emotions—especially strong emotions such as anger, sadness, fear—because we’ve been taught to try to shut off our feelings. But while you can deny or numb your feelings, you can’t eliminate them. They’re still there and they’re still affecting your behavior. By developing your emotional awareness and connecting with even the unpleasant emotions, though, you’ll gain greater control over how you think and act. To start developing your emotional awareness, practice the mindfulness meditation in HelpGuide’s free Emotional Intelligence Toolkit .

Once you’ve developed your abilities to manage stress and recognize emotions, you’ll start to become better at reading the nonverbal signals sent by others. It’s also important to:

Pay attention to inconsistencies. Nonverbal communication should reinforce what is being said. Is the person saying one thing, but their body language conveying something else? For example, are they telling you “yes” while shaking their head no?

Look at nonverbal communication signals as a group. Don’t read too much into a single gesture or nonverbal cue. Consider all of the nonverbal signals you are receiving, from eye contact to tone of voice and body language. Taken together, are their nonverbal cues consistent—or inconsistent—with what their words are saying?

Trust your instincts. Don’t dismiss your gut feelings. If you get the sense that someone isn’t being honest or that something isn’t adding up, you may be picking up on a mismatch between verbal and nonverbal cues.

Evaluating nonverbal signals

Eye contact – Is the person making eye contact? If so, is it overly intense or just right?

Facial expression – What is their face showing? Is it masklike and unexpressive, or emotionally present and filled with interest?

Tone of voice – Does the person’s voice project warmth, confidence, and interest, or is it strained and blocked?

Posture and gesture – Is their body relaxed or stiff and immobile? Are their shoulders tense and raised, or relaxed?

Touch – Is there any physical contact? Is it appropriate to the situation? Does it make you feel uncomfortable?

Intensity – Does the person seem flat, cool, and disinterested, or over-the-top and melodramatic?

Timing and place – Is there an easy flow of information back and forth? Do nonverbal responses come too quickly or too slowly?

Sounds – Do you hear sounds that indicate interest, caring or concern from the person?

More Information

• About Nonverbal Communications - Different categories of nonverbal communication, along with a detailed list of signals. (Adam Blatner, M.D.)
• Body Language: Understanding Nonverbal Communication - Particularly as it applies to the workplace. (MindTools)
• Take Control of Your Nonverbal Communication (video) - How to notice and use body language. (Harvard Business Review)
• The Importance of Nonverbal Communication (PDF) - Piece by Edward G. Wertheim, Ph.D. about the communication process. (Northeastern University)

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Article • 12 min read

Body Language

Beyond words – how to read unspoken signals.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

What Is Body Language?

Body language is the unspoken part of communication that we use to reveal our true feelings and to give our message more impact.

Communication is made up of so much more than words. Nonverbal cues such as tone of voice, gestures and posture all play their part.

A simple example of body language is a relaxed facial expression that breaks out into a genuine smile – with mouth upturned and eyes wrinkled. Equally, it can be a tilt of the head that shows you're thinking, an upright stance to convey interest, or hand and arm movements to demonstrate directions. It can also be taking care to avoid a defensive, arms-crossed posture, or restlessly tapping your feet.

When you can "read" signs like these, you can understand the complete message in what someone is telling you. You'll be more aware of people's reactions to what you say and do, too. And you'll be able to adjust your body language to appear more positive, engaging and approachable.

In this article and video, we explore body language some more, and look at how you can interpret it to understand and communicate with people more effectively.

We also have an infographic showing how to put this information about body language into practice.

The Science of Body Language

You've probably heard the statistic that only seven percent of a message is conveyed through words, and that the other 93 percent comes from nonverbal communication. This is often quoted out of context and is therefore misleading.

It's taken from Mehrabian's Communication Model , which states that body language is more important than tone of voice and choice of words when communicating true feelings. But Mehrabian makes clear that his study dealt only with communications involving emotions and attitudes. So, it's not applicable in all cases.

However, it does help to explain why it's so tough to gauge sentiment when we can't see people – on email or messaging apps, for example. It's also part of the reason for the rise in use of emojis , even in business communication.

How to Read Body Language

Being aware of body language in others means that you can pick up on unspoken emotions and reactions. It’s a valuable form of feedback, but it can easily be missed if you’re not aware of what to look out for.

So let’s explore the most important nonverbal clues – some with negative interpretations, and others that are positive signs.

Negative Body Language Examples

If someone’s exhibiting one or more of the following, negative behaviors, they'll likely be disengaged , disinterested or unhappy (see figure 1):

• Arms folded in front of the body.
• Minimal or tense facial expression.
• Body turned away from you.
• Eyes downcast, maintaining little contact.

You may encounter these behaviors when you’re dealing with colleagues who are upset, or dissatisfied customers .

Being aware of what these signals mean can help you to adjust what you say – and how you say it. You can show empathy for someone’s unhappiness, for example, explain yourself more clearly, or work to calm a heated situation .

If someone exhibits these signs during a negotiation, focus on engaging their interest and putting them at their ease. Then, if the negative behavior stops, you’ll know that they’re ready to negotiate with you effectively – and more open to persuasion .

Other types of body language can indicate that someone’s bored by what you’re saying. This might be in a presentation, a team meeting, or even a one-on-one chat.

Here are some of the most common signs of boredom (illustrated in figures 2–5, below):

• Sitting slumped, with head downcast.
• Gazing at something else, or into space.
• Fidgeting, picking at clothes, or fiddling with pens and phones.
• Writing or doodling.

You can re-engage people by asking them a direct question, or by inviting them to contribute an idea.

Additional signs of negative body language include:

• Nail biting: suggesting insecurity or stress.
• Locked ankles: also associated with anxious thoughts.
• Rapid blinking: which may indicate uncertainty or concern.
• Tapping/drumming fingers: often a mark of impatience or boredom.
• Fidgeting: more evidence that someone’s disinterested or distracted.

Positive Body Language Examples

People also use their body language to convey positive feelings, such as trust , interest and happiness . Spotting these signs can reassure you that others are engaged with what you’re saying and at ease with the situation.

What’s more, by adopting these behaviors yourself, you can support your points, convey ideas more clearly, and avoid sending mixed messages.

Here are three specific ways to use positive body language to your advantage:

1. Body Language for a Good First Impression

Your nonverbal signs play a big part in people’s first impression of you. Here are ways to appear trustworthy , engaged , confident , and calm :

• Have an open posture. Be relaxed, but don't slouch. Sit or stand upright and place your hands by your sides (see figure 6). Avoid standing with your hands on your hips, as this can communicate aggression or a desire to dominate (figure 7).
• Use a firm handshake. But don't get carried away! You don't want it to become awkward, aggressive, or painful for the other person.
• Maintain good eye contact. Try to hold the other person's gaze for a few seconds at a time. This will show them that you're sincere and engaged. But avoid turning it into a staring contest! (figure 8).
• Avoid touching your face. If you do this while answering questions, it can be seen as a sign of dishonesty (figure 9). While this isn't always the case, you should still avoid fiddling with your hair or scratching your nose, so that you convey trustworthiness.
• Smile! Warm, sincere smiles are attractive, reassuring – and infectious!

It's easy to miss some of the subtleties of body language. So, check out our Body Language Video for more advice on how to interpret and convey signals effectively.

2. Body Language for Effective Public Speaking

Positive body language can help you to engage people, mask any presentation nerves , and project confidence when you speak in public. Here are a few tips to help you do this:

• Have a positive posture. Sit or stand upright, with your shoulders back and your arms unfolded by your sides or in front of you (see figure 10). Don't be tempted to put your hands in your pockets, or to slouch, as this will make you look disinterested.
• Keep your head up. Your head should be upright and level (figure 11). Leaning too far forward or backward can make you look aggressive or arrogant.
• Practice and perfect your posture. Stand in a relaxed manner, with your weight evenly distributed. Keep one foot slightly in front of the other to keep yourself steady (figure 12).
• Use open hand gestures. Spread your hands apart, in front of you, with your palms facing slightly toward your audience. This indicates a willingness to communicate and share ideas (figure 13). Keep your upper arms close to your body. Take care to avoid overexpression, or people may focus more on your hands than your ideas.

If you notice your audience's concentration dip, lean slightly forward while you speak. This suggests that you're taking them into your confidence and will help to regain their attention.

3. Body Language for Interviews and Negotiations

Body language can also help you to stay calm in situations where emotions run high, such as a negotiation, performance review or interview. Follow these suggestions to defuse tension and show openness:

• Use mirroring. If you can, subtly mirror the body language of the person you're talking to. This will make them feel more at ease and can build rapport . But don't copy their every gesture or you'll make them uncomfortable.
• Relax your body. Maintain the appearance of calm by keeping your hands still and by breathing slowly.
• Look interested. If you're asked a complex question, it's OK to briefly touch your cheek or stroke your chin. It shows you're reflecting on your answer (see figure 14).

Body language expert Amy Cuddy recommends striking a " power pose " for two minutes, in private, before a stressful situation. It tricks your body's hormone levels so you feel more confident and less stressed. Her mantra is, "Fake it till you become it." Mind Tools Club members and corporate licensees can read our full review of her book "Presence" here .

Virtual Body Language

You can apply much of the body language guidance above to video calls, too. You'll just have a little less space – and body – to work with! Here are some ways to show your enthusiasm, and to help make others feel comfortable and receptive to your ideas:

• Get your camera set up right. This means you're close enough to show interest, but not too close to invade people's virtual space. Check that your camera is at eye level, so that your gaze appears natural to others. And leave room to gesture without hitting the screen!
• Maintain eye contact. Look into the camera as if you're looking into someone's eyes. If it's a group call, looking around the participants will let you watch without staring.
• Use facial expressions. Your face is front and center on a video call, so maintain a slight smile throughout. Raise your eyebrows to show engagement, and avoid frowning.

How Do You Use Your Body Language?

The tips given in this article are a good general guide for interpreting body language, but they won't apply to everyone.

For example, people may have a different cultural background from you, and positive gestures in one country can be negative in others.

So, reflect on how you use your body language, and avoid making assumptions. If you're getting mixed signs from someone, ask them what they're thinking. After all, interpreting body language should be a complement to talking and listening attentively, not a replacement for it.

Body language is a range of nonverbal signals that you can use to communicate your feelings and intentions. These include your posture, facial expressions, and hand gestures.

Your ability to understand and interpret other people's body language can help you to pick up on unspoken issues or feelings.

You can also use body language in a positive way to add strength to your own verbal messages – both in person and on screen. This is particularly important when you’re meeting people for the first time, speaking in public, or taking part in interviews or negotiations.

Infographic

See our animated Body Language infographic for top tips on communicating with non-verbal signals.

Photographs in this article © Mind Tools/Toby Phillips.

Body Language Project. (2013). The Most Common Body Language Gestures Associated With Liars [online]. Available here . [Accessed  December 9, 2020].

Forbes. (2020).  8 Top Tips For Improving Your Body Language During Virtual Meetings. Available  here . [Accessed December 9, 2020]

Healthline. (2020).  A Beginner's Guide to Reading Body Language. Available  here . [Accessed December 9, 2020]

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The Role Of Body Language In Communication

Body language often plays a significant role in communication and can be as important as the words we say. It can involve eye contact, head movement, posture, gestures, and facial expressions, all of which can add meaning to our verbal communication. Non-human primates also frequently use body language to communicate. Today, body language may not always play a role in communication, as many of our interactions tend to happen online through text only. However, body language will likely continue to be a crucial element of communication as long as people continue to have face-to-face interactions. If you struggle to communicate effectively or have trouble understanding various body language cues, working with a therapist in person or online may be helpful.

What is body language?

• Facial expressions
• Head movement
• Eye contact

These can be universal to all humans, and people may perform them consciously or subconsciously to convey their thoughts and feelings. Experts say body language usually constitutes about half of what we are trying to communicate. 

For example, a person may not always need to verbally say "no" to communicate that something is wrong or that they disagree with what a person is saying. Instead, they can shake their head from side to side to share the same sentiment. Moreover, if a student slouches in their chair in class and doesn’t make eye contact with their teacher, this may signal that they are bored.

Body language can also enhance and complement our verbal communication skills. For instance, if someone in a store is asking for directions on where to find a product, and an employee merely says, "over there," this information may be too vague to be helpful to the customer.

At that point, the employee can be more specific with the location of the item by stating what aisle or department it is in. However, they may also gesture or point in the direction where the product is located. Even if the employee was not very specific and simply said "over there" while pointing, it would likely be more helpful than the original scenario with no body language.

Body language often plays a significant role in everyday interactions, which may be why it tends to be one of the most popular topics in communication studies. It is believed to have been of interest for thousands of years; even the Ancient Greeks interpreted the meanings behind human physical behavior. 

Body language as a form of unconscious communication

The previous section discussed a couple of examples that show how movement can be used to enhance speech. However, body language psychology may also consider unconscious communication. Although these physical cues might be unintentional, they can still be interpreted by others.

Consider law enforcement as an example. A forensic psychologist or someone working with intelligence may be  trained to notice brief micro-expressions , or quick, unconscious expressions of emotion that can appear on a person’s face.

People in charge of investigations may be interested in these nonverbal cues because they can indicate whether a person is lying or trying to conceal something from the interrogator. These cues can happen in a split second, but if an observer slows or freezes a video, they might witness an apparent expression change at that moment.

Some other everyday situations where unconscious body language can occur may be during periods of nervousness or attraction. Specific expressions can vary from person to person. For example, someone might cough when placed in a scenario that makes them nervous, whereas another might touch their face or scratch themselves as though they have an itch.

People may be unaware of their body language in these situations because these cues tend to be performed subconsciously. However, they can be observable to others, and people might notice patterns over time. This may be especially true for people who interact with each other regularly, such as parents and their children, for example. 

Since people close to one another usually know each other's baseline or default personality, they can spot when something is off by noticing changes in body language. For instance, if a child lies to their mother about where they are going, they might exhibit distinct body cues that are out of the ordinary, such as avoiding eye contact or speaking more rapidly.

Evolution and the origins of body language

By researching non-human primates, we may better understand how we used body language early in our evolution as a species. The use of body language generally predates any spoken or written language that humans have created. Since they do not have the same vocal anatomy and brain size as humans do to produce speech, non-human primates frequently use body language to communicate with each other.

