The Science of Reading People

 

The Science of Reading People: Decoding Human Behavior

The core skill is recognizing that non-verbal cues, body language and facial expressions reveal more accurate information about a person's true feelings and intentions than their words alone. This is crucial. 

Decoding Non-Verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication constitutes over 60 percent of human communication.

Body language reveals information before verbal communication.

Focus on observing what people do, not just what they say.

How It Works:

Posture shifts:

 Indicate discomfort or changes in emotional state.

Genuine smiles:

 Involve the eyes look for crows feet.

Microexpressions:

 Fleeting less than a second facial expressions that reveal true, often hidden, emotions.

Inconsistencies: 

Look for mismatches between verbal statements and non-verbal behavior e.g., saying Im confident while fidgeting.

Example: 

Think of people as icebergs. What they say is the visible tip only around 10 %. What they do with their body language is the massive, hidden base, representing the 90 % you need to understand the full picture.

Watch Out For:

Focusing solely on words: The biggest trap is believing everything people say at face value.

Isolated Cues: Don't jump to conclusions based on one's gesture. Look for patterns and clusters of behavior.

Cultural differences: Be mindful that body language varies across cultures.

The goal:

The ultimate takeaway is that mastering these skills isn't about gaining control over others; it is about becoming a mirror and a witness to the human experience. By moving from observation to connection, one can navigate relationships and high-stakes situations with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

How to Understand Anyone Instantly 

1. If someone blinks exactly 7 times in under 10 seconds, they've just lied to your face without realizing it.

2. People who tap their foot while smiling are subconsciously angry. That smile isn't for you, it's damage control.

3. If they clean their glasses before responding, they're mentally editing their words to avoid exposing the truth.

4. A person who touches their neck mid-conversation is subconsciously uncomfortable with their own answer.

5. People who inhale deeply through their nose before speaking are about to manipulate your emotions

6. If someone rubs their nose while you tell them something., they think it's a dumb idea.

7. When someone suddenly shifts from crossed legs to an open posture, they've become comfortable with you.

8. If you notice a person that doesn't talk much, but when they do, they nail it. They are highly intelligent people.

9. People who cross their legs immediately after sitting usually have strong ambitions and an active attitude.

10. Those who habitually touch their chin while speaking are generally alert and attentive in their work.

11. If someone appears surprised for more than three seconds, it's definitely fake.

12. If someone mirrors your body language, it's likely the conversation is going well.

13. If a person laughs excessively, even at silly things, they are probably lonely inside.

Body language

Updated : July  5 , 2019

 “A species’ survival depends critically upon its ability to communicate effectively, and the quality of its social life is determined in large measure by how and what it can communicate.”

~Robert M. Krauss 

Listen to a person When they look at you .

Body language or non verbal communication :

Communication is not only what you say or hear . Your eye gaze, hand movements, sitting and standing styles, facial expressions all these things include in communication. And this communication is known as Body language or non verbal communication. 

Non-verbal communication includes :

facial expressions, the tone and pitch of the voice, and gestures displayed through body language.

What body language reveals :

 It can often tell people exactly how you feel, even if you have hardly said a word. Body language is the unspoken element of communication. Body language isn’t always as clear as spoken language , But it reveal  a lot about people .It reveals our true feelings and emotions.  .Understanding  about body language can help to interpret unspoken issues. The things we don’t say still convey volumes of information. 

Body language reveals unspoken truths. 

Communication through body language :

Some estimates suggest that 7 percent we communicate through words and 93 percent nonverbally or through our body language .

But some studies says that body language may account for between 50 percent to 70 percent of all communication. 

Different studies show different results, but whatever they show , it is truth that body language reveal more abut people than verbal language. 

Facial expressions :

Facial expressions are among the most universal forms of body language. The expressions used to convey fear, anger, sadness, and happiness are similar throughout the world.

Learn  to read eyes because lips often lie. 

Postures: 

Posture can convey a wealth of information about how a person is feeling as well as hints about personality characteristics, such as whether a person is confident, open, or submissive.

People tend to have much less conscious control over their nonverbal messages than of what they actually saying .Because nonverbal communication is  much more emotional in nature .

Body language reveal more than words.

Non-verbal communication may also be both conscious and unconscious. Facial expressions are particularly hard to control, because we cannot see ourselves to know what we are doing. We may, therefore complicate communication by trying to convey one message consciously, while in fact conveying quite another unconsciously.

Michael Argyle identifies 

Five main functions of non-verbal communication:

•  To express emotions, 
• Communicate interpersonal relationships
• Support verbal interaction
• Reflect personality 
•  Perform rituals, such as greetings and goodbyes.

How to enhance verbal and non verbal communication :

 Verbal communication is enhanced when a person is an effective listener. Listening doesn’t simply mean hearing; it means  understanding another person’s point of view.

Watching other people’s body language, facial expressions and intonations, and being conscious of your own physicality and feelings can enhance non-verbal communication.

Copy the people you are spending time with and you want to attract them, this strategy is called mirroring .When talking to someone try to copy their facial expressions , gestures and body language.

Maintain eye contact with those who you want to attract. Follow 80/20 rule while talking to someone.  It means ,maintain 80 percent eye contact and 20 percent you can see your surroundings.

Carry a decent smile  . It improves your face value.

Make sure your body language is open ,(No close arms, or cross feet) it indicates that you are relaxed, calm, and confident .

However , the same gesture can indicate a number of different things depending on context.

Our success as an individuals depends upon our ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and non-verbally.

Thanks for reading! 

Source :

1:https://www.livestrong.com/article/150573-what-is-verbal-communication/

2:https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/nonverbal-communication.html

3:https://www.verywellmind.com/understand-body-language-and-facial-expressions-4147228