How to study someone’s body language?

            Body language is a form of communication that differs from person to person.  Due to this, it can be quite confusing to understand someone else’s body language that is different from your own.  One great way to study someone’s body language is to observe them.  As you observe them, try to connect what their language is saying and match it with their words.  For example, if you notice someone gets tearful and opens up for a hug, it probably means those two things go together for them, and that physical touch is comforting for them.  As you observe them if you notice discrepancies you find confusing, it can be okay to go ahead and ask the person.  This can help them clear up any confusion and make sure that you are taking the correct messages from their body language.

            While studying someone’s body language, it can be helpful to compare their body language to others.  Doing so can help validate what it really means if you notice enough people doing the same thing.  You can even watch certain videos online about body language to get more reference points for yourself.  As you observe someone and compare their body language to others, it can be helpful to base your conclusion on several interactions rather than just one.  If you see someone repeat a certain body language enough times, that is more likely to be an accurate interpretation of their meaning. 

            Body language is definitely a confusing form of communication at times.  Therefore, asking others for help is perfectly fine if you feel like you have a really difficult time understanding it.  Other people you can trust can help you to understand your own body language and others better. You could even rehearse certain interactions to see how they interpret them.  There are also support groups that exist to help people to practice body language, so that could be something helpful to look into.  Try to validate yourself to understand someone’s body language and the fact that it is not easy.