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Body Language Reveals Wealth

livescience.com

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Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#21

Post by newt0311 »

ecuzzillo wrote: post #17

I should point out that the conclusion of the linked study is complete bullshit. It claimed that poor people are more polite than rich people. What it should have claimed was that poor people who went to Berkeley are more polite than rich people who went to Berkeley . Poor people who go to Berkeley are likely to be moving up in the world relative to their families; their eyes are being opened to a whole new world of…

Second. Also, its kind of funy and very disturbing when researchers think they can analyze so complex a subject like differences in behavior in relation to wealth with such a small sample-size and with so many free variables. It illustrates a hubris that I am afraid has become far too common. Science is about asking questions and nowadays, researchers aren't asking enough of them.

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#22

Post by Tichy »

ecuzzillo wrote: post #17

I should point out that the conclusion of the linked study is complete bullshit. It claimed that poor people are more polite than rich people. What it should have claimed was that poor people who went to Berkeley are more polite than rich people who went to Berkeley . Poor people who go to Berkeley are likely to be moving up in the world relative to their families; their eyes are being opened to a whole new world of…

Also they only studied people who got rich by having rich parents. It would be more interesting to study people who became rich through their actions.

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#23

Post by skmurphy »

kolya3 wrote: post #12
abl wrote: post #2

The reason I posted this to HN, is because I am curious as to how many people here hack at their own body language, and whether you tend to focus on "improving" it, or just let it be "natural", whatever that means. And if you are "improving" it, what are your considerations for particular situations? Do you try act as if you are from a lower SES, to try to level yourself with your listener, or the other way around -…

I notice it's hard to get things done in a meeting when your arms are crossed over your chest or abdomen. It's the universal sign of "I disagree with you and I'm on the defensive" Try this: cross your arms, and the person across from you will inevitably do so as well. I find that when they do that, it's much harder to convince them of your point of view. It's almost as if their defensive posture puts their mind into…

It's interesting that folding your arms when faced with a difficult problem can make you more persevering. http://www2.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=fb05abc6-149...

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#24

Post by herval »

kolya3 wrote: post #12
abl wrote: post #2

The reason I posted this to HN, is because I am curious as to how many people here hack at their own body language, and whether you tend to focus on "improving" it, or just let it be "natural", whatever that means. And if you are "improving" it, what are your considerations for particular situations? Do you try act as if you are from a lower SES, to try to level yourself with your listener, or the other way around -…

I notice it's hard to get things done in a meeting when your arms are crossed over your chest or abdomen. It's the universal sign of "I disagree with you and I'm on the defensive" Try this: cross your arms, and the person across from you will inevitably do so as well. I find that when they do that, it's much harder to convince them of your point of view. It's almost as if their defensive posture puts their mind into…

I used to believe that too (and there are dozens of books that actually say the same) - but what I've noticed for quite some time now is that this little bit of posture doesn't play that big of a role, after all. Probably because everybody has read the same best-seller 'mastering body language' books.

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#25

Post by known »

ecuzzillo wrote: post #17

I should point out that the conclusion of the linked study is complete bullshit. It claimed that poor people are more polite than rich people. What it should have claimed was that poor people who went to Berkeley are more polite than rich people who went to Berkeley . Poor people who go to Berkeley are likely to be moving up in the world relative to their families; their eyes are being opened to a whole new world of…

"You are a product of your environment." --Clement Stone

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#26

Post by khafra »

skmurphy wrote: post #23
kolya3 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I notice it's hard to get things done in a meeting when your arms are crossed over your chest or abdomen. It's the universal sign of "I disagree with you and I'm on the defensive" Try this: cross your arms, and the person across from you will inevitably do so as well. I find that when they do that, it's much harder to convince them of your point of view. It's almost as if their defensive posture puts their mind into…

It's interesting that folding your arms when faced with a difficult problem can make you more persevering. http://www2.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=fb05abc6-149...

When facing a difficult problem and trying to project confidence, I prefer sitting astride a rearing horse, brandishing a sabre.

The body language mirroring and influence thing has a comprehensive theory on using it to your advantage: Neuro-Linguistic Programming. Unfortunately, it has little experimental support, but it's still trendy with the management and life coaches--which doesn't necessarily make it not true; which wouldn't necessarily make it not useful.

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#27

Post by yan »

Alex3917 wrote: post #3
abl wrote: post #2

The reason I posted this to HN, is because I am curious as to how many people here hack at their own body language, and whether you tend to focus on "improving" it, or just let it be "natural", whatever that means. And if you are "improving" it, what are your considerations for particular situations? Do you try act as if you are from a lower SES, to try to level yourself with your listener, or the other way around -…

There are some good papers on perceived IQ, and how perceived IQ correlates with actual IQ. It turns out that pIQ is mostly a function of body language, eye contact, rate of speech, and things like that; what comes out of your mouth doesn't actually matter all that much. Some of the factors you are able to fake and boost your pIQ, but most you aren't. So if you are into that it would pay off well to figure out what t…

I love how searching google for "perceived iq" now brings up this comment as the third result.

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#29

Post by eru »

yan wrote: post #27
Alex3917 wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are some good papers on perceived IQ, and how perceived IQ correlates with actual IQ. It turns out that pIQ is mostly a function of body language, eye contact, rate of speech, and things like that; what comes out of your mouth doesn't actually matter all that much. Some of the factors you are able to fake and boost your pIQ, but most you aren't. So if you are into that it would pay off well to figure out what t…

I love how searching google for "perceived iq" now brings up this comment as the third result.

Google loves Hacker News. Does anybody know, why?

Re: Body Language Reveals Wealth

#30

Post by eru »

semerda wrote: post #18
kolya3 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I notice it's hard to get things done in a meeting when your arms are crossed over your chest or abdomen. It's the universal sign of "I disagree with you and I'm on the defensive" Try this: cross your arms, and the person across from you will inevitably do so as well. I find that when they do that, it's much harder to convince them of your point of view. It's almost as if their defensive posture puts their mind into…

It's called mirroring - a psychology process in building rapport. We all do it when comfortable with a friend / family member. You can use this to your advantage to win people over to your side. Just try not to be too obvious or they might spot you! ;)

Never happened to me. And I am über-obvious.
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