Movements That People Use To Communicate

Ok, let's talk more about the gestures and movements that people use to communicate, because being able to recognize them is an essential part of being able to read and use this art to your advantage.

As we well know, listening only to the words that the another person is saying is not always enough. His or her body language can always help you tell if that person is being honest, sincere and even what they are feeling deep inside.

As we also know body language entails the gestures and movements involving the body, from head to toe and each signal of body language that a person uses may have different meanings, depending on the situation in which it was delivered.

Let's start off with head gestures. With our head we can signal yes or no simply by the movement we choose to use. Nodding up and down usually means “yes” or “I agree” right?

It's basic. We learn that as tiny children. But, did you know that in other countries such as Yugoslavia, India, Bolivia and Turkey, it sometimes means “no”. and in parts of Asia it can mean the inability to understand you.

Something to think about just in case you find yourself in a place where you don't understand the spoken word!

Nodding your head occasionally while a person is talking to you will show them that you are interested and focused on them. Whether you are selling, persuading, flirting or listening to someone it will give you the power to make that person like you and trust you more!

Just keep in mind that nodding is a strong signal and if you use it to seduce men, women, or to influence others while you are talking to them it has the ability to reinforce what the OTHER person has in mind. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are agreeing with what you are saying. Tricky, I know!

If you see someone holding their head level it is often a show of self assurance, confidence and authority. Have you ever heard that old phrase "walk with your head held high"? Now you know why.

When they are tilting their head to the side or backwards it indicates that the person is thinking deeply, considering a thought or paying attention to what you have to say. If you are asking them a question, then chances are that they are thinking of the best answer to respond with.

When they are shaking their head back and forth it means no for most of us and it is a sign of disagreement in most countries as well. But again, it is important to be aware of cultural differences. Just like with nodding your head up and down in some countries shaking it back and forth means YES!

Now let's move on to facial expressions.

They are the most obvious and visible signs of how someone is truly feeling, however there are some people who have mastered the art of controlling their facial expressions. For instance, professional poker players. They are very hard to read because they can make themselves appear virtually expressionless when they need too!

That is where the eyes come in. Even with an inexpressive face, it's hard to miss what is being expressed through the eyes. As we talked about in lesson two, eye contact is the strongest form of body language. The eyes can speak volumes given any circumstance. Eye contact is a strong indication of focus of attention, interest, attraction, and honesty.

We also learned from lesson that you can spot somebody lying to you if they can't hold eye contact with you for a period of time and that if they look away, it signifies a lack of interest, dishonesty, or boredom. On the other hand there are times when looking away signifies attraction or simply a slight distraction.

Now let's not forget that there are other features on our faces that send out signals as well.

Did you know that touching or rubbing of the nose is one of the most common self-touching gestures?

If you catch someone touching or rubbing their nose it can simply indicate that they have detected a bad smell or that they have allergies. But more often than not it is done by people who are lying or trying to hide something.

You see, when most people lie the blood vessels in their nose dilate, making the nose swell, appear redder, or even tingle. Which often leads to them touching or scratching their nose.

Here are a few more nose moves you can learn:

- Rubbing the finger alongside the nose can indicate disagreement.

- Pinching the bridge of the nose can mean the person is evaluating something, usually negatively.

- Flared nostrils are a sign of anger and indicate the person is experiencing extreme displeasure.

- Sniffing can indicate displeasure, disgust or the common cold.

- A wrinkled nose can happen when a bad smell is detected or even thought about and is often mixed with a little rub, scratch or sniff. It can also happen when the person is thinking about something distasteful to them.

And just so you know, blowing your nose in front of others is a gesture seen as rude by most countries, but it is considered a sign of good health in some parts in Asia, so be careful!

Moving on, let's talk about the mouth. More importantly the smile and lips not the words that come out of it.

Most of the time smiling indicates pleasure. It implies that the person is happy, enjoying another person's company or they are amused by something in particular, like a joke or funny story.

Let's go over the anatomy of a smile.

A full smile engages the whole face, particularly including the eyes, which often twinkle, accompanied by a warm glow that warms the skin on your face. This is caused by the excitement or joy you are feeling at the time, which causes the blood to rush to your head. Much in the same way someone's nose turns red when they are lying.

Smiling with lips only is often what is referred to as a false smile. This happens when someone wants to convey pleasure or approval, but is actually feeling something else. False smiles tend to last longer.

Lowering the jaw to show a D-shaped mouth can be a false smile as it is easy to do. It may also be a deliberate signal of amusement and an invitation to laugh.

Smiling without opening the mouth, and particularly with lips firmly pressed together, may indicate embarrassment about unsightly teeth. It may also be an attempt to suppress a comment that has come to mind, but may be better left unsaid.

Here are some more cues to look for:

- A half-smile, on one side of the face, may indicate cynicism, sarcasm or uncertainty.

- Smiling is also a sign of submission as the person effectively says 'I am nice and not a threat'.

- Smiling in some cultures indicates a question or that you want the other person to speak.

- A genuine smile, indicating honesty and openness to communication

- Someone covering the mouth or parts of the face while you are talking to them means that the person you are talking to could be surprised by what you said.

- If they are talking to you they could be lying or uncomfortable with the conversation

- If a person's lips are puckered it could mean that they tasted something sour or they are recalling a similar feeling. It can Faso convey sexual interest.

- Pursed lips mean worry or disapproval.

- Lips swished to the side when you are talking means they are listening to you carefully or thinking about what to say next.

- Lip biting is often a nervous habit that shows anxiety. It can also be a sign of anger.

Here is a little fun fact: Licking or biting of the lips is one of the most typical signals of flirting performed by women. Keep that in mind guys!

While the ability of read someone's else's body movements is sometimes unreliable, it is still a very important skill to have. With some practice and experience you can learn how to navigate your way through the words that people are speaking and gain a deeper understanding of who they really are.

As you start honing your skills, I want you to keep in mind that sometimes the gestures that people perform aren't what you think. What one person may regard as rude may just be a bad habit or cultural difference to the other person and they may have no intention of being rude.