It is also generally believed that genetic differences may be similarly responsible for why we can speak, while our closest ancestors, chimpanzees and bonobos, cannot. A variation of the FOXP2 gene is suggested to be why this is the case, and humans may have a unique mutation. This mutation had likely occurred within the last four to six million years because that is when the last common ancestor to the Homo and Pan species lived. The mutation is believed to have stuck around, rather than gradually being bred out, because increased communication abilities likely enhanced our chance of survival.

Although they may not speak as we can, non-human primates can provide insight into why body language developed in the first place. We can observe them and see how they use nonverbal communication with one another to fulfill their need to communicate.

Gestures have often been noted in monkeys and great apes to produce different signals, some of which humans also use. For example, a hard touch or brush of the hand can tell another individual to stop, whereas a soft one or a light pull can be more inviting. Some species, such as orangutans, also embrace one another.

Others have unique forms of body language to communicate. Male gorillas may attempt to show dominance by standing on two legs and beating their chests. Despite being exclusive to gorillas, humans also typically have ways to assert power and strength nonverbally, such as standing with our feet at a wider stance than usual. Some primates, such as chimpanzees and bonobos, may pout; however, instead of signaling sadness or disappointment, pouting usually means wanting something related to food or grooming. 

In primates, gestures are often accompanied by facial expressions and eye contact. Baring teeth can be a universal sign of aggression among non-human primates. On the other hand, lip-smacking can be a friendly facial signal and may be a form of submission in some situations.

As our brains have grown and our facial structure has changed over time, humans have generally been able to utilize other types of body language in communication. While we may not show our teeth to express aggression, we frequently have other ways to convey the same message, such as scowling, glaring, or using unique gestures like the "middle finger"(which can tie in with language and culture).

The importance of body language in modern society

In today's digital age, many people rely on social media and text messaging to communicate with each other. Although virtual interaction may allow people to talk at their leisure and can minimize social pressure and anxiety for some, certain things can be lost in translation, so to speak. 

By being unable to see or hear the other person as you speak with them, you might miss critical nonverbal cues, as well as verbal ones, like vocal inflection. Online communication is generally becoming the primary modality for millions of people, and body language may continue to evolve to accommodate this shift.

Still, body language has likely been around for millions of years, and despite it being absent from certain situations, it can still be relevant. It may continue for the foreseeable future as long as people continue interacting face-to-face. Research has shown that body language can be vital for human cognitive functioning because it can enhance information transfer and lexical retrieval. 

For some, nonverbal communication may not come easily, and this difficulty may be exacerbated by the frequent use of technology, which may not allow for as many opportunities to learn and practice. If you struggle with communication, whether verbal or nonverbal, therapy can be helpful.

Benefits of online therapy

Online therapy can be convenient if you struggle with communicating or need extra help and support with mental health-related concerns. You generally won't need to leave your house to work with a licensed therapist suited to your needs, and if you're worried about the ability to pick up on nonverbal cues like body language, video-chatting with your therapist may be an option, in addition to phone call or online chat sessions.

Effectiveness of online therapy

A common reason for communication struggles can be social anxiety disorder. If you experience symptoms of social anxiety, it can be challenging to fully engage in conversation and pick up on body language cues. A 2022 study indicated that online therapy could be effective in treating social anxiety disorder . However, if communication difficulties stem from another cause, it may be helpful to know that online therapy is generally as effective as in-person therapy for a variety of mental health-related concerns, according to a growing body of evidence. 

Please continue reading for reviews of some of our therapists from people experiencing similar challenges.

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"I have been working with Heather for several months. She handles difficult conversations delicately but says what needs to be said. She is timely and thinks through her responses when we communicate via text. Occasionally, when I have a difficult question with multiple parts, she acknowledges that she saw my message and assures me she wants some time to be sure she gives me a thoughtful response and not just type back to be speedy and off-the-cuff. These responses are always well-phrased and include examples she knows I can relate to. Her follow-up of these difficult questions during our phone sessions is consistent, and she checks if anything needs clarification."

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What is the 7 %- 38 %- 55 rule?

Generally speaking, body language plays a large role in our ability to communicate as humans. Understanding how to read body language can give someone a deeper connection and understanding of what is truly being said and felt by someone else. 

The 7%-38%-55% rule suggests that a mere 7% of communication is done verbally. It then hypothesizes that 38% of communication comes across in our tone and voice inflection, leaving 55% of the communication to come from someone’s body movement and language. 

Whether these exact percentages are true or not, it does show us just how much of a role body language, hand gestures, and facial expressions play in communication — possibly showing our unspoken emotions. 

How much does body language contribute to communication?

Our body movements and hand gestures can convey emotions that we may not even be consciously aware of. Even if we only use subtle movements, someone who is using active listening skills can understand these additions to our verbal message. Seeking out body language tips, as well as signs of positive body language and negative body language can help us to use these skills more effectively socially. 

What are the 4 types of body language?

Generally speaking, people recognize four main types of body language. These can include soft and fluid, precise and bold, dynamic and determined, and light and bouncy movements. Each of these types can convey understanding and support our speech in a visual sense. 

What are the 3 V's of communication?

Many recognize that the three V’s of communication include visual, vocal, and verbal communication methods; which can be shown by positive body language, vocal inflection, and other ways. For example: Maintaining open posture and open body language as you welcome a new friend to a group can send the message that you’re genuinely a warm, safe person to be around. Alternatively, maintaining an open posture and maintaining eye contact can be a way to generate tension if you’re angry, signaling that you’re ready for conflict. 

What is the most effective body language used in speaking to someone face-to-face?

Many sources find that the most effective body language type for face-to-face communication is simply the management of your facial expression. A nice smile can be a great way to facilitate connection and conversation, for example. 

What are some examples of bad body language?

“Bad body language” is entirely subjective, and can be formed by a person’s unique experiences. However, common examples of body language that people may perceive negatively can include: 

• Shifting one’s weight from side to side 
• Tensing your cheek muscles 
• A Body Language Guide: 15 Common Nonverbal Cues Medically reviewed by April Justice , LICSW
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Body Language

Body language: using your body to communicate, how body language tells our story, whether we want it to or not..

Posted March 23, 2021 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

• Interpreting and presenting body language has been difficult during the pandemic.
• Body language can be both conscious and subconscious , with the potential to strengthen verbal messages or cause confusion.
• Although body language can make interactions easier, it is only one part of communication and is not the only way to show who you are.

After a year of near-total virtual communication with just about everyone we know, we’ve adjusted to communicating differently, despite the many limitations of group chats, virtual meetings, and conference calls. One vitally important aspect of our communication that’s been missing over this year is interpreting and presenting body language.

Body language is an essential part of communication and can be just as important as our verbal exchanges. Often, it’s the nonverbal messages we send in our gestures, facial expressions, or posture that can cement or invalidate our words. Body language can be both conscious or subconscious actions, so it is important to make sure your body is sending the same messages as your words to ensure good communication. These nonverbal cues can strengthen the verbal messages you’re sending or it can lead to mistrust or confusion—signs of poor communication and misunderstanding. And let’s not underestimate the vital effects of pheromones to the limbic system which is cut off when we are virtual.

This is just one more way that the pandemic has hindered learning in children. By not allowing them to be physically present with people, they’re not able to interpret body language or pheromones in the ways they normally would. Body language is an important tool children use to learn and develop social skills.

In this way, body language can make interacting with others and expressing yourself much easier, but it can also introduce new challenges. Some nonverbal cues unintentionally communicate parts of ourselves that we don’t want others to know. For example, bad posture or fidgeting may communicate lack of confidence, something we may not intend for others to know about us. But body language can enhance our verbal messages and solidify what we are telling others. Facing someone with eye contact or taking notes while someone is speaking can communicate genuine interest. Without these cues, teachers may not be able to assess a student’s understanding.

When you’re speaking authentically, it’s natural for your body language to respond to your words through gestures or facial expressions. We also use gestures in conversations to tell stories or describe objects, often using hand signals to show how big or small something is. These are largely subconscious, naturally occurring forms of body language.

It can be difficult to communicate confidence in your actions when you may not feel it internally. When you display confident body language, such as good posture or eye-contact, even if you’re making a conscious effort, studies have shown that it can lead to feeling more confident. When speaking to others, practice controlling impulses to fidget and planting your feet confidently to increase self-esteem .

You can interpret a lot about someone from their body language, but it can’t tell you everything you need to know about someone. Behavior changes across social situations; what you show to some people, you may not feel comfortable showing to others. Some social situations may present circumstances for you to act outside of your norm and these instances obviously don’t represent who you are as a person. You can be more conscious of your body language and alter it to communicate different messages, but it isn’t the only way to show who you are. Personality is made up of so much more than just our body language, but knowing how to use it will make you better at communicating with others.

Toastmasters International. (2011). Gestures: Your Body Speaks, How to Become Skilled in Nonverbal Communication. Toastmasters International. https://web.mst.edu/~toast/docs/Gestures.pdf

Cuncic, A. (2020, May 29). 10 Ways to Have More Confident Body Language. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/ten-ways-to-have-more-confident-body-langu…

Puskar, M. (2019, July 17). The Role Of Body Language In Communication | Betterhelp. Betterhelp. https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/body-language/the-role-of-body-langua…

Segal, J., Smith, M., Robinson, L., & Boose, G. (2020, October). Nonverbal Communication and Body Language. HelpGuide.Org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/nonverba…

Lea Lis, MD , “The Shameless Psychiatrist,” is a double board-certified adult and child psychiatrist, helping parents, children, and adolescents develop healthy, sex-positive attitudes and practices.

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Body Language in the Communication Process

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Examples and Observations

Shakespeare on body language, clusters of nonverbal cues, an illusion of insight, body language in literature.

• Robert Louis Stevenson on "Groans and Tears, Looks and Gestures"
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Body language is a type of nonverbal communication that relies on body movements (such as gestures, posture, and facial expressions) to convey messages .

Body language may be used consciously or unconsciously. It may accompany a verbal message or serve as a substitute for speech .

• "Pamela listened dumbly, her posture informing him that she wouldn't be offering any counter-arguments, that whatever he wanted was okay: making amends with body language ." (Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses . Viking, 1988)
• "The fun part is the process of, of getting to know a girl. It's like, it's like flirting in code. It's using body language and laughing at the right jokes and, and looking into her eyes and knowing she's still whispering to you, even when she's not saying a word. And that sense that if you can just touch her, just once, everything will be okay for both of you. That's how you can tell." (Iyari Limon as Potential Slayer Kennedy, "The Killer in Me." Buffy the Vampire Slayer , 2003)

"Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought; In thy dumb action will I be as perfect As begging hermits in their holy prayers: Thou shalt not sigh, nor hold thy stumps to heaven, Nor wink, nor nod, nor kneel, nor make a sign, But I of these will wrest an alphabet And by still practice learn to know thy meaning." (William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus , Act III, Scene 2)

"[A] reason to pay close attention to body language is that it is often more believable than verbal communication. For example, you ask your mother, 'What's wrong?' She shrugs her shoulders, frowns, turns away from you, and mutters, 'Oh . . . nothing, I guess. I'm just fine.' You don't believe her words. You believe her dejected body language, and you press on to find out what's bothering her. "The key to nonverbal communication is congruence. Nonverbal cues usually occur in congruent clusters--groups of gestures and movements that have roughly the same meaning and agree with the meaning of the words that accompany them. In the example above, your mother's shrug, frown, and turning away are congruent among themselves. They could all mean 'I'm depressed' or 'I'm worried.' However, the nonverbal cues are not congruent with her words. As an astute listener, you recognize this incongruency as a signal to ask again and dig deeper." (Matthew McKay, Martha Davis, and Patrick Fanning, Messages: The Communication Skills Book , 3rd ed. New Harbinger, 2009)

"Most people think liars give themselves away by averting their eyes or making nervous gestures, and many law-enforcement officers have been trained to look for specific tics, like gazing upward in a certain manner. But in scientific experiments, people do a lousy job of spotting liars. Law-enforcement officers and other presumed experts are not consistently better at it than ordinary people even though they’re more confident in their abilities. "'There’s an illusion of insight that comes from looking at a person’s body,' says Nicholas Epley, a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago. 'Body language speaks to us, but only in whispers.' . . . "'The common-sense notion that liars betray themselves through body language appears to be little more than a cultural fiction,' says Maria Hartwig, a psychologist at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Researchers have found that the best clues to deceit are verbal--liars tend to be less forthcoming and tell less compelling stories--but even these differences are usually too subtle to be discerned reliably." (John Tierney, "At Airports, a Misplaced Faith in Body Language." The New York Times , March 23, 2014)

"For the purpose of literary analysis, the terms 'non-verbal communication' and 'body language' refer to the forms of non-verbal behaviour exhibited by characters within the fictional situation. This behaviour can be either conscious or unconscious on the part of the fictional character; the character can use it with an intention to convey a message, or it can be unintentional; it can take place within or outside of an interaction; it can be accompanied by speech or independent of speech. From the perspective of a fictional receiver, it can be decoded correctly, incorrectly, or not at all." (Barbara Korte, Body Language in Literature . University of Toronto Press, 1997)

Robert Louis Stevenson on "Groans and Tears, Looks and Gestures"

"For life, though largely, is not entirely carried on by literature. We are subject to physical passions and contortions; the voice breaks and changes, and speaks by unconscious and winning inflections, we have legible countenances, like an open book; things that cannot be said look eloquently through the eyes; and the soul, not locked into the body as a dungeon, dwells ever on the threshold with appealing signals. Groans and tears, looks and gestures, a flush or a paleness, are often the most clear reporters of the heart, and speak more directly to the hearts of others. The message flies by these interpreters in the least space of time, and the misunderstanding is averted in the moment of its birth. To explain in words takes time and a just and patient hearing; and in the critical epochs of a close relation, patience and justice are not qualities on which we can rely. But the look or the gesture explains things in a breath; they tell their message without ambiguity ; unlike speech, they cannot stumble, by the way, on a reproach or an illusion that should steel your friend against the truth; and then they have a higher authority, for they are the direct expression of the heart, not yet transmitted through the unfaithful and sophisticating brain." (Robert Louis Stevenson, "Truth of Intercourse," 1879)

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Essay on Body Language

Students are often asked to write an essay on Body Language in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Body Language

Understanding body language.

Body language is how we talk without using words. It’s about what we do with our hands, face, and body. It can show what we feel inside. For example, when we are happy, we smile. When we are nervous, we might bite our nails.

Types of Body Language

There are many types of body language. Facial expressions, gestures, and posture are a few. Facial expressions show feelings like happiness, sadness, or anger. Gestures are things we do with our hands or arms. Posture is how we stand or sit.

