The Beginners Guide to Body Language

What is Body Language? The Oxford English Dictionary (revised 2005) definition is: "body language - noun - the conscious and unconscious movements and postures by which attitudes and feelings are communicated [for example]: his intent was clearly expressed in his body language.

The Oxford Business English Dictionary offers a slightly different definition.

Interestingly the Oxford Business English Dictionary emphasizes the sense that body language can be used as a tool, rather than it being an involuntary effect with no particular purpose: "body language - noun - the process of communicating what you are feeling or thinking by the way you place and move your body rather than by words [for example]: The course trains sales people in reading the customer's body language."

Body Language is the unconscious physical way of revealing our true conscious hidden thoughts.

According to Albert Mehrabian:,

Essential Rules
Contextual Reading

Essential Rules
Contextual Reading Cultural Reading

Essential Rules
Contextual Reading Cultural Reading Cluster Reading:

Essential Rules
Contextual Reading Cultural Reading Cluster Reading: Congruent Reading

Basic gestures

Gesture: Brisk, erect walk

Gesture: Brisk, erect walk

Meaning: Confidence

Gesture: Standing with hands on hips

Gesture: Standing with hands on hips Meaning: Readiness, aggression, confidence

Gesture: Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly

Gesture: Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly Meaning: Boredom

Gesture: Sitting, legs apart

Gesture: Sitting, legs apart

Meaning:

Open, relaxed

Gesture: Arms crossed on chest

Gesture: Arms crossed on chest Meaning: Defensiveness, cautious, cold?

Gesture: Hand to cheek

Gesture: Hand to cheek Meaning: Evaluation, thinking

Gesture: Touching, slightly rubbing nose

Gesture: Touching, slightly rubbing nose Meaning: Rejection, doubt, lying

Gesture: Rubbing the eye

Gesture: Rubbing the eye Meaning: Doubt, disbelief

Gesture: Rubbing hands

Gesture: Rubbing hands Meaning: Anticipation

Gesture: Sitting with hands clasped behind head, legs crossed

Gesture: Sitting with hands clasped behind head, legs crossed

Meaning: Confidence, superiority

Gesture: Open palm

Gesture: Open palm Meaning: Sincerity, openness, innocence

Gesture: Pinching bridge of nose, eyes closed

Gesture: Pinching bridge of nose, eyes closed

Meaning: Negative evaluation

Gesture: Steepling fingers

Gesture: Steepling fingers Meaning: Authoritative

Gesture: Patting/fondling hair

Gesture: Patting/fondling hair Meaning: Lack of selfconfidence; insecurity

Gesture: adjusting tie

Gesture: adjusting tie Meaning: Anxiety, worry or concern

Gesture: Inward lip role, wide eyes

Gesture: Inward lip role, wide eyes Meaning: Anger, fear, surprise, Anxiety

Gesture: Hands in pocket

Gesture: Hands in pocket Meaning: Low Confidence, Low Trust and Timid, quiet

Gesture: Chin stoke

Gesture: Chin stoke

Meaning: Making a decision

End