Human communication is a complex interaction that involves both words and gestures. While words convey the explicit message, gestures, postures, and facial expressions reveal additional, often unconscious, information. These non-verbal elements are crucial to interpreting the intentions and emotions of others.
In fact, pioneering studies in communication estimate that 93% of our communication is non-verbalthat is, it is transmitted through gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice. Within this vast universe of non-verbal signals, one of the gestures with the most interpretations is scratching the nose while speaking to us. Although it has been speculated that this gesture could be an indicator of deception, what does the science about it?
The myth of Pinocchio
The idea that nose scratching is a sign of lying has persisted for a long time, possibly due to the cultural association between lying and nose growth. However, this popular belief has no scientific basis. Although the relationship between nose scratching and lying has been explored, there is no evidence to suggest that this behavior is exclusively triggered by factors such as deception. Rather, it may be caused by more common causessuch as allergies or simply the need to relieve an itch.
What does scratching your nose really mean?
Psychologist Jack Schafer, contributor to Psychology Todayhighlights that scratching the nose can be a sign of anxiety or discomfort, but not necessarily deception. Emotional tension can manifest itself in a variety of ways, and scratching your nose is simply one of them.
To correctly interpret non-verbal gestures, it is essential to consider them in conjunction with other factors. The context, facial expressions, tone of voice and verbal content They are equally important elements to understand a person’s intentions. For example, a person may scratch their nose because of an allergy or simply because it is itchy. If this gesture is accompanied by other signs of nervousness or avoidance, it may be more likely to be related to deception. However, if there are no other indications, it is risky to draw definitive conclusions.
Even other body language experts, such as the agents of the FBIemphasize the importance of observing patterns of behavior rather than focusing on isolated gestures. Joe Navarro, former agent and counterintelligence and counterterrorism supervisor for 25 years at the popular Justice Department investigative group USApoints out that it is more useful iidentify the ‘sensitive issues’ that generate symptoms and gestures of stress or nervousness in a person, which helps to obtain more valuable information about their true intentions.
In conclusion, scratching your nose during a conversation is a behavior that may reflect anxiety or discomfort, but it is essential to consider the context and other non-verbal signs for an accurate interpretation.
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