Importance of Body Language

Body language is important because it helps us understand each other better. It can tell us if someone is telling the truth or not. It can also show if a person is confident or shy. Learning about body language can help us communicate better.

Reading Body Language

Reading body language means understanding what someone’s body is saying. If someone crosses their arms, they might be upset. If they lean in when you talk, they might be interested. Understanding these signs can help us respond in the right way.

Improving Body Language

We can improve our body language by being aware of it. We can practice standing tall to show confidence. We can also try to match our body language to our words. This can help us communicate more clearly and effectively.

250 Words Essay on Body Language

Introduction to body language.

Body language is the unspoken communication we use every day. It includes facial expressions, posture, gestures, and eye contact. Our body language can tell others how we feel, even when we do not say a word.

There are many types of body language. Facial expressions like smiling or frowning can show happiness or sadness. Gestures like waving or pointing can help us express our thoughts. Posture, the way we stand or sit, can show confidence or nervousness. Eye contact can show interest or disinterest in a conversation.

Body language is important because it helps us understand others better. For example, if someone is crossing their arms, they might be upset or defensive. If they are leaning in and making eye contact, they are likely interested in what you are saying. Understanding body language can help us communicate more effectively.

Learning Body Language

Learning body language can be fun and useful. It can help us become better communicators. By observing people and their body language, we can learn to understand their feelings and thoughts better. It can also help us express our own feelings more clearly.

In conclusion, body language is a vital part of communication. It helps us express our feelings and understand others. Learning about body language can make us better communicators and help us connect with others on a deeper level.

500 Words Essay on Body Language

Body language is the unspoken communication we use every day. It involves the use of physical behavior to express or convey information. This can include facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye movement, touch, and the use of space. Body language is an important part of communication which can make up to 50% of what we are communicating.

The Importance of Body Language

Body language is vital because it helps us understand others better. For example, if someone is crossing their arms, it might mean they are feeling closed off or defensive. A person who is smiling and maintaining eye contact is likely to be more open and friendly. By paying attention to body language, we can get a better sense of a person’s true feelings.

There are several types of body language. Facial expressions are the most common, and they can express many emotions without saying a word. For instance, a frown might indicate unhappiness or confusion, while a smile can show happiness or approval.

Gestures are another type of body language. These can include waving, pointing, and using our hands when we talk. Posture can also convey a lot of information about a person’s state of mind. For example, a person who stands tall with their shoulders back is likely to be confident, while someone who slouches might be tired or unsure.

To understand body language, we need to pay attention to the context. The same gesture can mean different things in different situations. For example, crossed arms could mean that a person is feeling defensive, but it could also mean that they are cold.

Another important point is to look at body language as a whole. If a person’s words are saying one thing but their body language is saying another, it’s likely that their body language is the more truthful of the two.

The Power of Body Language

Body language is powerful because it is something that we do unconsciously. It can reveal our true feelings and intentions, even when our words do not. By understanding body language, we can become better communicators and more effective in our interactions with others.

In conclusion, body language is a crucial part of communication. It can help us understand others, express our own feelings, and improve our interactions. By paying attention to body language, we can learn a lot about ourselves and the people around us. Remember, it’s not just about what we say, but also how we say it.

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Types of Nonverbal Communication

Often you don't need words at all

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

 Tim Robberts / Getty Images

Why Nonverbal Communication Is Important

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Nonverbal communication means conveying information without using words. This might involve using certain facial expressions or hand gestures to make a specific point, or it could involve the use (or non-use) of eye contact, physical proximity, and other nonverbal cues to get a message across.

A substantial portion of our communication is nonverbal. In fact, some researchers suggest that the percentage of nonverbal communication is four times that of verbal communication, with 80% of what we communicate involving our actions and gestures versus only 20% being conveyed with the use of words.

Every day, we respond to thousands of nonverbal cues and behaviors, including postures, facial expressions, eye gaze, gestures, and tone of voice. From our handshakes to our hairstyles, our nonverbal communication reveals who we are and impacts how we relate to other people.

9 Types of Nonverbal Communication

Scientific research on nonverbal communication and behavior began with the 1872 publication of Charles Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals . Since that time, a wealth of research has been devoted to the types, effects, and expressions of unspoken communication and behavior .

Nonverbal Communication Types

While these signals can be so subtle that we are not consciously aware of them, research has identified nine types of nonverbal communication. These nonverbal communication types are:

• Facial expressions
• Paralinguistics (such as loudness or tone of voice)
• Body language
• Proxemics or personal space
• Eye gaze, haptics (touch)
• Artifacts (objects and images)

Facial Expressions

Facial expressions are responsible for a huge proportion of nonverbal communication. Consider how much information can be conveyed with a smile or a frown. The look on a person's face is often the first thing we see, even before we hear what they have to say.

While nonverbal communication and behavior can vary dramatically between cultures, the facial expressions for happiness, sadness, anger, and fear are similar throughout the world.

Deliberate movements and signals are an important way to communicate meaning without words. Common gestures include waving, pointing, and giving a "thumbs up" sign. Other gestures are arbitrary and related to culture.

For example, in the U.S., putting the index and middle finger in the shape of a "V" with your palm facing out is often considered to be a sign of peace or victory. Yet, in Britain, Australia, and other parts of the world, this gesture can be considered an insult.

Nonverbal communication via gestures is so powerful and influential that some judges place limits on which ones are allowed in the courtroom, where they can sway juror opinions. An attorney might glance at their watch to suggest that the opposing lawyer's argument is tedious, for instance. Or they may roll their eyes during a witness's testimony in an attempt to undermine that person's credibility.

Paralinguistics

Paralinguistics refers to vocal communication that is separate from actual language. This form of nonverbal communication includes factors such as tone of voice, loudness, inflection, and pitch.

For example, consider the powerful effect that tone of voice can have on the meaning of a sentence. When said in a strong tone of voice, listeners might interpret a statement as approval and enthusiasm. The same words said in a hesitant tone can convey disapproval and a lack of interest.

Body Language and Posture

Posture and movement can also provide a great deal of information. Research on body language has grown significantly since the 1970s, with popular media focusing on the over-interpretation of defensive postures such as arm-crossing and leg-crossing, especially after the publication of Julius Fast's book Body Language .

While these nonverbal communications can indicate feelings and attitudes , body language is often subtle and less definitive than previously believed.

People often refer to their need for "personal space." This is known as proxemics and is another important type of nonverbal communication.

The amount of distance we need and the amount of space we perceive as belonging to us are influenced by several factors. Among them are social norms , cultural expectations, situational factors, personality characteristics, and level of familiarity.

The amount of personal space needed when having a casual conversation with another person can vary between 18 inches and four feet. The personal distance needed when speaking to a crowd of people is usually around 10 to 12 feet.

The eyes play a role in nonverbal communication, with such things as looking, staring, and blinking being important cues. For example, when you encounter people or things that you like, your rate of blinking increases and your pupils dilate.

People's eyes can indicate a range of emotions , including hostility, interest, and attraction. People also often utilize eye gaze cues to gauge a person's honesty. Normal, steady eye contact is often taken as a sign that a person is telling the truth and is trustworthy. Shifty eyes and an inability to maintain eye contact, on the other hand, is frequently seen as an indicator that someone is lying or being deceptive.

However, some research suggests that eye gaze does not accurately predict lying behavior.

Communicating through touch is another important nonverbal communication behavior. Touch can be used to communicate affection, familiarity, sympathy, and other emotions .

In her book Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters , author Julia Wood writes that touch is also often used to communicate both status and power. High-status individuals tend to invade other people's personal space with greater frequency and intensity than lower-status individuals.

Sex differences also play a role in how people utilize touch to communicate meaning. Women tend to use touch to convey care, concern, and nurturance. Men, on the other hand, are more likely to use touch to assert power or control over others.

There has been a substantial amount of research on the importance of touch in infancy and early childhood. Harry Harlow's classic monkey study , for example, demonstrated how being deprived of touch impedes development. In the experiments, baby monkeys raised by wire mothers experienced permanent deficits in behavior and social interaction.

Our choice of clothing, hairstyle, and other appearance factors are also considered a means of nonverbal communication. Research on color psychology has demonstrated that different colors can evoke different moods. Appearance can also alter physiological reactions, judgments, and interpretations.

Just think of all the subtle judgments you quickly make about someone based on their appearance. These first impressions are important, which is why experts suggest that job seekers dress appropriately for interviews with potential employers.

Researchers have found that appearance can even play a role in how much people earn. Attractive people tend to earn more and receive other fringe benefits, including higher-quality jobs.

Culture is an important influence on how appearances are judged. While thinness tends to be valued in Western cultures, some African cultures relate full-figured bodies to better health, wealth, and social status.

Objects and images are also tools that can be used to communicate nonverbally. On an online forum, for example, you might select an avatar to represent your identity and to communicate information about who you are and the things you like.

People often spend a great deal of time developing a particular image and surrounding themselves with objects designed to convey information about the things that are important to them. Uniforms, for example, can be used to transmit a tremendous amount of information about a person.

A soldier will don fatigues, a police officer will wear a specific uniform, and a doctor will wear a white lab coat. At a mere glance, these outfits tell others what that person does for a living. That makes them a powerful form of nonverbal communication.

Nonverbal Communication Examples

Think of all the ways you communicate nonverbally in your own life. You can find examples of nonverbal communication at home, at work, and in other situations.

Nonverbal Communication at Home

Consider all the ways that tone of voice might change the meaning of a sentence when talking with a family member. One example is when you ask your partner how they are doing and they respond with, "I'm fine." How they say these words reveals a tremendous amount about how they are truly feeling.

A bright, happy tone of voice would suggest that they are doing quite well. A cold tone of voice might suggest that they are not fine but don't wish to discuss it. A somber, downcast tone might indicate that they are the opposite of fine but may want to talk about why.

Other examples of nonverbal communication at home include:

• Going to your partner swiftly when they call for you (as opposed to taking your time or not responding at all)
• Greeting your child with a smile when they walk into the room to show that you're happy to see them
• Leaning in when your loved one speaks to show that you are listening and that you are interested in what they're saying
• Shoving your fist into the air when you're upset that something isn't working

Nonverbal Communication in the Workplace

You can also find nonverbal communication in the workplace. Examples of this include:

• Looking co-workers in the eye when speaking with them to be fully engaged in the interaction
• Throwing your hands in the air when you are frustrated with a project
• Using excitement in your voice when leading work meetings to project your passion for a specific topic
• Walking down the hall with your head held high to convey confidence in your abilities

Nonverbal Communication in Other Situations

Here are a few additional examples of nonverbal communication that say a lot without you having to say anything at all:

• Greeting an old friend at a restaurant with a hug, handshake, or fist bump
• Placing your hand on someone's arm when they are talking to you at a party to convey friendliness or concern
• Rolling your eyes at someone who is chatting excessively with a store clerk as a line begins to form
• Scowling at someone who has cut you off in traffic, or "flipping them the bird"

Nonverbal communication serves an important role in conveying meaning. Some benefits it provides include:

• Strengthening relationships : Nonverbal communication fosters closeness and intimacy in interpersonal relationships.
• Substituting for spoken words : Signaling information that a person might not be able to say aloud. This can be helpful in situations where a person might not be heard (such as a noisy workplace) or in therapy situations where a mental health professional can look at nonverbal behaviors to learn more about how a client might be feeling.
• Reinforcing meaning : Matching nonverbal communication to spoken words can help add clarity and reinforce important points.
• Regulating conversation : Nonverbal signals can also help regulate the flow of conversation and indicate both the start and end of a message or topic.

Nonverbal communication is important because it can provide valuable information, reinforce the meaning of spoken words, help convey trust, and add clarity to your message.

How to Improve Your Nonverbal Communication Skills

If you want to develop more confident body language or improve your ability to read other people's nonverbal communication behaviors, these tips can help:

• Pay attention to your own behaviors : Notice the gestures you use when you're happy versus when you're upset. Think about how you change the tone of your voice depending on the emotions you are feeling. Being aware of your own nonverbal communication tendencies is the first step to changing the ones you want to change. It can also give you insight into how you're feeling if you're having trouble putting it into words.
• Become a student of others : It can also be helpful to consider how others around you communicate nonverbally. What do their facial expressions say? What type of gestures do they use? Becoming familiar with their nonverbal communication patterns helps you recognize when they might be feeling a certain way quicker because you're actively watching for these cues. It can also help you recognize nonverbal behaviors you may want to adopt yourself (such as standing tall when talking to others to display self-confidence ).
• Look for incongruent nonverbal cues : Do you say that you're fine, then slam cupboard doors to show that you're upset? This can give those around you mixed messages. Or maybe when someone is speaking with you, they are saying yes while shaking their head no. This is another example of incongruent behavior. Both can be signs of feeling a certain way but not yet being ready to admit or discuss it.
• Think before you act : If your middle finger seems to automatically fly up when a car cuts you off—even if your young child is in the back seat, causing you to regret it as soon as it happens—you can work to stop this reaction. Train yourself to stop and think before you act. This can help you eliminate or replace nonverbal behaviors that you've been wanting to change.
• Ask before you assume : Certain types of nonverbal communication can mean different things in different cultures. They can also vary based on someone's personality . Before assuming that a person's body language or tone means something definitively, ask. "I notice that you won't look me in the eye when we speak. Are you upset with me?" Give them the opportunity to explain how they are feeling so you know for sure.

A Word From Verywell

Nonverbal communication plays an important role in how we convey meaning and information to others, as well as how we interpret the actions of those around us.

The important thing to remember when looking at nonverbal behaviors is to consider the actions in groups. Consider what a person says verbally, combined with their expressions, appearance, and tone of voice and it can tell you a great deal about what that person is really trying to say.

American Psychological Association. Nonverbal communication (NVC) .

