Body language, although not verbal, is a form of communication. Society can exchange information with one another by utilizing facial and body cues, such as a frown when upset or angry, or a smile when happy or amused, to show another person what they are feeling. However, unlike speaking, body language happens mostly subconsciously. We are not always aware that we are crossing our arms over our chests when we want to feel a sense of comfort or bouncing our legs when we are nervous. Yet, it is important to be conscious of other people’s body language, and at times, your own, especially when attempting to socialize and communicate with peers and others. Keeping yourself knowledgeable about what you say or do and how it may impact another person can allow you to know what emotions you’re inflicting on them. At times, people upset one another. It’s common, and our faces can express negative emotions before we say anything about it, which is what makes understanding body language so important, especially in and after college, when others expect you to be even more aware of your actions. Being aware that we are inflicting on others an emotion that may not be positive as soon as possible can allow us to fix it before conflict arises, but for those with life challenges such as “Asperger’s”,  Autism and social anxiety, reading body language rarely comes easily.
In places such as college, people are constantly showing others around them what they are feeling without speaking. Whether it’s anxiety since you are sprinting to the library to get a paper printed out before class or joy while you’re laughing with friends in the dining hall, people share their emotions every day. According to research done about body language, it is said that “body language makes up an incredible 55% of our communication whilst words make up only 7%.” (Jackie, n.d.). With such a high percentage of our communication being from body language, being able to read it can make interacting better and easier. Paying attention to what our peers around us are expressing silently can allow young adults to make the proper decisions when it comes to socializing. It enables them to know what actions are appropriate for the situation, and from there, they can react in a way that shows their peers that they understand and/or care. For example, if a friend is talking, keeping your body facing them and even angling an ear their way can show you are listening without direct eye contact or verbal assurance. However, body language extends past socializing in a friendly sense as well. Being able to use your body language in a job setting is important. Keeping your back straight, nodding, coming off clean and well kept, shaking hands, smiling, etc. are all ways people can show potential employers their traits without speaking. In return, a potential employer will show you their responses back. Smiling after you answer a question or seeming relaxed after the initial meeting can show a young adult if the interview is going well, preventing further anxiety about the situation. Yet, for those with life challenges, it is difficult to see and sometimes express these cues. Dr. Anthony Atkinson from Durham University’s Psychology Department states that a “study suggests people with (social and communication impairments) have trouble reading body movements because they process some basic visual information differently…” (Durham University, n.d.). This may be because they struggle with eye contact and issues of perception, so they are not always learning what facial expressions correspond with what emotion or they just may have a difficult time interpreting body language, but either way, it can be taught.
The College Life Skills Program teaches young adults who are college bound, in college, and out of college skills such as understanding body language to succeed in any social situation. Whether it be picking up on the cues of peers around them to make friends, knowing how to properly act in front of classes when giving speeches, showing the proper body language when partaking in an interview or job setting, and much more, CollegeLSP is qualified to help. Our team of Master’s and Doctoral level, highly skilled, professionals create programs that are individualized to your young adult to help them succeed in the areas they may be struggling in, such as body language. So, if your young adult is struggling with body language and other social skills, CollegeLSP has the skills and tools to help.
Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.
Part of send. The Smartest Revision App – Improve Grades – Build Confidence. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.edplace.com/blog/send/how-to-read-body-language
Autism affects ability to read body language. Autism affects ability to read body language – durham university. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.dur.ac.uk/news/newsitem/?itemno=8449
