Not everyone is an open book. However, you can learn to “read between the lines” when you meet a person, just as you would when looking for themes or figurative language in a novel. Try analyzing a person by viewing their clothing, body language and behavior.
Steps
Judging the Cover
- Identify a piece of clothing that identifies a person’s occupation. A lab coat, tool belt, paint-spattered overalls, suit or uniform can tell you what a person does professionally. Use that information to determine whether they are young (too young for a job), a professional, a skilled worker, or are retired.
- Look for wrinkles. Lines near the eyes, mouth or neck will tell you how old the person is likely to be. Age spots on hands can be a good indication of their decade as well.
- Try to spot affluence. Generally, wealth or the desire to be wealthy shows in the quality of garments, shoes and even a haircut. Look for a wristwatch, diamond earrings or designer bags.[1]
- Alternatively, look for signs of thriftiness. Faded clothes, discount clothing labels or worn shoes might tell you if a person has less money.
- While these signals can tell you what social class a person belongs to, they are not always correct and they do not translate into behavior.
- Find signs of fastidiousness. If the person has their hair in place, their clothing pressed and an attention to style, they may be very detail oriented. Someone with a more casual wardrobe or “bed head” might be creative or messy.
- Move on to the person’s body language. Just as the saying goes, “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” Looking at clothing is the easiest, but least accurate way to read a personality.
Interpreting Body Language
- Notice if the person you are talking to leans away from you when they answer. This can be a clue that they are feeling stressed. Rubbing the hands against the thighs or the head will also indicate stress.[2]
- Look for anger in clenched jaws or pursing lips. Suddenly crossing arms and legs or looking away is seen as negative body language as well.
- Pay attention to eye contact. Avoiding eye contact and staring too long into someone’s eyes can be a sign lying. Eye contact is hard to fake, so if you aren’t noticing darting eyes or prolonged stares, the person is more likely to be genuine and relaxed.
- Pick out signs of distraction. Looking toward a clock, a watch or a phone can mean the person is bored or simply used to checking their phone or email frequently. Starting a new task when they are talking to you is a better judge if they are paying attention.[3]
- Count the blinks. An increased blink rate will indicate a nervous feeling. This can be a positive thing, such as physical attraction, or an unconscious manifestation of stress from being the center of attention.[4]
- Give your gut some credit. People often have micro-expressions that convey exactly what they are thinking; however, they flash by so fast, it may only be your subconscious that registers it. Microexpressions are more telling than most body language cues.[5]
Reading Behavior and Motivation
- Study a smile or laugh to see if it is genuine. If the person’s mouth is upturned at the corners, but their eyes aren’t wrinkling, they are faking a smile. They may be trying to lie or they may be uncomfortable.[6]
- Pay attention for changes in behavior. If someone keeps their arms crossed and starts opening them or reaching out, that is a sign they are more comfortable with you. Also, if someone you are close to starts using a lot of new postures or expressions, they may be going through an emotional or physical change.
- Identify signs of someone who wants power. This type of person will search for awards and leadership positions. They aim to win arguments and manage or influence others.
- Watching behavior can show you a person’s motivation and try to predict future actions.
- Find someone who is motivated by affiliation or contact with others. They tend to have a lot of friendships, serve as mediators between friends. This type of person seeks acceptance from others.
- Pick up on motivation for achievement. If a person sets high standards, likes to work individually and seeks a challenge, they are most likely motivated by a sense of personal achievement rather than power or affiliation.[7]
Warnings
- Beware that body language changes in different countries. A person may avoid eye contact because it’s seen as respectful. Interpreting body language and behavior is always subjective.
Sources and Citations
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from How to of the Day http://ift.tt/1oEZ0M8
