quarta-feira, 10 de setembro de 2014
Body Language and First Impressions
The study of body language is interesting from an academic standpoint but there are many practical applications as well. First impressions, and the associated non-verbal cues, are one example of an area where your knowledge of body language has many practical applications.
Body Language Influencing a First Impression
Nobody can say for certain exactly how much body language influences a first impression, but some research indicates it might be as high as 90% responsible for the first impression you create. That’s a huge percentage, especially when you consider the importance of first impressions and how they set the stage for further interactions.
A first impression is usually formed within just a few seconds; most of the time you haven’t even said a full sentence before a first impression is made. This may not seem fair, and it certainly doesn’t sound very politically correct in our modern world, but the fact remains that first impressions are incredibly important. Anything you can do to improve the first impression you make is a huge positive step.
The Main Elements of a First Impression?
These will vary depending on the situation; some elements are more important in a business situation, for example, while others come to the fore in a social situation. In general, however, the main elements of a first impression are as follows:
Appearance – Is your appearance appropriate for the situation? Are you well groomed and clean? Is your hair combed? Is your clothing clean and neat? Do you ‘stand out’ from the crowd or blend in?
Body movement and position – Do you move with confidence and an upright body position? Is your head hanging down, or held upright? Is your walk steady, not too fast or too slow?
Facial expression – Do you have a pleasant facial expression, appropriate for the situation? Do your eyes appear bright and interested, or dull and bored? Is your face expressive or locked into a single look?
Eye contact – Do you make steady eye contact? Do your eyes dart back and forth or do you stay focused? Are you staring inappropriately? Does your eye contact match your overall facial expression?
The variations and combinations of elements affecting first impressions are nearly endless. You cannot possibly factor in all possibilities, but you can take your knowledge of body language and apply it to first impression situations with deliberate thought and choice.
First Impressions Gone Bad
Okay, it happens. You’ve made a bad first impression. Now what should you do? Again, the steps you should take to correct a poor first impression depend entirely on the situation. In some situations, you will have a second chance, while in others you will not.
For instance, in a job interview, the first impression you create is important, but so are the answers you give to interviewer questions. If you think your first impression was not all that great, focus on using your very best body language during the interview itself will help. Many interviewers will forgive a poor first impression if you handle it well, such as you tripped on the stairs coming in or you became lost trying to find your way through the building. In these cases, you might briefly acknowledge the faux pas, offer a brief, sincere apology or explanation, and then move on to the business at hand. Make eye contact, and be aware of your own facial expressions.
What about social situations? Gender has a great influence in this area, as women tend to be more tuned in to body language and therefore are more likely to form rapid first impressions. Your gender matters, too, because the kind of first impression you make on someone else (male or female) is somewhat influenced by your own gender. For instance, if you are female and meet another couple for the first time, the woman might be quicker to form an impression if she views you as a potential threat to her relationship. The same holds true if you are a man in the same situation; the other man may approach the interaction from an entirely different perspective than the other woman.
What about the first impressions you form about others? There’s value in looking at your own patterns of forming first impressions of other people and how well you interpret their body language. Do you find yourself often forming negative or harsh judgments of others? Perhaps you need to re-examine how and why you are so quick to develop those kinds of impressions. Or, do you find yourself often judging others positively, only to find later on that you were duped or misled? Perhaps you also need to re-examine your patterns, and be a bit more discerning in how you interpret information.
Decoding Body Language in Intimate Relationships
What does it mean when your boyfriend wraps an arm around your shoulder in a group of people? What is your girlfriend trying to tell you when she greets you without her usual smile and hug? And what about committed relationships where the partners start out showing lots of affection and accommodation for each other but over the years begin to just interact automatically?
The issue of body language within intimate relationships is quite complex and one that is not easily broken down into specific, predictable definitions. It is much like a dance between two people, constantly in motion and combining with other aspects of the relationship to communicate a wide variety of messages.
