5 Ways To Read Body Language

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How to Read Body Language

Five Methods:
Reading Emotional Cues
Reading Power Cues
Reading Relational Cues
Understanding Body Language
Expert
Reviewed
Reading Attraction Cues
Questions and Answers
Understanding body language can lead to closer relationships since nonverbal

communication constitutes up to 60% of meaning in interpersonal
communication.[1] Noticing the signals that people send out with their body
language and being able to effectively read those cues is thus a very useful
skill. With a little extra attentiveness, you can learn to accurately read body
language, and with enough practice it can become second nature.
Method
Reading Emotional Cues

Watch for crying. Crying is considered to be caused by an explosion of
emotion in most cultures. Oftentimes crying is considered a sign of sadness or
grief, but crying can also be an expression of happiness. Crying can also come
about through laughter and humor. Thus, when assessing crying, you'll need to look
for other signals to determine the appropriate context of the crying.[2]
Crying can also be forced or manipulated in order to gain sympathy or to
deceive others. This practice is known as "crocodile tears", a colloquial
expression that draws on the myth that crocodiles 'cry' when catching
prey.[3]
Look for signs of anger and/or threat. Signs of threat include v-shaped
brows, wide eyes, and an open or down-turned mouth.[4]
Arms tightly crossed over the other is a common sign that the person is
angry and is closing himself off to you.[5]
Look for signals of anxiety. When people exhibit anxiety, they display
increased blinking and facial movements, and their mouth stretches into a thin
line.[6]
Individuals who are anxious may also fidget and fiddle with their hands,
unable to keep them in one spot.[7]
Anxiety can also be conveyed when people seemingly unconsciously tap
their feet or have jittery legs.[8]
Look for expressions of embarrassment. Embarrassment can be signaled by

averting the eyes or shifting them away, turning of the head, and controlled or
even tense smiles.[9]

If someone looks down at the floor a lot, they are probably shy, timid, or
embarrassed. People also tend to look down when they are upset, or trying
to hide something emotional. People are often thinking and feeling
unpleasant emotions when they are in the process of staring at the ground.
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5
Method
Notice any manifestations of pride. People show pride by displaying a small

smile, tilting their head backward, and putting their hands on their hips. [10]
Reading Relational Cues

Assess proxemics and haptics, or distancing and touching. This is one way
to communicate the status of an interpersonal relationship. Physical closeness
and touch signal liking, affection, and love.[11].

People in close relationships require less personal space than with
strangers.[12]
It is worth noting that personal space is culturally fluid; keep in mind that
what is considered close in one country is considered far away in another.
Read the person's eyes. Studies have found that when people are engaged in
an interesting conversation, their eyes remain focused on their partner's face
approximately 80% of the time. They don't only focus on the other person's eyes,
however, but focus on the eyes for a few minutes, then move down to the nose or
lips, then back up to the eyes. They may look down at table every once in a while,
but they always return to meeting the other person's eyes.[13]
When people look up and to the right during a conversation, it usually
means they're bored and have already dismissed the conversation. [14]
Dilated pupils mean that the person is interested in what is going on. Keep
in mind, however, that many substances can cause the pupils to dilate,
including alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD, and others.[15]
Eye contact is also frequently used as an indication of truthfulness. Overly
persistent or even aggressive eye contact suggests that a person is very
aware of what messages he is trying to send out. A person who tries to
deceive someone, thus, may distort his eye contact so that he doesn't
appear to be avoiding it, which is a widely recognized indicator of lying. [16]
However, keep in mind, as noted above, that there is a lot of individual
variation when it comes to evaluating eye contact and lying.
Look at the person's posture. If someone rests their arms behind their neck or
head, the person is conveying that he is open to what is being discussed or
may just laid back in general.

