According to research by communication experts, including a study done in the 1980s by Dr. Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, as much as 50% or more of what is understood in face-to-face communication is non-verbal.
Talented actors can fake non-verbal cues consistently for a short period of time, but not for long stretches. They also can’t fake their handwriting. The subconscious mind’s influence on your mannerisms and the symbolism through your script is overwhelming.
Just like handwriting analysis, body language reading has proven to be a valuable form of personality analysis.
You must avoid projecting onto another person if you want to read them well through body language; just cease judgment and be open to the non-verbal cues. Ignore what doesn’t synchronize with what you are being told at your own peril.
A collection of opposing gestures and mannerisms to what a person is telling you can completely negate the intended message.
A barely perceptible movement or twitch of the eyes or mouth, a slight change in the tone of voice—it takes practice to notice the subtleties. Micro-expressions last thirty milliseconds or less and these involuntary emotional responses are important clues.
Fleeting moments of elation spilling out during what’s supposed to be an unfortunate story, like when a news anchor is reporting on one political candidate or another, can be very revealing. Spotting these types of non-verbal cues can also be very entertaining. Another example is when you see a flash of disgust before a person rearranges their face into a smile.
See this site for a reasonable collection of body language and non-verbal tips.
Although I won’t confirm that everything on the above-linked site is accurate, it appears to offer a good overview on body language and I like how they say, “…no single body language sign is a reliable indicator. Understanding body language involves the interpretation of several consistent signals to support or indicate a particular conclusion.”
That approach is similar to mine: There is no “This (one single indicator) equals that (a specific life circumstance, event, or personality trait).” Pattern recognition is necessary if you want high levels of accuracy.
I recommend several forms of personality assessment, including handwriting analysis, to form a solid set of checks and balances to reduce your risk in personal and business matters. Non-verbal cue analysis is also a dependable method.
While it may not be possible to be a 100% accurate walking polygraph all the time, you can certainly limit your risk by learning about body language.
Copyright © 2012 Scott Petullo