The Beginnings of Intimacy
In the beginning of an intimate relationship, body language is a primary means of communication. Two people who don’t know each other very well will use non-verbal cues to express their thoughts when words seem too direct or uncomfortable. It is a relatively safe way to get the point across to each other with less risk of outright rejection or embarrassment.
The early stages are filled with flirting and testing each other’s interest. Eye contact is important because it indicates interest; body position is also important because it helps to indicate comfort levels. For instance, two people who sit or stand very close to each other, find excuses to touch each other on the arm or shoulder, or position themselves side by side rather than facing each other, are showing each other that each is comfortable with the other.
As the relationship progresses, more and more touching occurs. This shows up as holding hands, hugging, leaning against each other, and the like. A woman who tilts her head and rests it on a man’s shoulder, for instance, is using her body language to express closeness and invite more of the same. A man who takes a woman’s hand as they negotiate through a crowded room is using body language to express connectedness, protection, and leadership.
Body Language in Established Relationships
When two people in an established intimate relationship use body language, it can take on far more subtle meanings. This is especially true if the relationship is troubled in some way or if there is poor verbal communication between them. On the other end of the spectrum, though, body language can become a special communication tool used to convey messages of love, connection, appreciation, and the like.
It is quite common for couples to use body language when they are unwilling or unable to talk about a conflict openly. Either person might withdraw physically or emotionally from the other, avoiding situations of physical closeness and keeping feelings inside. Or, either person might become quite physical by slamming doors, banging drawers shut, vigorously cleaning something, or the like. With all of these examples, the underlying cause may vary but the symptoms generally indicate the same thing – the couple needs to talk with each other, openly and honestly, about the real issue at hand.
Couples who have been together many years often develop a set of non-verbal cues specific to their relationship. For instance, in social situations it might only take deliberate eye contact, a tug on the elbow, or a tilt of the head to indicate when one person is ready to go. Parents also can become quite good at this process, using facial expressions to communicate when a child misbehaves or when one needs a break from the kids for some reason.
General Body Language in Intimate Relationships
In general, body language in intimate relationships serves a vital purpose. It communicates specific types of information when a relationship is relatively young as well as when it is more established. It can bring a couple together, push a couple apart, or simply augment the verbal communication habits of the two people.
When it comes to communicating intimacy, though, body language is perhaps the most powerful tool available to couples. A touch of the hand, an arm around the shoulder, a tender kiss on the cheek, or a tender caress of the cheek are all great examples of ways couples express intimacy with each other. Learning about and understanding these kinds of non-verbal cues can go a long way toward strengthening and protecting the intimate connection between two people.
Violation of your Personal Space
It probably wouldn’t take you very long to vividly recall a time when your personal space was violated. Maybe you were sitting in a coffee shop and someone sat down at your table or perhaps you were settling in for a department meeting and a co-worker sat down and then moved the chair even closer to you. Regardless of the situation, when someone violates your personal space it is extremely uncomfortable. How then, can you deal with it?
Unconscious Reactions to Violations of Personal Space
Everyone has automatic, unconscious reactions to violations of their personal space. These reactions happen so swiftly and so unconsciously that if you were to ask someone about theirs, most would have to think very carefully to identify them. It’s simply not something most people have to think about at all; their reactions are more like a reflex than anything else.
What are some of these common reactions? Here’s just a sampling:
Move away – When someone gets a bit too close, moving away is the most natural and automatic reaction. This may be accomplished with body movement, such as leaning back, or more pronounced movement, such as moving your chair away, sliding your entire body away, or, in extreme cases, even getting up and moving to a different location.
Put up a personal barrier – This conjures up images of building a wall, but it is usually something far less complicated. For instance, you might rearrange your books or papers so they are between you and the other person; or, you might change arm position so that your arm is raised or manoeuvred into a position blocking the other person.
Body position – In most cases, this is a combination of moving away and putting up a barrier. For instance, you might turn slightly so your back is to the other person, effectively creating a barrier. Or, you might turn your head, avoid eye contact, raise your book or reading material, and the like.
If you think about it, you can probably remember many different times in your life where you have used these automatic reactions when your space was violated. Some people, however, make a conscious decision to protect their personal space deliberately and actively.
