Non-verbal gestures and their meaning

Sometimes people's words do not correspond to their true convictions and intentions. To understand what your interlocutor actually thinks, non-verbal gestures will help. Be a little more attentive while communicating. This will allow you to get much more information than your opponent would like to convey.

Is it true?

Many people are skeptical about the issue of nonverbal communication. Gestures, facial expressions are perceived as something natural and mechanical. But just considering this fact, one can speak about the objectivity of the non-verbal mechanism. Psychologists have devoted a lot of scientific works to this issue. But if for skeptics and this is not an argument, it is enough to conduct an independent observation. So, for example, by learning to decipher the thoughts and feelings of your loved ones, you can later see through strangers.

Of course, do not forget that there are exceptions to the rules. So, a person can occupy this or that pose simply by virtue of habit. In addition, it can not be ruled out that he is not feeling well or is wearing uncomfortable clothes. The temperature of the air can significantly influence the behavior of a person. Thus, do not underestimate the role of non-verbal communication. Nevertheless, before making final conclusions, it is worthwhile to carefully analyze the conditions in which the conversation takes place.

What hands are talking about in your pockets

Often you can see how a person during a conversation keeps his hands in his pockets. Someone thinks this is a manifestation of bad manners. Also, you should not reject the probability that a person is simply frozen, being in uncomfortable temperature conditions. Nevertheless, if we consider the nonverbal sign language, we can come to the following conclusions:

• Hands, hidden in pockets, can be evidence of intense concentration. A person in such a situation can think about something or plan an action. At the same time, it can slightly sway or roll from the heel to the toe.
• Another decoding of this gesture is boredom. So, for example, people often go to long meetings or social gatherings, hiding their hands in pockets, because it is impossible to leave the event, but nothing interesting happens on it. Thus, if your interlocutor took such a pose, it might be worth ending the conversation or moving it into a more fascinating channel.
• If the hands in the pockets are hidden not by the listener, but by the speaker, this may indicate his insincerity. Usually, it is the hands that give out lies, and therefore the person instinctively hides them so that you do not unravel his intentions.
• As an option, hands in pockets can talk about the passive position of your interlocutor. He, most likely, is not interested or does not want to do what you tell him. But the result, of course, will depend only on the level of your authority.
• If we consider the non-verbal gestures of men, then in communication with the ladies, hands hidden in the pocket of trousers (namely trousers!) Speak of sympathy and sexual attraction. But communicating with members of their own sex, they thus demonstrate power and independence.

Demonstration of superiority

Knowing non-verbal gestures, you can greatly facilitate your life, because they can understand the true intentions and attitude of the interlocutor to you. So, for example, if someone tries to demonstrate self-confidence, as well as superiority and power over you, this can be understood by the following signs:

• A man lays his hands behind his back, pushing his chest forward. Thus, he tries to show his fearlessness.
• Hands are casually lowered into pockets, and the body is impressively relaxed. Thus, a person tries to show that you are indifferent and uninteresting to him.
• Sometimes a domineering person can take a defensive position by crossing his arms over his chest and pulling out his thumbs. The latter means that although he tries to defend himself, he feels superiority over you.

Tactile interaction

Considering non-verbal gestures, it is worth paying special attention to tactile interaction with the interlocutor. So, we can talk about the following:

• If you are embracing when meeting a friend or relative, a short contact should be perceived no more than a tribute to propriety.
• A strong hug means that a person has become bored and sincerely happy to see you. However, if the impact is too strong and you literally choke on it, it is possible that a person is only trying to play the joy of meeting you.
• If at the time of embracing a person treats you with awe and you feel comfortable, this indicates a respectful attitude towards you.
• If at the meeting the person opens the palm for handshake first, this indicates his unlimited confidence in you.
• If, during a handshake, a man is taken not by the palm of his hand, but closer to the wrist, this indicates his suspicious attitude. It was during the Roman Empire that they checked if the dagger was in the sleeve of the interlocutor.
• If a person shakes your hand tightly or clasps with two palms, vigorously shaking (perhaps even causing you discomfort), it shows only his sincere joy over the meeting with you.
• If during the handshake you felt that the hand of your interlocutor is sluggish, then productive communication will not work, because he is not set up with you to contact.
• If a person hands his hand down, he at the subconscious level tends to dominate you.
• A pat on the shoulder means a friendly attitude. In addition, this gesture demonstrates the strength of the interlocutor and his willingness to come to the rescue.
• Be attentive to people who, during a conversation, grab you by the elbow. Feeling your mistrust, they similarly try to put you to yourself and even inspire that he can become a reliable friend for you. But this gesture is not always sincere, because such a psychological device is often used by people with self-interested intentions.

