{"id":114610,"date":"2023-10-04T09:18:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-04T13:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=114610"},"modified":"2026-04-07T15:42:53","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:42:53","slug":"how-to-understand-body-language","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-understand-body-language\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Understand Body Language in Context"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you want to know how to understand<\/a> body language<\/a>? What are some common nonverbal cues<\/a>, and what do they mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand body language, you need to understand common nonverbal cues, while also recognizing that body language is unique to the person. Having a good sense of what nonverbal signals<\/a> usually mean and knowing what strategies to use to reliably read a specific person are both important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about how to read body language<\/a> and why context is important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Understanding Body Language: Where to Start<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you wish you could better understand the ways people communicate with their body language? Knowing how to understand body language<\/a> in context plays a huge role in good communication. With an understanding of how to use and interpret body language, you can more easily form connections with others, adapt your nonverbal signals to suit different situations, and even alter your emotional state. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve collected insights from nine experts in nonverbal communication<\/a>, including self-help authors, former FBI agents, behavioral experts, and leadership specialists. First, we\u2019ll look at a selection of general nonverbal cues you can use to read others<\/a> in conversation. Then, we\u2019ll discuss some of the most important contextual factors that should influence how we interpret those nonverbal signals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does Friendly Body Language Look Like?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Friendly body language tends to be open and relaxed. These cues communicate interest, trust, and willingness to engage. If you\u2019re approaching or trying to get to know someone<\/a>, look for these cues to determine whether they\u2019re open to it. Additionally, amend your body language so other people know you\u2019re friendly, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smiling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Schafer and Karlins state in The Like Switch<\/a><\/em> that smiling is one of the most powerful ways that people signal affection and openness.<\/strong> Furthermore, smiling people are seen as more attractive and more confident.\u00a0 When people are open to friendship, they will often look the recipient in the eyes, pause briefly, and then let out a big, warm smile while maintaining eye contact.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flashing the Eyebrows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Schafer and Karlins, another cue that signals friendliness when greeting others is lifting your eyebrows and returning them to their resting position in a single, rapid movement.<\/strong> In The Like Switch<\/em>, they argue that, if someone doesn\u2019t flash their eyebrows in greeting, we subconsciously perceive that person as someone to avoid.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navarro (The Dictionary of Body Language<\/a><\/em>) adds that we often flash our eyebrows when greeting friends and family. The movement happens in less than a second, signifying that we\u2019re happy and excited to see the people we\u2019re greeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving Full Attention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In The F<\/em><\/a>ine Art of Small Talk<\/a><\/em>, motivational speaker Debra Fine recommends acting as if there are no distractions in the room when you\u2019re conversing with someone. A friendly person will face you openly and directly, and smile.<\/strong> They will nod, make eye contact, and stay focused on you as you\u2019re speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Schafer and Karlins (The Like Switch<\/em>) emphasize that torso position says a lot about two people\u2019s interest (or lack thereof) in each other. Generally, people with good rapport orient their torsos toward each other during a conversation. Additionally, the more people lean forward, the more interested they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nonverbal Cues That Signal \u201cStay Away\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some body language cues signal that other people should stay away.  If you notice these cues in other people, it may be time to back off. They might not be open to forming a relationship with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tension in the Face<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Schafer and Karlins (The Like Switch<\/em>) assert that, if some displays a tight jaw, a furrowed brow, and narrowed eyes, this is a sign of unfriendliness. Navarro (The Dictionary of Body Language<\/em>) also notes that tension in the jaw and narrowed eyes typically signal anger and irritation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crossing Arms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Schafer and Karlins state that this is a protective gesture that places a barrier between you and the other person. It signals anxiety and discomfort. Navarro states that people do this when they feel unsure or unsafe because folded arms cover the soft front torso, which contains many of the most important and vulnerable internal organs. Therefore, we instinctively protect this area.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angling the Feet Away From Someone<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Navarro (The Dictionary of Body Language<\/em>) states that people often angle their feet away from someone they don\u2019t like. In social situations, this is a reliable indicator of people\u2019s true feelings, even if they\u2019re smiling and being polite.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Context Is Important in Body Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though you can make general statements about how to read nonverbal cues, there\u2019s no such thing as completely universal body language.<\/strong> If you want to understand the emotions of others, you must also understand the factors that lead to differences in body language from person to person. This helps you avoid misunderstandings that can come from interpreting nonverbal cues out of context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contextual Factor #1: Understand What \u201cNormal\u201d Body Language Is for an Individual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In The Dictionary of Body Language<\/em>, former FBI agent Joe Navarro states that when you\u2019re interpreting body language<\/a> cues, it\u2019s important to consider whether the action is ordinary or unusual for the person doing it<\/strong>. Factors such as personality type, neurodivergence, and culture can influence how someone communicates nonverbally. In The Laws of Human Nature<\/a><\/em>, Greene also warns not to universally assign cues to certain emotions: Different people may use the same nonverbal cue to express different emotions. For example, one person may speak louder when they\u2019re excited; another may do so when they\u2019re upset.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get a Baseline Understanding of People\u2019s Body Language<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To understand when body language indicates a certain emotion for a certain person, it\u2019s important to establish their baseline of \u201cnormal\u201d body language: a set of nonverbal cues that signal they\u2019re in a neutral emotional state.<\/strong> Once you have this knowledge of their \u201cnormal\u201d body language, you can more easily notice and interpret cues that represent strong emotions for them\u2014the cues will differ from the baseline.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, after establishing a baseline for one person, you may find that they habitually tap their foot and it doesn\u2019t indicate anything specific about how they\u2019re feeling. However, they don\u2019t typically tap their fingers\u2014if they\u2019re doing so, this may suggest they\u2019re experiencing a stronger emotion such as anxiety or impatience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In What Every Body Is Saying<\/em><\/a>, Joe Navarro and Marvin Karlins further explain how to determine and use this baseline. First, make a mental record of a person\u2019s behaviors at the start <\/em>of your interaction<\/strong>. This allows you to get a baseline to measure your future observations against.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, when analyzing someone\u2019s baseline behavior, assess it in the context of the situation they\u2019re in. Consider things such as their surroundings and what they\u2019re doing there so you can know what behaviors to expect and what behaviors are abnormal. For example, you should expect someone at a job interview to show more nervous behavior than someone shopping at a grocery store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greene (The Laws of Human Nature<\/em>) also offers advice for establishing someone\u2019s baseline body language. He advises that when you\u2019re studying a certain person, watch her interact with a variety of people to figure out her default emotion. Then, pay attention to changes from this baseline. For instance, if a normally cheerful person is smiling, that doesn\u2019t tell you much. However, if a normally neutral person is smiling, that probably indicates emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contextual Factor #2: Consider All Nonverbal Cues Together<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In The Dictionary of Body Language<\/em>, Navarro suggests also taking a person\u2019s whole<\/em> body language into account before deciding what a particular cue means. <\/strong>This can prevent you from misinterpreting their nonverbal communication\u2014the combination of cues will typically paint a clearer picture of their emotional state than an isolated one.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, when someone smiles at another person, we typically perceive it as a cue of affection, kindness, or joy. However, a smile on its own doesn\u2019t present the whole picture. If the person is displaying signs of tension or discomfort as well\u2014if the muscles around their eyes are tense, their feet are pointed away from the person they\u2019re talking to, and so on\u2014then their smile may not represent true affection or friendliness, but forced<\/em> friendliness that hides discomfort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortform Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For more information on using and interpreting body language, see the following Shortform guides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n