Deliberate Reactions to Violations of Personal Space
Some people make quite deliberate decisions about how to deal with violations of their personal space. Their responses are often passive, but may also be quite active in some cases. Here’s a sampling of some common actions:
Spread out – This is very common in situations where you are sitting at a table that others might choose to sit at as well, such as at the library or in a cafeteria. As the other person approaches and begins to infringe upon your personal space, you spread out your belongings – books, purse, backpack, shopping bags, and jacket, anything – into the space around you. This visually communicates your boundaries and also works as a barrier between you and the other person.
Turn your back – This is another tactic to protect your personal space from another person. You might casually shift your position so your back is to the other person, or even reposition your chair with your back acting as a barrier between the two of you.
Ask the other person to move – This is an active response typically used by people with a great deal of self-confidence and self-esteem. When a person begins to violate your personal space, you simply ask them to move away a bit. If you’re not quite confident enough to be that bold, you might tell them you’re expecting someone else to arrive soon and you’d like to keep the space available for that person.
Verbal warning – In cases where you feel particularly threatened you might give the other person a verbal warning that you’re uncomfortable and could they please move away. It might be something simply like “please stop” or something more directive like “you’re sitting/standing too close to me, could you please move back”.
Most people focus more on passive measures than on active measures when their personal space is violated. It is simply too intimidating or uncomfortable to reclaim that space directly.
Body Language Basics
From a flip of the hair to hands on your hips, how you move, gesture, and make expressions can say as much as what comes out of your mouth.
Angel Rose, 34, an assistant vice president at a bank in upstate New York, was interviewing candidates for a teller position, which required that a person have good people and communication skills, a professional presentation, and a strong focus on customer service, among other abilities.
One candidate in particular stood out, but not in a good way. While she could have been very intelligent, her nonverbal communication and body language were way off. Her handshake was more of a finger shake, her eye contact was nonexistent, and her slouched posture exuded insecurity. For Rose, what the candidate said didn't matter because her body language spoke volumes: she wasn't a good fit for the position.
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"Most communication experts now believe that almost 90% of what we say comes from nonverbal cues, which includes our body language," says Patti Wood, author of Success Signals: A Guide to Reading Body Language.
Body language, she explains, is everything from our facial expressions, to eye contact, to our gestures, stance, and posture. While the nuances of body language are complicated, there are some common body language signs worth a thousand words.
Body Language ABCs
Flipping your hair, shaking hands, making eye contact, and smiling are more than just movements -- they're a part of your nonverbal communication, adding emphasis and emotion.
"Body language represents a separate communication process beyond words," says Ross Buck, PhD, a professor of communication sciences and psychology at the University of Connecticut. "It exists simultaneously with language, but it is emotional and largely happening at the subconscious level."
What are some of the basic body language cues that we display and what kind of effect can they have on the impression we make on other people? Here's a beginner's guide to understanding what our bodies are saying:
Handshakes. A handshake can say so much more than hello, nice to meet you. "The most important part of a handshake is palm-to-palm contact," says Wood. "It's even more significant than the grip."
The palm-to-palm contact expresses an intention of honesty and openness, and that your interaction will be sincere and nonthreatening.
The "limp fish" handshake, Wood explains, seems so uncomfortable because it usually means that the palms don't touch, as Rose experienced in her interview.
Here are other handshake types:
Bone crusher: A person may be insecure and trying to overcompensate with an over-the-top hello.
Palm-down handshake: A person may be trying to express his dominance.
A left-handed wrap of the handshake from the top: A person may be trying to express his dominance.
A left-handed wrap of the handshake from underneath: A person may be trying to support and comfort you.
Synchrony. Synchrony happens when two people who are interacting mirror body language cues, explains Buck. What can it mean?
"Synchrony is a signal that both people are on the same page," says Buck. "When you see someone copying your body language, or you notice that you are copying his, it's a clue that you are probably sharing a similar mind-set at the time."
Further Reading:
If sex is painful, will avoiding sex cause it to hurt less?
