Grab your FREE Gift, our dream interpretation software that's gotten RAVE reviews.....and start uncovering the secrets of YOUR dreams today! (limited time offer for 2010....grab yours while they last!)
Let’s start by taking a look at some different factors that may influence interpretation, and how we can account for those influences when reading body lanugage below!
Gender, culture, level of familiarity, and whether the setting is personal or professional all have an impact on how body language is interpreted. In this chapter, we briefly examine each of these factors. (We will bring them to your attention again throughout the book where they are relevant).
Examining Gender Differences
Because women are more communicative in general (while men are more analytical), they use both verbal and nonverbal cues more frequently in their communication with others. A study conducted on the way women and men enter a room illuminates this. On average, women exhibited 27 distinctive body movements while men only displayed 12 when entering a room. (Observe the difference below!)
On the surface one might think this difference in initial expressive gestures relates only to the fact that women are more outwardly expressive of their emotions. But there is actually a much more important implication:
When observers are asked to rate the estimated power or status of a person entering a room, they give higher ratings to people who make fewer physical gestures!
The less you move about when you enter a room, the more powerful and credible you are perceived to be!
As a result, women who are striving for equal status with their male counterparts should be particularly conscious, and in control of, their bodily movements.
The reason for gender differences in expressive tendency can be traced all the way back to infancy. It seems that baby boys are more likely to be put down early, and are less frequently touched than are girls.
Girls are taught from their earliest stages of development that public displays of affection are acceptable, while boys are conditioned to keep their emotions and feelings to themselves. That’s why women have no problem hugging others in most any situation while men find it difficult to embrace and show empathy under even the most private circumstances.
"Ready to Learn How to Detect Lies, Deceit & Deception Using ADVANCED Body Language Reading Techniques? Start Right Now!"
{ 0 comments… add one now }