How To Read Anyone Instantly - 18 Psychological Tips

Summary

This video offers 18 psychological tips for reading people instantly by analyzing their body language, tone of voice, and nonverbal cues. It explains how eye contact, facial expressions, posture, and gestures reveal emotions like nervousness, interest, or discomfort. Additionally, it touches on appearance and behavior, such as how shoes and overall presentation can indicate personality traits. By paying attention to these subtle clues, you can gain deeper insights into someone's true feelings and intentions during initial encounters. The video encourages viewers to practice these skills to enhance their ability to read others.

Takeaways

• 😀 55% of communication comes from body language, 38% from tone of voice, and only 7% from actual words.
• 👁️ Eye contact can reveal interest, discomfort, or even deception based on context and intensity.
• 😮 Raised eyebrows usually indicate surprise, worry, or fear, but in casual conversations, it can signal discomfort.
• 😊 Genuine smiles involve crinkling around the eyes, while fake smiles do not.
• 🗣️ The way people speak about others reflects their own personality traits; kind words often reflect kindness, while negativity can signal underlying issues.
• 🎶 Paralanguage, like tone and pitch, reveals a person's true feelings, with monotone or sarcasm indicating detachment or opposing emotions.
• 👀 A quick glance to the side suggests someone is looking for an escape from the conversation.
• 🤔 Excessive nodding can signal anxiety or insecurity, while subtle nodding shows agreement.
• 👐 A person's handshake can reveal their personality, with soft ones indicating submissiveness and overly firm ones indicating dominance.
• 👞 People's shoes can provide insight into their personality, with nervous individuals favoring clean shoes and calm people tolerating uncomfortable ones.

Q & A

What are the three main factors that contribute to how we communicate?

The three main factors are body language (55%), tone of voice (38%), and the actual words spoken (7%).

What does it mean if someone maintains intense eye contact without blinking?

If someone stares intensely without blinking, it could be a sign of lying or an attempt to intimidate.

Why is raised eyebrows during a casual conversation a sign of discomfort?

Raised eyebrows are typically associated with emotions like surprise, worry, or fear. If someone raises their eyebrows in a casual context, it likely indicates they feel uncomfortable.

How can you tell if someone's smile is genuine or fake?

A genuine smile reaches the eyes and causes crinkles or 'crow's feet.' If the smile doesn’t reach the eyes, it may be fake.

What can frequent nodding during a conversation suggest?

Frequent or exaggerated nodding can suggest anxiety or a desire for approval. It may also indicate impatience or a subtle cue to speed up the conversation.

How can body posture indicate a person's confidence level?

If someone walks upright with their shoulders back, it typically indicates self-confidence. In contrast, slouching and looking down may suggest low confidence.

What is the significance of someone leaning in during a conversation?

Leaning in suggests that the person is interested in what you are saying and respects you. It can also indicate that they feel comfortable and want to confide in you.

What does crossed arms or legs during a conversation imply?

Crossed arms or legs often indicate that the person is closed off, emotionally or mentally, to what’s being discussed, even if they appear engaged.

What might an overly firm or crushing handshake reveal about a person?

An overly firm handshake might suggest that the person is domineering or trying to assert control in the interaction.

How does mimicking body language indicate a positive interaction?

When someone mimics your body language, it shows they feel comfortable and aligned with you. It often happens unconsciously and indicates that the conversation is going well.

Outlines

00:00

👁️ Understanding Non-Verbal Communication: The Key to Reading People

This paragraph introduces the significance of non-verbal cues when meeting someone for the first time. It explains how 55% of communication comes from body language, 38% from tone of voice, and only 7% from words. To truly understand someone, it's essential to focus on body language, tone, and appearance. The paragraph sets up the idea of using specific clues to analyze someone’s personality, starting from eye contact and moving down the body.