Virginity Lost, Experience Gained
30 Days Back to Love
The Secrets Couples Keep
Boring Bedroom Syndrome — It's Everywhere
Instant Fight Stoppers
Sex and the Single Mom: What a Mom Wants
See All Sex Problems in Women Topics
Top Picks
Can Couples Counseling Help?
How to Reconnect Sexually
Dating Deal-Breakers
How to Argue With Your Partner
What Is Emotional Infidelity?
Dating After Divorce: How Long Should You Wait?
Body Language Signs That He's Crazy About You
Sure, you could ask a guy how he feels about you. Or you could skip the awkward convo and analyze the male body language. Suss out whether your guy is head over heels using these celeb couples as your guide. Lillian Glass, PhD, author of The Body Language Advantage, has the lowdown. By Korin Miller
PDA DOESN'T SCARE HIM
Yeah, they're out in public which can make an all-out makeout sesh awkward. But Andrew Garfield still shows he cares—and wants to be connected to his girlfriend Emma Stone—by slipping his hand into her back pocket. Aww. AKM Images-GSI Media
HE KEEPS YOU CLOSE
We'd like to nominate Jay-Z and Beyonce for the title of Cutest Couple Ever...just saying. Check out this adorable pic—by nuzzling Beyonce into his arm, Jay-Z shows he loves feeling like her protector (and clearly she's not complaining). Getty ImagesHE GETS CUDDLY
Ashton Kutcher is so into his girl Mila Kunis that he hugs her on the freaking street corner. His arms and lower body are all connected to her—a sign that there's huge chemistry between them. Teach-Fame Fly Net Pictures
Listen to His Body Language
Relationship advice: We reveal four important things a guy says without using words
Body Talk
“Because men have learned to socialize through their actions, they’re constantly sending signals about how they’re feeling,” says body-language expert Kevin Hogan, Psy.D., author of The Psychology of Persuasion. “All you have to do is observe them.” We can help: Here’s how to train your eye to pick up on your guy’s innermost thoughts.
He's Lying
The clue: He keeps scratching his nose or ears. "When a man is afraid of being caught in a lie, his heart rate often accelerates and blood rushes to his nose, ears, and forehead, creating an itchy, tingly sensation," Hogan says.
Your move: To get the truth out of him, put on your friendliest face. Then frame your questions in a way that sounds like you're being curious rather than accusatory, says Leslie Seppinni, Psy.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles. A fibber will rarely plot out the minutiae of his story, so if you listen long enough he may get tripped up in his convoluted tale and spill the beans.
He's Second-Guessing Your Relationship
The clue: He always seems to be holding something in his hands. He may be avoiding intimacy, since keeping his paws occupied prevents him from touching you. "Creating physical distance until he's ready to make a decision is often how men process their feelings," says body-language expert Patti Wood.
Your move: Call him on it. Say, "I love that we're so open with each other, but I feel like you're not telling me something." If he blows you off, press him by saying, "I can handle whatever it is." This might convince him you won't freak out—a major fear men have about self-expression, says Scott Haltzman, M.D., author of The Secrets of Happy Families. If he starts talking, well, great. But if he's indecisive about the relationship, suggest taking space until he knows where he stands.
He Has to Confess Something and It Isn't Good
The clue: He draws in his lips. "When a man has to get something off his chest, his mouth will tense up and he'll press his lips together as if he can't decide whether he should open his mouth and unload the bad news," Wood says.
Your move: When an inquiry sounds sincere, it can relax a suspect—er, man—into making a confession. Say something like, "You look upset. Anything you want to tell me?" No matter what, maintain a poker face, even if what he says upsets you. "The best way to get information from a guy is to keep a neutral expression while he speaks so he won't change his story based on your reaction," Haltzman says. His Ego Is Wounded
The clue: He holds one of his wrists. "It may appear that he's adjusting his watch, but it can be a sign that he's feeling insecure," Wood says. It's like he's protecting himself; his arms act like a shield positioned across his body.