Tightly crossed limbs are usually a sign of resistance and low receptivity to
another person. In general, when the body is arranged in such a manner,
this is a sign that a person is mentally, emotionally, and physically closing
themselves off from another person.[17]
In one study of 2,000 negotiations, which were videotaped to assess the
negotiators' body language, there wasn't an agreement in any case where
one of the participants had his or her legs crossed.[18]
Method
Reading Attraction Cues

Evaluate eye contact. Making eye contact is a sign of attraction, as is blinking
more than the average 6-10 times per minute.[19][20]
Winking can also be a sign of flirting or attraction. However, keep in mind
that this may be culturally-specific; some Asian cultures frown upon winking
and consider it rude.[21]
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Watch for certain facial expressions. Smiling is one of the clearest signs of
attraction. Make sure you know how to decipher a forced smile from a real one.
You can tell fake smiles from real ones because the smile doesn't reach all the way
to their eyes. Genuine smiles usually result in tiny crinkles around a person's eyes
(crow's feet). When people fake smile, you won't see the wrinkles.[22][23]
Raising the eyebrows has also been observed as a sign of flirting.[24]
Consider the person's posture, gestures, and stance. Generally people who
are attracted to each other try to close the distance to one another. This may
mean leaning forward towards the other person more but can also be more direct, in
the form of touching. A light tap or stroking of the arm can be a signal of attraction.
Attraction can also be signaled by the person's feet staying pointed toward
or facing the object of his interest.[25]
Palms turned up is another sign of romantic interest because it suggests
openness.[26]
Be aware of gender differences in showing attraction. Men and women can

show differences in demonstrating attraction via their body language.
A man is likely to lead forward and turn his torso toward the person of his
interest, whereas a woman reciprocating attraction turns her torso away and
leans back.[27]
An interested man may lift his hands above his head, angled at 90
degrees.[28]
When a woman shows attraction, both arms may be open, and the hands
may touch the body in the area between the hips and the chin. [29]
Method
Reading Power Cues

Notice eye contact. Eye contact, a channel of kinesics, is the primary way that
people communicate dominance. People establishing dominance will take the
liberty of staring at and surveying others while making direct eye contact. They will
also be the last person to break eye contact.[30]
If you're looking to assert your power, keep in mind that constant eye contact
can be intimidating.[31]
Assess facial expressions. A person asserting dominance will also refrain

from smiling in order to communicate seriousness and may instead frown or
purse his lips.[32]
Evaluate gestures and stance. Gestures can display dominance; pointing at

others and using large gestures is a way to show others your status. In
addition, when someone takes a wider and taller stance while also being relaxed,
this is another show of dominance.[33]
Dominant individuals will also have a firm handshake. They will usually
place their hand on top with their palm facing downwards; the grip will be
firm and sustained in order to demonstrate control.[34]
Consider how the person manages their personal space. Those with high
status will generally enable more physical space to exist between themselves
and lower status people. High-status individuals will also take up more physical
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space to show their dominance and mastery of the situation.[35] In other words, an
expansive pose signals power and achievement.[36]
Power is also displayed through standing versus sitting. Standing - and
particularly in the foreground - is seen as a more powerful pose. [37]
A straight back and strong shoulders kept back, rather than hunching
forward, further conveys confidence. Slouching and slumping, by contrast,
convey a lack of confidence.[38]
Dominant individuals will also lead from the front and walk ahead of the
group or go through the doors first. They like to be up front. [39]
Watch how and when the person touches. People asserting their status will
have more options when it comes to touch because they feel more confident in
their position. Generally, in an unequal situation where one person has a higher
status, he will touch the lower-status person with greater frequency. [40]
In social situations where both communicators have equal status, both
people will reciprocate touch in similar ways.[41]
Method
Understanding Body Language

Know that reading body language is a complex task. Nonverbal behavior is
itself complex since all people are different and present themselves
differently.[42] Reading body language can be challenging because when

interpreting the signs people are sending you, you need to take into account the
whole picture. For example, did that person already mention to you today that he
had a fight with his wife or didn't a get a promotion at work? Or was he visibly
anxious over lunch?
When interpreting others body language, its important wherever possible to
take into account their personality, social factors, verbal behavior, and the
setting. While this information is not always available, it can be helpful to
read body language. People are complex, so it shouldn't come as a surprise
that how they convey themselves with their bodies is complex too!
You could compare reading body language to watching your favorite TV
show; after all, you wouldn't just watch one scene in your favorite TV show,
but the whole episode in order to properly understand the meaning of that
one scene. You'd also probably keep in mind past episodes, a characters
history, and the plot as a whole. You need to look at this bigger picture also
when it comes to reading body language!
Remember to consider individual differences. There is no 'one size fits all'

