Tell Me How You Really Feel; Nonverbal Behaviors

What does a person’s movement, gestures, or posture say about them? Our body language is extremely important when interacting with others. A large percent of conversations are interpreted through our non-verbal’s. Being able to read and understand our peer’s body language is essential in forming new relationships and creating lasting impressions.  

   Over the past weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Phi Sigma Sigma leadership conference. Working in a room with hundreds of women gave me many chances to study the nonverbal messages that others sends out. During one of the break sessions I found myself watching an interaction between two girls.
   The first thing I noticed between both girls was there posture. Each girl was leaning forward siting in a face-to- face dimension. Their posture implied that they were both interested and open about what one another were saying. Something else about their posture was the way both girls’ shoulders were curved in towards each other. That created an intimate feel for them and also nonverbally let others know that the conversation they were having was private.
   As their conversation continued I paid serious attention to each girl, that way I could realize each girl’s roles with in the conversation. I concluded that “girl-A” was telling a story to “girl-B”. Girl -A affect displays were a clear indication that she was telling a story. Her uses of fabricated gestures displayed a clear description of the emotions she felt about what was going on in the story. By clenching her fists and clapping her hand together I could tell that she felt passionately about what she was saying. I observed that Girl-B was being a great listener by the regulators she was using. She was nodding her head as Girl-A spoke, showing agreement and understanding. I also saw Girl-B produce some interactive synchrony. By showing animated expressions like puffing out her bottom lip to make an exaggerated frown and placing her hands on her hip while also making a shocked expression had me assume that as a sad and shocking part came up in the story  Girl-B mirrored that showing that she also felt those emotions that Girl-A was describing to her
   Through watching others nonverbal behaviors when interacting with others showed me how many conscious and unconscious behaviors we produce. I’m now knowledgeable on how easily detectable nonverbal behavior are. Knowing what messages you are sending through nonverbal behaviors and how they transact with will now better your future development and interaction with others.