BODY LANGUAGE
How to read others’ thoughts by their gestures
Author: Alan Pease
Book Review By: Noelene Le Roy (Dip. Teach, Dip Sp Ed, B Ed HONS, M Ed Guidance
& Counselling)
While palm power, ‘personal portable air bubbles’, positioning a purse and
pointing the foot may appear to be whimsical frivolous phrases, understanding
the many and varied aspects of body language can provide indispensable
information for us as communicators.
Pease presents an easy read text based on a theoretical bibliography that methodically describes and evaluates a wide range of body postures and positions and the messages and emotions they may be conveying to the participants in everyday communication.
He suggests that body language is about understanding how people feel and think. He describes through examples how body language may present a very different message from the actual words being spoken.
For those of us who want to share information with others at staff meetings, conferences or with colleagues, friends and family, reading the "Hand to Face" chapter provides some valuable pointers to ponder. Pease informs us of many of the subtleties.
For example; He suggests when a listener’s hand is on the cheek but is not providing any support to the head this may be an indicator of genuine interest however, when the heel of the hand takes any weight from the head this can usually be interpreted as boredom.
When the index finger is observed to point vertically up the cheek and the thumb supports the chin, the listener is presenting body posture, which may reflect his/her negative or critical thoughts. The text also very sensibly tells the reader to reflect on surroundings and culture when interpreting body language.
Not only does the book make us aware of others’ body language but it can also give us insights into our own nonverbal cues and signals. If you want to improve your credibility, enlist cooperation from others, pick up a partner without being obvious or avoid a speeding fine read about it in "Body Language".
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