Your move: Guys love to feel like superheroes, so when his boss chews him out or you inadvertently insult him, his confidence can plummet. "When a man's feelings are hurt or he's trying to sort out a particular issue, he feels powerless," Haltzman says. "Give him some solo time to think the issue through and regain control."
6 Unintentional Things Your Body Language Says in a Relationship
By KnowMoreTV
Whether you’re in the midst of a long-term relationship or navigating your way through a new one, there is one thing in particular you should always pay attention to when it comes to giving off the right vibe: your body language.
Your body can speak louder than words. But is it saying what you want it to say? Learn to send your messages clearly with these body language do’s and don’ts.
1) Eye for an Eye
Celebrity Matchmaker Samantha Daniels reveals eye contact is very important because it shows that you are interested in what he is saying and that you are paying attention.
“This is universally applicable, whether you’re having a deep conversation with your boyfriend or are trying to connect with someone new on a first date.”
To put it simply, eye contact is talking in the absence of words. Eyes can communicate a wide range of messages and sensitivity. Be extra conscious about looking your man directly in the eye, even though it may feel more comfortable looking away.
2) Body Positioning
Matchmaker and Dating Coach Suzanne K. Oshima forewarns both men and women usually don’t realize which way their body faces, and it is very telling as to whether or not the other person is interested.
“If someone’s torso, shoulders and legs are facing toward the other person, they are showing interest”, Oshima says. “But if their torso, shoulders and legs are facing away or off to the side, they are either not sure or they are blocking the person from getting to know them.”
3) Crossed Arms
This one is a no-no for obvious reasons.
“Crossed arms essentially make you look closed off, unwelcoming, and disinterested,” Daniels says. “If you want men to approach you on the dating scene, you need to appear as open and welcoming as possible.”
4) Group Formation
Speaking of looking closed off, be attentive when out with your ladies. When a group of gals are out on the dating scene, they tend to stand in a circle.
“Circles are closed off and leave no opening for a guy to join, which makes it difficult for men to approach them,” Daniels explains. “When you’re out on the town, try to stand in a ‘C’ shape to give guys an opening.”
Standing at the edge of the ‘C’ also makes you the easiest to approach.
5) Take a Stand
Your mother wasn’t lying when she told you to stand up straight.
“A good posture on a date shows your confidence level in who you are and your self worth,” Oshima says. “A woman who doesn’t stand up straight, or has her shoulders rounded forward may be perceived as shy or with low confidence.”
(This YouTube video is a great exercise to improve your posture and shape your arms!)
6) Turn that Frown Upside Down
Without a doubt smiling is the number one, most important thing you can wear while dating and in a relationship.
“A smile on your face shows that you are a happy person… and men gravitate toward happy women,” Daniels says.
What other social cues deter men? Can guys be guilty the same things as well? Sfrom ound off in the comments below!
Body Language vs Micro-Expressions
Debunking the myths of "micro-expressions"
Published on December 24, 2011 by Joe Navarro, M.A. in Spycatcher
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Thoughtful questions often prompt thoughtful analysis and recently a series of questions from a reader regarding "micro-expressions" had such an effect on me. His questions made me stop and think about how the public perceives "micro expressions" and their significance in our overall understanding of body language, and more importantly, their relevance in detecting deception.
By now most people have heard of "micro-expressions" as a result of the show Lie to Me, or because the term has been popularized by the media. In fact, I routinely run into people who say they have taken courses on "micro-expressions" and have been "certified" or who want to become experts on "micro-expressions." (It reminds me of when students first wanted to be "criminal profilers" and then they wanted to be "CSI agents," just like on TV, now I guess it is "micro-expression experts") That's fine I say, but what about the rest of the body? And that is when I hear silence. After all, the rest of the body is transmitting information about thoughts, desires, fears, emotions, and intentions with far more regularity. If someone ventilates their shirt or hides their thumbs while being asked questions, you should know what that means beyond it's hot and they don't know what to do with their hands (it means: issues, discomfort, insecurities) because there may be no "micro-expressions" to help you at all.
