h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Boddy Language, Non Verbal Communication and Neuro Linguistic Programming (therapy to improve self awareness and interpreting others' NVC) is actually one of my majos and a subject I loved very, very, very much.

All of these are specific to the UK but may be applied to similar cultures. When discussing BL, you must be aware that it varies from region to region (for example in southern italy, the head movement for yes (tilt forward, never back) is the same as the Greeks, whereas in ht enorth it is the standards northern Europe nod (backwards and forwards.)


The Basics:

Crossing arms and legs while standing is a defensive gesture, usually impying that you want to be left alone. However, if you are seated this can mean empathy/sympathy. Feet play an important part, as a general rule of thumb, if you are standing or siiting and are attracted to someone (whether or not you are talking to them) your feet will be pointing in their direction.

Group dynamics

If you are seated withj a group of friends, try the following experiment. If everyone is seated back in their chairs, sit forward. If it is a established group of friends, you will notice that one by one they will follow suit.

Lying

A sure-fire way of knowing if somebody is telling a white lie is if the continue to rub their nose while you are speaking to them (they may actually have an itch but no itch lasts for over 30 secs). If they are telling a m,assive porky pie, they will usualy flay they arms to the side, fully outstretched.

Attraction

If men are attracted they occasionally play with one of their ear lobes
whereas women will play with a lock of hair or continually tuck their hair behind their ears.

Trust

A sure sign that the person you are talking tpo trusts you is if they mirror your stance.

I can go on - it would be easier if you had any questions and then I could try and answer them...

*raises hand*

Go on then

*pushier class memeber, ignores DD *

I have to ask- why? why would I (or do I, I've never really noticed) rub my nose if I'm telling a lie? it just seems a bizarre thing to do- is it just psychological- is rubbing my nose signifying that I may be uncomfortable with what I'm saying, or is there something physical there too- does lying cause ppl to itch?

Also, how can I tell someone that I really really hate them without opening my mouth?

And have you ever tried freaking people out by looking two foot to the right of them, rather than directly in the eye? (sorry, that seemed appropriate... *wonders why*)

And whats different about standing and sitting, that doing the same thing in either situation can mean different things?

Why we rub our noses (usually in a motion from side to side on the under side of the nose) is open to many interpretations. The mst obvious being that we are covering our mouths - although as I have said in another thread, covering the mouth can indicate lack of confidence.

If you want to tell someone you really don't like them, narrow your eyes, tilt your head back and to the side and keep your lips together. Folding your arms always helps. The narrowing of the eyes is an animal instinct thing (dogs, certain apes etc), tilting the head back and to the side force you to look down on the person and shows a distinct lack of interest. Crossing your arms is pure defence - leave me alone!

Freaking people out by looking two feet to the right/left of them (guilty as charged) is something the eternally inquisitive are always doing. Frightened of missing out, they tune one sense to one person and another to a distant spot.

The main difference between sitting and standing is that sitting is a relatively defenceless position, therefore almost forcing trust and empathy. It is easier to walk away while standing than getting out of your chair and stomping off.

Does the genetic/environmental debate run through this field too?

& i guess thats why people stand to argue... Thanks.

The genetics debate has been known to run through this whole subject - is it nature or is it nurture?

Things like the narrowing of the eyes is universal and, I tend to think nature (it is not just a western thing but also, for example, Japanese. Take a look at manga et al, the heoes are wide-eyed and innocent, the bad guys are always shown with narrowed eyes).

And that is exactly why people stand up to argue.

What does it say about me that I deliberately try to break "mirrors"?
If I see someone mirroring me I move.
I also used to try to take alternate steps when I was a kid, so I wouldn't be walking in step.
Am I just weird?

And another question- is it true that you can manipulate someone by first mirroring their actions, until they expect to be doing the same thing as you, and then purposley doing different things making them mirror you?
if that makes *any* sense at all...

Ha well you didn't raise your hand so how did you manipulate me out of the way.

No my question before I was so rudely interupted by W*** was if someone seems to constantly seem to be going hte wrong direction whenever you walk past them in a corridor, so that they end up going in the same direction does it signify anything?

I shouted out.

Yeah which is verbal communication this is a thread about the non-verbal ain't that right sir?

*Looks to front of class but see's teacher has gone somewhere*

<-- non verbal

*starts to grimmace hoping teacher walks back in soon*

I can't see the blackboard.

Whoops apparently we're not talking about body language, but boddy language.

Discuss?

Give Mr Crusader a break being a teacher's no cushy job... *thinks about standing up and folding her arms *

Oooh taking his siode now are you.

*flicks an ink soaked piece of paper towards Joanna*

*reaches over and takes DD's pencil case*

*grabs unto pencil case and oulls it back*

*contents fly all over the room*