Interpreting physical behavior and body language between male and females

Introduction

            Human beings have learnt to co-exist and live peacefully with each other despite their various differences. Even when conflicts arise, they have managed to come up with solutions that enable them to lead their lives in the best way possible. This co-existence is based on various factors but the most essential being communication. People interact on their daily basis an use various tools of communication such as talking, emails, messages and letters to mention a few. While each tool has its importance, talking is the most effective since it involve interaction at a much more personal level. While most people have mastered the skill of talking, few are aware of how their physical behavior and body language affect the communication process.

Part 1: Different types of body language.

            While most of the message being communicated is delivered through words, its reception may be affected by the different types of body language displayed by the individual delivering it. The body language may either be positive or negative depending on the body gesture of an individual. A gesture such as a firm grip while shaking hands confidently or walking upright may be seen as a sign of security and confidence (Osenga 8). Such gestures show that the person is actively participating and is sure of what he or she is saying and creates a lasting impression on the audience. Regardless of the message being communicated, people will view the person communicating differently depending on how they behave. Positive gestures ensure that an audience has more confidence on the communicator and cements their faith in them. Even without talking, a person can communicate and gain the confidence of others simply by displaying positive body gestures.

Being up tied or biting nails on the other hand gives off a negative body gesture (Stalter 141). These are seen as signs of being insecure or a lack of confidence on the part of the individual displaying such a body language. It communicates to anyone who sees this negative body language that the individual is not sure or does not believe in whatever he is saying. Even without talking, the individual ends up losing the attention of the people he or she may be trying to communicate to (bo).

            While some types of body language apply to both men and women, there are those that may be interpreted differently depending on the gender of the individual portraying them. If a woman stands with her feet crossed, it may be interpreted that she is not willing to communicate with others. The same conclusion is drawn when a man stands with his feet close together which comes out as being closed minded. A man is also said to display a hostile attitude which could be a defense mechanism if he is standing up tied and may even be considered to be aggressive if he stands with his arms crossed. In the case of women, standing with one arm crossed and the other holding the chin may be described as a sign that the woman is lying. Holding her waist on the other hand is seen as a defense mechanism. It is therefore important to learn what messages different types of body language send so as to avoid miscommunication (bo).

Part 2: Emotional output.

            Other than body language, people also communicate non-verbally using their emotional output and facial expressions. A smile for instance is seen as a sign of joy or happiness. Though this may be the case, smiling can be interpreted differently depending on the facial expression of the person smiling. The way the smile is curved on the face of an individual will therefore determine if it is a genuine or fake smile (Stalter 40). Tears on the other hand are seen as an expression of sadness or pain. It is however possible to shed tears without experiencing this emotions. A person can shed tears if they think of something that is sad even though they themselves are not sad (out2). Therefore, displaying such emotional outputs does not necessarily mean that the individual is experiencing what is being communicated by their appearance.

            However, when the emotional output is genuine, men tend to express themselves differently from women. Men tend to conceal their emotions and maintain their masculinity while women tend to be more open when it comes to displaying their emotions (Stalter 189). In the case of cheating for example, men will opt to ignore what happened and keep the issue to himself. A woman on the other hand will openly display her emotions and cry. While the woman will result to sharing with her friends for comfort, a man will prefer to go out on a drinking spree with his friends rather than asking them to help him deal with the issue. Another example is the type of reaction that the two will have if they see a baby. A woman’s emotional output will involve raising the pitch of her voice when talking to the baby and want to pick the baby. A man on the other hand will be confused, not sure what to do and end up just staring at the baby.

            Men are more reserved when it comes to displaying outward emotions compared to women (Stalter 189). The behavior is so common that men feel as if their masculinity is in question if they display too much outward emotions like women. To reassure their status as men, they tend to be more secretive and often prefer dealing with issues on their own. However, this does not mean that they do not experience as much emotion as their women counterparts. Finding out that a partner is cheating may hurt a man as much as it will hurt a woman. A baby may also excite a man the same way it would a woman. Women just find it easier to display their emotional output while men try to keep it in check for as long as they can. Understanding this is essential because it plays an important role in determining when a man may need help or support even if his emotional output does not suggest so. Since women are more open, it is easy to understand when they need help or when they are existed. This helps one to differentiate the different reactions between male and females. It also helps to have a better understanding for both genders so that women are not seen to be overreacting to an exact scenario that a man is witnessing or experiencing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work cited

 Osenga J, “How to Read Body Language: How to Read Anyone’s Body Language like an Open Book” Bull City Publishing, 2014

Stalter, Harmony. Employee Body Language Revealed: How to Predict Behavior in the    Workplace by Reading and Understanding Body Language. Ocala, Fla: Atlantic Pub.       Group, 2011. Print.