Chapter 1, Introduction to JROTC Programs

JROTC
All Classes
Assignment 2
Reading Body Language
Name __________________________ Date _______________ Class/Flight
_________________

Directions: Read the article “How to Read Body Language – Revealing the Secrets Behind
Common Verbal Cues.” Then answer the questions. Use complete sentences in your response.
Your response must consist of multiple sentences that fully answer the question.

Questions:

1. Explain what you learned from the article?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

2. How can you start implementing the information presented in the article in your everyday life?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

3. What kind of body language do you present to the public?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

4. How do you think your body language determines who you are?

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
 Chapter 1, Introduction to JROTC Programs

How to Read Body Language – Revealing the Secrets Behind

Whether at the office or out with friends, the body language of the people around you speaks
volumes. It has been suggested that body language constitutes more than 60% of what we
communicate, so learning to read the nonverbal cues people send is a valuable skill. From eye
behavior to the direction in which a person points his or her feet, body language reveals what a
person is really thinking. Below are valuable tips to help you learn how to read body language
and better understand the people you interact with.

Study the Eyes

Eye behavior can be very telling. When communicating with someone, pay attention to whether
he or she makes direct eye contact or looks away. Inability to make direct eye contact can
indicate boredom, disinterest, or even deceit – especially when someone looks away and to the
side. If a person looks down, on the other hand, it often indicates nervousness or
submissiveness. Also, check for dilated pupils to determine if someone is responding favorably
toward you. Pupils dilate when cognitive effort increases, so if someone is focused on someone
or something they like, their pupils will automatically dilate. Pupil dilation can be difficult to
detect, but under the right conditions you should be able to spot it. A person’s blinking rate can
also speak volumes about what is going on internally. Blinking rate increases when people are
thinking more or are stressed. In some cases, increased blinking rate indicates lying –
especially when accompanied by touching the face (particularly the mouth and eyes). Glancing
at something can suggest a desire for that thing. For example, if someone glances at the door
this may indicate a desire to leave. Glancing at a person can indicate a desire to talk to him or
her. When it comes to eye behavior, it is also suggested that looking upwards and to the right
during conversation indicates a lie has been told, while looking upwards and to the left indicates
the person is telling the truth. The reason for this is that people look up and to the right when
when using their imagination to concoct a story and look up and to the left when they are
recalling an actual memory.

Gaze at the Face – Body Language Touching Mouth or Smiling

Although people are more likely to control their facial expression, you can still pick up on
important nonverbal cues if you pay close attention. Pay particular attention to the mouth when
trying to decipher nonverbal behavior. A simple smile body language attraction technique can
be a powerful gesture. Smiling is an important nonverbal cue to watch for. There are different
types of smiles, including genuine smiles and fake smiles. A genuine smile engages the whole
face, whereas a fake smile only uses the mouth. A genuine smile suggests that the person is
happy and enjoying the company of the people around him or her. A fake smile, on the other
hand, is meant to convey pleasure or approval but suggests that the smiler is actually feeling
something else. A “half-smile” is another common facial behavior that only engages one side of
the mouth and indicates sarcasm or uncertainty. You may also notice a slight grimace that lasts
less than a second before someone smiles. This typically suggests that the person is hiding his
or her dissatisfaction behind a fake smile. Tight, pursed lips also indicate displeasure, while a
relaxed mouth indicates a relaxed attitude and positive mood. Covering the mouth or touching
the lips with the hands or fingers when speaking may be an indicator of lying.
 Chapter 1, Introduction to JROTC Programs

Pay attention to proximity

Proximity is the distance between you and the other person. Pay attention to how close
someone stands or sits next to you to determine if they view you favorably. Standing or sitting in
close proximity to someone is perhaps one of the best indicators of rapport. On the other hand,
if someone backs up or moves away when you move in closer, this could be a sign that the
connection is not mutual. You can tell a lot about the type of relationship two people have just
by observing the proximity between them. Keep in mind that some cultures prefer less or more
distance during interaction, so proximity is not always an accurate indicator of affinity with
someone.