05:01

👀 Eyes and Eyebrows: Decoding Eye Contact and Emotions

Here, the focus shifts to understanding eye contact and eyebrow movements. Intense eye contact can signal romantic interest, while avoiding eye contact may indicate nervousness or deception. Unblinking, rigid stares could suggest dishonesty. Eyebrows are also discussed, with raised eyebrows potentially indicating discomfort or unease. If raised eyebrows don’t match the emotional context of the conversation, the person may be feeling stressed or out of place.

10:04

😊 Smiles and What They Reveal

This section highlights the difference between genuine and fake smiles. Genuine smiles involve the eyes, creating crow's feet, while fake smiles do not. The paragraph also touches on how people can use smiles to mask their true emotions. Observing the crinkles near the eyes is the key to discerning authenticity.

🗣️ Words and What They Say About a Person’s Character

The words a person uses can provide insights into their character. People who speak positively about others often possess similar traits themselves, while those who backstab or criticize others may have underlying issues like personality disorders. Essentially, the way someone describes others often reflects their own personality.

🔊 Paralanguage: How Tone and Speech Patterns Reveal Intentions

This paragraph discusses paralanguage, the non-verbal aspects of communication such as tone and pitch. A monotone response indicates disinterest, while sarcasm implies the opposite of what is said. The emphasis someone places on their words provides a deeper understanding of their true feelings or intentions.

👀 Side Glances and Their Hidden Meaning

People who are open and warm will maintain eye contact and keep their body oriented toward you. Conversely, those who glance away quickly may be subconsciously signaling their discomfort or desire to exit the conversation.

🤔 Excessive Nodding: Approval or Anxiety?

Nodding typically signals agreement, but exaggerated or frequent nodding can suggest anxiety about approval. It may also indicate that the person is worried about whether you trust their understanding or are urging you to wrap up the conversation.

💭 Chin Rubbing and Jaw Clenching: Signs of Stress or Deep Thought

Rubbing the chin is a common gesture when someone is deep in thought or making a decision. A clenched jaw, on the other hand, indicates stress or anxiety, suggesting the person may be worried about something unrelated to the conversation.

💪 Posture: A Reflection of Self-Confidence

Posture can reveal how someone feels about themselves. Standing upright with shoulders back indicates confidence, while slouching may suggest low self-esteem or a lack of energy. Body posture provides clues to a person's emotional state and how they perceive themselves.

🤲 Rubbing Hands: Anticipation of Something Positive

Rubbing hands together often indicates a person’s positive feelings about something upcoming. It’s typically a gesture of excitement or anticipation for future events.

🤝 Handshakes: The Subtle Cues of a Greeting

A handshake can tell you much about a person. A weak handshake may indicate submissiveness, while a firm, overly strong one could suggest dominance. The length of time also matters, with overly brief handshakes hinting at disinterest or conflict.

🙇‍♀️ Leaning In or Leaning Back: Interest or Discomfort?

When someone leans in, they are likely interested and engaged in the conversation, showing respect and trust. Leaning away, however, suggests discomfort, disinterest, or fatigue with the conversation.

👶 Holding the Baby: What It Reveals About a Mother’s Emotions

The way a mother holds her baby can offer clues about her emotional state. Mothers who are content tend to hold their babies in their left arm, while those who are stressed or depressed often hold them in their right arm.

🛡️ Crossed Arms and Legs: Barriers to Communication

Crossing arms and legs during a conversation suggests the person is closed off, either mentally or emotionally. Even if they appear engaged, their body language reveals that they are not open to what is being discussed. The position of their feet can also show their readiness to leave.

👟 Shoes and Personality: A Surprising Connection

A person’s shoes can reveal aspects of their personality. Nervous individuals tend to wear new or clean shoes, practical types prefer comfortable footwear, and aggressive personalities are often linked to ankle boots. Observing shoes can offer subtle hints about someone’s character.

👗 Overall Appearance: A Window Into Personality

Someone’s overall appearance, from their clothes to how they style their hair, can say a lot about them. A neat, stylish appearance may suggest they are detail-oriented, while a more casual or unkempt look could indicate creativity or laziness.

🧍‍♂️ Mimicking Body Language: A Sign of Comfort and Rapport

When someone mirrors your body language, it’s a sign they feel comfortable and connected. This unconscious behavior indicates that the conversation is going well, as people mimic others they like and feel at ease with.