Hull R. The art of nonverbal communication in practice . Hear J . 2016;69(5);22-24. doi:10.1097/01.HJ.0000483270.59643.cc

Frith C. Role of facial expressions in social interactions . Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci . 2009;364(1535):3453-8. doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0142

Goldin-Meadow S. How gesture works to change our minds . Trends Neurosci Educ . 2014;3(1):4-6. doi:10.1016/j.tine.2014.01.002

Guyer JJ, Briñol P, Vaughan-Johnston TI, Fabrigar LR, Moreno L, Petty RE. Paralinguistic features communicated through voice can affect appraisals of confidence and evaluative judgments .  J Nonverbal Behav . 2021;45(4):479-504. doi:10.1007/s10919-021-00374-2

Abdulghafor R, Turaev S, Ali MAH. Body language analysis in healthcare: An overview .  Healthcare (Basel) . 2022;10(7):1251. doi:10.3390/healthcare10071251

Mccall C, Singer T. Facing off with unfair others: introducing proxemic imaging as an implicit measure of approach and avoidance during social interaction . PLoS One . 2015;10(2):e0117532. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117532

Wiseman R, Watt C, ten Brinke L, Porter S, Couper SL, Rankin C. The eyes don't have it: lie detection and Neuro-Linguistic Programming .  PLoS One . 2012;7(7):e40259. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040259

Sekerdej M, Simão C, Waldzus S, Brito R. Keeping in touch with context: Non-verbal behavior as a manifestation of communality and dominance . J Nonverbal Behav . 2018;42(3):311-326. doi:10.1007/s10919-018-0279-2

Bambaeeroo F, Shokrpour N. The impact of the teachers' non-verbal communication on success in teaching .  J Adv Med Educ Prof . 2017;5(2):51-59.

Dilmaghani M. Beauty perks: Physical appearance, earnings, and fringe benefits . Economics & Human Biology . 2020;38:100889. doi:10.1016/j.ehb.2020.100889

Darwin C. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals .

Wood J.  Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters .

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

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Body Language and Nonverbal Cues in Different Cultures

Body language is the act of communicating using anything other than your words.

People all around the world use their bodies to express themselves: greeting someone with a hug or a handshake, moving into or away from someone else’s personal space, smiling, frowning, waving, pointing, dancing and so much more.

But gestures that mean one thing in your part of the world can mean the exact opposite somewhere else!

In this post, we’ll look at 10 examples of body language in different countries —a small sample of the big pool of non-verbal communication.

Bowing in Korea

“one” in germany, head shaking in india, the “pinecone” in italy, “so-so” in france, pointing at your nose in china, kissing cheeks in switzerland, thumbs up in iran, eye contact in japan, counting in russia, various aspects of body language, facial expressions, head movements and eye contact, finger, hand and arm gestures, proximity, orientation and physical contact, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

While Western countries reserve bows for the end of a stage performance, bowing in many East Asian countries—such as Korea, Japan and China—is part of basic etiquette to show respect and/or gratitude.

In Korea, you bow when initially meeting a person, as well as to say “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you” and “I’m sorry.”

Generally, the lower you bow, the more respect and deference you show the other person. The longer you keep your head bowed signifies your seriousness.

Depending on where you go, of course, the rules and etiquette for bowing may differ; sometimes they even vary between generations!

You probably use your fingers to count things, like signaling how many mugs of beer you want at a bar, for instance.

In the US, the number “one” is signified by the pointer finger. In Germany—and a few other European countries, like France and Italy—they start counting with the thumb, and the pointer finger is therefore “two.”

Show the waiter a pointer finger, and he might think that you’re saying “two” and bring you a pair of those huge German beer mugs!

In fact, in the bar scene of the WWII movie “Inglorious Basterds,” an undercover American officer gives himself away by signaling the waiter with his pointer, middle and ring fingers. “Three,” in the German way of counting, is the thumb-pointer-middle finger combo!

In Western cultures, when we say “yes,” we nod our heads up and down. “No” involves swinging the head from left to right.

People from India and other South Asian countries, however, use their heads to express so much more than a simple “yes” or “no.” In India, “yes” is expressed by tilting the head from side-to-side towards the shoulders—the faster the shake, the more certain the “yes” is.

This gesture can also be used during a conversation to indicate that the listener is paying attention and being agreeable. It can also be a sign of courtesy and respect. It can really mean a lot of things!

Italians are known for their expressive body language . There are probably hundreds of recognizable Italian hand gestures, but the most quintessential of them is the “pinecone.”

With palms up, the Italian “pinecone” is formed by bringing the tips of all your fingers to a single point. Rock your wrist back and forth, and you have the most recognizable hand gesture in the Italian world.

Think of it as the accompanying gesture for asking questions—especially when you’re utterly confused or desperate for the answer, like “What were you thinking?!” or “What’s happening?!”

As connoisseurs of the good life, the French have high standards for almost everything (not just food and fashion), so you might often hear them say “Comme ci comme ça,” which is the equivalent of “so-so” in English.

If a French person is telling you how their day went and it was just okay—nothing really memorable or worthy of discussion—their “comme ci comme ça” phrase will often be coupled with a palm-down hand rocked from side to side, like a boat rocking back and forth.

As the most prominent and central part of the face, the nose represents the self in Chinese and other East Asian cultures. In Chinese astrology , the nose symbolizes self-esteem, status and wealth.

So when a Chinese person refers to themself, they don’t point to the chest like many other cultures do. Instead, using the forefinger or thumb, they point to the nose.

To signify “me” or “I” when in China, point to the nose. And I mean your nose. Touching the nose of others is considered extremely rude, though there probably aren’t many places where it’s socially acceptable to boop someone else’s nose during a conversation!

Many countries in Europe and Latin America use cheek kisses as a way of greeting. In Switzerland, it’s three cheek kisses—starting with your right cheek.

The Swiss kiss is a common way to greet family and close friends, especially when it’s girl-and-girl or girl-and-boy. Between men, not so much—they usually do with a warm handshake, unless they’re really close.

New acquaintances are welcomed with a handshake also, but as the relationship deepens, this graduates to cheek kisses.

In many Middle Eastern cultures like Iran, Iraq and parts of Greece, the thumps-up gesture is basically the equivalent of giving someone the middle finger. Imagine that sturdy thumb and sitting on it, because that’s what the gesture is trying to say.

However, thanks to Hollywood movies, Facebook and other elements of popular culture disseminating in the Middle East, the thumbs-up gesture can sometimes just be a genuine thumbs up!

So how do you know if it’s meant in a positive or negative way? Maybe you never will. But it’s always better to assume it’s encouraging—just flash a smile and a nod of acknowledgment and be on your merry way. Everyone wins!

In many countries, maintaining eye contact while you speak with someone signifies that you’re paying attention. (Think of a mother demanding “Look at me when I’m talking to you!”)

In Japan (and a few other East Asian cultures), however, eye contact can signal aggression and disrespect. In fact, many Japanese people are taught at an early age to look at peoples’ necks instead of their eyes .

These days in Japan, it’s becoming more socially acceptable to look people in the eyes when you’re talking to them, but in certain situations (like more formal encounters or conversations with older people), you may be in for a bit of awkwardness if you maintain eye contact for too long!

If you count on your fingers from one to five, chances are you started with a balled-up fist and gradually uncurled each finger as you went.

In Russia, people also count with their fingers, but instead of starting with a closed fist, they start with an open palm.

To count to five, Russians first open their palm, then (sometimes with the help of the pointer finger on their other hand) curl in their pinky finger, followed by the ring finger and so on. By “five,” they have a balled-up fist.

The six generally accepted emotions—happiness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger and sadness—were once considered universal. But studies suggest that these are not so clear cut.

For example, while a computer algorithm was quite adept at deciphering the six emotions in Western (Caucasian) faces, the same algorithm applied to Asian faces falls somewhat short.

It turns out that people around the world express emotions through different levels of intensity and by engaging different facial muscles.

In the specific study noted above, Asian faces displayed lower emotional intensity than Western faces, as well as much overlap when registering surprise, fear, disgust and anger—which may make it hard for someone of Western origin to tell when someone of Asian origin is mad or scared, for example.

Head movements can also have different meanings in different cultures, so nodding to say “yes” might not always get you the reaction you expect!

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No matter where you’re from, the default human being has 10 fingers split evenly between two hands—but different cultures use them in very different ways!

For instance, in the West a thumbs up expresses support or “OK”, a peace sign (the pointer and middle finger up) expresses peace and love and “flipping the bird” (middle finger up) expresses insult to the recipient. But these gestures can (and often do) mean something entirely different elsewhere in the world!

Even a gesture as seemingly universal as pointing at something with your aptly named “pointer finger” turns out to not be so universal after all. Some cultures prefer to “point” with their heads or noses . Other cultures use their thumb, an open hand or even their lips .

It’s safe to say that for every positive action or gesture that you know, there are places in the world where it’s considered crude, rude or gross.

The amount of physical contact you share with another person is highly dependent on one’s culture.

Some cultures have an easy grace toward men kissing other men on the cheek, while other cultures would make do with handshake or a manly fist bump. These are simply different ways of expression, much like apples are manzanas in Spanish and pommes in French.

Further, a “Touchability Index” ranked Europeans on how much they like to be touched—Finns top the list while Brits close it out, preferring more personal space.

Indeed, the size of your “personal space” bubble is culturally determined— this study found that South Americans generally require less personal space than most Asians, for example.

The study of body language, much like the study of language itself, is a rich field!

By now, you should understand how important (and different) body language is for different cultures.

Learning the specific gestures and movements for the particular language you’re studying is a big help in communicating with clarity and effectiveness .

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Essay: Body Language

Language Studies / Samples March 28, 2011

Sample Essay

Words 1,310

Nonverbal communication helps us reinforce what we say and makes our message stronger and easier to decode. One aspect of non verbal communication is body language. Our face expressions, hand movements, gestures, and are physical appearance reflect how we feel emotionally. Communication is not only through words, the way our body reacts to certain things plays a role too. When we smile, cry, have good or bad posture, frown, and yawn or dress a certain way we send messages through body language. (Flatley 408-409)

Most body language messages are sent through our face and gestures. On our face, the way the corners of our mouth wrinkle up or down when we are happy pr sad, how are forehead creases when we’re angry, or how are eyes wrinkle when we laugh genuinely are all conveyors of certain messages. The face and the eyes many meanings and can be recognized or decoded easily. Facial expressions are a very important part of communication because they convey the inner workings of emotion. . (Flatley 409)

Waving hi to someone, high-fiving, dancing a certain way, leaning in too much, or leaning back too much are all gestures and a form of communicating through body language. Any type of message reinforces the original message that a person is trying to communicate. Gestures give us insight into what the person is really trying to convey because these can either make the original message stronger or contradict it. (Flatley 409) For example, when we observe two people in a romantic Hollywood movie, an actress playing the role of an angry wife may be saying continuously how everything is alright but her face expressions would reveal if that is in line or contradictory to the original messages. If she is angry and decides to yell, her hand gestures might be faster and her facial expressions more vivid. (Flatley 409)

Appearance is another important aspect body language. We use our bodies continuously to send messages and reinforce anything communicated earlier. The way we dress is very important in effectively communicating. For example, if we someone at a formal event wearing jeans it can send out many mixed messages. For a punk rock star it might say ‘I don’t care’ maybe in a good way but for the marketing manager of a firm it might say ‘I don’t care’ in a bad way. Clothes are only one aspect of how we dress. Body piercing, excessive or minimal use of perfume, general body odor, and how we wear makeup also give out messages. (Flatley 410)

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Cultural Differences in Body Language to be Aware of

September 8, 2022 - Sophie Thompson

Body language makes up the largest part of our non-verbal communication – eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions can convey powerful messages. As William Shakespeare said in Troilus and Cressida – ‘There’s language in her eye, her cheek, her lip’.

However, there are substantial cultural differences in how people use body language to communicate. Sometimes it is very obvious, many times very subtle.

Whether in a culturally diverse company or visiting emerging markets, understanding what people mean through their body language can be a challenge.

Greetings with a handshake

Even the simple handshake can vary from culture to culture. A handshake is widely accepted as the norm, however you’ll need to  vary the firmness  depending on the location.

Western culture typically perceives a strong handshake as authoritative and confident, whereas many parts of the Far East perceive a strong handshake as aggressive, and usually bow instead.

In parts of Northern Europe, a quick, firm handshake is the norm. In parts of Southern Europe, Central and South America, a handshake is longer and warmer, with the left hand usually touching the clasped hands or elbow.

Beware that in Turkey, a firm handshake is considered rude and aggressive. In certain African countries, a limp handshake is the standard ( Guide to African handshakes ). Men in Islamic countries never shake the hands of women outside the family.

Facial expressions

Many facial expressions appear to be universal and recognised all over the globe.

Research carried out by the  Paul Ekman Group , an American Psychologist, showed that over 90% of common facial expressions were identified by people in very different cultures. Over 10,000 facial expressions were created for the study and shown to different western cultures and isolated, pre-literate African groups.

In general, there are seven different facial expressions which correspond to distinct universal facial emotions:

• Happiness  – Raising and lowering of mouth corners, cheeks raised, and muscles around the eyes are tightened.
• Sadness  – lowering of mouth corners and raising inner portion of brows.
• Surprise  – Arching of eyebrows, eyelids pulled up and sclera exposed, mouth open.
• Fear  – Brows arched and pulled together, eyes wide open, mouth slightly open.
• Disgust  – Eyebrows lowered, upper lip raised, nose wrinkled, cheeks raised.
• Anger  – Brows lowered, eyes bulging, lips pressed firmly.

Hand gestures

We use gestures as a way to emphasize points and illustrate what we are saying.

Hand gestures can mean very different things in different cultures; the ‘OK’ sign in Greece, Spain or Brazil means you are calling someone an a**hole. In Turkey, it’s meant to be an insult towards gay people.

A thumbs up in America and European cultures is an indicator of a job well done, however in Greece or the Middle East, it can mean ‘up yours’

Curling the index finger with the palm facing up is a  common gesture  that people in United States and parts of Europe use to beckon someone to come closer.

However, it is considered rude in China, East Asia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and many other parts of the world. It’s also considered extremely impolite to use this gesture with people. It is used only to beckon dogs in many Asian countries – and using it in the Philippines can get you arrested.

On Inauguration Day 2005, President George W. Bush raised his fist, with the index and little finger extended, in the shape of the Texas Longhorn football team logo. Newspapers around the world expressed their astonishment at the use of such a gesture. In many Mediterranean and Latin countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, to make this sign at someone is to tell them that their spouse is cheating on them.

Eye contact

In most western countries, eye contact is a sign of confidence and attentiveness. We tend to assume that if someone looks away while we are talking to them, they’re disinterested and looking for someone else to talk to.

In many Middle Eastern countries, same-gender eye contact tends to be more sustained and intense than the western standard. In some of these countries, eye contact beyond a brief glance between the sexes is deemed inappropriate.

