Are body language experts reliable?

Body language refers to a set of nonverbal communication skills that we use to convey messages to others.  These nonverbal communication skills can include behaviors, expressions, gestures, and postures, among others.  Body language experts study body language and make conclusions regarding certain aspects of a person’s psyche or thoughts based on patterns in their nonverbal communication.  Body language experts can also focus on one particular type of body language—the most common of these being gestures, body movements, eye contact, and facial expressions.

Body language experts are often under scrutiny for their work and are often criticized for unreliable information sources.  However, it cannot be denied that there are certain patterns in behavior that oftentimes indicate different intentions based on a person’s nonverbal communication skills.  For example, a person might keep their arms crossed while making prolonged, direct eye contact with somebody to indicate that they are not intimidated and are, likewise, “closed off” to whatever the other person has to say.  Many of us perform nonverbal communication without even realizing it.  In these moments and when we perform these unconscious actions, body language experts can be a good source of information.  This is because many of us have been socialized in the same society and, therefore, have learned how to perform the same actions to convey different emotions and thoughts.

However, nonverbal communication is extremely hard to interpret.  Nonverbal communication is also a form of communication that can be easily manipulated to convey a certain emotion or message when a person is extremely mindful of how they are behaving or physically responding in a situation.  This is where body language experts become less reliable.  Not every nonverbal action can be precisely interpreted when dissecting the “why” behind the nonverbal communication that a person chooses to use in any particular moment. 

In conclusion, body language experts can provide a new perspective or unique feedback on a given situation.  They can give us insight into the possibilities of deception as well as confirm authenticity. But, body language experts can be wrong at times. Like any other field of expertise, confirmation of accurate information should come from multiple sources with multiple perspectives.