We’ve all heard the statistics several times before, that body language accounts for more than 50% of our communication. It is fair to say that both verbal and non-verbal communication impact on the success of our relationships.
For a start, if you want to communicate sincerely then your verbal and non-verbal communications have to be congruent with one another. In other words, you cannot growl “I love you” whilst standing arms crossed and eyes rolling. Inversely, you cannot stand with arms open as if inviting a hug as the words “I’m finding you insufferable lately” leave your lips. Well you can do all of the above if you are merely indulging in a spot of humorous sarcasm but if you are not saying or doing any of the above in jest then the mixed message will leave the recipient feeling unsure of where you both stand.
Spencer Kelly (2006), Associate Professor of Psychology at Colgate University, measured peaks and valleys in the brain waves of participants to understand whether body language that is inconsistent with the accompanying verbal communication is picked up by the brain. READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.
