When people think they have known it all, body language will always expose them. That is, we can transmit messages without our own knowledge. This is an intuitive part of us which we let out without our taking cognizance of our actions. David (2012) gives one of the encompassing definitions of unconscious communication. He says that it is the subtle, unintentional, unconscious cues that provide information to another individual. It can be verbal (speech patterns, physical activity while speaking, or the tone of voice of an individual or it can be nonverbal (facial expressions and body language. In this instance, our major focus is on the nonverbal. Some scholars refer to the unconscious communication as honest signals because such cues are involuntary behaviors that often convey emotion whereas body language can be controlled. Many decisions are based on unconscious communication, which is interpreted and created in the right hemisphere of the brain. The right hemisphere is dominant in perceiving and expressing body language, facial expressions, verbal cues, and other indications that have to do with emotion but it does not exclusively deal with the unconscious (Allen, 2012).
Here are few body language signals that reveal the inner intents of people. First, let’s start from the head. By watching a person’s head, you can establish their stress level. If their head is pointing down, this could be a sign of submission. Conversely, it could be an unconscious attempt to cover up their throat and protect it. Sometimes this could be because they don’t want to appear threatening, or because they feel intimidated or shy. Something that’s very interesting is that when a person tilts their head, they expose the crown of their head– the hardest part of the head – which in the animal kingdom is often used for butting. Another meaning that can be read to this is that the person is expectant of trouble or resisting a conflict. Regardless of the reason, when someone has their head pointing down, it tends to be a sign that the person is feeling stressed, vulnerable or meek(INL, 2017).
It is worthy to note that this is not always the case at all times. In the case of a long uneventful meeting, it means they are bored and cannot help it again. So much so, that the pen on the table, their fingers or shoes are of more interest than what’s been said. Enough of negative trends to head movement! If a person’s head is raised, this is high probability that they are confident. That is, they are relaxed and certain of themselves. They’re not worried or preoccupied by the chances of any impending conflicts, and are focused on the encounter they’re engaged in (INL, 2017).
Now, let’s pay attention to their legs. When you watch a person’s leg, you will discover a lot about them. A person’s legs are good indicators of what they’re really feeling. That’s because they’re furthest away from their head. That is, people hardly take conscious note of it. If a person is about to depart from a place, it’s their legs that first move. That might be because they’re in a hurry. On the other hand, it might be that they might not like you and want to get away from you as quickly as possible. Whatever the reason, their legs will give them away. They’ll point a foot in the direction they want to go. The same thing happens with the arms. When you’re driving a car and you see something that grabs your attention, often your arms will drift over in that direction, taking the steering wheel and the car with it (HTA, 2018). Some experts are even of the opinion that the legs will tell you more about a person’s feeling than their facial expressions or vocal tone. This is because they have a better awareness of their words which determine their facial expressions and are able to control them more (HTA, 2018).
The arms and hands can also pass unconscious messages. The arms and hands are usually used in self-expression. This doesn’t mean that people don’t use them in a less obvious way. When people feel confident, they open their arms wide but if they are nervous, they might wring their hands together. Furthermore, when people are bored or impatient, they might drum their fingers on the table or shove their hands in their pockets. It can be easier to spot these signals because people tend to keep their hands in front of their torso, especially when they’re sitting down. When you meet someone for the first time, it’s common to extend a hand. But if they don’t, could it be that they are defensive or socially awkward? Probably there are some cultural phenomena at work which you are oblivious of. When they cross their arms, they could be creating a barrier between you and them. Where the arms are concerned, it’s a lot to do with stress and comfort levels. The more open and expansive a person’s arms are, the more relaxed they feel. When they’re feeling stressed, however, that’s when they might cross their arms or keep them tucked in close to their body (HTA, 2018). There are other parts of the body that are employed in passing messages unconsciously—the torso, neck, eyebrows, inner smile and lot more. When the body parts are less obviously used during communication, they communicate the inner feelings of the subjects.
References
David, C (2012). “Tuning in to unconscious communication”. MIT News.
HTA (2018). The 9 Unconscious Body Language Signs That’ll Have You Reading Someone Like a Book. Retrieved from https://hypnosistrainingacademy.com/unconscious-body-language-signs/
ILN (2017). 7 Unconscious Body Language Signals That Reveal What Someone’s Really Thinking & Feeling. Retrieved from https://www.inspiringleadershipnow.com/unconscious-body-language-signals/
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