Body Language

This week we had a guest teacher--Skyler Place. He gave a very interesting presentation on speed dating, where we observed a couple's date and tried to determine if one or both of the participants were interested in the other. We also examined whether altering features of the video would change our perception such as blurring out the body or face, removing sound, pinpointing motions, etc. Doing this made me realize how telling body language, especially, is.

The body language of the two participants was the easiest thing to look at when trying to make a judgment. Leaning forward, batting eyelashes, smiling, and flicking the hair are all hints to a person's interest level. This made me think of other scenarios where body language is important as well.

For instance, as we are going through the interview process for co-op positions, I have realized that body language is important in this setting as well. One has to sit and act professionally. We cannot slouch or yawn; these would be considered improper. However, at the same time, we are told not to sit so stiffly that we look nervous and uncomfortable. I was once told that mimicking the posture of the interviewer is a good interviewing trick.

I think examining the body language of participants in a job interview would also make for an interesting study. Although, body language is not the defining element for whether or not a person gets a job, it still plays a small role in the process. For example, certain motions by the interviewer could show his approval or disapproval of the interviewee's response to a question. Body language is a crucial element in communication and I believe that it could be studied in a variety of settings.