when it comes to body language. If you are invested in being able to read a
person's body language accurately, you may have to 'study' that person for some
time. What is true for one person may not always be true for another.
For example, when lying, some people break eye contact, while others
attempt to maintain even more eye contact than usual so that they won't be
suspected of lying.
Be aware that body language can differ according to culture. For some
emotions and expressions of body language, the meaning of the messages is
culturally-specific.
For instance, in Finnish culture, when a person makes eye contact, it is a
sign of approachability. By contrast, when a person makes eye contact, it is
considered to be an expression of anger for the Japanese.[43]
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To give another example, in western culture, a person who feels comfortable

with you will lean forward toward you and square his face and body directly
toward you.[44]
Note that while some physical expressions of emotion vary from culture to
culture, some research suggests that certain expressions of body language
are universal across cultures. This is especially true for the communication
of dominance and submission. For example, across different cultures, a
lowered posture indicates submission.[45]
Note that understanding differs according to nonverbal channel. The

nonverbal channel is the means by which a message or sign is conveyed
without words. Important nonverbal channels include those of kinesics (eye contact,
facial expressions, and body language), haptics (touch), and proxemics (personal
space). In other words, the medium determines the message.[46]
As a general rule, people are best at reading facial expressions, and then
body language, and, finally, personal space and touch.[47]
Even within each channel, there can be great variation. For instance, not all
facial expressions are equally easy to understand. People are generally
better at reading facial expressions that are pleasant rather than unpleasant.
One study found that individuals are better at accurately interpreting
happiness, contentment, and excitement, compared to anger, sadness, fear,
and disgust. [48]
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Warnings
Do not judge a person solely by their body language. Remember that body
language is not the sole indicator of someone's status, emotional state, or
his or her relationship with you.
Sources and Citations

1. Greene, J. O., & Burleson, B. R. (Eds.). (2003). Handbook of
communication and social interaction skills. Psychology Press.
2. http://www.psychologistworld.com/bodylanguage/eyes.php
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4. Tipples, J. (2007). Wide eyes and an open mouth enhance facial
threat.Cognition and Emotion, 21(3), 535-557.
5. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201206
/the-ultimate-guide-body-language
6. Harrigan, J. A., & O'Connell, D. M. (1996). How do you look when feeling
anxious? Facial displays of anxiety. Personality and Individual
Differences,21(2), 205-212.
10. Tracy, J. L., & Robins, R. W. (2007). Emerging insights into the nature and
function of pride. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16(3),
147-150.
11. Burgoon, J. K. (1991). Relational message interpretations of touch,
conversational distance, and posture. Journal of Nonverbal behavior, 15(4),
233-259.
12. Burgoon, J. K., & Jones, S. B. (1976). Toward a theory of personal space
expectations and their violations. Human Communication Research, 2(2),
131-146.
17. http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-read-body-language-2014-5?op=1
233-259.
233-259.
24. https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200712/fast-forces-attraction
27. Grammer, K. (1990). Strangers meet: Laughter and nonverbal signs of
interest in opposite-sex encounters. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 14(4),
209-236.
209-236.
209-236.
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34. http://psychologia.co/dominant-body-language/
39. http://psychologia.co/dominant-body-language/
42. Knapp, M., Hall, J., & Horgan, T. (2013). Nonverbal communication in
human interaction. Cengage Learning.
43. Akechi H, Senju A, Uibo H, Kikuchi Y, Hasegawa T, et al. (2013). Attention
to Eye Contact in the West and East: Autonomic Responses and Evaluative
Ratings. PLoS ONE 8(3): e59312.
45. Eibl-Eibesfeldt, I., & Salter, F. K. (Eds.). (1998). Indoctrinability, ideology,
and warfare: evolutionary perspectives. Berghahn Books
48. Wagner, H. L., MacDonald, C. J., & Manstead, A. S. (1986).
Communication of individual emotions by spontaneous facial expressions.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50(4), 737.
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5 Ways to Read Body Language - wikiHow

How to Read Body Language

Reading Emotional Cues

Reading Power Cues

Reading Relational Cues

Understanding Body Language

Reading Attraction Cues

Questions and Answers

Understanding body language can lead to closer relationships since nonverbal

Reading Emotional Cues

Look for expressions of embarrassment. Embarrassment can be signaled by

even tense smiles.[9]