Keywords

💡Body Language

Body language refers to the nonverbal signals that people use to communicate. In the video, it is stated that 55% of what we convey comes from body language, making it a crucial element in understanding someone's true feelings or intentions. For example, crossed arms may indicate that a person is closed off to a conversation.

💡Eye Contact

Eye contact is highlighted as a key factor in interpreting a person's intentions or emotions. In the video, it explains that intense eye contact could indicate romantic interest, while avoiding eye contact may suggest nervousness or dishonesty. The level and type of eye contact help in reading someone's social or emotional state.

💡Paralanguage

Paralanguage refers to nonverbal communication through tone, pitch, and speaking style. The video describes it as a significant indicator of a person's true feelings, even more so than the words they use. For instance, monotone speech might indicate disinterest, while sarcasm can suggest that the speaker means the opposite of what they are saying.

💡Facial Expressions

Facial expressions, particularly involving the eyes and eyebrows, are mentioned as important in reading emotions. Raised eyebrows can signal surprise, worry, or fear, while a genuine smile involves crinkling around the eyes, which the video suggests can help distinguish between true and false emotions.

💡Posture

Posture refers to how someone carries themselves physically, which can reveal their level of confidence or emotional state. For example, walking upright with shoulders back indicates confidence, while slouching might signal low self-esteem. The video uses posture as a key to understanding someone's self-perception and attitude.

💡Hand Gestures

Hand gestures, such as rubbing hands together or giving a handshake, are described as ways people express what they are thinking or feeling. Rubbing hands usually indicates anticipation or excitement, while the firmness of a handshake can reveal someone's personality traits—soft being submissive and overly firm being domineering.

💡Smiling

The video differentiates between genuine and fake smiles, noting that a real smile reaches the eyes, creating 'crow's feet.' A smile that doesn't reach the eyes may be masking other emotions. This distinction is important in reading someone's sincerity and emotional state.

💡Crossed Arms and Legs

Crossing arms or legs is identified as a physical barrier that signals a person is not open to the conversation or idea being presented. This body language suggests emotional or mental defensiveness, even if the person appears friendly on the surface.

💡Mimicking Body Language

Mimicking or mirroring body language refers to unconsciously copying the movements or posture of another person. In the video, this is described as a sign that the person feels comfortable and connected with you, as they unconsciously harmonize with your gestures.

💡Tone of Voice

Tone of voice, part of paralanguage, plays a crucial role in understanding someone's true message beyond their words. A change in tone can indicate sarcasm, enthusiasm, or boredom. The video emphasizes the importance of paying attention to how something is said, rather than just what is said.

Highlights

55% of communication comes from body language, 38% from tone of voice, and only 7% from what is said.

Eye contact can reveal romantic interest, nervousness, or deception depending on the context.

Raised eyebrows often indicate surprise, worry, or fear; raised eyebrows in casual conversations suggest discomfort.

Genuine smiles reach the eyes and create crow's feet; fake smiles don't crinkle the skin around the eyes.

People who describe others as kind and well-mannered are more likely to possess those traits themselves.

Monotone speech often indicates disinterest, while sarcasm signals the opposite meaning of the words spoken.

A side glance is a subconscious signal that the person is looking for an escape from the conversation.

Exaggerated nodding can indicate anxiety about approval or agreement.

Rubbing the chin often signals that someone is deep in thought or trying to make a decision.

A clenched jaw indicates stress or discomfort, regardless of what is being said.

Body posture, like walking upright with shoulders back, can indicate confidence, while slouching suggests lower self-esteem.

Rubbing hands together is often a sign that someone is feeling positive or excited about something upcoming.

The firmness of a handshake can reveal personality traits: soft indicates submissiveness, while too firm can suggest dominance.

Leaning in during conversation is a sign of interest and respect; leaning back suggests disengagement or discomfort.

Crossed arms or legs signal that someone is mentally and emotionally closed off, even if they are smiling.

