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Today’s John Tierney-authored Findings column discusses the evolution and significance of the upturned palm and its variants–the shrug, the downturned palm, etc:
That simple gesture, the upturned palm, is one of the oldest and most widely understood signals in the world. It’s activated by neural circuits inherited from ancient reptiles that abased themselves before larger animals. Chimps and other apes, notably humans, adapted it to ask not just for food, but also for more abstract forms of help, creating a new kind of signal that some researchers believe was the origin of human language.
Gestures as proto-language! Body language, in general, has always held my interest. Apparently, gesticulating wildly with your hands is supposed to make you a more articulate speaker (I swear this is true: I’ve participated in cruel games in which subjects were supposed to tell stories while sitting on their hands).
Recently, my company cast a body language expert on a game show, and he was rumored to give you an apt diagnostic reading after just a brief introduction. When I finally met him, I consciously tried to slacken my entire body and avoid any gestures that might leak out insight, but the man was stealthy, and charming, and after he offered me a cup of water and observed how I held it, I was had: by holding the cup in front of my heart chakra, he explained, I was guarding my emotions. He suggested if I wanted to better connect with people, I needed to be conscious of which chakras I was blocking. He also said the number one thing to do in job interviews was to mimic the interviewer’s body language. Has anyone ever critiqued your body language?
Comments (13)
Comment
I basically cant talk without my hands. I gesture even when im on the phone and my friends constantly poke fun at me for it
posted by karah! on 8-28-2007 at 7:50 pm
I’d like to see you hold your water glass above your forehead, blocking that chakra…now THAT would be interesting!
I can’t talk w/out my hands either…I also can’t talk and draw a picture at the same time…
posted by donner on 8-28-2007 at 9:07 pm
How offensive….being called an ape…
posted by notanape on 8-28-2007 at 9:22 pm
I’m Italian-American and a bicycle rider, so obviously I can’t tell a story without wild gestures. “We were bombing down this hill…” = fingerns together, palm held flat and paralell to the floor, “and then we went around this sharp turn…” as I poke listeners eye out.
posted by fixedgear on 8-29-2007 at 5:03 am
I too have to use my hands to talk although not as much as most people. I have been critiqued for body language on several occasions for keeping my arms folded over my chest. It’s not that I’m mad or being defensive, it’s just more comfortable for me. Of course, I can see the mad inference, I’m a stocky guy with a shaved head and goatee.
posted by Dusty on 8-29-2007 at 6:58 am
I took a Non-Verbal Communication class in college, and was fascinated. It’s one of the bits of learning I actually use in my real life. To this day, I always try to be conscious of how my body language supports (or contradicts) my verbal communication with others. When you start being aware of it, it’s amazing. One example: crossing your arms in front of your chest means you’re closing yourself off to the other person’s message. Another: when you cross your legs, if you’re pointing them toward the other person, it signals openness, pointing away shuts them out.
posted by b.n. on 8-29-2007 at 7:48 am
I’ve had people comment on my body language before. Mainly because every time I talk, I windmill both of my arms as fast as I can until I’m done talking. Then I say “wheeeeee” and clap my hands in front of me and bow my head.
I think people read too much into this stuff.
posted by EV on 8-29-2007 at 9:03 am
There’s an excellent book on body language called, “The definitive book of body language” by Allan and Barbara Pease. It has fascinating explanations for and pictures of many of our typical body language gestures. I started skimming through it first but then went back and realized I couldn’t put it down. Well worth reading. They are the same authors of “Why men don’t listen and women can’t read maps”.
posted by B.G. on 8-29-2007 at 9:12 am
Is the reason I get no sex because I hold my pint by my waist? Blocking my cock chakras? Dang!
posted by S.p on 8-30-2007 at 7:44 am
what about facial expressions an non-verbal communication?
when i smile, it’s really big & cheesy & toothy. but i don’t want to walk around like Guy Smiley 100% of the time–i’m not a Muppet! consequently, though, when i’m just walking past people at work or something, i’m often being asked “what’s wrong?” or told to “smile!” additionally, in the past month a man at work has made two strange comments to me: “are you made at me?” & “don’t be worried” — out of nowhere. does my facial expression communicate in a way i’m unaware of? or are people just constantly trying to make conversation?
posted by sd on 8-30-2007 at 9:04 am
What sd said^, happens to me also.
posted by Tdave on 8-31-2007 at 3:34 am
ellen degeneres gets the same thing. she’s always eating in the restaurant next door to my office and her “default” expression is a frown…my friend who works for her says she gets grief for it, but that’s just the way her face sets.
posted by Becky on 9-2-2007 at 4:06 pm
I’ve been told that when I speak in English I have my mother’s mannerisms and hand gestures, and when I speak in French I have my father’s. (my dad is French my mom is American) After someone pointed it out to me I took notice, and it’s true!
posted by greenstrawberries on 9-18-2007 at 5:12 am