1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Dictionary of Body Language
Do you want to better understand nonverbal communication? Do you wish you could read people’s emotions using their body language? In The Dictionary of Body Language, retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro offers a reference guide that explains a wide breadth of body language cues, creating a foundation for studying nonverbal communication. With this knowledge, Navarro argues that you can improve your relationships and understanding of other people.
(Shortform note: In The Like Switch, Jack Schafer and Marvin Karlins expand on the benefits of understanding body language, arguing that this knowledge is essential for making friends and forging strong relationships. They note that our brains subconsciously pick up on nonverbal cues from others in every environment we...
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The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Tips for Understanding the Context of Body Language
Though you can use many body language cues to reliably and consistently assess someone’s emotional state, Navarro says there are some contextual factors to consider before forming conclusions based on your observations. In this section, we’ll explore two of his tips for assessing the context of body language cues.
Tip #1: Determine What’s “Abnormal” on an Individual Basis
Navarro states that when you’re observing many body language cues, it’s important to consider whether the action is ordinary or unusual for the person doing it before ascribing any particular meaning to it. A cue that indicates a strong emotion for one person may just be a habitual behavior for another.
For example, sweating can be an indicator of high stress (as we’ll discuss later), but some people also just sweat more than others. Therefore, to accurately judge what it means if someone’s sweating a lot, you’d have to know what’s normal for that person.
(Shortform note: If you sweat easily when you aren’t stressed or exerting yourself, you may suffer from “excessive sweating,” or hyperhidrosis. A dermatologist can determine if...
The Dictionary of Body Language Summary How to Read Emotions Through Body Language
In the previous section, we discussed Navarro’s general tips for assessing body language. Next, we’ll touch on many of the specific body language cues Navarro describes. We’ve grouped these cues based on the common emotions they indicate: stress and anxiety, boredom and impatience, disagreement and doubt, anger and irritation, discomfort and aversion, comfort and confidence, and excitement.
Stress and Anxiety: Repeated Actions
According to Navarro, many body language cues that signal stress and anxiety involve repeated actions. Repetition has a calming, settling effect on the nervous system. Therefore, if someone repeats the same behavior over and over in a short period of time, they’re likely attempting to soothe themselves.
Navarro names the following as common body language cues that involve calming, repeated actions:
Action #1: Massaging the Chest From the Shoulder and Across the Collarbone
Navarro describes how, when engaging in this calming, tactile action, people place a hand on the shoulder opposite (right hand to left shoulder or left hand to right shoulder). They then move their hand along the collarbone from their shoulder to their chest....
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Shortform Exercise: Practice Reading Body Language
Navarro discusses many body language cues and the emotions they convey. Practice reading the body language and deciphering the emotions of someone in your life.
Choose one person around you and observe their body language—their posture, their facial expression, how they’re using their limbs, and so on. Write down three observations about their body language. For example, maybe you’re observing your coworker, and they’re squinting at their computer, tapping their fingers, and frowning. (If there’s nobody around, observe and note down your own body language.)
