The science of body language has fascinated people for over 100 years, after Charles Darwin first recognised its importance in 1872 in "The Expression of the Emotions in Men and Animals". Ever since then, people-watchers have tried to crack the code of the body's gestures and movements. Whilst some gestures are specific for certain cultures, (for example, a shake of the head means "Yes" in Greece and "No" elsewhere), it appears that the majority of body language is basically the same for all humans across the world.

Psychologists have calculated that 55% of the message that we give comes through our body language, 38% is from the tone, speed and inflection of our voice and just 7% is from what we are actually saying. It stands to reason then, that a basic understanding of how body language works can be a valuable tool to have. It helps us to interpret what people are thinking and reveals what they might want to conceal. This basic knowledge can also be used to enhance your own body language, so that you can fine-tune your own non-verbal signals to send people the kind of message that you want them to receive.

A basic understanding of another person's body language can help you to recognise the signals that may be warning you to back off with dignity, or press on with confidence.

Whilst the majority of body language signs are common to both sexes, there are a number that are gender specific. For example, a man may very often manoeuvre himself between the object of his desire and another person to create a more intimate space, claim his territory and block other potential rivals. A woman tends to expose her wrists and palms of her hands to people she is interested in. This is a subconscious display of submission, in which her body is saying "If you want me, you can have me".

The best way to read body language signals is by viewing them in 'clusters' of gestures, that is, a group of at least three or four signs working together. One or two on their own can be insignificant and will not give a positive enough indication of any particular meaning. For example, someone scratching their nose MAY mean that they're lying about something - or it may just mean that they have an itchy nose! However, if they're scratching their nose, avoiding eye contact AND turning their body away from you slightly, then watch out, they're probably fibbing to you. It's therefore important to see what other movements and gestures are going on at the same time; don't try to judge what someone is thinking on the basis of one gesture alone.

Body language is also best interpreted alongside verbal communication; listening to what someone is saying whilst watching their body language can give you the biggest clue of all as to their level of sincerity. If someone if saying one thing and their body language is telling you the opposite, then they probably have something to hide.

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