- According to Professor Dane Archer of the University of California, the face is the "organ of emotion" and people constantly read them to understand others' true feelings. Facial expressions can betray the truth behind someone's contradictory words. Equally they can add strength and meaning to what's being said. If two people unwittingly transmit confusing nonverbal signals, it prevents harmonious communication. A smile is generally false if only the muscles around the mouth are used. It disappears quickly and signals awkwardness or disapproval. Context is crucial and a frown can indicate an enraptured listener or an angry person.
- Nonverbal communications are voluntary and involuntary -- either way, the eyes convey powerful messages. Dilated pupils, for example, are effective emotional signposts and can indicate attraction and pleasure. A 2005 Edinburgh University study revealed that ovulating women are more likely to be attracted to men with large pupils, and research in the 1970s showed that men opted for women with enlarged pupils over others.
Eye contact is often voluntary and shows discomfort when someone looks away too often during a conversation. It can also be a sign of aggression when too direct and held for too long. Staring at someone openly and at length can be flirtatious or can indicate dislike. - Understanding how we communicate through touch depends on the people and the situation. A hug, for example, can carry different meanings: if it's at work or from a relative stranger, it can be a sign of intimidation or display of seniority, whereas at a party it's an appropriate greeting between friends. In an emergency situation, complete strangers are likely to hug others, sharing victims' personal space. Whether the touch is meant as a sign of reassurance or dominance, its true meaning can be confusing -- is it a friendly pat on the hand or a patronizing put down? Similarly, the angry parent donning a public smile while dealing with a screaming child often fools nobody, least of all the child.
- The way people walk, sit, stand up or hold their heads sends messages to the world about themselves. These body movements can be used deliberately to appear confident or may appear involuntarily betraying a heartfelt lack of confidence. If one person mirrors another's position, it generally indicates agreement and empathy. It's possible to test this out by consciously crossing arms to see if someone does the same without realizing. Defensive and protective body movements include folded arms and legs crossed away from the other person.
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