Gestures, postures, facial expressions in business communication. For everyone and about everything Facial gestures and their meaning by example

26.08.2023

(The concept of non-verbal communication, the meaning of sign language in our lives and its use to achieve desired goals, the meaning of some gestures.)
Every day you meet different people, talk to them, convince them of something, and at the same time receive information from them. At the same time, you want to look convincing, self-confident, trustworthy. At the same time, it would be nice to understand how sincere other people are in communicating with us.
Your gestures, posture, gait, facial expressions are a kind of inscription on your back for those who can recognize body language. A gloomy, strict man in a strict suit with a heavy gait and a sharp voice also has his own inscription: "Do as I said!". And a man with slumped shoulders and a sad, preoccupied face announces: "Look how unlucky and tired I am."
In order to correctly understand other people and be able to properly present yourself in the right situation, you should learn to "read" sign language and. After all, two-thirds of the information about your communication partner, about his real feelings and intentions, you draw (consciously or unconsciously) not from his words, but from his gestures, postures, facial expressions, eyes.

non-verbal language- this is the result of not conscious behavior, but impulses of the subconscious. Therefore, it is generally impossible to fake it (except for individual gestures) and it is worth trusting it much more than words.

Looking closely at the movements of the interlocutor, it is important not to get carried away by unambiguous interpretations of individual gestures. A few non-verbal cues plucked from the entire mode of communication can only confuse an inexperienced observer.

If the interlocutor puts his leg aside, this can indicate both his mood and the fact that his leg is numb. If he scratched his nose or chin, this may indicate both a lie and that part of his face was really itchy. Therefore, the gestures of the interlocutor should be looked at in the aggregate, comparing them additionally with facial expressions and speech.

Body language and facial expressions. meaning of some gestures:

Openness gestures. Among the gestures of openness, the following can be considered: when a person’s hands are open, palms up, this indicates his openness, sincerity; when the interlocutor unbuttons his jacket, this is also a sign that the person is open to you and friendly.

defensive gestures. It is like a reaction to conflicts, threats. If the interlocutor crosses his arms over his chest, analyze what you are saying, because he begins to avoid discussion. If a person clenched his hands into fists - also a defensive reaction.

Appreciative gestures. These are gestures of expression of thoughtfulness and reverie. For example, a person holds his hand to his cheek (immersed in deep thought). If the interlocutor evaluates you critically, you may notice that his chin rests on the palm, while the index finger is along the cheek, the rest of the fingers will be below the mouth. This position is called “wait and see”. The interlocutor tilted his head - you can be sure that you are being listened to attentively. It happens that in the classroom students often sit with their heads bowed, which means that students are not interested in what the teacher is trying to convey. A person scratches his chin - it means he is busy making a decision.

Bored gestures. Many have seen such a gesture when a person begins to click the cap of a pen, or lowers his head in his hands. These are bored gestures, when a person is not interested, there is nothing to occupy himself with.

Courtship gestures. The woman begins to straighten her hair, smooth her hair, examines herself in the mirror, balances her shoes on her fingertips - a gesture of “beautification”. A man will straighten his tie, jacket, etc.

Gestures of secrecy and suspicion. The interlocutor covers his mouth with his hand - means that he hides his opinion on the issue that is being discussed. If the legs of the interlocutor and the entire body of the body are turned towards the exit, then the person wants to end the conversation and leave as soon as possible. A sign of doubt will be if a person rubs his nose, ear, eyes with his index finger.

Subordination gestures. Gesture of superiority can be expressed in handshakes. A person shakes your hand, while turning it so that his palm lies on top of yours, this is a sign that he is trying to express some kind of superiority over you. And, on the contrary, palm down - it means accepting a subordinate role.

Gestures of nervousness. Clearing your throat, coughing, jingling coins in your pocket, tugging at your earlobe.

Skillfully using the mechanism of non-verbal communication, you can significantly improve the process of communication. Everyone knows that there is verbal communication, and there is non-verbal communication (gestures, facial expressions, etc.). Some of the gestures are listed below. So:

By giving your hand with an open palm up, you indicate that you are ready to give the initiative to a communication partner. By covering his palm with yours, you declare in advance your claims to leadership.

