Abstract
A two-part study was conducted on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of nonverbal behavior to investigate the factors that influence physical movement. The qualitative aspects of nonverbal behavior were investigated by testing the effects of academic anxiety on the amount of body language mirroring produced by a population of collegiate honors students. The honors students were induced with varying levels of academic anxiety based on groups, and were recorded to determine the quality of their movements in relation to stress level. To test the quantitative aspects, a broad range of participants was collected and assessed on their demographic variables, emotional intelligence, and life satisfaction. These participants were presented with a low-stress environment to determine to what degree these assessed variables impacted normal social interaction movement numbers. Physical movements for the quantitative test were divided into head, arm, and leg movements. The combination of results between these two studies allows insight into the factors that affect physical movement in various types of social situations, as well as what underlying factors produce specific movement patterns. It takes a knowledge of the underlying internal and situational factors in a social interaction to more successfully direct a conversation. Such analysis allows for increased social marketing, which aims to benefit society through individual interactions.
Recommended Citation
Roten, Caleb and Naydenova, Ivelina
(2025)
"Body Language in Social Interactions: Patterns of Nonverbal Behavior,"
Journal of Counseling and Psychology: Vol. 7:
Iss.
1, Article 2.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/jcp/vol7/iss1/2