body language and evolution

 The evolutionary perspectives of body language are fascinating, in terms of its purpose and how

it is exploited, which in turn feeds back into the purpose of body language at conscious and

unconscious levels.

Human beings tend to lie, deceive, manipulate, and pretend. It's in our nature to do this, if only

to a small degree in some folk.

For various reasons people intentionally and frequently mask their true feelings. (Transactional

Analysis theory is very useful in understanding more about this.)

In expectation of these 'masking' tendencies in others, humans try to imagine what another

person has in their mind. The need to understand what lies behind the mask obviously increases

according to the importance of the relationship.

Body language helps us to manage and guard against these tendencies, and also - significantly

especially in flirting/dating/mating rituals - body language often helps people to communicate

and resolve relationship issues when conscious behaviour and speech fails to do so.

Body language has evolved in spite of human awareness and conscious intelligence: rather like

a guardian angel, body language can help take care of us, connecting us to kindred souls, and

protecting us from threats.

While the importance of body language in communications and management, etc., has become

a popular interest and science in the last few decades, human beings have relied on body

language instinctively in many ways for many thousands of years.

Early natural exponents of interpreting body language were for example the poker players of the

American Wild West. The winners had not only to be handy with a six-shooter, but also skilled in

reading other people's non-verbal signals, and controlling their own signals.

Before these times, explorers and tribal leaders had to be able to read the body language of

potential foes - to know whether to trust or defend or attack.

Earlier than this, our cavemen ancestors certainly needed to read body language, if only

because no other language existed.

Humans have also learned to read the body language of animals (and vice-versa), although

humans almost certainly had greater skills in this area a long time ago. Shepherds, horse-riders

and animal trainers throughout time and still today have good capabilities in reading animal

body language, which for many extends to the human variety. Monty Roberts, the real life

'Horse Whisperer' is a good example.

Body language, and the reading of non-verbal communications and feelings, are in our genes.

Were these factors not in our genes, we would not be here today.

On which point:

Women tend to have better perception and interpretation of body language than men. This is

perhaps a feature of evolutionary survival, since females needed good body language skills to

reduce their physical vulnerability to males and the consequential threat to life, limb and

offspring. Females might not be so physically vulnerable in modern times, but their body

language capabilities generally continue typically to be stronger than the male of the species.

Thus, women tend to be able to employ body language (for sending and interpreting signals)

more effectively than men.

Katherine Benziger's theories of brain types and thinking styles provides useful additional

perspective. Women tend to have more empathic sensitivity than men, which naturally aids

body language awareness and capabilities. Aside from gender differences, men and women with

strong empathic sensitivity (typically right-basal or rear brain bias) tend to be better at picking

up body language signals.