A person's gait can also give a lot of information about his character and mood. With a handshake, you can demonstrate authority or humility, firmness or softness and caring.

Arms crossed on the chest indicate closeness and disagreement. By revealing them, you will become more open to perceive the interlocutor and inspire more confidence on his part. Open palms speak of sincerity and goodwill.

The hands folded at the mouth, the finger near the ear, the torso slightly tilted forward indicate interest and readiness to listen to the partner. By such behavior, you will demonstrate respect for the interlocutor and present yourself as a tolerant and open person.

If you want to focus the person's attention on a particular idea, then at a key moment, connect your index and thumb, or put all your fingers together. This will emphasize the importance of what was said and the accuracy of your judgments.

60% of communication between people is non-verbal - body language, and 30% is the sound of the voice, so 90% of what you express is not related to speech. The degree of a person's trust in words is only 20%, while the degree of trust in non-verbal communication (posture, gestures, interlocutor positioning) is 30%. Language of the body is a non-verbal form of communication that we use every day. The ability to master body language can greatly facilitate communication with others, including work colleagues, family and friends.
When communicating with a friend, people pay much more attention to body language than to facial expressions. Moreover, the analysis of body language occurs at an unconscious level, while attention is usually focused on the face of the interlocutor. If the movement of a person and his facial expression do not match, an alarm signal is immediately transmitted to the brain.

According to scientists, the basis of body language is embedded in the genetic code of each of us, but the environment can also influence them. So, for example, children blind from birth can laugh and smile, despite the fact that they have never seen a smile.

Body language is important not only in one-on-one communication with a person. In a group, people usually don't all talk at the same time. Usually one person speaks and everyone else listens. The better your body language skills are, the more people you will be able to impress or pressure.

Here are some examples of body language that you may find helpful in communicating with others:

1. If the person you are about to talk to has his hands clenched into fists on his hips, it means that he is either determined or aggressive.

2. If your interlocutor crosses his legs and looks at the tip of his toe, then most likely he is bored with the conversation.

3. Every time you cross your arms over your chest during a conversation, it means that you are on the defensive.

4. A hand placed on the cheek means that a person is either thinking about something or evaluating something.

5. A chin resting on your hand is a sign of boredom and disinterest in conversation.

6. If, when answering a question, your interlocutor constantly touches his nose with his hand, then most likely he either doubts or tells a lie.

7. A slightly tilted head of your interlocutor means that he is interested in what you are saying to him.

8. If you see that a person lightly pats his chin with his fist, then this means that he is making a decision.

9. If you enter a room and see that your prospective interlocutor is sitting on a chair with his legs crossed and holding his hands together behind his head, then this means that he is confident in himself and feels superior to you.

10. If you see that a person begins to bite his nails during a conversation, then most likely he is nervous or worried.

“We subconsciously perceive how body language is related to a person’s facial expression and immediately determine, relying on our inner sensation, whether a person, for example, with a cheerful expression, is really in a good mood,” explains Professor Beatrice de Gelder.

Together with colleagues from the University of Tilburg, de Gelder took photographs of men and women feeling fear or anger. It turned out that in fear, the body seemed to assume a "defensive position", the legs were placed slightly toes towards each other, and the shoulders were slightly laid back. In anger, on the contrary, the posture of a person, the chest and shoulders protrude forward, and the arms very often rest on both sides of the body.

Using special software, the researchers created two types of images: in some, facial expressions matched body movements, and in others, they did not. The face, on which fear was written, was "glued" to the body, the movements of which expressed anger, and vice versa.

The collage photographs were shown to 12 men and women. Volunteers were given electrodes behind their ears that measured their brain activity. It turned out that the brain reacted to the "substituted" photos in just 115 milliseconds.

It turns out that "fake" facial expressions are unlikely to be able to mislead others. Of course, we try to control our face, for example, without showing fear, so as not to frighten the child if we see something strange or scary. We can smile when a guest offers a tasteless dish, but body language will still give us away.

Knowledge of body language (the meaning of various gestures, facial expressions, etc.) is mandatory in the West for managers, starting from the middle level. The following is the meaning of only a very few gestures from all their diversity.

boredom gestures. They are expressed in tapping the foot on the floor or clicking the cap of a fountain pen. Head in the palm of your hand. Machine drawing on paper. Blank look "I'm looking at you, but I'm not listening."