Transcripts

Brainy Dose Presents:

How To Read Anyone Instantly – 18 Psychological Tips

When we are meeting someone for the first time, we are bombarded with information.

It can be hard to work out what kind of person they are.

That’s why it’s important to understand HOW we communicate.

According to experts, 55% of what we convey comes from body language, 38% from the tone

of voice, and only 7% from what we actually say.

This means that when we meet someone for the first time, we have to take into account these

three factors - in addition to what a person’s appearance may suggest.

So, if you want to gain insight into someone’s personality when you first meet them, pay

attention to the following clues - starting from the head down!

Number 1 - Eye Contact

They often say that the eyes are the window to the soul.

The key to knowing which kind of eye contact someone is giving you, is to consider the

context.

For example, if a person literally can’t take their eyes off you, it could mean there’s

a romantic interest.

On the other hand, when you look someone in the eye, and they can’t bring themselves

to look back at you, it’s a sign that they’re either nervous, or they’ve got something

to hide.

That said, if you’re talking with someone whose stare is making you squirm - especially

if they’re very still and not blinking - something is definitely up, and they may be lying to

you.

Number 2 - Eyebrows

If you want to see how comfortable a person is, take a look at their eyebrows!

There are three main emotions that make your eyebrows go up: surprise, worry, and fear.

Try raising your eyebrows when you’re having a relaxed casual conversation with a friend.

It’s hard to do, isn’t it?

If someone talking to you raises their eyebrows, and the topic isn’t one that would logically

cause surprise, worry, or fear, it’s a sign that they’re feeling pretty uncomfortable.

Number 4 - Smile

When it comes to smiling, the mouth can lie, but the eyes can’t.

Genuine smiles reach the eyes, crinkling the skin to create crow’s feet around them.

People often smile to hide what they’re really thinking and feeling, so the next time

you want to know if somebody’s smile is genuine, look for crinkles at the corners

of their eyes.

If they aren’t there, that smile is hiding something!

Number 5 - What They Say

If you’re meeting someone for the first time, and all they do is talk about their

wonderful better half or praise their work colleagues, chances are, they’re a pretty

decent person themselves.

Studies show, that the more people rate others as being kind, polite, loving and well-mannered,

the more likely they are to also possess these traits.

However, the reverse is also true.

Anyone backstabbing and describing others as manipulative and nasty, is more likely

to have these traits themselves.

It’s also possible that they have a history of depression or personality disorder.

Number 6 - Paralanguage

Paralanguage is nonverbal communication such as your tone, pitch or manner of speaking.

Basically, it’s a fancy way of saying that you need to pay attention to how someone says

something.

For example, if someone is answering you in monotone, they’re most likely unattached

to your concept and not interested.

The use of sarcasm is another good example.

When someone uses sarcasm, what the person means is actually the opposite of what the

words say.

So, pay attention to the emphasis they put on words and how they say it.

It gives you a big clue as to what their true intentions are.

Number 7 - Side Glance

People that are warm and open to meeting you, will have their body facing you and they will

look you in the eye.

On the flip side, if you’ve just met someone and they immediately glance away to the side,

this is a subconscious body language sign that means they are looking for an escape.

Number 8 - Frequent Nodding

Nodding is usually a sign that someone agrees with you.

But, exaggerated nodding may signal anxiety, about approval.

When you’re telling someone something, and they nod excessively, this means that they

are worried about what you think of them, or that you doubt their ability to follow

your instructions.

On the other hand, frequent nodding could also be unconscious gestures that are cues

for the other person to get a move on - just like when a person keeps looking at their

watch or touches their car keys.

Number 9 - Chin And Jaw

When someone is trying to make a decision, they tend to rub their chin.

They might be looking up, down, or to the side...

It’s a sure sign that they are deep in thought.

A clenched jaw is a sign of stress.

Regardless of what the person is saying, this indicates a considerable level of discomfort.

The conversation may be heading toward something they’re anxious about; or their mind may

be elsewhere, and they’re focusing on the thing that’s stressing them out.

