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We convey information through the position and movement of the body. Body language can reveal emotionality, as when a person exhibits a nervous habit (biting fingernails or wringing hands). We often use gestures or body movements to accentuate what we are saying. For instance, when I lecture, I often use my hands to emphasize points or point to something on the blackboard. Some people use them more than others. The clenched fist, the victory sign, the OK sign, the good-bye wave, the blowing of a kiss, and the wiping of the brow in relief are all popular gestures in the United States. It is important to recognize, however, that most gestures are not universally recognized. For example, although the OK gesture (circle made with thumb and finger) means acceptance in the United States, it has other meanings in other cultures. In France it communicates worthlessness. And in Greece, it is considered obscene (Axtel, 1991).
There are some sex differences in nonverbal behavior. In American culture, men tend to sit or stand with legs apart and hands outward, whereas women tend to keep legs together and hands at their sides. Women are likely to have better posture than men, and usually sit still more. Women are also better than men at interpreting nonverbal gestures (Tannen, 1990). A little-studied nonverbal behavior is to have the tongue just slightly protruding from the mouth. Jones and colleagues (1987) found that people were less willing to interrupt others who had their tongues showing. In one situation, a sales clerk whose tongue was hidden was approached significantly more than another clerk whose tongue was showing. Perhaps this is why people often tend to avoid individuals with Down syndrome (a form of mental retardation that is often characterized by a protruding tongue and other attributes). When we make decisions about other people, we learn to recognize nonverbal cues and interpret them along with verbal information. |
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