Nonverbal communication or body language can have a major impact on your interactions with other people. The simple act of crossing your arms or glancing away can convey a message about your feelings towards someone. HelpGuide.org says non-verbal communication is such a big part of human interaction that it's even more commonplace that verbal expression.
Effects
The words you are speaking may be in sharp contrast to the message your body is sending. It can be easier to hide the truth with words that it is to conceal it with body language, notes HelpGuide.org. A child may say he didn't let the lost cat outside, but his low-hanging head might suggest otherwise.
Facial Expressions
You can express numerous emotions with your face without ever uttering a word, according to HelpGuide.org. Your face can communicate happiness, surprise, anger, fear, impatience, sadness, confusion, disbelief, disinterest and other emotions. The simple act of raising an eyebrow can make you look suspicious, while a yawn might be a sign that you are bored.
Touch
The way you touch someone can communicate a great deal of information about how you feel. A gentle pat on the back can be a sign of compassion or empathy, an intimate embrace can signify physical attraction, while rejecting a touch by pushing away a hand may indicate dislike or anger.
Gestures
You can relay numerous messages simply by the way you stand or sit. Your physical proximity to another person can speak volumes about how you feel towards him. You are apt to angle your body towards someone you find interesting or intriguing, while you tend to move away from a person you are not attracted to, according to WestCoastHarvard.com.
Speech Sounds
Your voice is able to communicate messages even when you are not creating words. Nonverbal speech such as your tone, sound level and inflections can effectively reveal various feelings such as anger, sadness or joy.
Impact
Nonverbal communication can be preferable to using words under certain circumstances, according to BodyLanguageExpert.co.uk. Hugging a friend who is mourning a loss may be more fitting than trying to express your sorrow with a verbal condolence.
Significance
Nonverbal forms of communication will to some degree affect every interpersonal interaction. BodyLanguageExpert.co.uk says it's impossible to prevent body language from influencing the tone and meaning of your words.
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