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In order to properly anchor us, let's start with what the term "micro-expressions" means or has come to mean. In 1966 two researchers by the name of Haggard and Isaacs discovered, while looking at films of couples in therapy, what they described as "micromomentary expressions." They noted behaviors that would flash by so quickly they were difficult to see except by slowing the film down. A few years later, building on this earlier work and observing these same behaviors, Paul Ekman coined the term "micro expressions" while he was studying deception. Ekman later incorporated this into his book, "Telling Lies," which you really should read if you care about nonverbals.
What Haggard and Isaacs, as well as others, found was that our faces often reveal hidden sentiments that are being intentionally concealed. This was obviously useful in detecting issues during couples' therapy. Unfortunately, over time the term "micro expressions" grew to include too many things; failing for instance to differentiate between the truly miniscule, the small, and the larger facial distortions. There was also a failure to differentiate between the behaviors that were fast and those which were super-fast, but which had little to do with being "micro" or small. Lastly there was a failure to differentiate behaviors that are asymmetrical or that oddly freeze in place such as when we hold a tense smile at a snarling dog.
Consequently, because so many things have been lumped under the appellation "micro-expression" it is often difficult to determine what someone means, especially when they substitute "micro-expressions" for plain old body language or nonverbals. So let's see if we can add some clarity here to help you better understand behaviors of the face, which are often lumped under the term "micro-expressions" or worse they are ignored completely.
First we should recognize, as David Matsumoto has pointed out, that there are behaviors, gestures, or expressions of the face that do occur without conscious prompting which leak or reveal our true feelings or sentiments. Some of these behaviors or expressions flash before us very quickly (1/15, 1/25 of a second) and others loiter there seemingly too long. Also there are behaviors that are difficult to observe because they are so tiny (twitching muscles just under the eye for example) while others are quite large or as "large" as they can be given the size of some small facial muscles.
What is important for observers is that while these behaviors do occur, we must not attach more meaning to them than we should. Shows such as Lie to Me (now cancelled) made it seem that if you saw one of these behaviors then the person is lying. Nothing could be further from the truth. For as Ekman, Frank, DePaulo, Burgoon, and Vrij have repeatedly told us, there is no single behavior indicative of deception (Matsumoto, et. al. 2011, 1-4; Navarro 2008). There are indicators of stress, psychological discomfort, anxiety, dislike, issues, or tension, but not deception - I'm sorry to say. In fact, rather than focus on deception, in my experience, it is far more useful to become an "Issue Detector" because that is really what we are observing. When we see the physical displays of psychological discomfort, we are really seeing our bodies communicating there are "issues"; in ohter words something is bothering us, the questions is what?
Examining the Face:
One way to understand facial gestures or behaviors is to divide them up by what they do, not whether they are mini, micro, or macro which does not take into account speed or in some cases lengthy, asymmetrical, or rigid presentations. The following is not a comprehensive list but if you focus on these five areas you will find it easier, in my experience, to identify how others truly feel or what they think:
Facial Gestures of Nervousness and Tension:
- Furrowed forehead
- Squinting eyes
- Lip compression
- Lips that are sucked into the mouth
- Quivering lips
- Quivering chin
- Corners of mouth twitching or pulling oddly toward the ear very quickly
Facial Gestures of Dislike or Disagreement:
- Pursed lips usually mean I don't like or I disagree (seen in babies as young as four weeks).
- Nose crinkle (nose moves very quickly up as a shortened sign of disgust)
- Upper half of lip on one side rises as does nose
- Rolling of the eyes
- Eyelid flutter (usually seen when someone says something we strongly disagree with)
- Eyelids close fail to reopen for what seems a long time
- Squinting of the eyes (think of Clint Eastward in a shootout)
Facial Gestures to Relieve Stress:
There are any number of facial ticks which may suddenly develop or which become permanent to deal with tension. Examples are:
- Uncontrollable blinking
- Cheek twitching
- Uncontrollable twitching of the eye
- Jaw thrusts forward
- Jaw displacement to the sides
- Tongue biting
- Pulling of facial hair
- Repetitive touching of the nose or eyelid with a finger
These behavior are not only repetitive, they may increase in severity under stress and at times become very fast. Incidentally, as I mentioned in Clues to Deceit, repetitive behaviors are soothing behaviors, which is why we develop nervous ticks in the first place. The brain benefits from the repetitive muscular tick as a form of pacification; however, it can become pathological.
