Body Language

**Posts:** 145 · by **egor** » Thu May 20, 2004 5:58 pm

Okay, so, I watched a program on tv last week, about, well, body language, it was quite good (to someone who knows nowt about psychology, like me) and pointed out when politicians were making 'tells' (body language movement, or something along those lines), so, for instance, the presenter pointed out alot of times when two politician's subconsciousnesses (spelling? Whats that?

) battle it out, such as when they try to be last through a door (thus exerting their power, 'showing' the other politician the way, often followed by a back pat, Bush was good at this, apart from when he met the queen, the one instance when he was jittery) .

Anyhoo, it was really quite interesting, but, I have two questions.

One, why do they call them 'tells'? (I didn't see the start of the program)

Two, what practical effect does this have on people? Say I make a sexual 'tell' towards someone (and I'm scared I might, next week's program talks about these), will that other person's subconscious pick it up? Will it filter into their conscious mind and they start talking to me less, etc.? I'm curious, what, in real terms, do these 'tells' actually do?

P.S. Anyone else watch the program, and, what'd you think of it?

**Posts:** 2821 · by **Roger Elliott** » Thu May 20, 2004 9:44 pm

Hi egor

Yes, I saw it, I thought it was well put together. They call them 'tells' because they tell us how the person is really feeling, even if they are trying to cover it up. I have ordered the presenter's book and just can't stop watching politicians now! (Still can't bring myself to listen to them though

)

The great things about 'tells' are that you can communicate with others without having to talk to them - in fact you can't avoid it. The 'tells' they were pointing out in the program were only the gross movements - the obvious unconscious behaviour.

Most of communication is unconscious (that is - other than just the meaning of the words we use). The speed we talk, the tension in our voice, our blink rate, skin tone, pupil size...

The wonderful thing about this is that as long as we are comfortable with our intentions, we can rely on our unconscious communication to do the job for us! Although words are handy too

**Posts:** 5816 · by **Michael Lank** » Thu May 20, 2004 9:59 pm

Doh, I missed it! Though I was just round at friend's house this evening, arrived at the same time as someone else, and I let them go through the door first, which led to them telling me about about the programme.

When's it on next week?

**Posts:** 3 · by **CognitiveDissonance** » Wed May 26, 2004 6:05 am

That program sounds interesting!

Any chance someone could fill me in on the name of the show and station they watch it on?

Thanks,

K.G.

**Posts:** 5816 · by **Michael Lank** » Wed May 26, 2004 6:44 am

I missed it, but I think it was Body Talk on Channel 4 - some information about it here: http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/B/bodytalk/index.html

Body Language

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