In many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, however, this unbroken eye contact would be considered  aggressive and confrontational . These cultures tend to be quite conscious of hierarchy, and avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect for bosses and elders.

In these parts of the world, children won’t look at an adult who is speaking to them, and nor will employees to their bosses.

Eye contact variation by culture:

• Used a lot in regions such as the Middle East, Mediterranean cultures, Europeans, and Latin Americans.
• Used often in much of Northern Europe and North America
• Used somewhat carefully in cultures in Africa, Middle East, Korea and Thailand
• Used carefully in most of the Far East

Learn how to use body language to improve your professional relationships. Practice what you learn in virtual reality exercises. Learn more about the  body language course .

Moving your head

In some parts of India, people tilt their head from  side to side  to confirm something and demonstrate that they are actively listening. The side-to-side head movement originates from British occupation, as the occupied Indian people were afraid to ever gesture ‘no’ to soldiers but wanted to show signs of understanding.

A video decoding  Indian headshakes  went viral, attracting over a million hits in a week.

Northern Europe and the Far East as classed as non-contact cultures. There is very little physical contact beyond a handshake with people we don’t know well. Even accidentally brushing someone’s arm on the street warrants an apology.

An innocent hug made headlines around the world in 2009 when America’s first lady, Michelle Obama, broke royal protocol on a visit to Britain by hugging the Queen.

By comparison, in the  high-contact  cultures of the Middle East, Latin America, and southern Europe, physical touch is a big part of socialising.

In much of the Arab world, men hold hands and kiss each other in greeting, but would never do the same with a woman.

In Thailand and Laos, it is taboo to touch anyone’s head, even children. In South Korea, elders can touch younger people with force when trying to get through a crowd, but younger people can’t do the same.

Physical contact variation by culture:

• High Contact  cultures tend to stand close when speaking and make physical contact more often. Latin America, Southern Europe, and most Middle Eastern nations are examples.
• Medium Contact  cultures stand quite close when speaking and will touch on occasion. Such cultures include Northern Europe and North America.
• Low Contact  cultures stand at a greater distance and generally avoid physical contact. The Far East is an example.

These rules are usually quite complex. They may differ depending on the age, gender, ethnicity, profession, and status of the people involved.

Sitting positions

Be aware of your posture when you attend meetings or are dining.  Sitting cross-legged  is seen as disrespectful in Japan, especially in the presence of someone older or more respected than you.

Showing the soles of your shoes or feet can offend people in parts of the  Middle East  and India. That is why throwing shoes at someone is a form of protest and an insult in many parts of the world – as former U.S. President George W. Bush famously discovered on a visit to Iraq in 2008.

Though it can feel like a void in communication, silence can be very meaningful in different cultural contexts. Western cultures, especially North America and the UK, tend to view silence as problematic. In our interactions at work, school, or with friends, silence is uncomfortable. It is often perceived as a sign of inattentiveness or disinterest.

In other cultures, however, silence is not viewed as a negative circumstance. In China, silence can be used to  show agreement  and receptiveness. In many aboriginal cultures, a question will be answered only after a period of contemplative silence. In Japan, silence from women can be considered an expression of femininity.

In many cultures, what is acceptable for a man may not be acceptable for a woman. The most obvious example is the issue of  covering your head  in some Muslim countries but also, within religions such as Islam and Hinduism, shaking a woman’s hand can be considered offensive.

Modern transportation and an increase in expendable income allow us to visit a huge range of cultures. We’ve discussed how gestures, eye contact, greetings, and physical contact can have very different meanings in different countries and cultures so you’ll want to learn as much as you can about the country’s etiquette, values, and styles of communication before you visit.

Being able to understand cultural differences will improve your working relationships and potentially make you more successful in an increasingly globalized, multi-cultural working world.

Popular travel location etiquette guides:

• Saudi Arabia

Gestures – The DO’s and TABOOs of body language around the world

Axtell, Roger E. Gestures: The DOs and TABOOS of Body Language Around the World. Jon Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1998 — Rev. and expanded edition.Over the past decade the author has been presenting seminars, speeches and workshops around the United States on the subject of international behavior. This book is the result of accumulation of more than ten years of research on the subject and it includes research on his travels to England, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. All this reinforced a conviction that gestures are powerful communicators used by people all over the world.The purpose of this book is to let people know how powerful gestures can be when used correctly or incorrectly.

He also wants you to know how a gesture can mean one thing here and another thing somewhere else, something as simple as a wave good bye, could get you into a lot of trouble in another country. This book was broken down into seven chapters: Chapter 1, illustrated with numerous examples, is that not only are gestures and body language powerful communicators, but different cultures use gestures and body language in dramatically different ways.Chapter 2 discusses the most popular gestures found around the world, beginning with how we greet each other. Shaking hand is not the universal greeting. In fact, there are at least a half-dozen other social greetings – even different ways of shaking hands.

This chapter also deals with farewells, beckoning, insulting, touching and other types of gestures.Chapter 3 gets into the special types of gestures such as, American Sign Language, Tai Chi, flirting & kissing.Chapter 4 is designed to help you learn or trace a particular gesture, using scores of drawings. Chapter 5 describes what the author calls the ultimate gesture, which is simply the “smile”. It is rarely misunderstood, scientist believe this particular gesture releases chemicals in the brain called endorphins into the system that create a mild feeling of euphoria. It also may help you slip out of the prickliest or difficult situation’s world wide.

Chapter 6 is an important list of gestures to keep in mind. It is compiled of 20 gestures that can help you separate right from rude, and rude from crude. Chapter 7 is a listing of country-by-country common gestures and body languages. They group the countries by major geographic region.The organization of the book was a combination of narrative and topical. The basic point of view of the entire book was that if you are planning to leave the United States and travel to another country, you better either keep your hands in you pockets at all times or know the proper gesture for the country you intend on visiting. I would like to site some examples.An American teenager was hitchhiking in Nigeria. A carload of locals passed him.

The car screeched to a halt. The locals jumped out and promptly roughed up the teenage visitor. Why? Because in Nigeria, the gesture commonly used in America for hitchhiking (thumb extended upward) is considered a very rude signal.An American couple on an auto tour in Australia was stopped by a police officer in Sydney for failing to signal before turning. Since they were tourists the officer gave them only a friendly warning. Relieved, the American man responded with a smile and the thumbs-up sign.

The police officer became enraged, ordered the couple out of the car, called a backup, searched the car, and finally gave the driver an expensive ticket. Later, back in their hotel and recounting their experience, the tourist learned that in Australia the thumbs-up gesture means “screw you!”As you can see this book has a humorous, but yet serious overtone. It covers important aspects of body languages & gestures in society which is serious stuff, that has a very strong impact on all that come in contact with you. Yet the author is able to express it in a comical nature. I enjoyed the book immensely.There are many ways the ideas in this book can be related to sociology. In fact the whole book is directly related to the subject of sociology especially the culture aspect of it. I will explain in the following paragraphs.

Anthologists divide our actions and gestures into three broad categories: instinctive, coded and acquired.Instinctive gestures are those we do almost unconsciously. An example would be when we are suddenly shocked or surprised, we tend to slap the back of our heads.Coded, or technical, gestures are created by preestablished agreement. For example hand signals used by TV directors, referees, umpires and brokers in the stock market.Acquired gestures, meaning our socially generated and acquired gestures. This grouping of gestures has been loosely and informally collected among separate societies.

The acquired gestures come from different cultures. Each individual culture or sub-culture has its very own acquired gestures or mannerisms.I learned the difference between what we, as Americans, consider to be consensual in the area of gestures. If you attempt to take your American gestures and attitudes to another country, you’re in for quite the culture shock. An example of the culture shock you may experience if you were to enter a European home would be that they always keep the bathroom door shut. Even when it is not occupied. As where an American home usually keeps its bathroom door partially open to indicate that the it is unoccupied. So in Europe, you would always knock on the door first. Touching is something that we as North Americans are not big on. We are not touch-oriented.

With good friends, we may occasionally do some touching of the forearm or shoulder. We may even hug our good friends, but almost never do we hug casual acquaintances. Asians even join us in the shunning of such bodily contact. Latinos and Middle Easterners seem to dote on it with hearty embraces and warm pats on the back. In these places you may even see two male friends walking hand-in-hand down the street together, and all it signifies is friendship. If you were to see that on any street in the U.S. the first thing we as Americans would think is ” Hey those guys are homosexuals”. The differences in culture are amazing, Especially in the areas of gestures. A person lacking knowledge of this could find himself in hot water if he were to visit one of our neighboring countries. Things that we do strictly out of habit as Americans, could be misconstrued as rude or offensive in other corners of the world.

I will let you in on some of them.In Austria, Men rise when a woman enters the room. Chewing gum in public is considered inappropriate. Hands in pockets when conversing should be avoided. Placing your hands in your lap during a meal is considered rude. Americans usually do not abide by these rules.In England, Scotland and Wales, Loud conversations and any form of boisterousness in public places should be avoided. Do not stare at someone in public. If you smoke, it is the custom to offer cigarettes to others in your conversational group before lighting up (Not here, smokes are too expensive). In Turkey, Inadvertently pointing the sole of your shoe toward someone is an insult. Ask permission before smoking. It is considered impolite to smoke or eat while on a public street. It is considered rude to cross your arms over your chest or having your hands in your pocket when conversing with someone. You must remove your shoes when entering a Turkish home.

Turkish women will not converse with a man in casual conversation until they have been formally introduced. The thing that I found most interesting is that the “O.K.” circle made with the thumb and forefinger signifies homosexuality in their culture.In Iran, Shaking hands with a child shows respect for his parents. People rarely exhibit any signs of affection in public. The thumbs up sign is considered vulgar. Avoid blowing your nose in public. Refrain from slouching in a chair or stretching your legs out in front of you. Also watch that dreaded pointing the sole of your shoe , which again is considered offensive to anyone seeing it (keep you feet planted flat to keep yourself out of trouble).In Saudi Arabia, A man accompanied by a veiled woman will probably not introduce her. Among the males, an embrace and cheek-kiss may be added to their greeting. Women are not permitted to drive vehicles.

Take your shoes off before entering a room, any room. Any display of intimate areas of the body is disliked; this includes bare shoulders, stomach, and calves and thighs. Smoking of cigarettes in public is not common practice. However, it is not uncommon in some Saudi locations to pass the water pipe or hookah around to all those present in a room.In Japan, displays of emotion-fear, anger, exuberance- are rare because they are taught to suppress any such displays, especially in public. Standing with arms folded across the chest signals that the person is thinking intently. Women should avoid wearing high heels so as not to risk towering over Japanese counterparts. Periods of silence may occur during meetings, do not rush to fill the silent void, they are just stopping to contemplate.

Displaying a open mouth is considered rude. In Pakistan, eat only with the right hand because the left hand is used for bodily hygiene and is considered unclean. Also never offer to shake hands with your left hand for the same reason. Women are kept separated in social situations. Two men may be seen walking along holding hands. This is nothing more than a sign of friendship, not homosexuality. Last, but not least, In the good old United States, The only time you will see two men walking down the street holding hands is if they are openly homosexual. Stand at least an arms length away from each other while conversing or standing in public, we tend to need our comfort zone respected. Direct eye contact is very important. There are two well-know rude and insulting gestures in the United States.

Both are recognized in all parts of the country. They are the middle finger thrust and the forearm jerk, these gestures could get you into trouble. We wave to say “hello” or “good-bye”.We must learn that every culture has different types of values, beliefs, customs, norms and taboos. We have to except them and respect them for what they are and who they are. When going to other parts of the world and meeting people or when they come to our part of the world and we greet them it is very important to put ourselves in their shoes and not judge their traditions, values and ways of communicating. We must educate ourselves to their ways and except them for what they are. Our convictions and beliefs are no better than theres, they are just different. As human beings we must learn to adapt to each others differences and learn to except them, which is sometimes hard for people who do not understand them.

Most Americans tend to be insensitive to they ways of others, especially those who come from our neighboring countries, which tends to create tension among those people. To be honest I found some of the behaviors of other countries strange, such as women not being allowed to drive a motor vehicle in Saudi Arabia. If I was not allowed to drive because I was a female I would be quite angry. I also would probably be one of the first people to accuse someone of being homosexual, especially men, if I were to see two people of the same sex walking down the street holding hands. Those are things we need to except because this is part of someones culture. If this was how they were raised, and the things that they believe to be OK, who are we to judge it? Since reading this book I have really opened my eyes to the way other countries do things that we might find unexceptable, and I now find them expectable.

Had I not read this book I might have never opened my eyes to these cultural differences. I feel that everyone should read this book. I can not think of any reason why someone should not read this book. I dont feel that this book would offend anyone. Than again this is a strange world and you never know who will be offended by what. I feel that most people will be enlightened, supprised, and get a good laugh out of most parts of this book. There is a part of this book that deals with “mooning” which some may be offended by, but most people would probably get a good laugh out of it. I personally highly recommend this book, great bedtime reading. If you plan to travel this book is a must.

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Body Language Analysis in Healthcare: An Overview

Rawad abdulghafor.

1 Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 53100, Malaysia

Sherzod Turaev

2 Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, College of Information Technology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 15556, United Arab Emirates

Mohammed A. H. Ali

3 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia

Associated Data

Not applicable.

Given the current COVID-19 pandemic, medical research today focuses on epidemic diseases. Innovative technology is incorporated in most medical applications, emphasizing the automatic recognition of physical and emotional states. Most research is concerned with the automatic identification of symptoms displayed by patients through analyzing their body language. The development of technologies for recognizing and interpreting arm and leg gestures, facial features, and body postures is still in its early stage. More extensive research is needed using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in disease detection. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the research performed on body language processing. Upon defining and explaining the different types of body language, we justify the use of automatic recognition and its application in healthcare. We briefly describe the automatic recognition framework using AI to recognize various body language elements and discuss automatic gesture recognition approaches that help better identify the external symptoms of epidemic and pandemic diseases. From this study, we found that since there are studies that have proven that the body has a language called body language, it has proven that language can be analyzed and understood by machine learning (ML). Since diseases also show clear and different symptoms in the body, the body language here will be affected and have special features related to a particular disease. From this examination, we discovered that it is possible to specialize the features and language changes of each disease in the body. Hence, ML can understand and detect diseases such as pandemic and epidemic diseases and others.

