How to Detect Body Language
Body language is a form of non-verbal communication. An individual's body language can show one feeling while their spoken words express a different feeling. By observing a person's body language you can gain valuable information about what they feel, according to World Transformation. Some body language is easy to detect, such a child smiling or acting nervously after they have told a lie, but others are so subtle that only the trained eye can catch any discrepancies between what a person says and does.
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Instructions
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Notice a person's eyes. The eyes are very telling when it comes to body language, according to Changing Minds. When a person looks up, this means they are trying to remember something. If a person is looking up and around at their surroundings, this could mean they are bored. On the other hand, if a person's head is lowered and they look up, this could be a suggestive or judgmental action.
Looking down could be a sign of dominance or an admission of guilt. However, people often look down when they are talking to themselves.
In an anxious person, when the eyes move from side-to-side, they are looking for an escape route. Alternatively, a relaxed person can be envisioning "the big picture."
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Look at the nose. Flared nostrils are usually an indication a person is unhappy or making judgments. When a person wrinkles their nose and there are no bad smells around, this is an indication they feel contempt or dissatisfaction. Changing Minds states a person that has told a lie may touch their nose. However, rubbing a finger along the side of a nose may show disagreement.
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Look at what a person's hands are doing. Although hand gestures may vary from culture to culture, there are some subconscious actions people universally do with their hands. When a person holds an item close or holds their own hand, this could indicate an attempt to comfort themselves. Nervous people often fidget with items in their hands or doodle. When a person holds their hands in front of themselves, with the palms facing out, they indicate they want an action to discontinue.
A person may show dominance with their hands if they place their hand on top of another person's hand during a handshake. Alternatively, according to Changing Minds, a person that approaches a handshake with their palm up, does not tighten their hand during the greeting and quickly withdraws may be showing their submission to the other person.
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