Evaluation gestures. They express thoughtfulness and dreaminess. For example, the "hand to cheek" gesture - people leaning their cheek on their hand are usually immersed in deep thought. Gesture of critical assessment - the chin rests on the palm. the index finger is extended along the cheek, the remaining fingers are below the mouth in the "wait and see" position. A person sits on the edge of a chair, elbows on hips, arms hanging freely in the “this is wonderful!” position. The tilted head is a gesture of attentive listening. So, if the majority of listeners in the audience do not have their heads bowed, then the group as a whole is not interested in the material that the teacher presents. The chin-scratch "okay, let's think" gesture is used when the person is making a decision. Gestures about glasses, wipes glasses, takes a pair of glasses into his mouth, etc. - this is a pause for reflection. pondering one's position before putting up a more determined resistance, demanding clarification or raising a question.

Gestures of nervousness. Coughing, clearing the throat, the one who often does this feels insecure, anxious, the elbows are placed on the table, forming a pyramid, the top of which is the hands, located right in front of the mouth, such people play "cat and mouse" with partners until they give they have the opportunity to "reveal their cards", which is indicated by removing their hands from their mouths on the table, jingling coins in their pocket, indicating concern about the presence or lack of money; twitching one's ear is a sign that the interlocutor wants to interrupt the conversation, but is holding himself back.

Authoritarian gestures. Hands are connected behind the back, the chin is raised so often are army commanders, policemen, as well as top leaders. In general, if you want to make clear your superiority, you just need to physically rise above your opponent - sit above him if you are talking while sitting, or maybe stand in front of him.

Reinsurance gestures. Different finger movements reflect different sensations: insecurity, internal conflict, fears. The child in this case sucks his finger, the teenager bites his nails, and the adult often replaces his finger with a fountain pen or pencil and bites them. Other gestures of this group are interlaced fingers, when the thumbs rub against each other; tingling of the skin; moving the back of a chair before sitting down, in a gathering of other people.

Ready gestures. Hands on hips - the first sign of readiness, it can often be observed in athletes waiting for their turn to perform. A variation of this posture in a sitting position - a person sits on the edge of a chair, the elbow of one hand and the palm of the other rest on the knees so they sit just before concluding an agreement or. on the contrary, before getting up and leaving.

Evaluation gestures. They express thoughtfulness and dreaminess. For example, the "hand to cheek" gesture - people leaning their cheek on their hand are usually immersed in deep thought. Gesture of critical assessment - the chin rests on the palm. the index finger is extended along the cheek, the remaining fingers are below the mouth in the "wait and see" position. A person sits on the edge of a chair, elbows on hips, arms hanging freely in the “this is wonderful!” position. The tilted head is a gesture of attentive listening. So, if the majority of listeners in the audience do not have their heads bowed, then the group as a whole is not interested in the material that the teacher presents. The chin-scratch "okay, let's think" gesture is used when the person is making a decision. Gestures about glasses / wipes glasses, takes a shackle of glasses to his mouth, etc. - this is a pause for reflection. pondering one's situation before putting up a more determined resistance, demanding clarification or raising a question.

Protection Gestures"defensive". They react to possible threats, conflict situations. When we see that the interlocutor has crossed his arms over his chest, we should reconsider what we are doing or saying, because he begins to withdraw from the discussion. Hands clenched into fists also mean the speaker's defensive reaction.

Gestures of openness. Among them, the following can be distinguished: Open hands with palms up gesture, knitted with sincerity and openness, shrugging, accompanied by a gesture of open hands, indicates the openness of nature, unbuttoning a jacket people who are open and friendly to you often unbutton their jacket during a conversation and even take it off in your presence. For example, when children are proud of their achievements, they openly show their hands, and when they feel guilty or wary, they hide their hands either in their pockets or behind their backs. Experts also noticed that during successful negotiations, their participants unbutton their jackets, straighten their legs, move to the edge of the chair in the glare of the table, which separates them from the interlocutor.

pacing. - a gesture denoting an attempt to solve a difficult problem or make a difficult decision. The pinching of the bridge of the nose is a gesture, usually combined with closed eyes, and speaks of deep concentration "intense thought.

