Body language Sociology

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Body language is a broad term for forms of communicationusing bodymovements or gesturesinstead of, or in addition to, sounds, verbal language, or other forms of communication. It forms part of the category of paralanguage, which describes all forms of human communication that are not verbal language.

Paralanguage, including body language, has been extensively studied in social psychology. In everyday speech and popular psychology, the term is most often applied to body language that is considered involuntary, even though the distinction between voluntary and involuntary body language is often controversial. For example, a smile may be produced either consciouslyor nonconsciously.

Terminology

Voluntary body language refers to movement, gesturesand poses intentionally made by a person, for example conscious smiling, hand movements and imitation. It can apply to many types of soundless communication. Generally, movement made with full or partial intention and an understanding of what it communicates can be considered voluntary.

Involuntary body language quite often takes the form of facial expression, and has therefore been suggested as a means to identify the emotions of a person with whom one is communicating.

Origins of body language

The relation of body language to animal communicationhas often been discussed. Human paralanguage may represent a continuation of forms of communication that our non-linguistic ancestors already used, or it may be that it has been changed by co-existing with language. Some species of animals are especially adept at detecting human body language, both voluntary and involuntary: this is the basis of the Clever Hanseffect (a source of artifact in comparative psychology), and was also the reason for trying to teach the chimpanzeeWashoeAmerican Sign Languagerather than speech — and perhaps the reason why the Washoe project was more successful than some previous efforts to teach apes how to dance.

Body language is a product of both genetic and environmental influences. Blindchildren will smile and laugh even though they have never seen a smile. The ethologistIraneus Eibl-Eibesfeldtclaimed that a number of basic elements of body language were universal across cultures and must therefore be fixed action patternsunder instinctivecontrol. Some forms of human body language show continuities with communicative gestures of other apes, though often with changes in meaning. More refined gestures, which vary between cultures (for example the gestures to indicate "yes" and "no"), must obviously be learned or modified through learning, usually by unconscious observation of the environment.

Social uses

When one thinks of body language one may think of one-to-one communication, however, there are indications that body language may be even more important in group communication. In a group situation, one is aware of the non-verbal communication of each individual in the group, while speaking is typically limited to one person at a time. In other words, the larger the group, the more body language starts to have an impact.

Body language is also a factor in humancourtshipas a subconsciousor subtlemethod of communication between potential mates. Researchers such as Desmond Morrishave devoted extensive study toward this behaviour, publishing various works on the subject. (see also: Flirting)

Examples

Showing one's palms to the listeners may mean openness and honesty; hiding the palms may mean deceit. Moving the hands close to the mouth or touching the nose may also indicate deceit. It is assumed this is because in the early evolution of human kind showing open palms showed that one had no hidden weapons or purposes. In kids it can easily be seen that they hide their hands behind thier backs or put their hands in their pockets when they are lying, a more advanced version in adults is simple not showing open palms. Open palms with raised shoulders exagerate the expression, further showing "I have nothing to hide".

People often indicate interest by pointing with their leg or knee. Pointing at another person means interest or acceptance of said person. Pointing your body away from the one you talk to means you would rather not be talking to the person and would rather move in the direction you are pointing.

Silence itself can often be a form of paralanguage. It has a variety of interpretations, usually dependent on the individual. One interpretation, comprising of silence and looking at the floor or avoiding direct eye contact, often shows that a person is thinking about a problem that emotionally affects them. In Western culture, not looking into an individual's eyes often indicates deceit. Specifically, it indicates a desire to be elsewhere, motivated by the discomfort or anxiety that that may accompany dishonesty.

Body language

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Terminology

Origins of body language

Social uses

Examples

See also

References

External links