Beyond Words: How Body Language Shapes Cross-cultural Understanding

In such situations, nonverbals can play a significant role in easing tensions. On the other hand, inappropriate nonverbal behavior can easily have the opposite effect, exacerbating potential tensions and causing open conflict. I hope the information on gestures from different countries has sparked a new interest in you to learn more about new cultures. Don’t forget that the MosaLingua apps for language learning are ideal for learning more about a certain culture as well as its language. Here is a selection of gestures and their meanings in different cultures.

This question originally appeared on Quora – the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Even if you don’t know the exact meaning, without a doubt, you can feel the word itself. While counting from one to five using finders, people all over the world start counting with a ball-up fist. But, thanks to the internet and today’s availability to be informed about anything you want to know, in Iran, people slowly started using the thumbs up gesture like in the Western part of the world.

Similarly, Cruwys, Leverington, and Sheldon have shown that, for positive body talk, none of the negative effects of fat talk (i.e., negative body talk) applied, including disordered eating 14. Although the empirical evidence is not ample enough, such findings suggest a positive relationship between positive body talk and body esteem. First, previous studies have primarily focused on fat talk (i.e., negative body talk), and relatively few studies 8,14 have explored the role of self-accepting (i.e., positive) body talk. Although self-degrading body talk tends to be perceived as more normative than self-accepting body talk 15, self-accepting body talk does exist 16. Several studies have reported correlations of positive body talk with well-being outcomes 8,14. Despite the suggested positive influences of self-accepting body talk, only a few studies have explored the roles of both negative and positive body talk with equal emphasis.

The thumbs-up gesture signals in North America well done; in Greece and other countries, it is equivalent to the insulting “Up yours! US President George W. Bush famously used the hook ‘em horns gesture of the Texas Longhorn football team to signal his approval of the marching band of the University of Texas. In Italy, that gesture is well-known, but it doesn’t signal fan enthusiasm or let’s rock. It is called il cornuto, indicating that the other person is a cuckold, that is, that his wife is cheating on him (Cotton, 2013). One of the richest array of gestures are for communicating insults and obscenities. Insult gestures tend to vary across cultures and are different as well in the extent to which they are used.

Learning Key Gestures

In some cultures, a serious or neutral facial expression is a sign of respect or attentiveness. Understanding when and how to smile appropriately based on the cultural context helps you maintain professionalism and avoid being misunderstood. Courses that focus on workplace culture, emotional intelligence, or intercultural communication often include body language modules.

The relative importance of nonverbal codes varies with context and culture, but some estimates of what weight is conveyed by nonverbal versus verbal means gives a much higher percentage to nonverbal. Albert Mehrabian (1971) asserted that we develop our attitude towards the other person (like or dislike) overwhelmingly through nonverbal means. In fact, he claimed that 93% of that process happens nonverbally, through vocal tone and gestures (38% and 55% respectively), rather than through the literal meaning of the words (7%). One might question Mehrabian’s formula as it applies to individual conversations and particular cultures.

In India, it’s common to see men holding each other’s hands while walking on the streets; it’s common for women to do the same. No one really cares about this much, as it’s simply a show of friendship among the two. However, if the same action were repeated in a Western country, it could suggest homosexuality.

Likewise, the beckoning gesture with palm turned upward and extending one finger or the whole hand is considered an insult in Japan and other countries. There are a variety of beckoning gestures, Charmychronicle In Afghanistan and the Philippines, for example, one motions downward with the palm of the hand facing the ground (Cotton, 2013). However, the forces of globalization and technology have exposed people worldwide to gestures used in popular media (Matsumoto & Hwang, 2012). It’s well known that we all send messages through body language, however, sometimes it can be easy to forget that each culture has its own gestures.

Facial expressions are another vital aspect of body language that varies in perception across cultures. While some facial expressions, such as smiling to convey happiness, are universal, the intensity and meaning of facial expressions can differ significantly. For instance, a genuine smile in Western cultures often involves showing teeth, while in some Asian cultures, a polite smile may not involve exposing teeth. The acceptability of expressing particular emotions also varies a great deal across cultures. In most Western cultures, visual contact when speaking to someone is considered a positive aspect of body language. Strong visual contact is common in Spain and the Arabic culture (among people of the same sex).

