Its possible that the person you were talking to was sending you some mixed signals through their body language.
Body languagetells us whats really going on beneath the surface.
Abbie Marono, behavioral scientist.
Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images
Read on to learn more about body language and mixed signals and how to interpret them.
But, below the surface, body language is an expression of our internal state.
Our body language is also a means of expressing our cultural and social norms.
There are many clues to interpreting body language.
These are some of the key elements.
Thats because theres a big difference between genuine smiles and fake smiles.
Certain muscles around the mouth and eyes (causing wrinkles) activate when someone is smiling with genuine emotion.
When you want to show someone that you are really listening, you look them in the eye.
Conversely,actively avoiding eye contactcan mean the opposite.
It all depends on context.
Blinking is also significant, says Dr. Glass.
If someone blinks a lot when talking to you, she advises, they may be uncomfortable around you.
Another great example of a widely understood gesture is moving your head.
However, signals can easily get mixed here.
This can throw you and the conversation off-balance because it results in the opposite of what you expected.
But theres much more to posture than that.
Its important to consider open versus closed posture when interpreting body language.
This can indicate a wide range of things, such as comfort, confidence, and honesty.
Closed posture is the act of putting a physical barrier between yourself and the person you are talking to.
You might cross your arms across your chest or cross your legs.
The direction of your posture can also speak volumes about your feelings.
Say youre on a date and you think it is going well, suggests Dr. Lillian Glass.
Proximity
For a lot of people, proximity is also a very clear expression of body language.
Basically, the closer you stand to someone, the closer you are to them emotionally.
Keeping your distance could mean anything from introversion to autism to not liking the way a person smells.
Dr. Marono explains why.
These attempts to shape perceptions may lead to nonverbal inconsistencies.
Mixed signals in body language can be represented by a wide range of behaviors.
Or maybe your boss gets aggressive with you and grabs your elbow while theyre trying to make a point.
Many people adopt mirroring behavior when conversing with others, especially others with whom they are intimately acquainted.
In your home?)
and what you are talking about (work?
Home life?).
Chances are, context clues can point you in the right direction.
Look at the whole person, not just their face, advises Dr. Glass.
Watch what they are doing with their hands and feet and body position.
confirm you are:
According to Dr. Marono, its impossible to stop sending mixed signals altogether.
In essence, mixed signals occur because our body is trying to navigate complex emotional landscapes…
Mind your body language.
Self-awareness and mindfulness when you are communicating is key.
verify your body language is aligned with your feelings.
see to it that there is consistency between your verbal and nonverbal messages.
Say youre at work and youre talking to your boss about a project you are struggling with.
This will also help your boss to understand where you are coming from and how to help you.
2019 Sep;2019:594-599. doi: 10.1109/acii.2019.8925535.
Epub 2019 Dec 9.
PMID: 32363090; PMCID: PMC7193529.
