Can body language be manipulated?

Body language is a form of communication used by all individuals. Communication is notorious for being misinterpreted either through verbal or non-verbal means. Body language is a nonverbal form of communication, can easily be misinterpreted due to its specific behavior pattern expressed by an individual. Since it is also a form of behavior, it begs the question, “can body language be manipulated?” Numerous examples in life and history reflect an answer to this question. Have you ever experienced a moment when you, having increased anxiety, were visibly nervous and agitated, and someone came over to assist in de-escalating your heightened emotional state? The individual providing the support “manipulated” your body language through various means to return you to a more composed state.

There are also well-known factors that are intentionally manipulated in places like shopping malls geared towards influencing your mental and emotional state, which affects body language. Certain colors, scents, product presentation, etc. are meant to become less emotionally guarded where before that you may not have wanted to approach a product to “take a closer look” and now, via the various influencing factors, are more behaviorally open getting a closer look, smelling the item and touching it. All this occurring with less awareness than one could even consider. In relationships, body language can be manipulated by saying a couple of words we know “triggers” the other individual to express affection, complete a task or create a change in other aspects of their behavior.

        As previously mentioned, body language is a form of communication, and if we also consider it a form of behavior well, we surely know behavior can be modified. Behavior modification is an approach to exchanging one form of behavior for another. Modifying any behavior is a direct or indirect form of manipulation which is just some form of influence to change its current expression. Behavioral change approaches have existed since the dawn of human existence, and in psychology, it is better explained through Pavlov’s classical conditioning and B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning. Both theoretical approaches strongly allow us to say body language can be manipulated. It's just a matter of what, when, and how we manipulate it for the desired outcome?