Your body language can reveal more than you think!

Do you pay attention to body language?

When you are on a date, you want to make the best impression possible in the hopes that your date will like you back. But did you know your body language can reveal how you actually feel? Up to 90% of our communication is non-verbal!

What does it all mean?

Some body movements or gestures can have multiple meanings, which is why it is so important to read someone’s overall body language when they are talking to you. Don’t jump to conclusions – these indicators can be extremely subtle! Here are some examples below:

Facial Expressions

One of the most vital parts of non-verbal communication is often the part of someone we look to first. We can often instantly tell whether someone is feeling happy, sad or angry just by seeing if there is a smile or a frown on their face.

But even then, there are different types of smiles with different meanings. Some can signal compassion (affiliative smiles), dominance (tend to be asymmetrical), deception, politeness and even flirting!

Even your eyebrows can be revealing, in men raised eyebrows can be a sign that they are attracted to the person they are talking to.

Hands

For most of the gestures we make, we aren’t even aware we are doing it. What you do with your hands can display how you are feeling.

A lot of people find dating difficult and often feel quite nervous – this can lead to a change in our body language. Try and keep your hands out of your pockets when you are meeting a new date as this can be seen as a sign you are uncomfortable.

Where you place your hands can also indicate if you are attracted to someone, for example when a man stands with their hands on their hips it is likely that they are actually attracted to the woman they are talking to. 

Body

We subconsciously lean towards the person we are attracted to when we are talking to them, this can happen even when you are talking with a larger group.

Even down to your feet, you are giving away signals that you are attracted to someone. Without even realising we tend to automatically point our feet towards the people we are attracted to.

     Eye Contact

When you are chatting with someone it is not often you will be stood perfectly still, we are not statues. We often move about, sway our bodies and heads as well as use hand gestures without even realising. We do so many different movements without even being aware of it, but too much of something can create the wrong impression – if you continuously keep smiling a huge grin while chatting to someone, they might think you a being fake or deceitful. It is all about getting the right balance, and most importantly to act natural.

A study has found that even the timing of your facial expressions is extremely important. They found that the first and last minute, in particular, are the most important. On a speed date, this means you should make sure you are opening your conversation with a welcoming presence but also saying goodbye in a friendly way.

 

References

Ali, M. R., Sen, T., Crasta, D., Nguyen, V., Rogge, R., & Hoque, M. E. (2018). The What, When, and Why of Facial Expressions: An Objective Analysis of Conversational Skills in Speed-Dating Videos. 13th IEEE International Conference on Automatic Face & Gesture Recognition (pp. 203-209). IEEE.

Arangua, M. (2021, January 13). 22 Examples Of Body Language Attraction. Retrieved from betterhelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/body-language/22-examples-of-body-language-attraction/

Cherry, K. (2020, July 27). Types of Nonverbal Communication. Retrieved from verywellmind: https://www.verywellmind.com/types-of-nonverbal-communication-2795397

Kar, A. K., & Kar, A. K. (2017). How to Walk Your Talk: Effective Use of Body Language for Business Professionals. IUP Journal of Soft Skills.