1. Introduction

Body language constitutes one of the languages of communication. The types of languages are classified into verbal and non-verbal languages. Body language includes non-verbal language, where the movements and behaviors of the body are used instead of words to express and convey information. Body language may involve hand movements, facial expressions and hints, eye movements, tone of voice, body movements and positions, gestures, use of space, and the like. This research will focus on interpretations of the human body language, classified under kinesiology.

Body language is entirely different from sign language, a complete language—like verbal language—with its own basic rules and complex grammar systems [ 1 , 2 ]. On the other hand, body language does not contain grammatical rules and is usually a language belonging to or classified according to cultures [ 3 ]. Interpretations of body language may differ from country to country and from one culture to another. There exists some controversy over whether body language can be regarded as a universal language for all people. Some researchers have concluded that most communication among individuals involves physical symbols or gestures since the interaction of body language here facilitates speedy information transmission and understanding [ 4 ]. According to [ 5 ], body language speaks more and better content than verbal language. When, for example, an individual speaks over the phone to someone about an inquiry, the information becomes mysterious due to the physical language’s restrictions. However, an individual sitting directly in front of an audience has fewer restrictions and does not have an audience. The information with body language is more easily transmitted and received, even more so if the speaker is standing, allowing more freedom of movement. Thus, it follows that body language enhances communication. This work attempts to prove that body language enhances workplace positivity.

Several experiments were performed in [ 6 ] on facial expressions and body movements affected by human emotions. The study has shown that facial expressions and body movements can accurately determine human emotions. It also proved that combining facial features and activities with body movements is essential for analyzing human expressions. Three different stages of experiments were conducted to determine whether it is necessary to combine the two expressions or not. It was confirmed that it is essential to connect them for identification. Reading someone’s eyes should also not be ignored. It is considered an important factor in expressing and understanding human emotions. We are generally able to know what others want from their eye movements. For that, eye language has many effects. According to [ 7 ], the expansion and tightness of the eye size are affected by emotions and allow the observer to convey specific additional information. The human eye blinks, on average, 6 to 10 times per minute. However, when someone is attracted to someone else, the number of blinks is fewer. Study [ 8 ] discovered that human feelings could be identified and defined through body position. For example, when a person feels angry, they will push their body forward to express dominance over the other person, and their upper body is tilted and no longer upright. On the other hand, if someone feels intimidated by the opponent, they signal submission by retreating backward or moving their head back. Additionally, a person’s emotional state can be determined from their sitting position. Someone sitting on a chair with half of their upper body and head slightly tilted forward indicates attentiveness and eagerness to follow what is being said. However, sitting with legs and hands crossed suggests that they do not wish to engage and feel uncomfortable with what is being said or the person saying it [ 5 ].

Body language analysis is also essential to avoid confusion in a single movement’s meanings and purposes that carry more than one meaning. For example, the expressive movement of a person may be due to a physical handicap or a compulsive movement rather than an intentional one. Furthermore, a particular movement in the body of someone may not mean the same to another. For example, a person may rub their eyes due to itchiness and not fatigue. Foreign cultures also need careful analysis due to their social differences. Although most body movements are universal, there are also movements specific to each culture. This may vary from country to country, region to region, and even social group.

Pandemic and epidemic diseases constitute a global risk factor responsible for the death of millions of people worldwide. The ability to detect and treat casualties is limited, primarily due to the lack of human and technical resources. When patients are not physically accessible, remote diagnosis is required. All pandemic and epidemic diseases are characterized by distinct body movements affecting the face, shoulders, chest, and hands. AI technology has shown positive results in some reading of these gestures. Hence, the idea is to use body language to detect epidemic diseases early and provide treatment. It should be noted that the primary and vital catalyst for the proposal of this study is the COVID-19 disease, which is presently terrorizing the whole world. As researchers in information technology and computer science, we must play our part in rapidly detecting this disease.

This paper aims to study the previous literature and identify body language expressions that indicate disease. Body language is defined as certain expressions, movements, and gestures that point to the physical and emotional state of the bearer. Certain parts of the body can express different characteristics or feelings. Some studies have demonstrated the presence of certain emotional conditions as reflected in particular facial expressions (e.g., joy, sadness, surprise, and anger). Regarding the relationship between diseases and body language, it is known that diseases affect the body parts and qualities and are reflected in the movements and expressions of parts of the body. Different diseases affect different body parts and can be measured, identified, and used for diagnosis.

Hence, this paper is proposed to study some diseases that can be diagnosed by identifying and measuring the external movements of the body. In addition, this paper discusses the findings of previous studies to demonstrate the usefulness and contribution of AI in detecting diseases through body language. One of the biggest obstacles to treating COVID-19 patients effectively is speedy diagnosis. However, the large number of cases exceeds the capacity of most hospitals. Hence, AI offers a solution through ML. ML can detect disease symptoms as manifested in the patient’s body language and can be used to generate correct readings and predictions.

Therefore, the main contribution of this paper is to show the potential use of analyzing body language in health care. The importance of body language analysis in health care and patient body language analysis using AI will be discussed in the following sections. The added tables list previous studies that used ML to identify symptoms through body expressions. The findings demonstrate that a patient’s body language can be analyzed using ML for diagnostic purposes.

2. Methodology

The methods used to review in this work are as follows (also see Figure 1 ): first, the importance of body language analysis is highlighted to prove that the body movements can be read and analyzed to produce outcomes that are useful for many applications; second, body language analysis in health care is presented to show the importance of body language in medical diagnosis in research; third, ML is used successfully to identify characteristic symptoms; fourth, Table 1 show studies that used ML as a diagnostic tool and include the used algorithms. Each topic was discussed separately, as detailed in the following sections.

Some Studies of AI Methods for Body Language Elements to Identify the Symptoms.

The Review Stages.

3. The Importance of Body Language Analysis

AI is one of the most significant technological developments, increasing in popularity and being used in all application areas. One of the most important of these applications is the use of AI in healthcare. Health is the most important human factor for life on this planet. Recently, the use and applications of AI in healthcare have played a significant role in helping doctors discover diseases and improve human health. The use of AI in health depends on the appearance of some symptoms on parts of the body. These symptoms affect and are reflected in the movements and expressions of the body, which are manifested as body language. From this point, these features of body language can be used to classify disease symptoms by detecting them in ML. In this section, we want to explain the importance of using body language by artificial intelligence. There are features that appear in body language that AI can analyze to solve many problems in many applications. For example, facial expressions can be analyzed to know human feelings and benefit from them in psychotherapy or examine subjects’ emotions in the study. Another example is analyzing the movements of the hand, shoulder, or leg, and using them to discover valuable features in medicine, security, etc. From this point, we want to show that body language has many benefits and applications, so this is important. Therefore, we want to suggest that body language can also be used to detect infectious diseases such as COVID-19 using ML.

Now, it is feasible to employ this technology in healthcare systems. Pandemic and epidemic diseases are considered an intractable matter that inferiorly affects human health, regarded as peoples’ most valuable asset. Additionally, the biggest worry is that new pandemics or epidemics will suddenly appear and become deadly, such as COVID-19, which has claimed nearly a million lives so far. This stimulates us to develop AI technologies to help detect the disease’s external symptoms by analyzing the patients’ body language. This work deals with general studies that prove the importance of body language processing in various fields.

Every computer user interacts with the device via mouse and keyboard. Currently, researchers are developing a computer system for interaction and response through body language such as hand gestures and movement. In [ 8 ], a comprehensive survey was completed evaluating the published literature recommending the visual interpretation of hand gestures when interacting with computing devices and introducing more advanced methods to analyze body language rather than mouse and keyboard movements. The study of [ 9 ] considered the problem of robot accuracy recognition. It proposed a fusion system to identify the fall movement types and abnormal directions with an accuracy rate of 99.37%. A facial coding system was developed in [ 10 ] to measure and analyze facial muscle movements and identify facial expressions. A database was created with a series of 1100 images. The system analyzed and classified facial creases and wrinkles to match their movements. The results showed that the performance improved, reaching 92%. Combining facial features and movements with body movements is essential for analyzing individual expressions. Three different experiments were conducted to determine whether facial expressions and body language should be combined and concluded in the affirmative. Another study [ 11 ] focused on deep learning techniques to identify emotions revealed in facial expressions. This research used pure convolutional neural network techniques to prove that deep learning using these neural networks successfully recognizes emotions by developing cognition, significantly improving the usability. A new model was invented in [ 12 ] that detected body gestures and movements with a pair of digital video images, which supplied a set of vector monitors with three dimensions.

The first study showed the relationship between the contraction of the internal muscles of the face and the facial movements as established by Hjortsjo 1970 [ 13 ] to develop a coding system by identifying the minor units of facial muscle movements and then drawing coordinates that defined the facial expressions. The recognition of people’s emotions has merited much attention. However, the issue of detecting facial emotions and expressions of speech, especially among researchers, is still problematic. The work presented in [ 14 ] offered a comprehensive survey to facilitate further research in this field. It focused on identifying gender-specific characteristics, setting an automatic framework to determine the physical manifestation of emotions, and identifying constant and dynamic body shape comments. It also examined recent studies on learning and emotion by identifying gestures through photos or video. Several methods combined speech, body, and facial gestures were also discussed to identify optimized emotions. The study concluded that the knowledge of a person’s feelings through overtones was still incomplete.

4. Body Language Analysis in Healthcare

A coding system was created to classify the facial expressions by analyzing more than 1100 pictures at work [ 10 ]. Three ways to classify facial expressions were compared: a method for analyzing image components in the gray field, measuring wrinkles, and a template for creating facial movements. The accuracy of performance of the coding system for the three roads was 89%, 57%, and 85%, respectively, while when assembling the methods, the performance accuracy reached 92%. Online learning is challenged by knowing students’ participation in learning processes. In work [ 15 ], an algorithm is introduced to learn about student interactions and see their problems. In this algorithm, two methods were used to collect evidence of student participation: the first method involved collecting facial expressions using a camera, and the second involved collecting hand movement data using mouse movements. The data were trained by building two groups; one group collected facial data with mouse data, and the second was without the mouse. It was discovered that the first group’s performance was better than the second group’s by 94.60% compared to 91.51%. Work [ 14 ] commented on recognizing facial and speech gestures that may provide a comprehensive survey of body language. It provided a framework for the automatic identification of dynamic and fixed emotional body gestures that combined facial and speech gestures to improve recognition of a person’s emotions. Paper [ 16 ] defines facial expressions by matching them with body positions. The work demonstrated that the effects and expressions are more evident when the major irritations on the face are similar to those highlighted in the body. However, the model produces different results according to the dependence on the properties, whether physical, dimensional, or latent. Another significant finding in the study is that expressions of fear bloom better when paired with facial expressions than when performing tasks.

In [ 17 ], the authors stated that the medical advisor must exhibit exciting communication qualities that make the patient feel comfortable making a correct decision. They advised doctors to know how to use facial expressions, eyes, hand gestures, and other body expressions. It was mentioned that a smile is the most robust expression that a doctor can use to communicate with their patients, as the doctor’s smile makes the patient feel comfortable. The patient’s sense of comfort makes them appear confident, and they answer the doctor’s questions with clear responses, credibility, and confidence. In addition, communicating with the eyes is very important to help the patient, as the lack of this from the doctor may suggest that the doctor does not care about them. The research in [ 18 ] concludes that the doctor’s appropriate nonverbal communication positively impacts the patient. Objective evidence has shown that the patient improves and recovers better and faster when the doctor uses a smile and direct eye communication with the patient compared to those who do not use a smile and direct eye with the patient. It was also concluded that patients who receive more attention, feeling, sensation, and participation by the doctor respond better to treatment, as the tone of voice, movement of the face and body, and eye gaze affect the patient. Clint [ 19 ] reported his first day on the job in the intensive care unit. He felt fear and anxiety on that day as the unit was comprehensive and informative. Clint was asking himself, “is it worth working in that unit?” He had a patient with her sister next to her. The patient glimpsed Clint’s nervousness and anxiety but did not dare ask him, so she whispered that the nurse was nervous to her sister. Then, her sister asked Clint, “you are worried and anxious today; why?” What is there to be so nervous about? Clint thought to hide his nervousness and anxiety and restore confidence; he smiled and replied, “I am not nervous.” However, sometimes, we have to ask our patients ridiculous questions that make us tense. Here, Clint states that he noticed from the patient’s looks that he could not persuade her to hide his stress. Clint made it clear that patients are affected by their body language and facial expressions. They can know their cases through their body language. From here, Clint realized that he was wrong. As anxiety and stress began on his patient, his condition may increase for that reason.

In one of Henry’s articles [ 20 ], he wrote that treating a patient with behaviors and body language has a more significant impact than using drugs. The work [ 21 ] concluded that non-verbal language between a doctor and their patient plays a vital role in treating the patient. The doctor can use non-verbal signals sent from the patient to collect information about the condition of the disease to help them decide on diagnosis and treatment. The research summarized that the non-verbal technique used by the doctor toward the patient affects them in obtaining information and helping them recover from the disease. For example, eye gaze, closeness to the patient, and facial and hand gestures to appear relaxed. The research suggests that there is a positive effect on the use of non-verbal cues on the patient. It is recommended that doctors be trained in incorporating non-verbal cues as a significant way of dealing with patients to speed up their treatment.

5. Patient’s Body Language Analysis Using AI

Different AI methods and techniques have been used to analyze patients’ body language. We briefly discuss some studies conducted so far in this area. More specifically, focusing on facial recognition, a pimple system was introduced in [ 22 ] to analyze facial muscles and thus identify different emotions. The proposed system automatically tracks faces using video and extracts geometric shapes for facial features. The study was conducted on eight patients with schizophrenia, and the study collected dynamical information on facial muscle movements. This study showed the possibility of identifying engineering measurements for individual faces and determining their exact differences for recognition purposes. Three methods were used in [ 23 ] to measure facial expressions to define emotions and identify persons with mental illness. The study’s proposed facial action coding system enabled the interpretation of emotional facial expressions and thus contributed to the knowledge of therapeutic intervention for patients with mental illnesses.

Many people suffer from an imbalance in the nervous system, which leads to paralysis of the patient’s movement and falls without prior warning. The study [ 24 ] was targeted to improve early warning signs detection and identification rate using a platform (R). Wireless sensor devices were placed on the chest and waist. The collected data were converted to an algorithm for analysis that extracted them and activated if there was a risk. The results showed that the patient at risk engaged in specific typical movements, which indicated an imminent fall. The authors further suggested applying this algorithm to patients with seizures to warn of an imminent attack and alert the emergency services.