Gullibility gestures. The fingers are connected like a dome of a temple, the gesture "dome", which means trust and some self-contentment, selfishness or pride, a very common gesture in a boss-subordinate relationship.

Body language expressed in gait.
The most important are the speed, the size of the steps, the degree of tension associated with walking, the movement of the body, the setting of the socks. Do not forget about the influence of shoes (especially for women)!

Fast or slow gait depends on temperament and strength of impulses restless-nervous - lively and active - calm and relaxed - sluggishly lazy (for example, with a relaxed, sagging posture, etc.)

wide steps(more often in men than in women): often extraversion, purposefulness, zeal, enterprise, efficiency. Most likely aimed at distant targets.

Short, small steps(more often in women than in men): rather introversion, caution, calculation, adaptability, quick thinking and reactions, restraint.

Pronounced relaxed gait- lack of interest, indifference, aversion to coercion and responsibility, or in many young people - immaturity, lack of self-discipline, or snobbery.

Noticeably small and at the same time fast steps, disturbed rhythmically: agitation, timidity of various shades. (Unconscious goal: evade, give way to any danger).

hidden feelings

"Body language" is a phrase that has permeated the English language over the past twenty years. It reflects our increasing interest in psychological thinking. We want to understand ourselves and other people, and we are looking for ways to do it better and more accurately. One reason for being interested in body language is that body language allows us to discover other people's hidden thoughts, feelings, and concerns - as well as our own desires and fears.

Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, attached great importance to how we talk about our behavior.

Take these phrases:

* Jermie has an "inferiority complex".
* The presence of men "overwhelms" Sarah.
* Jonesy has a "too strong ego."

Psychoanalysis claims that each of us always has many subconscious desires. We suppress our desires. Often we do not know the true motives of our actions. Freud, who also saw the fun side of it, loved the jokes, errors, and slips of the tongue that exposed these motives. These, as he called them, "parapraxes" allow what is hidden in the subconscious to break out. The subconscious is primitive, it is teeming with forbidden desires that we do not want to show to others.

Freud analyzed everything that his patients said and remembered. They lay down on his famous couch (which is now in the Freud Museum in London) and had a conversation. Freud didn't observe people's behavior very often in real life, but he understood the importance of body language. One of his patients, whom Freud describes in his 1905 notes, seemed to lie quietly during the conversation, but his fingers betrayed him, the nervous trembling of which "exposed everything."

Our fingers, hands, feet, ankles very often "expose" our hopes, fears, our worries and our character traits. Our gestures speak a lot - both sweeping and subtle, especially when it comes to love or sex. Most of us become neurotic very easily at the mere thought of being loved and desired. These neuroses also often show up in the language used by the body.

To learn to understand body language, you must study and observe the people around you - and yourself very carefully. In this book, I'm going to give you examples and cases that I think should help you understand some of the complex concepts and make it easier to understand non-verbal communication. Sometimes, in order for you to feel what the other person wants to tell you, he does not need to utter a single word.

According to research, only a tenth of the information a person conveys in words. The rest is made up of gestures, facial expressions and intonation. The first intuitive “scan” of a person takes about 10 seconds. People do not always say what they think, but the body does not know how to lie. Hidden feelings find a way out through gestures. The psychology of non-verbal communication is very broad and multifaceted. Learning to understand human gestures and their meanings will make it much easier to find out the truth.

Gesture classification

The friction of the century can also indicate that the interlocutor is telling a lie. If the deception is quite serious, a person can look away or lower his eyes, stroking his neck or ears. But all these signs should be considered in a complex.

People who want to emphasize their unshakable positions can make firm hand gestures to emphasize the transition from one topic to another. Photos clearly demonstrate such gestures of people.

If the situation is very tense, it is worth using hand movements to defuse it a little. Serious phrases can be illustrated with cheerful gestures. This will cheer up the audience a little and charge the atmosphere with positive.
Do not become a clown and make ridiculous movements. Human gestures and facial expressions should draw attention to the main conversation, and not distract from it. In addition, they must be understandable to all present.

Human postures and his gestures very visibly, clearly express not only and not so much his character, but his inner state and intentions at the moment. The language of gestures and postures is very eloquent.

