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Body Language

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TerritoryIntimate

Touching 6-18”

Personal Close -1½ to 2½ feet Far - 2½ to 4 ½ feet

Social Close 4-7 feet Far - 7-12 feet

Public Close - 12-25 feet Far - 25 feet or greater

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Different Cultures ...A crowded

culture

What is your private space?

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When you invade my space

Reactions to an invasion of your space Feel troubled Get defensive Become

aggressive Retaliate

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Masks We Wear Public Masks

Public smile Clothing Putting on my face

Extended territory On the road At work

Can we drop masks?

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Jockeying for positionInclusive - Non-inclusive

How you include/exclude others in a group

Parallel body positions Will position yourselves to relate to each

other Side by side are neutral Facing means people are involved

Congruence-incongruence Groups that imitate each other

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LookingHow long do you look?

Staring- dehumanizes or challenges Glances - socially acceptable timing Appraisal- may indicate interest

Do you look when you talk?Do you look when you listen?

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‘What often happens in any relationship is that language itself becomes a mask and a means of clouding and confusing the relationship. If thespoken language is stripped away and the onlycommunication left is body language, the truthwill find some way of poling through. Spokenlanguage itself is a great obscurer”

Body Language, Julius Fast, MJF books, 1970.

Actions Speak Louder than Words?

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Misinterpretation = Trouble??

Lost business Lack of animation = lack

of interest? US tendency to get right

to business

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TroublesConflict with

peers

• Different work styles• Wrong assumptions

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Trouble….

Misinterpretation of signals Can be BIG

trouble Legal trouble Do you know how

to act or are you confused?

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Do you know what you are saying?

BODY LANGUAGE

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What is Body Language? Body Language is the

communication of personal feelings, emotions , attitudes, thoughts through body movements -gestures, postures , facial expressions, walking styles, positions & distance - either consciously or involuntarily i.e. its not only your tongue you communicate with but also you speak with your body movements & gestures.

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The Main Aspects of Body LanguageGestures: A gesture is the verbal or non-

verbal body movement used to express or emphasize an idea , an emotion or a state of mind.

Body Movements: This includes the head, eyes, eyebrows , lips , neck , shoulders, fingers and so on. One can distinguish four main kinds of gesticulation: Emblem, illustrators, regular and self-touching.

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Behavior : This refers quite simply , to everything we do which is overt or observable. It is important because it is observable to others.

Emotions: Refers to states such as happiness, depression & anxiety & milder moods such as feeling of pleasure & displeasure , degrees of excitement or drowsiness etc. A ‘Emotional cue’ is a facial expression, body movement or tone of voice indicative of emotion.

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THE FACE

The face is the most significant and

the most photographed – part of human body. The flashes of facial signals are generally spontaneous reactions which a person finds difficult to hide.

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General Characteristics

Expressions: Facial expressions are highly flexible & changeable. The face can encode a variety of communicative & informative messages.

8 Raise of eyebrows express astonishment.

8 We frown in displeasure or confusion.8 Envy or disbelief may be displayed by a

raised eyebrow.

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Emotions: The face is the most reliable indicator of a wide range of emotions : Joy & happiness , fear , annoyance, surprise, anger, sadness etc.

B When we are shocked we open our mouth.

BBlushing is another facial phenomenon that expresses emotion. A shy person becomes red in face when attention is focussed on him.

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Laughter: Laughter is composed of a broad range of gesture & sounds.

B ‘Ha-Ha’ is a genuine laughter. B ‘He-He’ is a mocking laughter. B ‘Hee-Hee’ suggests a secret

giggle.B ‘Ho-Ho’ communicates surprise

Smiling: smiling & frowning are two major facial expressions.

A genuine smile means ‘I appreciate you’; ‘I accept your ideas’.

A frown means ‘I find you puzzling’.

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Head Gestures

The Head Nod : A nod depicts a positive signal & a ‘head- shake’ signifies ‘no’ or a negative gesture.

Head nods show continuing attention , it also depicts what is happening to us emotionally. Heads tilt is a signal of interest.

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Eyebrows: B People lower or knit their

eyebrows when they show disagreement or displeasure.

B Frown when in displeasure. Mouth : B When ‘raised’ , the mouth

communicates positive feelings , happiness , optimism.

B If kept ‘straight’ to conceal emotion.B ‘Turned down’ to express sadness,

confusion , dissatisfaction.

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The Lips: When one does not utter a word lips can be eloquent because silent lips express a wide range of emotions from smile to frown.

Throat: when the Adam’s apple jump unconsciously signals anxiety, embarrassment or stress.

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The EyesThe eyes can be steely, knowing,

mocking, piercing, shifty. They can level a burning glance, or a cold glance or a hurt glance or again can be wise , knowing , inviting , scary , disinterested and so on.

B Pupils dilate when a person is interested.B We gaze in order to perceive the

expressions of others.B We look straight in the eye to get

attention.

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Ways of Looking:B Side long glance is referred to as

stolen look.B Blank stare depicts boredom.B Sparkling eyes are an attribute of

those who have ‘magnetic personalities’.

Glasses:B Peering over glass depicts being

judgmental or critical.BDark glasses are worn by those

who conceal their genuine feelings.

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THE HANDS The Human hand is a restless organ

B Limp hands show boredom.

B Nervous or jittery person shows restless hands.

B Clenched hands often shows frustration.

B Clapping of hands shows applause.

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When the arms are crossed they form a ‘barrier’ to an impending threat.

Arms folded with finger tucked in armpits & thumbs sticking out: this is when subordinate faces his superior whom he considers equal.

Arms behind the back is resorted by those who is experiencing an inner conflict.

Neck stroking signals suspicion.

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Putting objects in mouth is when they are busy with something.

Pinching the bridges of nose indicates a person in deep thought.

Nose rub is a sign of rejection.Chin stroking is when people

are in deep reflection.Slapping the head signifies self

punishment.Hands behind the head is used

by professionals who are confident & dominant.

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Styles Of HandshakePalm down thrust : signifies

dominance or aggression.Palm up position shows submission

by the giver.Glove Handshake: ‘Politician

Handshake’, this is with people one is familiar with.

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THE LEGSCrossed legs signify negativity.The foot lock is especially among shy &

timid women.The ankle lock signifies ‘holding back’ of

strong feelings , attitudes & emotions.Sitting on edge of chair indicates

compromise, accept or agree or conclude.

Rocking or swinging in chair indicates a person is in full control of situation.

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Walking GesturesArms swinging.Hands in pockets.Hands on hips.Meditative walk.Confidence walk.Leadership walk.Pacing.Swagger.

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When _____ people enter an elevator, they each...

1.One or two...lean against the walls of the elevator.2. Three or four...occupy a corner.3.five or six ...all turn to face the door.  ...get taller and thinner.  ...hands and purses and briefcases hangdown in front of the body, or "fig leaf

position." 

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...must not touch each other in any way unless the elevator is crowded, and then only at the shoulder or lightly against the upper arm. 

...have a tendency to look upward at the illuminated floor indicator. 

Thank You!!