In research [ 25 ], a computational framework was designed to monitor the movements of older adults to signal organ failures and other sudden drops in vital body functions. The system monitored the patient’s activity and determined its level using sensors placed on different body parts. The experiments show that this system identifies the correct locations in real-time with an accuracy of 95.8%. Another approach based on data analysis was presented in [ 26 ] for an intelligent home using sensors to monitor its residents’ movements and behaviors. This system helps detect behaviors and forecast diseases or injuries that residents may experience, especially older people. This study is helpful for doctors in providing remote care and monitoring their patients’ progress. The target object capture setup model proposed in [ 27 ] is based on the candidate region–suggestion network to detect the position grab of the manipulator combined with information for color and deep image capture using deep learning. It achieved a 94.3% crawl detection success rate on multiple target detection datasets through merging information for a color image. A paper [ 28 ] under review deals with the elderly and their struggle to continue living independently without relying on the support of others—the research project aimed to compare automated learning algorithms used to monitor their body functions and movements. Among the eight higher education algorithms studied, the support conveyor algorithm achieved the highest accuracy rate of 95%, using reference traits. Some jobs require prolonged sitting, resulting in long-term spinal injury and nervous disease. Some surveys helped design sitting position monitoring systems (SPMS) to assess the position of the seated person using sensors attached to the chair. The drawback of the proposed method was that it required too many sensors. This problem was resolved by [ 29 ], who designed an SPMS system that only needed four such sensors. This improved system defined six different sitting positions through several machine-learning algorithms applied to average body weight measurements. The positions were then analyzed and classified into any approach that would produce the highest level of accuracy, reaching from 97.20% to 97.94%. In most hospitals, medical doctors face anxiety about treating patients with mental illness regarding potential bodily harm, staff risks, and hospital tool damage. The study [ 30 ] devised a method to analyze the patient’s movements and identify the risk of harmful behavior by extracting visual data monitoring the patient’s movements from cameras installed in their rooms. The proposed method traced the movement points, accumulated them, and extracted their properties. The characteristics of the movement points were analyzed according to spacing, position, and speed. The study concluded that the proposed method could be used to explore features and characteristics for other purposes, such as analyzing the quality of the disease and determining its level of progression. In the study [ 31 ], wireless intelligent sensor applications and devices were designed to care for patient health, provide better patient monitoring, and facilitate disease diagnosis. Wireless sensors were installed on the body to periodically monitor the patient’s health, update the information, and send it to the service center. The researchers investigated the multi-level decision system (MDS) to monitor patient behaviors and match them with the stored historical data. This information allowed the decision makers in the medical centers to give treatment recommendations. The proposed system could also record new cases, store new disease data, and reduce the doctors’ effort and time spent examining the patients. The results proved accurate and reliable (MDS) in predicting and monitoring patients.

The study of [ 32 ] proposed the Short Time Fourier Transform application to monitor the patient’s movements and voice through sensors and microphones. The system transmitted sound and accelerometer data, analyzed the data to identify the patient’s conditions, and achieved high accuracy. Three experiments were conducted in reference [ 33 ], which involve the recognition of full-body expressions. The first experiment was about matching body expressions to incorporate all emotions, where fear was the most difficult emotion to express. At the same time, the second experiment focused on facial expressions strongly influenced by physical expression and, as a result, was ambiguous. In the last experiment, attention was given to expressions of the tone of a voice to identify emotional feelings related to the body. Finally, it was concluded that it was essential to pool the results of the three experiments to reveal true body expression.

A valuable study was conducted at the MIT Institute [ 34 ] to develop a system that detects pain in patients by analyzing data on brain activities using a wearable device to scan brain nerves. This was shown to help diagnose and treat patients with loss of consciousness and sense of touch. In this research, researchers use several fNIRS sensors specifically on the patient’s front to measure the activity of the frontal lobe, where the researchers developed ML models to determine the levels of oxygenated hemoglobin related to pain. The results showed that pain was detected with an accuracy of 87%.

The study [ 35 ] considered the heartbeat as a type of body language. Checking a patient’s heartbeat constitutes a crucial medical examination tool. The researcher suggested a one-dimensional (1D) convolutional neural network model CNN, which classified the vibrational signals of the regular and irregular heartbeats through an electrocardiogram. The model used the de-noising auto-encoder (DAE) algorithm, and the results showed that the proposed model classified the sound signals of the heart with an accuracy of up to 99%.

6. Discussion

We can conclude from this study that reading and understanding body language through AI will help automatically detect epidemic diseases. Counting epidemic patients is a significant obstacle to detecting every infected person. The most prominent example that is evident now is COVID-19 sufferers. All the developed, middle, and developing countries of the world have faced a significant problem examining the disease due to many infected people and the rapid spread. Thus, infections increased significantly, making it difficult to catch up to detect. We suggest conducting a study to determine the movements and gestures of the body with epidemic diseases, such as those with COVID-19. Indeed, the epidemic disease will have unique and distinct movements in some body parts. The thermal camera to detect high body temperature certainly plays a significant role in indicating a patient with a disease. Still, it is difficult to determine what kind of disease is affected, and secondly, there may be a patient with epidemic disease, but their temperature may not have significantly increased. Thirdly, it may be revealed that the high temperature of an epidemic may be delayed, and the patient is in a critical stage of treatment. We focus in this study on the interest in studying the body language of some epidemics, especially COVID-19, which changed our lives for the worse. We have learned a harsh lesson from this deadly enemy: not to stand still. We must help our people, countries, and the world defend and attack this disease. Hence, we propose studying the use of body language using AI. We hope to collect and identify body parts’ gestures that characterize the epidemic in the upcoming studies on which we are currently working.

Table 1 indicates some studies that have used ML to discover disease and symptoms through gestures, hands, and facial expressions. This table concludes that the CNN algorithms are the most common and efficient methods of identifying disease symptoms through facial expressions and hand gestures. Some studies indicate that analyzing other body parts is also helpful in identifying some types of diseases using different ML algorithms, such as SVM and LSTM. It appears to us here that combining the proposed CNN algorithm with a new proposed algorithm to determine facial expressions will lead to high-quality results for detecting some epidemic diseases. It is essential first to study the symptoms that characterize the epidemic disease and their reflection on body expressions and then use the algorithm to learn the machine that has a higher efficiency in identifying these expressions.

The studies in Table 1 are classified as follows:

• (1) Studies on medical diagnosis using AI for analyzing body language.
• (2) Studies on medical diagnosis using electronic devices and AI for analyzing body language.
• (3) Studies on COVID-19 diagnosis using other methods.

This study aims to survey research using ML algorithms to identify body features, movements, and expressions. Each movement is affected by the disease, and each disease is characterized by a distinct and different effect on the body. This means some body parts will undergo certain changes that point to a specific disease. Thus, we propose that ML algorithms capture images of body movements and expressions, analyze them, and identify diseases. This study surveyed a selection of existing studies that use different ML algorithms to detect body movements and expressions. Since these studies do not discuss this epidemiology method, this study seeks to document the use of ML algorithms in discovering epidemics such as COVID-19. Our survey analysis concludes that the results achieved indicate the possibility of identifying the body movements and expressions and that ML and convolutional neural networks are the most proficient in determining body language.

From an epidemiological, diagnostic, and pharmacological standpoint, AI has yet to play a substantial part in the fight against coronavirus. Its application is limited by a shortage of data, outlier data, and an abundance of noise. It is vital to create unbiased time series data for AI training. While the expanding number of worldwide activities in this area is promising, more diagnostic testing is required, not just for supplying training data for AI models but also for better controlling the epidemic and lowering the cost of human lives and economic harm. Clearly, data are crucial in determining if AI can be used to combat future diseases and pandemics. As [ 91 ] previously stated, the risk is that public health reasons will override data privacy concerns. Long after the epidemic has passed, governments may choose to continue the unparalleled surveillance of their population. As a result, worries regarding data privacy are reasonable.

7. Conclusions

According to patient surveys, communication is one of the most crucial skills a physician should have. However, communication encompasses more than just what is spoken. From the time a patient first visits a physician, their nonverbal communication, or “body language”, determines the course of therapy. Bodily language encompasses all nonverbal forms of communication, including posture, facial expression, and body movements. Being aware of such habits can help doctors get more access to their patients. Patient involvement, compliance, and the result can all be influenced by effective nonverbal communication.

Pandemic and epidemic illnesses are a worldwide threat that might kill millions. Doctors have limited abilities to recognize and treat victims. Human and technological resources are still in short supply regarding epidemic and pandemic conditions. To better the treatment process and when the patient cannot travel to the treatment location, remote diagnosis is necessary, and the patient’s status should be automatically examined. Altering facial wrinkles, movements of the eyes and eyebrows, some protrusion of the nose, changing the lips, and the appearance of certain motions of the hands, shoulders, chest, head, and other areas of the body are all characteristics of pandemic and epidemic illnesses. AI technology has shown promise in understanding these motions and cues in some cases. As a result, the concept of allocating body language to identifying epidemic diseases in patients early, treating them before, and assisting doctors in recognizing them arose owing to the speed with which they spread and people died. It should be emphasized that the COVID-19 disease, which horrified the entire world and revolutionized the world’s life, was the significant and crucial motivator for the idea of this study after we studied the body language analysis research in healthcare and defined the automatic recognition frame using AI to recognize various body language elements.

As researchers in information technology and computer science, we must contribute to discussing an automatic gesture recognition model that helps better identify the external symptoms of epidemic and pandemic diseases to help humanity.

Acknowledgments

First author’s research has been supported by Grant RMCG20-023-0023, Malaysia International Islamic University, and the second author’s work has been endorsed by the United Arab Emirates University Start-Up Grant 31T137.

Funding Statement

This research was funded by Grant RMCG20-023-0023, Malaysia International Islamic University, and United Arab Emirates University Start-Up Grant 31T137.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, R.A. and S.T.; methodology, R.A.; software, R.A.; validation, R.A. and S.T.; formal analysis, R.A.; investigation, M.A.H.A.; resources, M.A.H.A.; data curation, R.A.; writing—original draft preparation, R.A.; writing—review and editing, S.T.; visualization, M.A.H.A.; supervision, R.A. and S.T.; project administration, R.A. and S.T.; funding acquisition, R.A. and S.T. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The Importance of body Language and Gesture Essay Example

• Pages: 8 (1980 words)
• Published: December 5, 2017
• Type: Essay

This essay explores and examines the use and importance of gestures and body language, within the counselling exchange. Let's first discuss what body language actually is. Body language is non- verbal communication, meaning that you communicate through facial expression and eye contact to be but a few examples. There are many definitions and areas to be explored. So within body language I will include; - facial expressions, eye contact, voice definition, proximity and body orientation.

I will take each of the above areas separately, examining there meanings and say why they are important. I will do the same for gestures that we use like hands, arms and facial expressions. I will also look at there meanings when used in conjunction with non- verbal communication. Both of these body language and gestures tend to over

lap into each other. This is because of the way we communicate with our whole bodies. I hope to provide information into how we use our bodies to communicate whether this is consciously or subconsciously.

To enable me to gain this information into how we communicate using our bodies I have and will continue to gain knowledge and information from various resources like: - books, the internet and other course materials provided in the study unit. 90% of our communication is based on non verbal and gestured movements. A lot of people communicate by using hand gestures, there's a saying "If you chopped his hands off he would be mute".

This doesn't even bear contemplating but in my opinion yes we do use our hands a lot more than we realise to communicate, we do it subconsciously and if we didn't have our hands then

we would realise how much we used them. Many people do not understand body language and what we perceive to be correct information, can be deceptive if understanding is absent. During a conversation both the speaker and receiver will have the chance of effective understanding. This can prove quite frustrating and misleading at times. Though our body language, we actually never stop communicating.

Sometimes we may not mean to communicate but we do it subconsciously. Both animals and humans alike naturally move and portray communication through body language. Each movement and expression that we do has a meaning but this is normally accompanied by our voice. Both are normally synchronised. Unless you have special needs or speech and language difficulties then normally our voice and body language is rather confusing for the receiver. The receiver will receive mixed messages, meaning the information they are trying to receive is incomplete or wrong.

We all know that the body is the natural way of communicating so we tend to believe the body rather than the voice. Our face is the most important feature of our bodies. We don't need to talk we can give messages through our facial expressions. A facial expression results from one or more motions or positions of the muscles of the face. These movements convey the emotional state of the individual to observers. Facial expressions are a form of nonverbal communication. They are a primary means of conveying social information. Facial expressions are a primary source of information.

It portrays the speaker's attitude and emotions. Unconsciously the receiver constantly monitors the speaker's facial expressions. If the person was within a counselling exchange and failed to realise

that the persons facial features are not matching with what they are saying then there could be consequences. Body language is the most reliable source as it is natural. We use our eyes a lot when talking. They are probably the most important feature. You can tell a lot from how frequently the talker gives you eye contact. You can distinguish whether they are bored, interested, or if they are being dishonest.

Eye contact is an event in which two people or animals look at each other's eyes at the same time. It is a form of nonverbal communication and is thought to have a large influence on social behaviour. Eye contact from the listener is needed to show that they are willing to participate in conversation. The diversion of eye contact can mean that the speaker is being dishonest. This is when other body language is brought in to establish the true meaning. Your eyes are also used for gesturing, this allows you to get feedback on the information that you have said, that the receiver is receiving.

Natural body language is a good indication and can be used by both parties. Some people find it hard to give people eye contact. This could be due to a bad experience or lack of self esteem/ confidence. Certain people see eye contact as threatening. From reading a book called "I Dare Not Look", I found out a whole load of reasons as to why people find giving eye contact so hard, it was mainly due to lack of confidence and anxiety. The counsellor may be able to promote communication and encourage a safe environment. The counsellor will

have to judge this with a good deal of accuracy.

If this isn't done carefully then the speaker may feel that your not interested in what the are saying. Eye contact isn't the only important thing we use and look for when talking and listening. Our mouth is the next most important thing. We invite people to listen as soon as we open our mouths. Combining theses two features, we can show loads of expressions, we can show excitement, enthusiasm, concern, confusion and approval to be but a few. Effective communication is really important. So it's important that eye contact is used by both people within a conversation.

Posture can give a wide range of meanings. It can show the speaker that you're interested or not interested. Posture is a good indication of mood, portraying good, happy moods or negative sad ones. From observing someone's posture it helps you to approach the situation appropriately. If you are speaking to someone then you often use your body language to reiterate the importance of what you are saying. But some people when talking make the mistake of intimidating the receiver. Then the receivers will more than likely use there body language to defend themselves.

