
In some South American countries, the symbol is actually a vulgar gesture.
The "okay" gesture, made by touching together the thumb and index finger in a circle while extending the other three fingers can be used to mean "okay" or "all right." In some parts of Europe, however, the same signal is used to imply you are nothing. A thumbs up and thumbs down are often used as gestures of approval and disapproval. A clenched fist can indicate anger in some situations or solidarity in others. The following examples are just a few common gestures and their possible meanings: Some gestures may be cultural, however, so giving a thumbs-up or a peace sign in another country might have a completely different meaning than it does in the United States. Waving, pointing, and using the fingers to indicate numerical amounts are all very common and easy to understand gestures. Gestures can be some of the most direct and obvious body language signals. Highly dilated eyes, for example, can indicate that a person is interested or even aroused. While light levels in the environment control pupil dilation, sometimes emotions can also cause small changes in pupil size.įor example, you may have heard the phrase "bedroom eyes" used to describe the look someone gives when they are attracted to another person. Pupil size can be a very subtle nonverbal communication signal. įor example, a poker player might blink less frequently because he is purposely trying to appear unexcited about the hand he was dealt. Infrequent blinking may indicate that a person is intentionally trying to control his or her eye movements. People often blink more rapidly when they are feeling distressed or uncomfortable. īlinking is natural, but you should also pay attention to whether a person is blinking too much or too little. On the other hand, breaking eye contact and frequently looking away might indicate that the person is distracted, uncomfortable, or trying to conceal his or her real feelings. However, prolonged eye contact can feel threatening. When a person looks directly into your eyes while having a conversation, it indicates that they are interested and paying attention.
When evaluating body language, pay attention to the following eye signals. Some common things you may notice include whether people are making direct eye contact or averting their gaze, how much they are blinking, or if their pupils are dilated. The eyes are frequently referred to as the "windows to the soul" since they are capable of revealing a great deal about what a person is feeling or thinking.Īs you engage in conversation with another person, taking note of eye movements is a natural and important part of the communication process.