Why do we attach so little importance to the postures and gestures of people, but try to pay attention first of all to the words, and secondly, to the tone of speech?

But language of the body no less eloquent and varied.

Apparently, we are too concerned with how to understand the other at the level of words, we are too theorized. We no longer pay attention to the obvious (what the eyes see) things.

But psychologists and psychotherapists turn, investigators and business people cannot do without it. The result of their activity depends on this. And those who ignore this side of non-verbal communication lose a lot. Failure to communicate with other people is costly for all of us. Body language and body language can tell us a lot.

The psychology of gestures and postures is very exciting and has direct practical applications.

Gestures and human posture express his inner state.
So, gestures and postures. The language of gestures and postures can be divided into two types: ostentatious and involuntary. If you ask me “how are you”, and I show this gesture?

In the first case, I gave an ostentatious gesture, and then involuntarily a true one. True means that I lied and I'm afraid to say anything else. This gesture also means a slightly different meaning: “I do not agree with you and restrain myself so as not to say something “against”.
Both pictures are taken from Pease Allan's book " Language body movements. How to read the thoughts of others by their gestures ”(This book can be downloaded at the end of the article).

However, I also got my thoughts from this book.)))

But the task is not only to know, but also to apply the language of gestures and postures! We must learn to be attentive and notice the most diverse bodily manifestations in people. These expressions include facial expressions. But they learned to control facial expressions (by the way, in vain), as well as words and intonations. But involuntary gestures manifest themselves and are easier to notice.

Gesticulation is natural and spontaneous.

I am sitting now, writing these lines in a cross-legged position. But this posture means uncertainty and excessive security. I just can’t get rid of this habit yet.)) By the way, the “hands on chest” gesture expresses a person’s uncertainty to an even greater extent.
"Shelter behind some partition is a natural reaction of a person, which he learns in early childhood for self-preservation."
"Hands in the lock on the chest express an attempt to hide from an unfavorable situation." ( Pease Allan)

There are many variations of this gesture. If fists are clenched, then, naturally, this is also anger. If the thumbs are raised, then along with uncertainty there is self-conceit. And here is a photo of a respected member of the subscribe group and author Natalia (LedyNata) by all of us.

In Piz Allan, this is called an incomplete barrier formed by the hands.
“Another common variant of an incomplete barrier is a gesture in which a person holds his own hands (Fig. 71). This gesture is commonly used by people standing in front of a large audience when receiving an award or when giving a speech. Desmond Morris says this gesture allows the person to regain the emotional security they experienced as a child when parents held their hand under dangerous circumstances." (Pease Allan) As you can see, body language is varied and eloquent.

Uncertainty and seeking support. Or here are some more pictures from the same book with inscriptions. Various gestures.

Of all three, the one in the middle has the most successful pose. Confidence, relaxation, a sense of strength of position.
Everything is simple and clear. We can only learn to be observant, both for others and for ourselves!

Postures can be roughly divided into two categories: leg postures and hand postures.

The main and usually emphasized foot pose is cross-legged. The cross-legged pose is always a defensive pose, a pose of uncertainty.

Hand poses more varied. The posture of the hand in the pockets most often means restraint, tightness and secrecy. And the posture of the hand in the castle is already complete indecision and confusion. What can you do with your hands clasped in the castle? Nothing!

The posture of the hand on the belt expresses the containment of aggression.

Hand poses are very expressive! And hand gestures too!

Gesticulation is ambiguous! For example gesture goat!

In Christian culture, the gesture depicts the good news! The new Russians have a sign of their own superiority over others. And in the Middle Ages, this gesture generally played a mystical role and supposedly protected from the evil eye.

The thumbs up gesture is also ambiguous. Among the Slavic peoples, this is a call for attention, and in Germany it is an expression of confidence and stability. Of course, we are talking about the index finger. The thumbs up gesture expresses: “Everything is fine!!

Gestures (gestures) And character human are closely related. The same gestures can have the opposite meaning in people with opposite characters.
For example, a man's gesture to straighten his tie. A demonstrative, hysterical man with such a gesture, most likely, attracts attention. But a suspicious, self-doubting person thereby expresses his confusion.
It turns out that not only gestures express character, but character also forms gestures. Gesticulation is a consequence of character.
And the interpretation of gestures can be different and depends on the nature of the person.

