Understanding Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication, also known as body language, plays a crucial role in conveying meaning and interpreting a person’s thoughts. According to Joe Navarro, a former FBI special agent, nonverbals are essential in security and everyday life, including selecting mates. Navarro debunks common myths, such as crossing arms being a blocking behavior, and instead suggests it can be a self-soothing gesture, like a self-hug.

Debunking Common Myths

People often exhibit certain behaviors like crossing arms or looking away when processing information, but these are not indicative of deception. Behaviors like clearing the throat, touching the nose, or covering the mouth are self-soothing actions, not signs of lying. There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that these behaviors can be used to detect deception, and humans are generally poor at detecting lies, contrary to popular portrayals in movies.

Real-Life Applications

A former FBI agent recounts a case where a suspect was caught on video coming out of a flower shop. The agent noticed the suspect held the flowers in a way typical in Eastern Europe, and instead of confronting him, used a presumptive approach, telling the suspect they knew he was a spy because of the flowers, which led to the suspect’s confession. This emphasizes the importance of face-to-face interactions and observing behaviors in law enforcement.

Analyzing Nonverbal Cues

When analyzing nonverbal cues, it’s essential to look for behaviors such as:

• Raised shoulders, stiffened fingers, and hand movements, which can indicate uncertainty or trouble
• Putting hands on hips, ventilating at the neck, brushing legs with hands, and foot movements like wiggling or withdrawing, which can signify defensiveness or feeling threatened

Additionally, observing physical behaviors and facial cues, such as hair, forehead, eyes, glabella, nose, lips, cheeks, and neck, can provide information about an individual’s emotional state, stress levels, and potential attempts to hide their true feelings or perceptions.

Assessing Someone’s Transmission

Assessing someone’s transmission involves looking at their behavior, body language, and nonverbal cues, such as posture, blink rate, and pace, to gather information about them. People constantly transmit information through their actions and appearance, and it’s up to others to interpret and use this information to make judgments or decisions.

Personal Space and Comfort

Handshaking releases bonding chemicals, indicating liking or disliking someone, and is necessary and essential in most cultures. People also unconsciously adjust their distance to feel comfortable, and this adjustment can be observed through body language, such as rocking away from each other and moving feet.

Nonverbal Cues in Poker

Poker players’ reactions and body language can indicate psychological discomfort, similar to those of spies. Players may exhibit behaviors such as shifting in their chair, reaching for their shoulder, or having high shoulders, which can be observed even before the game starts. Players may also display protective behaviors over their cards, such as placing their hands on top of them, which can provide valuable “poker intelligence”.

During a game, players exhibit nonverbal behaviors such as:

• Moving hands forward when they like something and away when they don’t
• Self-soothing actions like shuffling chips

Observing nonverbal cues at double speed can help identify critical behaviors that may indicate a player’s intentions or emotions. By paying attention to these cues, it’s possible to gather more information about a person’s thoughts and feelings than through verbal communication alone.

Key Vocabulary

Watch The Video

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which behavior is NOT typically a sign of deception, according to the text?

A) Looking away when processing information
B) Clearing the throat
C) Crossing arms as a blocking behavior
D) Touching the nose

2. What is the term for the process of gathering information about someone through their behavior, body language, and nonverbal cues?

A) Nonverbal transmission
B) Personal space assessment
C) Assessing someone’s transmission
D) Debunking common myths

3. Which of the following is a self-soothing action, according to the text?

A) Putting hands on hips
B) Brushing legs with hands
C) Shuffling chips
D) Crossing arms as a sign of aggression

4. What can be indicated by raised shoulders, stiffened fingers, and hand movements, according to the text?

A) Defensiveness or feeling threatened
B) Uncertainty or trouble
C) Confidence or comfort
D) Deception or dishonesty

5. Why is handshaking necessary and essential in most cultures, according to the text?

A) It releases bonding chemicals, indicating liking or disliking someone
B) It is a sign of respect or professionalism
C) It is a way to establish personal space or comfort
D) It is a form of nonverbal deception

Answer Key:

1. D
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. A

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Using Gerunds and Infinitives to Describe Purposes and Behaviors

Grammar Quiz:

Choose the correct answer for each question:

1. By observing nonverbal cues, people can gather information about others, including ________ their thoughts and feelings.
1. to understand
2. understanding
3. to be understanding
4. being understood
2. The former FBI agent used a presumptive approach, ________ that they knew the suspect was a spy.
1. telling
2. to tell
3. by telling
4. to have told
3. Nonverbal communication is essential ________ people’s thoughts and intentions.
1. in understanding
2. to understand
3. for understanding
4. understand
4. Poker players may exhibit behaviors ________ their cards, such as placing their hands on top of them.
1. to protect
2. protecting
3. in order to protect
4. so as to protect
5. Handshaking releases bonding chemicals, ________ whether someone likes or dislikes another person.
1. indicating
2. to indicate
3. in indicating
4. by indicating

Answer Key:

1. including understanding
2. telling
3. for understanding
4. protecting
5. indicating