Glen Wilson

“Eye contact can be used either as a means of seeking intimacy or as an attempt to intimidate.”

“The eyes are the most powerful social signalers that we have and hence are sometimes called 'the windows of the soul' One of the key elments of what is called 'social skills training' is getting just the right amount of eye contact. Too little and we come across as shy and awkward; too much and we seem rude.”

“Women are generally more intuitive about reading the faces of others but they are also easier to read (by both men and women). This is because women tend to be more emotionally expressive.”

“Faces may be hard to read because humans are complex social animals that have learned to suppress the display of emotions for various reasons. It is often inappropriate to show negative emotions like hatred and contempt in public, so people go about wearing socially acceptable faces rather like masks.”

“A man's decision has an important effect upon how others will react to him. Although the impression gained is immediate and felt as instinctive, it actually derives from assessments made about what his motives are and what kind of person he is.”

“Research confirms that we are more comfortable with people who are familiar looking, whether we know them very well or have not previously met them.”

“Research shows that most of the decisions are made within the first four minutes, far too soon for personality and intelligence to be properly assessed. Among the characteristics that emerge as favorable are self-assurance, eye contact, enthusiasm, cologne, a firm handshake and spectacles. Humour may be beneficial but not if it comes across as smart-arse, competitive or hostile.”

“Mirroring the body language of the interviewers may be a way of increasing rapport and making them feel more receptive towards you.”

“Talk with a comfortable tempo - too fast sounds nervous and you might lose the audience, too slow can come across as dull-witted.”

“It has been found that people are more sensitive to negative faces, picking sad and angry expressions out of a crowd more quickly than positive ones. This is perhaps because we use them as indicators of threat.”

“Research shows that women do judge status by the car men drive. Luxury cars convey high status. When a woman drives a sports car, it is perceived as a slightly aggressive show of independence and can be intimidating to a man.”

“Shoe style and condition is a key marker of economic status and prestige.”

“Regardless of expense, the way we are dressed can show how much pride we take in ourselves and how we value cleanliness. The impression given can range from careless and sloppy to precious and obsessional. Perhaps the most important thing is to be appropriate; we are generally most comfortable when wearing the right thing for the occasion.”

“Obviously, people should be free to present themselves any way they like but they need to be aware that every choice has consequences with respect to how they are perceived. We all have choices to make about how we present ourselves to others but we need to be aware of their likely impact.”

“The reason we can assess people so rapidly is that we compare what we see before us with a set of previously established stereotypes - expectations based on what we have been told and what we have gained from past experience. Usually there is some element of truth in these stereotypes but they can also be misleading.”

“The first impression sets the stage for further interaction.”

“In almost any aspect of our social lives, the ability to interpret accurately the signals of body language, and to manage the impression we are giving to others, may be critical to our success, or even our survival.”

“Where body language is giving mixed signals (eg. a smile that borders on a grimace or fails to involve the eyes) then the more negative, less socially desirable component is usually the more telling. This is because we are more often motivated to conceal unpleasant truths and anti-social feelings than pleasant, benign ones.”

“Where body language conflicts with the words that are being said, the body language will usually be the more 'truthful' in the sense of revealing true feelings.”

“Gestural codes differ from place to place and there is great scope for misunderstanding.”

“We may not be aware of the exact significance of each gesture but the overall impression is usually quite accurate.”