Body posture and turn-taking

Body posture:

There are three categories of posture in which every posture can be placed:

1. standing
2. bent-knee positions (sitting, kneeling)
3. lying

Changes in posture can be:

1. an extension of gestures
2. altering the distance between yourself and a person or object

Postures and the use of them are influenced by culture and specific social groups.

Characteristics of posture are:

Immediacy/Relaxation:

Immediacy expresses liking and trust. Immediacy consists of body posture, forward leans, and other nonverbal means of communication, like touching or gazing. Relaxation consists of asymmetrical leg position and backward lean. ([Malandro, Barker & Barker 1989])

Status:

Congruent body position:

persons with a similar status will have a similar posture.

Incongruent body position:

persons with a different status will use different postures. A more relaxed posture is used by members of a higher status, while a more tense posture is used by members of a lower status. (Example: interview situation).

Gender:

Male and female posture "stereotypes" are created by culture and education. Eakins and Eakins described unladylike behaviour ([Malandro, Barker & Barker 1989]):

It is considered unfeminine or unladylike for a woman to "use her body too forcefully, to sprawl, to stand with her legs widely spread, to sit with her feet up ... to cross the ankle of one leg over the knee of the other. And depending on the type of clothing she wears, "she may be expected to sit with her knees together, not to sit cross-legged, or not even to bend over."

Males show a dominant behaviour and body posture (staring, taking more space, legs apart, head erect, hands on hips), while females show a submissive behaviour and body posture(lowering eyes, cocking head, knees together).

Turn-taking cues: