It’s no secret that people communicate with more than just their words. All people have different ways of coping with their emotions, and one of those ways is through body language. Being able to understand ways that a person is indicating their emotional state through their physicality can be a helpful tool when working through difficult situations and conflict. It can also help people feel better able to understand when their loved one might need space or support.
As a parent, understanding body language can be helpful when conflict arises in your family dynamic. Whether that be between you and your partner, or you and your kids, knowing how to read a person’s body language can help you gain better insight into how they may feel in a given moment. Keeping a close eye on these silent indicators can be beneficial in managing tense situations productively.
Though this article will cover some essentials when it comes to understanding body language, you can find more detailed information here: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/body-language/. People often have their own nuanced ways of communicating with their bodies and physical mannerisms, and the better you get to know a person, the better you will be at understanding what their body is signaling to you.
Avoiding Eye Contact
Sometimes, people avoid eye contact when the person that they’re speaking to makes them nervous or uncomfortable. This can be the case for people who feel anxious talking to someone they’re attracted to, or someone they perceive as having more power than them.
It’s also very common for a person to avoid eye contact when they are being dishonest in what they are saying. This is often a subtle way to judge if a person is telling the truth or not. They may look upwards when they are “looking” for answers for what they are trying to explain, or avoid your gaze altogether.
Body Direction and Posture
People tell us a lot with the direction that they angle their body in when they’re interacting with those that are around them. In fact, many people will mirror the behaviors and mannerisms of people they feel comfortable with or attracted to. Sometimes you may notice that a person seems to mimic the actions of a person that they are around. The same is true when it comes to body language that is angled away from a person that they are communicating with. This can indicate fear, aversion or general discomfort.
You can also measure a person’s comfortability by their posture. A person who feels intimidated may make their body physically smaller by curving their spine, and bringing their limbs closer to their body (such as by crossing their arms). A person who is confident will often feel comfortable sitting up straight, and present themselves as proud to be perceived by others.
Tension and Relaxation
A telltale sign of a person’s emotional state is how tense or relaxed their body seems to be. A person who is frustrated or angry, for example, may tense up their muscles and their hands may wrap up into fists. They may also become extremely still or appear to be physically uncomfortable.
A person who is relaxed, open and appears to be warm is more likely to be comfortable with their surroundings and company. Though some nerves early on in a romantic relationship are to be expected, eventually you’d like to feel physically comfortable around anyone you are in a committed partnership with.
Exceptions and Awareness
Though these are some basic fundamental body language tips, they are not one size fits all. The key to understanding interpersonal communication is to use a combination of verbal and nonverbal cues. A person may also feel aware of how their body language could be perceived, and make an active effort to fight against it while communicating with others.
Communication can feel complicated for some people, which is why it’s important to build trust with the people that you love. Being able to pick up on subtle cues through their physicality, while also maintaining an open line of verbal communication can help you get through conflict in an effective way.
About the Author
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