Asymmetrical Facial Gestures:
Gestures that involve only one half of the face fall into this category:
- Fake smiles
- Smile involving only half the face
- Person smiles but the eyes squint or show tension
- Asymmetry also applies to discord between what is said with what the body is transmitting, such as saying, "I love you" with clenched teeth or a tense face.
Facial gestures of Contempt or Disdain:
- A smirk (corner of mouth tightens on one side, dimples, or pulls toward eye or ear )
- Nose high haughty attitude
- Rolling of the eyes
- Looking dismissively askance
Contempt, incidentally, is not a sign of deception, it is seen in both the innocent as well as the liar. Contempt is often seen among the innocent when interviewed by those they deem to be of lower social status or whom they perceive as incompetent. You also see looks of contempt on the part of an occupied population toward their oppressors.
Caution
While these gestures or behaviors are useful in discerning true thoughts and feelings, they are in no way indicative of deception. They may indicate psychological or physical discomfort, dislike, issues, or nervousness, but that is it. No inference of deception can be drawn from these for there is no single behavior indicative of deception. None.
Recommendation
After studying nonverbals for over 40 years, I think it is wiser to understand what all of the body communicates, not just the face, or just "micro-expressions." Especially knowing that the feet are more accurate than the face in revealing sentiments and intentions and that all of our body is constantly transmitting vital information (Navarro 2008). In fact, as I note in Clues to Deceit there are over 215 behaviors associated with psychological discomfort and most of those are not in the face.
If you truly want to learn about body language and nonverbal communications and go beyond the tripe usually served on television, give yourself a treat and read Desmond Morris' trilogy on nonverbals (Manwatching, Bodywatching, Peoplewatching). Morris looks at humans with the critical eye of a scientist discovering a new species and explains why we do the things we do. He is an authority without equal when it comes to nonverbal communications and as a zoologist and anthropologist, will open your eyes as no other author or expert can, with perhaps the exception of Charles Darwin, who started it all one day while watching orangutans in the London zoo.
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Joe Navarro, M.A. is 25 year veteran of the FBI and is the author of What Every Body is Saying, as well as Louder Than Words. For additional information and a free bibliography please contact him through www.jnforensics.com or follow on twitter: @navarrotells or on Facebook. Copyright © 2011 Joe Navarro.
Bibliogaphy
Darwin, Charles. 1872. The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals. New York: Appleton-Century Crofts.
Ekman, Paul. 1985. Telling Lies: Clues to Deceit in the Marketplace, Politics, and Marriage. New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
Haggard, E. A. and Isaacs, K.S. 1966. Micromomentary Facial Expressions. In Methods of Research in Psychology, L.A. Gottschalk and A.H. Auerback, Eds.. New York: Appleton Century Crofts.
Matsumoto, David, et. al. 2011. Evaluating Truthfulness and Detecting Deception New Tools to Aid Investigators. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, (January):1-8.
Morris, Desmond. 1985. Bodywatching. New York: Crown Publishers.
Morris, Desmond. 1980. Manwatching. New York: Crown Publishers.
Morris, Desmond. 2002. Peoplewatching: New York: Crown Publishers
Navarro, Joe. 2011. Clues to Deceit. Amazon Kindle.
Navarro, Joe. 2008. What Every Body is Saying. New York: Harper Collins.
Porter, S., & ten Brinke, L. (2008). Reading between the lies: Identifying concealed and falsified emotions in universal facial expressions. Psychological Science, 19, 508-514.
Vrij, A., Granhag, P. A., & Porter, S. 2010. Pitfalls and opportunities in nonverbal and verbal lie detection. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 11, 89-121.
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