Body Language
 

How deeply does it influence your impression of a person?

For example: I don't often cross my legs when I sit; I find that I often sort of lean forward with my elbows resting on my thighs, hands dangling between my legs. I suspect this makes girls appear masculine, or even militant.

Another example: slumped shoulders while standing suggests stupidity/vacuity to me.

What does certain body language/stature suggest to you?

i've been trying to decipher this body language since i first saw it last night

I don't know how I carry myself really, but I do think I probably look awkward. I like to wear jackets so I can put my hands in the pockets, because I hate figuring out what to do with my arms. I'm not a big fan of crossed arms, but the worst stance of all for males is the "arms down, hands together in front of the crotch" look. Goddamn, that bugs me. When I see guys standing like that I automatically assume they are morons.

A little eye contact is good, but too much can be rough on the nerves.

"get a flashlight, I think I just swallowed the dog"

i once saw a video of myself walking and i look kind of stiff and goofy when i walk

i can't think of any body language hang ups i have, although i'm sure if i racked my brains a bit i could think of plenty that i find grating

Good link Kegmama, though I disagree with many of them. I would say those are more "theatrical" interpretations. For example, I would interpret someone that kept their hands in their pockets stolid, or indifferent, or forbidding, not necessarily dejected.

I interpret hair-twirling as vacuity too, and I do it all the time, but because of anxiety.

I also interpret women who, when talking to men, lean forward and rest their chin on their palm as sluts.

seeing your own body language is a bit like hearing your voice on tape. am i really like that?!?

it's not as bad as hearing your own voice, that's the worst

please analyze her body language:

(truncy did it quite right, so edited the pic out)

I think Hayden said I sounded like a chipmunk. He is absolutely right.

That girl is

a. stoned

b. bored

c. casually, indifferently contemplative, with a subtle air of confidence

that's supposed to be a "sexy pose", but I think it's not.
she was too tired to pull it off.
Unconscious body language is way more powerful.

She's a pretty balanced girl, personalitywise. Anyway, I'll delete the pic, I jsut wanted to post an example of how "unconscious" body language has definitely more power than "aimed" psotures and such.

Personally, I don't think that looks very contrived. It's alluring in its understatedness (if that's a word).

the most interesting think about body language to me is how people mirror each other's movements. seriously, i try it a lot at work when i'm talking to someone, and if you open yr arms, they relax, if you cross yr arms they close up... and if yr aware of what yr doing you can almost control a person like that... do it to someone next time yr out or bored somewhere, it's pretty weird.

:eek:

Very true. And most people tend to unconsciously mimic the gestures of those they're talking to.

My body language is fucked......people prob. think I'm really mean.

Ive noticed this quite a bit and tried to identify reasons why i have found MYSELF all of a sudden mimicing who im talking to , and have never discovered anythign out of just feeling casual . i cant really say that it means anything , certainly not as positive or negative .
btw am a chronic hair curler and tend to do a lot of slouching .