Body Language: A Guide for Professionals

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A command over body language has become an important skill in today′s world. It is the X-factor that completes the personalities of executives, entertainers, politicians, celebrities, and many more.

After the thumping success of the previous edition of Body Language: A Guide for Professionals, SAGE has come out with this exciting third edition. Since the last edition of this book more than a decade ago, Internet and media have brought renewed interest to non-verbal communication, particularly to body language. The author has painstakingly combed through the existing text and has extensively researched online resources to add new insights to this edition, making it a cutting-edge reference on the subject.

Some of the significant new features of this edition are:

- Latest developments in the field of non-verbal communication

- Extra details that add greater depth, clarity and comprehensiveness to the text

- Modern-day observations of human behaviour and body-talk

- Coverage of typical Indian gestures where relevant

- A new section on ′Body Language in Sleep′

- Additional practical tips and suggestions

The reader is also challenged with tests and practice sessions that help develop special skills to interpret body language. With its various improvements, this edition presents a systematic, in-depth, and comprehensive approach to body language.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface to the Third Edition (p. ix)
• Preface to the Second Edition (p. xi)
• Preface to the First Edition (p. xiii)
• Preliminary Tests (p. xv)
• Chapter 1 The Characteristics of Body Language (p. 1)
• What Is Body Language? (p. 1)
• Verbal and Non-verbal Communication (p. 5)
• Body Language as 'Language' (p. 6)
• The Main Aspects of Body Language (p. 12)
• Dimensions of Body Language (p. 20)
• Approaches to the Interpretation of Body Language (p. 24)
• Advantages of Learning Body Language (p. 31)
• Summing Up (p. 32)
• Chapter 2 The Face (p. 33)
• Part 1 Facial Expressions (p. 33)
• Overview (p. 33)
• Specific Expressions (p. 43)
• Part 2 Prominent Features (p. 53)
• The Mouth (p. 53)
• The Lips v (p. 56)
• The Nose (p. 59)
• The Cheeks (p. 60)
• The Eyebrows (p. 61)
• Smaller Parts (p. 64)
• Summing Up (p. 66)
• Chapter 3 The Eyes (p. 68)
• Introduction (p. 68)
• The Pupils (p. 69)
• Gazing (p. 70)
• Ways of Looking (p. 76)
• Eye Contact (p. 79)
• Eyes in Interaction (p. 83)
• Neuro-linguistic Programming and Eye Movements (p. 85)
• Eye Glasses (p. 87)
• Distinctive Traits (p. 89)
• Summing Up (p. 91)
• Chapter 4 The Head and Torso (p. 92)
• Head Gestures (p. 92)
• The Neck (p. 102)
• The Torso (p. 104)
• Summing Up (p. 110)
• Chapter 5 Arms, Hands, and Palms (p. 112)
• Part 1 The Arms (p. 112)
• Crossed or Folded Arms (p. 112)
• Arm Positions (p. 116)
• Gestures with Elbows (p. 118)
• Arm Positions while Sleeping (p. 119)
• Part 2 Hands (p. 123)
• Introduction (p. 123)
• Common Hand Signals (p. 123)
• Gestures with Fingers (p. 130)
• Hands in Motion (p. 141)
• Part 3 Gestures with Palms (p. 148)
• Palm Positions (p. 148)
• Handshakes (p. 153)
• Namaste (p. 161)
• Summing Up (p. 161)
• Chapter 6 Postures (p. 163)
• Overview (p. 163)
• The Legs (p. 165)
• Standing Positions (p. 166)
• Sitting Positions (p. 168)
• Conventional Sitting Positions (p. 170)
• Varied Sitting Postures (p. 174)
• The Feet (p. 176)
• Walking Gestures (p. 178)
• Summing Up (p. 179)
• Chapter 7 Zones and Spaces (p. 181)
• Introduction (p. 181)
• Specific Zones (p. 181)
• Space (p. 185)
• Group Interactions (p. 189)
• Touching and Zones (p. 196)
• Corporate Zones and Spaces (p. 199)
• Summing Up (p. 201)
• Chapter 8 Traits and Attitudes (p. 202)
• Conversation Traits (p. 202)
• Traits of a Liar (p. 204)
• Mirror-imaging Traits (p. 207)
• Traits of a Commanding Person (p. 209)
• Summing Up (p. 214)
• Chapter 9 Body Language in Practice (p. 215)
• Steps to Success (p. 215)
• Pitfalls (p. 216)
• Vibrations (p. 218)
• Interacting with Difficult People (p. 219)
• Elevator (Lift) Etiquette (p. 220)
• Presentation Gestures (p. 221)
• Concluding Test (p. 222)
• Answers (p. 224)
• References (p. 225)
• Index (p. 231)
• About the Author (p. 239)