Body talk

The message you may not know you're communicating

 

 

By Danielle Olson and Shevy Chaganti
February 15, 2008

Have you ever heard someone say they were feeling OK, but you knew without a doubt they weren’t being honest and something really was wrong?

 

Students often struggle with articulating their messages without being misinterpreted. However, they may be unaware that they could be saying more than they think.

 

Albert Mehrabian, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at UCLA, is acclaimed for his studies and publications on verbal and non-verbal communication, which often are referred to as the “7-38-55” Rule.

 

Through his studies, Mehrabian found that body language accounts for 55 percent of our messages, tone accounts for 38 percent and words only account for seven percent. Along with tone of voice, body language gets across one’s feelings and attitude in a much more convincing way than our words do.

 

We spent two lunch periods observing sophomore David Bushey, a self-proclaimed introvert, and junior Colleen Briggs, an extrovert, in order to put these rules to the test.

 

Although body language depends on mood and situation, introverts and extroverts are likely to resort back to their natural tendencies.

 

Extrovert

“When you’re leaning forward, it means you are engaged in the conversation; you’re just not sitting back, but participating. Sometimes you reflect the person that you’re talking to. Whether it’s consciously or unconsciously, if somebody is feeling kind of closed in at the time, you might mirror that, either to make yourself feel more comfortable or maybe unconsciously it makes them feel more comfortable. People who do that have good social skills. They are the people who make friends easily because they know how to navigate a variety of social situations.” -School psychologist Kristina Crawford

 

Extrovert Example

“Sometimes I’m aware of [my body language.] My hands are always flying everywhere. ... I consider myself outgoing because I like to have fun and meet new people.” -Colleen Briggs, junior

 

Briggs exemplified the typical extrovert by jumping into the conversation and talking loudly. She sat forward in her seat and slightly leaned toward the people she was talking to or listening to while also looking away occasionally and putting enough space between her and the people around her.

 

This meant that she was interested in the conversation and was listening intently, but at the same time gave everyone around her their own personal space.

 

Also, while talking, Briggs used big hand gestures to make a point. This technique is often subconsciously used to draw attention to oneself.

 

Her body and limbs were relaxed but she didn’t lean heavily or slouch in her seat, which leaves a disinterested impression.

 

Introvert

“There’s the person that is not necessarily the one to go out and be the first one to say ‘hey.’ He would be the one if he were approached by somebody else, willing to have a conversation, not opening up everything at once. If you weren’t there to continue the conversation with him he probably wouldn’t continue it on his own. The other level is that really shy person that even when somebody else comes up to them, they are totally uncomfortable with that.” -School psychologist Kristina Crawford

 

Introvert Example

I don’t like to talk very often; I like my personal time and like to be alone sometimes. ... I mostly wait for people to come to me. -David Bushey, sophomore

 

At first, Bushey exhibited nervous body language by continuously jiggling his foot and fidgeting with his hair.  He sat up straight, appeared tense and crossed his arms while talking, which means that he would continue to talk when addressed, but would be cautious about what he said.

 

However, as the conversation went on, Bushey visibly became more comfortable by facing toward the talker instead of turning to the side and maintaining eye contact for longer amounts of time. He also started sitting more relaxed, whereas before he sat with his arms and legs close together.

 

How to tell if a smile is sweet

Smiling is often a customary part of conversation, but how can one tell the difference between a polite, forced smile and a genuine one?

 

French scientist Guilluame Duchenne is known for his studies of facial muscles, which demonstrated the noticeable difference between the two different types of smiles.

 

Social smiles are posed smiles formed on command, while Duchenne smiles are true smiles showing genuine happiness.

 

You can tell the difference between the two smiles by looking at the corners of a person’s eyes while they smile. If crow’s feet form at the corners of a person’s eyes, the smile is most likely real since the muscles around the eyes are more difficult to control.

 

What your body language says about you

200 students surveyed were asked to recall their body language while they talk and while they listen to somebody else talk. For example, ‘Do you maintain eye contact? Do you use big hand gestures?’

 

Students were allowed to choose multiple responses. The percentages shown in the graphs represent the number of students who selected each answer.

 

These questions were then categorized by school psychologist Kristina Crawford. The categories of body language were dominant, defensive, closed off, uncomfortable, attentive, open and relaxed.

 

According to Crawford, “body language is a series of events, not just a snapshot.”

 

By asking students to recollect their conversational habits, a more accurate analysis of their communication skills was conducted.