He and his brother had placed bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. At the trial, his involvement in setting the bombs was not at issue; he admitted his guilt. The question was if he would be sentenced to life in prison or to death. The defense tried to make the case that he was acting under the controlling influence of his older brother. He showed no emotional reaction to the horrific scenes and stories from the bombing shown and narrated in court. He didn’t look at the jury or make eye contact with those on the witness stand.

This was shown in a cross-cultural experiment (Matsumoto & Ekman, 1989), which studied expressions of Japanese and US students while watching emotionally disturbing films. When both groups of young people were among themselves, they showed the same expressions. However, when the Japanese students were with an older, male observer, they displayed neutral expressions or even smiled, while the US students continued to display the same negative emotions. Ekman and Friesen (1969) coined the term cultural display rules to describe such cultural differences in facial expressions. In Japan it is culturally appropriate to hide unhappiness by smiling or embarrassment by laughing.

The Nature Of Nonverbal Communication

Cultural contexts surrounding body talk can differ by gender and country, and such differences may also result in differences in the relationship among body talk, its predictors, and its consequences. Body language is a universal tool, but its meanings can vary dramatically across cultures. A simple thumbs-up might be a positive sign in some countries but offensive in others. Understanding these nuances can mean the difference between a smooth interaction and an awkward misunderstanding. Remember that your non-verbal cues might be sending unintended messages. Be mindful of your gestures and expressions, especially in unfamiliar settings.

That’s the case in rituals, a clearly defined set of actions performed on particular occasions and having symbolic significance. Greetings and departures, for example, have rituals that are largely nonverbal, such as shaking hands or waving. In Japan, for example, it is common to bow when greeting someone, with the nature of the bow (how deep and how long) being determined by the nature of the occasion and social connection of the persons involved. In some cultures, kissing on the cheek is the usual greeting, although how many times the kisses are exchanged and which sexes are included can vary. In other parts of the world there may be hugs and kisses, depending on the context and relationship. In Arab countries it is common to bow and touch the forehead and chest (the salaam) when meeting someone.

• By recognizing the significance of body language, we can navigate through cultural differences and foster better understanding and rapport.
• A few key gestures, such as greetings or gestures of respect, can go a long way in bridging cultural gaps.
• In cross-cultural settings, it can bridge gaps or create barriers depending on how it’s interpreted.
• Our nonverbal communication could tell us a lot about who we are and where we came from.
• In such situations, nonverbals can play a significant role in easing tensions.

While certain domains of CSW, i.e., appearance CSW and others’ approval CSW, have often been explored in relation to body image and body disturbances, no study has been found in relation to body talk. Exploring such relationships can be insightful for developing body esteem intervention programs that target a specific audience with customized contents based on a particular domain of self-worth contingency. Body language is a silent yet powerful tool that bridges communication gaps across cultures. By understanding cultural differences in gestures, expressions, and personal space, you can navigate cross-cultural interactions more smoothly and build meaningful connections with people from around the world.

These rules tend to be a part of us and we don’t think about them often. The only time we generally think about them is when we meet someone who acts in a different way to us. When you were a child did anyone ever say to you  “Look me in the eye and tell me the truth”?

In South Korea, elders can touch younger people with force when trying to get through a crowd, but younger people can’t do the same. In much of the Arab world, men hold hands and kiss each other in greeting, but would never do the same with a woman. In many Middle Eastern countries, same-gender eye contact tends to be more sustained and intense than the western standard. In some of these countries, eye contact beyond a brief glance between the sexes is deemed inappropriate.

Research has shown that intervention programs can in fact reduce fat talk frequency and weight concerns 57. Edward Hall (1966) pioneered the study of proxemics, the perception and use of physical space, including territoriality and personal space. Territoriality refers to the actual physical space, while personal space is perceptual or psychological – the kind of space bubble that we perceive around us. Following complaints from both Arab and US students in a North American university setting, O.M. He found that the US students viewed the Arabs as pushy and rude, while the Arabs considered the US students to be distant and rude. Social distance he established at between 4 and 12 feet (1.2 to 3.6 m), the spacing normal in casual gathering and work environments.