Body Language

[pimplyteen]

We seem to live within an era of many experts of different fields. My question therefore is how does one achieve the status of a body language "expert"?
Peoples body language in my view hasn't changed in years so it wouldn't really take much learning with maybe the help of an illustrated book.
One person's body language is much the same has the other person.
The only place it may differ is that if you were trying to read the body language of a very nervous candidate.

[davebro]

Well - like most specialities it's perfected by detailed study and practice. They are usually looking for body language signals that indicate some kind deviation from the norm when reacting to stimuli.

e.g. fidgeting suggesting guilt when questioned about a crime.

[pimplyteen]

But like I say dave it's the same reaction with most if not all people. Anyone can spot the odd movements with a visual aid after a short time.

[Tilly2]

There are lots of 'experts' about, all reading the Royals' body language. Lots of lip reading experts too.

[davebro]

Are body language "experts" simply that - or is it just an add-on to their main career? Psychologist, criminologist, etc.

[lady-janine]

or an uncomfortable chair davebro.

[davebro]

or piles!

[pimplyteen]

Someone being interviewed by police for the very first time would indeed become uncomfortable.

[davebro]

When they show videos with an expert describing they see lots of things that I would never have thought of. Maybe you can get it just from reading a book. Dunno.

[lady-janine]

davebro - indeed. or a touch of diarrhoea.

[pimplyteen]

If someone was explaining something to me such like a builder telling me that this and that needs doing before this and that, but scratches his/ her head in between the explanation then alarm bells would be ringing. It's that easy really, or so I think ?

[Ken4155]

Sciatica can make one fidget like mad while seated watching tv - let alone being interviewed/interrogated.

[pimplyteen]

One of these experts spotted on TV the other night that the person being questioned was pretending to cry ( by rubbing their eyes and giving off a crying sound. but then went on to saying they are not really crying because there isn't a tear in sight. Well I didn't really need them to tell me that, would you have needed to be told the latter?

[davebro]

some of it seems pretty obvious if you're looking for it

[davebro]

e.g. that blonde woman who stabbed her boyfriend to death - anyone could see she was faking it. Anyway she's free now.

[rowanwitch]

It's the micro signals, the tells, the contradicting micro movements, but it's a field that is being questioned as to its validity at the moment

[pimplyteen]

This is one of the reasons I asked the question rowan It all seems to be getting a little over the top.