How to recognize sympathy

One of the main problems of the relationship between the opposite sex is distrust. Sometimes more than words, can tell non-verbal communication. Gestures that indicate sympathy are as follows:

• Glitter in the eyes - this is not a myth. A person who is in sympathy, indeed, looks a little differently, and the cornea becomes more hydrated. In addition, the pupils will be slightly enlarged.
• A man in love at a subconscious level tries to please. Thus, when meeting, he performs various manipulations with his appearance: he aligns his back, draws his belly, corrects his hair.
• Both men and women are trying to attract attention to external sex. It can be laying your fingers on the strap of trousers, widely spaced legs, unbuttoned upper button of the shirt.
• Active gesticulation (sometimes inappropriate) can also serve as a sign of sympathy. The fact is that a man in love often loses control over his actions.
• To assess the intentions of the interlocutor can be in the direction of his view. If he is constantly looking into the eyes, there is reason to believe that he is interested in you, as in man. A glance running around the body says nothing more than a sexual attraction.
• If the partner of the opposite sex is constantly trying to approach or under any pretext to touch you, you can not doubt his sympathy.

Lack of interest

Sometimes a person continues the narration, not suspecting that the interlocutor is absolutely uninteresting. Non-verbal communication will come to the aid. Gestures, indicating indifference, are:

• If your interlocutor crosses his arms over his chest, he instinctively closes from you. You are either indifferent to him or unpleasant.
• Pay attention to where the eye of the interlocutor is directed. If he looks anywhere, but not in your direction, then it's worth to end the conversation.
• If a person wants to end the conversation and leave, he will give a constant glance at the clock. Also, the socks of his shoes can be pointed towards the door.

Features of facial expressions

Much can tell about a person and his mood his facial expressions. Non-verbal gestures, reflected on the face, can speak about the following:

• The narrowed eyes and compressed lips speak of an angry mood;
• Raised eyebrows and wide eyes mean surprise;
• In a state of fear, the lips are widely stretched, and their corners are lowered;
• Happiness is characterized by a calm gaze and slightly elevated corners of the mouth;
• A sad man brings his eyebrows together and lowers the corners of his lips.

Voice intonation

The main ways of communication are verbal. Non-verbal gestures can demonstrate what the other person is trying to hide. No less informative may be intonation, which can tell about the following:

• Fast and inconsistent speech in low tones indicates strong excitement;
• Confident and loud conversation testifies to active enthusiasm;
• If a person speaks languidly, lowering the tone to the end of the phrase, it is about fatigue;
• Measured and slow speech, which is characterized by constant tonality, indicate the arrogance of the interlocutor;
• Constant pauses in speech, unintentional errors indicate nervousness and self-doubt.

Signs of lies

Knowing the meaning of non-verbal gestures, one can recognize the lies of interlocutors. So, it is worth paying attention to the following points:

• A long pause before the beginning of a phrase or frequent pauses;
• Asymmetry in the work of facial muscles;
• More than 10 seconds do not change face;
• Emotions arise late and do not correspond to the content of speech;
• Stretched smile, which creates not a curved, but a narrow line of lips;
• Absence of visual contact;
• Manipulation of hands and feet (tapping, twitching), as well as biting lips;
• Attempts to keep gesticulation under control;
• Heavy breathing and constant increase in the tonality of the voice;
• A closed pose with crossed arms and legs, as well as a hunched back;
• Rubbing the nose or eyelid (it can be mechanical and barely noticeable);
• The right side (in terms of gestures and facial expressions) is more active than the left one;
• Exaggerated emotions and gestures;
• Frequent blinking.

Distance

Considering non-verbal means of gestures, we can not say about the distance that is maintained between people under certain conditions. Thus, the following indicators are generally accepted:

• Up to half a meter is the intimate distance between close people who are in a confidential relationship;
• From 0.5 to 1.5 m is the interpersonal distance for friendly communication;
• 1,5-3,5 m - social distance, which is comfortable for interaction between unfamiliar people, as well as on business issues;
• 3.7 m is the public distance from which the performance is performed in front of a large audience.

It is useful to know everyone

Max Egger has an invaluable merit in studying such an issue as non-verbal means of gestures. He developed a system of 75 signals, the main ones of which can be considered the following:

• The Adam's movement testifies to the excitement of the interlocutor or that he is telling untruth;
• If the hands are in contact with any object, this indicates uncertainty;
• If a man strokes his chin, he ponders the sentence;
• A snack of a finger, a pencil or a temple of glasses means that a person evaluates you;
• Stroking the back of your neck means anger or a sense of threat from you;
• If a person rubs his hands, he expects to receive benefits;
• If the toes are spread apart, the person feels superior to you.

Conclusion

If you want to know more than you are told, it is worth studying sign language. Non-verbal communication is difficult to control, and therefore it can be considered the most objective. Nevertheless, one should never forget that these or other gestures can be associated with well-being or external influence.