Body language is a fairly broad and complex topic. It is a fascinating subject and the most alluring aspect seems to be the concept of detecting deception. The term deception has a very negative connotation from a linguistic standpoint. When we think of deception we think of lying, cheating and black alley dealings with no other intent but to injure the other party in one way shape or form.
Deception though is simply a misrepresentation. Although it can hurt someone, it can also prevent them from being hurt. Take the following example… Your wife asks you if you think it would be ok for her to order one more truffle for desert. You are thinking “NO!” but at the end of the day you love her and want her to be happy and in your values hierarchy, her happiness outweighs your desire for her to be thinner… so you deceive her and say “sure… that sounds like a good idea.”
Never the less, it is of great benefit to you as a communicator to have the OPTION of:
- Knowing whether you are being manipulated by deceit. And
- Possessing the ability to utilize body language to your own advantage through either misrepresentation or amplified representation of your own information.
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Deceit later became a “tool” for the individual who was not able to use force or physical ability to achieve their goals, what ever they may be. A physically weaker man could use ingenuity or trickery to obtain resources such as food or land from physically stronger men. This also fit’s very nicely into the least energy principle that humans will follow by allowing some to “get” without “giving”. When a verbal gesture could provide goods and services INSTEAD of a physical action, the person had in effect been extremely efficient for themselves. This meant/means maximum gain for minimal effort… Deceit, the proverbial “equalizer” established its effectiveness and is here to stay.
To learn more about Body Language and other forms of effective communication, please visit my site The Communication Expert or try to catch me on Skype.