See if the other person is mirroring you

Mirroring involves mimicking the other person’s body language. When interacting with someone,
check to see if the person mirrors your behavior. For example, if you are sitting at a table with
someone and rest an elbow on the table, wait 10 seconds to see if the other person does the
same. Another common mirroring gesture involves taking a sip of a drink at the same time. If
someone mimics your body language, this is a very good sign that he or she is trying to
establish a rapport with you. Try changing your body posture and see if the other person
changes theirs similarly.

Observe the head movement

The speed at which a person nods their head when you are speaking indicates their patience –
or lack of. Slow nodding indicates that the person is interested in what you are saying and wants
you to continue talking. Fast nodding indicates the person has heard enough and wants you to
finish speaking or give him or her a turn to speak. Tilting the head sideways during conversation
can be a sign of interest in what the other person is saying. Tilting the head backward can be a
sign of suspicion or uncertainty. People also point with the head or face at people they are
interested in or share an affinity with. In groups and meetings, you can tell who the people with
power are based on how often people look at them. On the other hand, the less-significant
people are looked at less often.

Look at the other person’s feet

A part of the body where people often “leak” important nonverbal cues is the feet. The reason
people unintentionally communicate nonverbal messages through their feet is because they are
usually so focused on controlling their facial expressions and upper body positioning that
important clues are revealed via the feet. When standing or sitting, a person will generally point
their feet in the direction they want to go. So if you notice that someone’s feet are pointed in
your direction, this can be a good indication that they have a favorable opinion of you. This
applies to one-on-one interaction and group interaction. In fact, you can tell a lot about group
dynamics just by studying the body language of people involved, particularly which way their
feet are pointing. In addition, if someone appears to be engaged in conversation with you, but
their feet are pointing in the direction of someone else, it’s likely he or she would rather talk to
that person (regardless if the upper body cues suggest otherwise).

Watch for hand signals

Like the feet, the hands leak important nonverbal cues when looking a body language. This is
an important tip when reading body language so pay close attention to this next part. Observe
body language hands in pockets when standing. Look for particular hand signals, such as the
other person putting their hands in their pockets or hand on head. This can indicate anything
 Chapter 1, Introduction to JROTC Programs

from nervousness to outright deception. Unconscious pointing indicated by hand gestures can
also speak volumes. When making hand gestures, a person will point in the general direction of
the person they share an affinity with (these nonverbal cues is especially important to watch for
during meetings and when interacting in groups). Supporting the head with the hand by resting
an elbow on the table can indicate that the person is listening and is holding the head still in
order to focus. Supporting the head with both elbows on the table, on the other hand can
indicate boredom. When a person holds an object between him or her and the person they are
interacting with, this serves as a barrier that is meant to block out the other person. For
example, if two people are talking and one person holds a pad of paper in front of him or her,
this is considered a blocking act in nonverbal communication.

Examine the position of the arms

Think of a person’s arms as the doorway to the body and the self. If a person crosses their arms
while interacting with you, it is usually seen as a defensive, blocking gesture. Crossed arms can
also indicate anxiety, vulnerability, or a closed mind. If crossed arms are accompanied by a
genuine smile and overall relaxed posture, then it can indicate a confident, relaxed attitude.
When someone places their hands on their hips it is typically used to exert dominance and is
used by men more often than women. The above tips can give you insight into the true motives
behind people’s behavior, but it is not foolproof.

When analyzing body language, keep in mind that these techniques will not apply to all people
100% of the time. Certain factors such as culture and a person’s general body language habits
must be taken into consideration to accurately decode nonverbal cues.
Article credited to: Freemont College - https://fremont.edu/how-to-read-body-language-revealing-the-secrets-behind-common-
nonverbal-cues/