Number 10 - Posture

How someone carries themselves can give you some indications about their self confidence.

For example, if someone is walking upright with their shoulders back and looking straight

ahead, that gives the indication that they feel good about themselves and have confidence.

However, if someone is slouching over and looking at the ground when they walk, that

gives a much different impression.

It may not necessarily mean that they have low self-esteem, but that’s the message

it gives off.

Number 11 - Rubbing Hands

It is believed that the hands broadcast what the head is thinking.

When a person is rubbing their hands together, generally it means that they have a positive

feeling about something.

People usually do this when they are hopeful about something good coming up in the future,

and they’re excited about it.

Number 12 - Handshake

You can tell a lot by a person’s handshake.

Soft and flabby - and they are likely to be submissive or a pushover.

Too hard and crushing - and they are possibly domineering types.

The length of time is also important.

Too long and it’s weird, but too short could indicate some form of conflict.

It’s possible that the person does not want to make a deep connection with you.

But, it could also mean that they don’t have much time.

Number 13 - Leaning In, Or Away

If a person leans in toward you, it’s a clear indication that they are interested

in what you have to say.

What you might not know, is that it’s also a sign of respect.

When people come closer and lean in toward you during a conversation, it shows that they

want to confide in you.

It makes you feel trustworthy and valued.

If someone leans back however, they show that they are tired of the conversation, or perhaps

they feel uncomfortable for some reason.

Number 14 - Holding The Baby

Ok…this might seem like a strange one, but it’s good to know.

If you’re meeting someone for the first time, and they just happen to be a new mother,

look at what arm they use to hold the baby.

Studies show that happy moms tend to hold their babies in their left arm.

While stressed and depressed mothers usually hold their babies in their right arm.

Number 15 - Crossed Arms And Legs

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who crossed their arms or legs while you were

talking to them?

If you’re on a first date, or if you’re trying to pitch someone a new idea, it’s

not a good sign.

Crossed arms and legs are physical barriers that suggest the other person is not open

to what you’re saying.

Even if they’re smiling and engaged in a pleasant conversation, their body language

tells the story.

Psychologically, crossed legs or arms, signal that a person is mentally, emotionally, and

physically blocked off from what’s in front of them.

On the same note, the direction of someone’s feet are also quite revealing.

A person that likes you, will have both feet facing in your direction.

However, if their feet shift toward the door, it means they’ve had enough and want to

leave.

Number 16 - Shoes

A person’s shoes can tell you a lot about their personality.

Apparently, we all make judgments about people’s shoes, but studies show that they are pretty

accurate.

- Nervous people will have new or very clean shoes

- Amiable types will wear practical shoes - Calm people have an affinity for uncomfortable

shoes - And aggressive people wear ankle boots

Just take a look at your own shoes.

Does your personality type fit in with them?

Number 17 - Overall Appearance

How someone dresses and presents themselves can say volumes about them.

If the person has their hair in place, their clothing pressed, and they show attention

to style, they may be very detail oriented.

Someone with a more casual wardrobe or “bed head” might be creative, or just messy.

And then take someone who looks unkempt and smelly - they could simply be a really lazy

person.

Number 18 - Copying Body Language

If you’ve never tried to read people before, this is something you probably haven’t noticed.

But, pay close attention to it in the future, because when someone mimics your body language,

it means they feel so good about you, that they want to harmonize with you.

It’s a sign that the conversation is going well and that the other party is receptive

to your message.

This is done unconsciously – as no one walks around with the intention of outright copying

someone.

But when we’re comfortable with people, we have a tendency to do what they do.

Some of us are pretty good at reading the signs that people give off.

While others are so bad, that they need the other person to come out and straight-up tell

them what’s on their mind.

Reading people isn’t easy, but if you can do it, it’s a fantastic skill to have.

Of course, everyone is different, so interpreting their words and actions may or may not always

be accurate.

But hopefully, with these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming better at reading

people.

We want to know what you think!

When you’re meeting someone for the first time, what’s the first thing you usually

notice about them?

Let us know in the comments below.

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