how the body speaks
We use our bodies intentionally when we say something, like shrugging our shoulders, clapping our hands, shaking our head, or rolling our eyes. Other times, our bodies deliver our thoughts without our awareness, such as when we unconsciously point our feet in a direction, or when we touch our neck or face.
Writer David Lambert points out three fundamental goals for body language:
A substitute for conscious speech, as when we point our thumbs up; A reinforcement for a speech, how to articulate; It's a reflection of our state of mind, like our dilated pupils.
Body language was probably the first means of communication that humans knew. British zoologist Desmond Morris suggested in 1969 that we owe animal nature any and all non-verbal communication that humans have developed.
It's not just humans or apes who communicate non-verbally. Other animals like birds and lizards swell their chests when they want to establish dominance. We also know that when dogs feel guilty, they put their heads down.
Our bodies seem to be powerful and universally expressive tools that say much more than we realize, both when we want them to say something, or when we are oblivious to it.
the physical thought
There is an emerging field of psychology known as embodied cognition, whose main premise is that our bodies and the world around us not only influence us, but are also intimately intertwined in our thoughts.
Studies in this field have brought us some incredible results: Sitting in a hard chair makes people less willing to compromise than if they were sitting in a comfortable place; Holding a heavy clipboard, people invariably take their job more seriously; Holding a hot drink while you're talking to someone can lead you to be more affectionate with the person you're talking to than if you were holding a cold drink.
The typical idea that our consciousness sits inside our brains and watches the world, controlling the body to do its actions, is only half the story. Much of our body language happens without our awareness. But if we look at this idea of ​​embodied cognition, we may find that by becoming conscious and using the power of the mind to volitionally choose our movements, we can purposefully alter our minds and moods. Let's explore the following possibilities:
1 – Arms crossed
The most used defense mechanism: crossed arms. It is used to protect our heart and lungs. We often turn to it when we feel nervous, insecure, or when we're "downturning" a conversation. For this conclusion, scientists observed monkeys that made the same type of mechanism in similar situations.
We, perhaps, do not intend to maintain a strong attitude or create a physical barrier. This can give the impression that we are not willing to listen to other people's opinions, and perhaps make us less open to those we like.
2 - smile
Smiling is contagious. We have mirror neurons in our brain that fire when we perform an action when we see someone else doing it.
When we see a smile, our brains create the same pattern of activity as we feel the same emotions that accompany a smile – it's the same idea behind those contagious yawns.
The good news is that you don't have to see someone smile, you can just do it yourself. Doing this can reduce your stress level and negative thoughts.
3 - Imitation
Imitation is nothing more than copying someone else's actions. It doesn't have to be full-body mimicry, because even small actions cause "mirroring". This happens many times, unconsciously, through mirror neurons as we saw in the previous item, but the effect continues if we do it intentionally. Imitation helps build rapport with other people, and helps resolve disagreements and fosters empathy.
4 - Sloppy
You've probably heard this phrase: “sit right in this chair!”, and today we can say that this is great advice! Sitting or standing carelessly can lead to spinal misalignment, which affects our health. Also, positioning your body in this sloppy way can make a bad impression on others and yourself. This can cause sadness, as we deplete our energy, according to a study by the University of San Francisco, in the United States. They also found that shifting from a standing position to an upright position can cause an improvement in mood and energy.
5 – Powerful Poses
It is already known to many that animals puff out their chests to establish a dominant and powerful position, tending to take up more space. For us humans, taking up more space is associated with trust, and generally leads us to believe that we have a higher social class.
Improving position, with the intention of “taking up more space” alters our testosterone and cortisol levels. Practicing a simple pose every day for 2 or 3 minutes can increase testosterone by up to 20%, while those who sit sloppy or feel unmotivated experience a decrease in energy.
Cortisol, the stress hormone, goes down with just a confident look and posture. It's worth training!
6 - look
There is power in the look. Looking into another person's eyes automatically creates excitement - good or bad - depending on the circumstances. The look can also identify a lie, and most of the time, it detects when a person is being false.
A 1989 study showed that if two people look each other in the eye for two minutes, a heightened feeling of passion and affection is automatically created.
• Text translated and adapted by Natalia Iannone from the Eu Sem Fronteiras Team