Body language is an interesting thing, for example if you sit slumped in your chair, when you are at school or in a meeting, it shows a complete lack of interest and is very disrespectful towards whoever is teaching or talking. In counselling it's vital that the signs are read correctly. Like I said the receiver who you may be counselling may use this posture as a defence mechanism between himself/ herself and the speaker. There

isn't just posture that helps us to give meaning of what we are saying; our body orientation also works in conjunction with posture.

Body orientation along with our posture is a good indicator as to how the receiver is feeling emotionally. It also indicates how the receiver is feeling about what they are being told. The sort of body orientation this could include is crossing of arms and legs and shifting from side to side in there seat. It is really important that the counsellor is facing the counselee and showing the correct posture and facial expressions. It shows that they are interested in what they are talking about and it also encourages open communication. We use our hands and arm a lot to help us communicate.

These are known as gestures and can replace speech, most of the time we don't realise. Leading me back to one of my opening comments about "chopping your hands of". There are many gestures that we use to emphasise what we are saying. If you observe different cultures, gestures are very different. This causes confusion to their meaning. Some gestures are very self explanatory and are the same no matter what cultural background you come from. For example putting your hands over your ears means it's too loud or you don't wish to listen. Obviously the covering of eyes means you don't want to see.

For the speaker it can be confusing and they may feel that because the receiver is out from being receptive. It may just be that they are relaxing but yet listening. For example if someone is looking up then it may appear that they are not

listening when really perhaps they are. People are said to be more interesting if they use their hands. People are less likely to get confused if the speaker uses his or hers hands when talking. So communication through speech and gestures can be a very effective form of communication. It's really important for the counselee feels listened to.

The counsellor can send gestures/ messages to the counselee to make them feel as if they are being listened to. As we know and have discussed previously language is the most reliable source we can naturally assume that if peoples body language doesn't match what they are saying then it is obvious that they don't want to talk about how they are really feeling. A counsellor can send gestures to the counselee to make them know that you are listening. Maybe nodding or tilting your head slightly will show that the counselee that you are listening and interested in what they are saying.

As we all know voice is used everyday in communication with others. Its use and understanding is invaluable, we don't always think directly about theses things because we do it automatically. Things like pitch, tome, rhythm and volume are all things that help us to understand voice. Through my childhood years my mum and dad told me its not what you say it's how you say it and what you do. There are thousands of words in the English language that alter our tone and pitch. This may completely change the meaning of the word you are saying.

Personal space everyone is entitled to, it's a place were people feel comfortable. If your personal space is invaded

then you naturally start to move away from the subject, feel defensive, uncomfortable, and intimidated. Personal space is only normally crossed by invitation of a gesture. For example holding your arms out and open to receive something. This may happen when you get home from work and greet your husband or children. Not all people like you to intrude there personal space even if they are upset. Comforting someone who is upset is tricky because you don't know how the person will react.

It is always best to ask the person rather than just going straight in there and comforting them. Some of the things that are speaking about in counselling are upsetting and the counselee will find it emotional, but it is important that comforting is never assumed that it's needed or wanted. Conclusion Being able to read and understand is highly important within the counselling exchange. It's not just how we transmit ourselves its how we read; this is the key to understanding the spoken words. When looking at a person we can gain an understanding into how there feelings and emotions.

We can do this even if there words are saying something completely different. Using eye contact, facial expressions and body orientation, the counsellor's role is to understand the depth of emotion and feelings. They have to distinguish all of the above and understand when the counselee is struggling to find or use the correct words. Maybe there aren't any words that can describe how they are feeling. It is important to remember that it's a two way thing. The counsellor is reading the counselees body language and gestures but the counselee is also

reading the counsellors body language and gestures etc.

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Call for Papers: ‘With no mere will to mastery: Practices of Feminist Writing’

Call for Papers: Journal of Writing in Creative Practice

Special Issue: ‘With no mere will to mastery: Practices of Feminist Writing’

Guest edited by Dr Jude Browning

Deadline for Articles (3-5000 words): 29 June 2024

View the full call here>>

https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-of-writing-in-creative-practice#call-for-papers

‘The public address’, such as a lecture or political speech, appears outdated, even anachronistic, when viewed as a single speaker on a stage, behind a lectern, drawing from conventions of traditional Western oratory.

Across time, artists like Aristophanes, Bertolt Brecht, or Prem Sahib have challenged this form and linked public speaking with theatre to expose the underlying operations of language, delivery, and gesture. In what ways can artistic practices make strange and discombobulate these traditional orthodoxies of 'the public address'? How can disruption uncover a hidden authority within language, revealing the representation of ideological imperatives?

We welcome articles on the theme ‘With no mere will to mastery: Practices of Feminist Writing’. Contributions are sought from artists and artist researchers exploring feminist writing practices involving public expression, postdramatic performance, embodied methods, media, technology, and the global circulation of images. This issue will be guest edited by Dr Jude Browning and published both online and in print by Intellect Books.

The phrase ‘With no mere will to mastery’ is drawn from Adriene Rich’s poem Transcendental Etude (for Michelle Cliff). It contemplates Rich’s call to envision hope not in surpassing mastery, but in striving to ask what new feminist modes of creative production might appear with some ‘resistant political value’?

Public addresses occur wherever people want to share key issues with a larger audience, in almost any setting. Broadsides, radio, religious sermons, Instagram stories, WhatsApp threads, Telegram, message boards, pile-ons, generative AI flooded feeds, algorithms created via doom scrolling, political speeches, rolling news, educational lectures, theatre, protest songs, wearing badges in solidarity, high street soapbox oratory, live updates, corporate announcements, commencement speeches, social activism, community events, celebrity and ceremonial speeches, memorial services. Interpretive texts in museums and exhibitions also demonstrate a controlled use of language for providing supposedly neutral and informative explanations.

Across different platforms of assembly are questions of scale that reflect ways of handling knowledge. The materiality of the address can be collectively generated in public spaces, held in our hand, or occupied in city centres.

This issue looks to animate voices and styles of art studying the construction of trained, embedded, generated, decontextualized, and skimmed relationships appearing in political utterance, speech, and gestures. Whether appearing collectively or in private moments and spaces, different forms of media carry the performance.

‘No mere will to mastery’ in Rich’s poem offers an alternative. What approaches can artists use to go beyond mirroring? By engaging tools from performance, in an expanded sense, the congealing of operational language can be enacted, interrupted, and demystified.

We welcome written responses and provocations examining how the public address is form enacted across modes of speaking and writing (gestural, vernacular, rhetorical, and technologically mediated). Drawing together associated discussions that aim to create opportunities to explore diverse approaches with/in feminist theory, histories, intersectional representations across writing, sound, image, and performance.

Submissions from all backgrounds, regardless of nationality or residence, are encouraged, especially those from underrepresented artists and writers. Collaborations are encouraged.

Contribution type [performance script, visual contribution, score, single-authored chapter, multi-authored chapter, interview, conversation, etc.].

Images should be 300dpi.

Orcid number, author contact details and contributor bio of 100 words.

Check the style guide prior to submission: https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-editors-and-contributors#style-guide

Call for Articles

Our call for articles welcomes, but is not strictly limited to the following approaches and topics, including those related to international contexts outside the UK, particularly those from the global majority:

Forms of interdisciplinary writing can document alternative means to summon action or claim the right to indecipherability. How could structures of alienation employed as tools in performance help us examine both the limits of our awareness and the constraints imposed by society?

How can art create intertextual connections, weaving together diverse voices through language, which simultaneously embodies disappointment and clings to hope for a collective body politic?

In aligning seemingly contradictory impulses, how can uncertainty, instability, and ambivalence—themes prevalent in psychoanalysis—become politically empowering for feminism (Srinivasan 2023)?

How can the act of self-portrayal, whether through writing or performance art, serve as a means of healing, redemption, or reclaiming agency through deliberate self-assertion (Ahmed 2014)?

‘Mean images’ (Hito Steyerl) reveal the manipulation of existing social relations, guiding them towards an ideological "optimum" influenced by market-driven forces and parameters. What implications does this revelation hold for feminist analyses of visual culture?

How can art enable us to enact scenes of rebellious corporeal resistance against conforming to societal demands, disrupting inherited performances viewed as mastery (Mel Chen 2014)?

What ways does artistic practice challenge norms or disrupt assumptions about the body; using breath and voice to express and enact what Anna Hickey Moody (2016) terms as ‘being different in public’, especially within the context of inclusive disability performances.

Submissions: both textual and visual works are accepted via PubKit (drop down submit button on the JWCP site via:  https://www.intellectbooks.com/journal-of-writing-in-creative-practice )

Subject line: No mere will to mastery + NAME

by 11 pm (23:00) GMT Monday 29 June 2024.

Participants will be contacted by early September 2024.

Final Contributions: November 2024

More From Forbes

Watch oprah winfrey and reese witherspoon: learn how body language can make you a great communicator.

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Oprah Winfrey addresses the audience during the 55th NAACP Image Awards (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Did you know that using your hands properly while communicating can increase the effectiveness of your message by up to 60% ? This is just one example of how we can communicate without using spoken words. In fact, before the spoken word existed, our ancestors communicated effectively using a language that is important even today. Body language.

What is Body Language?

Psychology Today describes body language as a “silent orchestra.” Non-verbal messages, including body movements, facial expressions, vocal tone and volume, displays of emotion, hand gestures, movements and posture that give clues to what we’re thinking and feeling. All these signs register in the human brain of your audience almost immediately, coloring the way you are perceived and the way the information you’re sharing is interpreted.

These Women are Fluent in Body Language

We use our bodies to communicate all the time. The women in these video clips show us important ways to easily improve our skills, making us more effective, impactful and engaging communicators.

#1 Hand Gestures

Hand gestures add emphasis but to be effective they need to be in sync with what you are saying. Using your hands in any way that is disconnected to your message will only be distracting.

In this video , Morgan Stanley’s Carla Harris is sharing career advice and begins with the easiest of hand gestures - using your fingers to count. Effective speakers use corresponding gestures with the fingers of one hand any time they enumerate a list. This informs the listener that a list is coming, helps organize the information and makes it easier to remember the content.

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U.s. will impose new sanctions on iran’s drone program after attack on israel, singapore s ura accepts billionaire cousins low bids for housing sites.

Carla Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley

She also uses the popular “hand steeple.” This shows confidence without appearing threatening, and experts say the higher the steeple, the more confident the speaker appears. Near the end of the clip, she uses the finger point, actually pointing one finger toward the camera to make her message more emphatic.

Throughout the video, Harris’ hand gestures appear intentional and connected to her words and are therefore quite effective. By the way, Harris also creates a distinct “signature” by always wearing pearls as she shares her now famous “pearls of wisdom.” Another great tactic.

#2 Eye Contact

Oprah Winfrey wins the prize for best eye contact. Eye contact connects you to the listener and makes them feel you’re speaking with them, not at them. But there is a nuance to eye contact. Scan the room too quickly and it conveys a sense of nervousness. Gaze too long in someone’s eyes and they may feel awkward.

Oprah Winfrey at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards (Photo by Kevin Winter)

In this video , Winfrey does a great job dividing the room into 3 sections, sort of like pizza slices. She looks intently at each section while completing a phrase. Then she moves on to another phrase and another section. At around the 30 second mark in the clip, she actually removes her glasses, eliminating the barrier between her and her audience so they can truly see “eye to eye.”

#3 Strategic Movement on Stage

Watching someone simply stand at a podium and read a speech can be a surefire recipe for boredom. Lily Singh is a great example of a woman who knows how to move effectively on stage. In this TED Talk about gender equality the trailblazing actress doesn’t pace, which can convey a sense of nervousness. Rather, she moves intentionally, pausing in one spot to emphatically finish her thought. When she is moving on to the next part of a story or starting a new thought, she resumes her movement.

Creator, actress and author Lily Singh

Singh also demonstrates an effective way to use props on stage. While talking about “taking a seat at the table” (around the 7:45 mark), she approaches the table and chair on stage and says, “And I remember thinking now…now, I’ve been invited to the big table and now things will be different. So, I took my seat.” And with that, Singh confidently sat at what appears to simply be a prop on a stage. It was an emphatic, powerful demonstration of a pivotal point in her life.

#4 Facial Expressions

Because facial expressions are one of the most obvious forms of nonverbal communications, they can be either highly impactful or downright distracting. To do it right, your facial expressions must complement your content. If you’re speaking about hope or retelling a joyful story, for example, a slight smile and soft brow is appropriate. If you’re talking about your company’s lackluster performance or telling a cautionary tale, a more somber expression and raised brow will help land your message. And, importantly, it’s imperative that you alter your facial expressions throughout your talk to keep your audience engaged and connected.

Michelle Obama giving her last official speech as first lady

Michelle Obama is an expert at using her face to connect with her audience and send her message home. In her final speech as First Lady, she starts off with a somewhat serious tone until she says, “So, for all the young people in this room and for those who are watching know that this country belongs to you.” And with that, she softens her face and offers a warm and reassuring smile. The listener instantly feels hope and connection with Obama, paving the way for the remainder of the speech. She resumes a serious tone, raising her eyebrows as she says, “If you or your parents are immigrants, know that you are a part of a proud American tradition.” And then, “With a lot of hard work and a good education, anything is possible. Even becoming president.” And with that, she softens and offers the audience a broad and genuine smile. The listener can’t help smiling herself.

When your grandmother told you to sit up straight, she may have been on to something. Posture is important.

First, think about carrying yourself in a way that takes up space - like a peacock that fans its feathers or a cobra that expands its neck. Taking up space makes you seem more important, more formidable, more like an expert. Conversely, postures that make you smaller diminish your impact. Avoid folding your arms across your chest or slouching; that makes you appear small and closed off, which creates a barrier with your audience.

One easy option is to assume a version of the Wonder Woman pose - legs slightly apart, shoulders back and hands confidently on your hips or in your pockets. This will not only make you appear confident, but it will also help level the height imbalance many women feel when surrounded by men and will give you a feeling of power. Beyoncé and Reese Witherspoon have nailed that pose!

Beyoncé and Reese Witherspoon

Body language is just as important as what you say when it comes to effective communications. So, while preparing your remarks or prepping for an important conversation, take some time to choreograph the nonverbal parts of your talk. It’s the difference between being just a good speaker and being a great one.

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