Human postures are static, gestures are dynamic, but both are intertwined and in a common canvas give out true moods and experiences.

Download a book Pisa Allan " body language. How to read the thoughts of others by their gestures.

And another interesting video on the topic. Psychology of gestures - facial expressions.

http://youtu.be/SgBoZlFueoU
And in conclusion, I wanted to add the most popular topic.

Gestures of love and sympathy .

Funny video. The language of gestures and postures in action.) A young guy very "eloquently" with the help of gestures shows sympathy for the girl, urges her to spend time together. Pointing to his chest, he assures her that she lives in his soul. All gestures are accompanied by the cutest smile. The guy is open to communication

In his famous book Body Language, the Austrian writer Alan Pease claims that each person perceives information based on this calculation: 7% of information comes with words, and the remaining 97% is perceived by us using non-verbal signals.

These modes of communication are better known as "sign language" and mean a form of self-expression that does not use words or any symbols of speech.

Expand your perception

Knowing the types of non-verbal communication and understanding non-verbal signals is important for several reasons. Firstly, they perform the functions of an accurate expression of feelings, because very often we experience feelings so complex that we simply cannot find the right words to describe them, but this can be done using non-verbal means and methods. Secondly, they perform the functions of a deeper mutual understanding.

Knowing the basic ways of non-verbal communication, you will be able to better understand and “bite” the other person, when he tries to control his behavior in communication with you, because non-verbal signals appear unconsciously and your interlocutor simply cannot control them. The classification of non-verbal means of communication and examples of their use will help you not only better understand yourself, but also teach you to recognize lies and manipulation by other people.

To learn to better understand the interlocutor and recognize his hidden signals, you first need to learn to pay attention to all the elements or means of non-verbal communication at the same time, and non-verbal means of communication include facial expressions, gestures, postures, intonation and timbre of voice, visual contact and interpersonal space.

Let's talk in more detail about each of these elements of non-verbal communication and give specific examples of their manifestation.

facial expressions

Facial expression is a facial expression of a person, it is the main element in displaying emotions and feelings. Positive emotions, such as love or surprise, are much easier to recognize than negative ones, such as disgust or anger. are reflected differently on the right and left sides of the face, because the left and right hemispheres of the brain perform different functions: the right one controls the emotional sphere, and the left one is responsible for intellectual functions.

Emotions are expressed in facial expressions in this way:

Anger - wide open eyes, lowered corners of the lips, "squinted" look, clenched teeth;
Surprise - parted mouth, wide eyes and raised eyebrows, lowered lips;
Fear - drawn together eyebrows, stretched lips with lowered and laid down corners;
Happiness - a calm look, raised, laid back corners of the lips;
Sadness - a "faded" look, lowered corners of the lips, arched eyebrows.

visual contact

This method of non-verbal communication helps to demonstrate interest in the conversation and better understand the meaning of what was said. During a conversation, two people together create and regulate the degree of comfort, periodically meeting their gaze and taking it away. A closer look can both build trust and create discomfort.

Pleasant general topics maintain eye contact, while negative, confusing questions make you look away, demonstrating disagreement and dislike. Features of visual contact allow us to draw conclusions about the degree of interest in the dialogue and attitude towards the interlocutor:

Admiration - long eye contact, calm look;
Indignation - a close, obsessive, somewhat disturbing look, prolonged eye contact without pauses;
Location - attentive gaze, eye contact with pauses every 10 seconds;
Dislike - avoiding eye contact, "rolling" the eyes.
Expectation - a sharp look into the eyes, raised eyebrows.

With visual contact, you can find out not only the attitude of the interlocutor, but also determine some features.

Intonation and timbre of the voice

Correctly understanding the intonation and timbre of the voice means learning to "read between the lines" the message of another person. These features include frequent pauses, unfinished sentences and their construction, the strength and height of the voice, as well as the speed of speech.

Excitement - low tone of voice, fast, abrupt speech;
Enthusiasm - high tone of voice, clear confident speech;
Fatigue - a low tone of voice, a decrease in intonation towards the end of a sentence;
Arrogance - slow speech, even monotonous intonation;
Uncertainty - mistakes in words, frequent pauses, nervous cough.

