Running head: Body language and Kinesics

Body Language Notions and Kinesics in the Body. Diego Bobadilla National University

Body language and Kinesics

Body Language and Kinesics What is Body language and Kinesics? It is common to hear that if someone can read others body signs, they can tell, if they are telling the truth. Can people really know someones inner state only thru viewing movements of the body? It is a fact that human beings can express verbally, also that many other animals, can express many things thru movements of the body. Animals express their necessities with the body, well known forms of romance are watch in all kind of animals. It is also common knowledge that body language is a form of communication which expresses the mood of a person. To understand the science of body language and kinesics and the connection that they have to communication it is necessary first of all to define these two areas of science. Then it is important to know the background of body language. And to really understand the subject it is crucial to go deep into kinesics. Definition of Body Language and kinesics In order to understand from the simplest way body language and kinesics it is fundamental that is clear the concept. Mariam-Webster Dictionary defined these two like: Body Language (noun): The gestures, movements, and mannerisms by which a person or animal communicates with others. Kinesics: A systematic study of the relationship between nonlinguistic body motions (as blushes, shrugs or eye movement) and communication. (2011). As viewed it is crystal clear that exist a connection between non verbal action and communication. History of Body Language Body language has been studied for years, and for different scientist around the world. Kuhnke, in her book, Body Language for Dummies, marked that, specialists

Body language and Kinesics comprehension of non-verbal action in practical life, let persons know, that they can express themselves not only verbally but that they can communicate more efficiently with the body. Also the scientific community has been studying different uses and possible applications in the universe of communications (2007). The author observes that human beings have two ways of communicate, and, that many people is studying how to apply these studies to practical life. The first scientist who went seriously into the study of human and animal behavior was Charles Darwin, Kuhnke, states, that Charles Darwin published his discoveries in The Expressions of the Emotions in Man and Animals in 1872. This is probably the first work that studied body language and, it is used, even now days, as a fundamental work in

research onto non-verbal behavior. Darwin inferred that human beings have the capacity to express none verbally attitudes, emotions, and feeling since day one. Darwins conclusions are based in a close observation to chimpanzees, which like humans, live in groups and, in order to survive they have to communicate accurately, as their needs are covered by the group (2007). Communication is an inborn characteristic; humans have this ability, as well as animals, because it is a necessity. Non- verbal Behavior As define before, kinesics is the study of the connection between non-verbal conduct and communication. It is appropriate to go deep into what is nonverbal behavior and how it is represented in different areas of the human body. Walters, comments in his book, Principles of Kinesics Interview and Interrogation, that our emotions and feelings can indicate, in some degree, our inner world; with different stimulus the body can express different levels of stress. Therefore it is more reliable to see people talk than to hear them. The writer also claims that with oral expression the human race express ways to real

Body language and Kinesics thoughts (2003). It is clear that our mind can be expressed verbally and, our emotions are expressed not only with words, but with the whole body. Kinesics and the Human Body As any form of communication it is needed a system that emits a message, in this case it is the human body. In this essay it is going to be analyzed the head, shoulders, hands, and legs.

The Head: Most of the time the focus is only in the face, Walters, asserts that our head and face is the area of our body which we control the best and it is the communication base. Hence is the area of our body that we are more conscious about (2003). Next time not only see at the face, look beyond, and be aware of everything. Shoulders: The shoulders carry Stress. Walters, Analyses that always be alert with shoulders position and how it moves them the object of study. The level of stress can move the shoulders in a more defensive mode and some reactions can be easily identified (2003). The trained eyes most always look for signals of the posture and, the shoulders are a crucial in this. Hands: Another part of the body that it is easily spot by the naked eye and sometimes defined as a part of the body which communicates lots of things, Walters, give us three types of hand behavior: Emblems, which are the universal signs that humans can do with their hands. The stop hand position, or the finger, are well know everywhere in the world. Manipulators and adapters are when people use their hands in order to keep them busy in a given situation (2003). Just be sensitive to the movement of the hands and discover the inner level of nervousness. The Legs: Anxiety can be shown in the legs. Legs are far away of our brain so it is less preoccupied of what is happening down there. Walters, believes that being the legs the part

Body language and Kinesics

of the body that is further from the head it is the area where less attention is put. Thats why the movements of the legs can show different stages of the inner world (2003). People who are nervous tent to move their legs, also is a sign of boredom. They are big and it is very easy to see the longest part of the body! To understand the science of body language it is necessary to acknowledge that the body is always communicating. Also it is fundamental to understand the meaning of body language and kinesics and to go deep into kinesics. As any other system, the body has the ability to express or inform its state. The mind and its interpretation of reality puts information in the subconscious and, thru identification with different emotions, or feelings, people associate different situations to certain emotions, which are expressed in the body. That is why people do certain things and they dont know even why As analyzed the one who knows how to, it is easy to have an idea of the inner world of the other, and with the support of the verbal expression people can have a precise notion. Next time that someone is in a situation, be aware of the fiscal reactions in the body that might tell what is happening inside.

Body language and Kinesics References

Kuhnke, E. (2007). Body language for dummies. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, LTD. Walters, S. (2007). Principles of kinesics interview and interrogation (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC press LLC Mariam-Webster Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/body%20language http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kinesics?show=0&t=1303105360