COMMUNICATION, BEHAVIOUR & ART
Body Language & Communication Blog
Ranked in the top 4 body language blogs on the web since 2020.
Our work is based on scientific theories relating to nonverbal behaviour and statement analysis, yet remains the opinion of the author.
Cat Behaviour: What is CatFACS?
This article explains CatFACS, the Facial Action Coding System for cats. CatFACS scientifically codes subtle facial movements and is used to research cognition, emotion and communication in our feline friends.
Behaviour Analysis: What is Six Channel Analysis System (SCAnS™)?
This article focuses on explaining SCAnS™, a behaviour analysis methodology used to code human behaviour. The Six Channel Analysis System helps to discern potential deception by identifying clusters of behavioural points of interest across multiple communication channels.
Behaviour Analysis: What is Facial Action Coding System (FACS)?
This article explains the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), a scientific method that measures Action Units (AUs), unique anatomically based facial movements. It can be helpful in analysing human behaviour and is considered the gold standard for facial movement analysis.
Facial Expressions of Violence and Aggression
This article examines the emotions contributing to aggression and violence and how recognising corresponding expressions can predict violent events and imminent danger, such as domestic violence. We’ll look at the research on emotion recognition in violent offenders and how brain differences may contribute to emotion recognition deficits, perpetuating violence.
Video Shorts: Embodied cognition and contractive behaviour–your body language can trigger emotion
This short video explains why we should avoid contractive behaviour to feel more powerful.
The Blink Flurry: Deception, emotion and cognition
The blink flurry, aka the eyelid flutter, a rapid succession of three or more blinks, has been connected to a high cognitive or emotional load and deception. This article summarises the scientific and anecdotal evidence, shedding light on this intriguing yet common behaviour.
Behaviour Analysis: Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum
This article analyses Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s body language, facial expressions and statements surrounding the data released by the Bureau of Statistics and the revoking of the Casino Licence.
Hand Gestures in Communication: Benefits for the audience and user
Should we be using hand gestures to communicate, are hand gestures distracting, and why are hand gestures important for communication? This article explains all, focusing on the benefits of hand gestures for the audience and the user. For example, as well as being more engaging for the audience, using hand gestures aid the user's memory recall and helps the user to speak more fluently.
Presentation Skills: Three common mistakes to avoid when delivering a presentation
Despite differences in talk topic and content, I’ve found little difference in the communication skills and behaviour between adults and children when delivering a presentation. Common mistakes made by adults are typically the same as those made by children. In this article, I’ll explain three common mistakes people make when delivering a talk or presentation.
Body Language Analysis: Dan Andrews' alleged fall
Nonverbal behaviour specialist, Sophie Zadeh, analyses the body language and nonverbal behaviour of Dan Andrews statement surrounding his alleged fall.
Is Up-Speak Killing Your Credibility?
Typically, when we ask a question, inflexion occurs at the end of the question, in other words, our pitch raises. The problem is, sometimes people make a statement with an inflexion, often referred to as up-speak. This makes the statement sound like a question or that the speaker is questioning their own words. Find out how this can be detrimental and how to quit the up-speak habit.
Ums and Ers in Speech: Should we be concerned?
Fillers in conversation, like ‘um’ and ‘er’, tend to be viewed negatively. However, there’s plenty of evidence that they serve a valuable purpose during communication. In this article, we’ll look at some of the suggested meanings behind these discourse markers, with the aim of breaking negative connotations. If you’re aware of your use of these utterances and are concerned about how you use them, hopefully, I can put you at ease.
Body + Soul: Body language conversation killers
I recently contributed to Body + Soul’s article on how to stop being a conversation killer. In the article, I talk about body language and expression that can kill a conversation. While, Psychologist, Lauren Florko talks about common mistakes conversation killers make.
Don't Believe Everything you Read: The Truth about Lying
I was horrified to learn I’d been ‘credited’ by The Sun, in an article titled, ‘SLY LIE The subtle signs your partner is lying to you, from rubbing their neck to mouth touching’. Their article perpetuates the damaging myths about body language and lying, which I actively work on dispelling. This article outlines the truth behind body language and lying.
ABC Radio Nightlife Interview: Nonverbal Communication and Body Language
Listen to my discussion with Philip Clark (and guests) from ABC Radio, on Nightlife’s Body Language episode. In this article, you can also find out what I do to conquer pre-interview nerves and the fear of public speaking.
Candour Communication Podcast: Nonverbal communication, detecting lies and why Botox makes you unhappy
I enjoyed chatting to Divan and Mark from Candour Communication Podcast recently. So much so that I lost all knowledge of what was taking place around me. Listen to our chat about nonverbal communication and find out what I missed while recording it.
Yahoo News: Body Language gesture missing from Trump speech reveals his distress
Out of character—body language analysis of Donald Trump’s press conference, where he falsely accused the Democrats of trying to “steal’ the election. Find out which subtle gesture was missing from Trump’s speech and which nonverbal communication cues reveal his distress.
Yahoo News: Body language expert reveals NSW Premier's 'most stressful' moment in grilling
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s nonverbal behaviour and body language, from her latest press conferences, reveal her inner emotion, thoughts and feelings surrounding her relationship with Daryl Maguire. Find out which common nonverbal behaviours were displayed and the meaning behind them.
Daily Mail Australia: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's cheek sucking and puffing behaviours.
Gladys Berejiklian’s strange cheek sucking and cheek puffing nonverbal behaviours at recent press conferences have caught the attention of the media. Read this article to find out the meaning of cheek sucking and cheek puffing behaviours. And why Gladys Berejiklian attempts to suppress her emotion.
The Body Language of Trust
Over many thousands of years, our ancestors have relied on nonverbal communication cues like body language, expression and tone of voice as a survival mechanism, to gauge whether an outsider was friend or foe. It was a matter of life or death. What is their intention towards me? Are they carrying a weapon? Are they capable of harming me? Today, we face less risk, yet we still make snap judgements, assessing everyone we meet. How are you perceived by others and what can you do to create feelings of trust?