Gestures and postures

Feelings and attitudes of people can be determined by the manner of sitting or standing, by a set of gestures and individual movements. It is easier and more pleasant for people to communicate with those who have expressive motor skills, a lively, relaxed facial expression.

Bright gestures display positive emotions and dispose to sincerity and trust. At the same time, excessive gesticulation, often repeated gestures can indicate internal tension and self-doubt. Non-verbal communication becomes available, and the level of mutual understanding increases if you understand the postures and gestures of your interlocutor.

Concentration - closed eyes, pinching the bridge of the nose, rubbing the chin;
Criticality - one hand near the chin with an extended index finger along the cheek, the second hand supports the elbow;
Positivity - the body of the body, the head is slightly tilted forward, the hand slightly touches the cheek;
Distrust - the palm covers the mouth, expressing disagreement;
Boredom - the head is propped up by the hand, the body is relaxed and slightly bent;
Superiority - sitting position, legs one on the other, hands behind the head, eyelids slightly closed;
Disapproval - restless movement, shaking off "villi", straightening clothes, pulling trousers or skirts;
Uncertainty - scratching or rubbing the ears, wrapping one hand around the elbow of the other hand;
Openness - arms are spread out to the sides with palms up, shoulders are straightened, the head “looks” straight, the body is relaxed;

Video about non-verbal communication:

Interpersonal space

The distance between the interlocutors plays an important role in establishing contact, understanding the situation of communication. Often people express their attitude in such categories as "stay away from there" or "want to be closer to him." If people are interested in each other, the space separating them decreases, they tend to be closer. For a better understanding of these features, as well as in order to correctly distinguish between situations and the scope of contact, you should know the basic limits of the allowable distance between the interlocutors:

Intimate distance (up to 0.5 m) - intimate trusting relationships between loved ones, friends. It may also be acceptable in sports where physical contact is acceptable.
Interpersonal distance (from 0.5 m - to 1.2 m) - a comfortable distance during a friendly conversation, where touching each other is allowed.
Social distance (from 1.2 m - to 3.7 m) - informal interaction in society, during a business meeting. The greater the distance, up to the extreme border, the more formal the relationship.
Public distance (more than 3.7 m) is a comfortable distance for a lecturer who makes a public speech in front of a large group of people.

Such limits of distances and their significance depend on the age, gender of a person, his personal characteristics. Children are comfortable at a closer distance from the interlocutor, and adolescents close and want to move away from others.

Women love closer distances, regardless of the gender of their interlocutor. Balanced, self-confident people do not pay much attention to distance, while nervous anxious people try to stay away from others.

Learn to recognize lies

In order to feel confident and comfortable in situations of communication with different people, to avoid manipulation, you should learn to recognize non-verbal language of communication in situations where they are trying to deceive you.

What means of non-verbal communication, gestures, postures, facial expressions should be paid attention to in order to recognize a lie?

too long or frequent pauses, pauses and hesitation before the start of the replica;
asymmetry of facial expressions, lack of synchrony in the work of the facial muscles, when there is a discrepancy in the facial expressions of the two sides of the face;
A "frozen" facial expression, when it does not change for 5-10 seconds, is false;
delayed expression of emotions, when there are long pauses between the word and the emotions associated with it;
"Elongated" smile, when the lips are pulled back from the teeth, creating a narrow line of lips;
visual contact is shallow, when the eyes of the liar meet the eyes of the interlocutor for no more than a third of the entire time of the conversation, while often looking at the ceiling and around with a restless facial expression;
twitching of any part of the body: tapping fingers on the table, biting the lips, twitching the arms or legs;
the sparse gestures that the liar keeps under control;
high tone of voice, heavy breathing;
bent body, cross-legged postures;
poor facial expressions, weak work of facial muscles;
rapid movement of the eyes first to the upper right corner, and then to the lower left;
quick, imperceptible at first glance, touching the nose, rubbing the eyelid;
more vivid gestures with the right hand, in comparison with the left;
any exaggeration: extra movements and gestures, inappropriate emotions;
frequent blinking of the eyes

Knowing all the subtleties of non-verbal communication techniques, you will not only be able to avoid manipulation, but you yourself can easily