CCA3

“If she starts to lean into you, she wants you” said a friend of mine, a self proclaimed ladies man. While I would never admit to it, he’s quite popular with the opposite sex, due to his ability to decipher their body language. The course textbook refers to messages communicated through body movements as kinesics, the study of all non-verbal communication. While the interpretation of non-verbal behaviour is often overlooked, it remains a fundamental element of human communication everywhere.
Posture messages are fairly obvious to notice. A quick survey of the floor of a nightclub will reveal many well groomed men leaning against a wall holding their drinks across their chest in a position my friend refers to as the “f*** off” position. While this posture is intended to portray dominance and authority, women in the club pick up on this as a means to mask insecurity and discomfort in a social environment. Naturally, they flock towards the center of the club, out of the proximity of these wall flowers.
Consider the same night club, but picture a man who’s dancing and having fun. While he may not be the best looking man, being able to enjoy oneself in such situation portrays a degree of social savvy and comfort with oneself. Women naturally gravitate towards him, who will often be found in the middle of the dance floor and not against a wall. His position in the middle of the room shows he is not afraid of people, and is willing to open up to make new connections with others. It is no surprise, that such a man will receive more indicators of interest from the opposite sex than Mr. “F***Off”.
The fact of the matter is, humans have used gestures to communicate since birth with or without conscious recognition of the messages being sent through our movements. Our bodies are a reflection of our internal states and vice versa. Thus, to truly express the ideas we wish to convey with words, we give credence to our words with our actions.