Body Language 1

Body Language

Physical and Emotional Expressions

Aya Zuaiter, Saja Taweel and

Alaa’ Abu Diab

Birzeit University
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Some people think that speech was the only communication system used by humans.

However, this belief is utterly false. The ability to read a person’s attitudes and behavior was

the original communication system used by human before the evolution of spoken language.

The study of body language is used to interpret the thoughts and emotions of a person

throughout his body movement. Fortune teller uses emotional and physical expressions, which

are the main two components of body language, in their business in order to read a person’s

mind.

Physical expressions such moving the arms and eyes are forms of nonverbal

communication which reveal many things about the person using them. For example:

 Crossing arms across the chest indicates that a person is putting up an unconscious

barrier between himself and others. (www.changingminds.org)

 Covering the mouth with the hands indicates that a person is telling a lie. Excessive

blinking also shows that a person is withholding information or deceiving.

(www.changingminds.org)

 Brushing the hair back with the fingers, raising eyebrows and constant pushing up the

glasses (if a person wears one) with a slight frown indicates disagreement with the

other’s point of view. (www.wikihow.com)

 Moving the eyes sideways a lot indicates that a person is nervous, lying or distracted.

Whereas looking away from the speaker point out that a person is comfortable and

obedient. (changingeminds.org)

 Looking down at the floor may show that a person is shy or timid. (changingminds.org)
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 Looking at someone in the eye is considered as a sign of disrespect in some cultures.

Therefore eye contact is avoided by some people. (Pease, 1997)

 Dilation of the pupils in the eye points out this person is showing interest. However,

dilation in the pupil may also be as a result of drugs, alcohol, cocaine and others. (Pease,

1997)

The face of a person is considered is an outward reflection of his emotional

condition while carefully observed and detected. For example:

 Red face or neck, bearing of teeth and snarling tightened fist, wide eyes and

wrinkled forehead are all indicators of anger, which result due to failure in achieving

something. (www.changingminds.org)

 Pale face, dry mouth, not looking at the other person, damp eyes, trembling lips,

varying speech tone, speech errors, sweating and tension in muscles such as

tightened hands or arms and legs wrapped around things, are signs of fear which

occurs when basic needs are endangered. (www.changingminds.org)

 Surprise is detected when eyebrows rise, eyes widen, mouth open and sudden

movement backwards. (www.changingminds.org)

 Embarrassment is distinguished when face is red or flushed, looking down and avoid

of eye contact with others, frowning, false smile and changing the topic.

(www.changingminds.org)
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Fortune tellers and palm ‘readers’ all use the technique of body language in

their businesses. According to Allan and Barbara Pease (Pease, 1997),” People visiting

fortune tellers can be amazed at the things they knew about them. Some naïve and

vulnerable people may think it is magic where it is a simple process based on the careful

observation of body language signals and understanding of human nature and a

knowledge of probability statistics. According to fortune-telling business’ research, a

technique known as ‘cold reading’ is used by the operators which is almost 80%

accurate when ‘reading’ or interpreting a person you have never met. Operators distract

their clients by performing set of tarot cards or a crystal ball thus setting a perfect

session of body language reading”. According to researches by psychologist at Harvard

University, women are more alert to body language, they have an innate ability to pick

up and decipher non-verbal signals, in addition to having an accurate eye for small

details. Therefore, most operators tend to be females. (Pease,1997)

To conclude, body language is a non verbal communication system used

by all humans. The body sends out signals which are translated by others to guide them

into understanding their emotion and possibly what they are thinking of. Despite the

variation of nationality, gender or age among people, they all agree on one same

language, which is their body language.

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References

Pease, A., & Pease, B. (1997). Body Language: how to read others’ thoughts by their gestures. Retrieved
November 10,2010.

http://changingminds.org/techniques/body/body_language.htm. retrieved November 10, 2010.

http://www.wikihow.com/read-body-language. Retrieved November 10, 2010.