Body Language episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 14, 2025 · 3 MIN

Body Language

from Alan Weiss's The Uncomfortable Truth® · host Alan Weiss

SHOW NOTES: There are myriad claims on social media that are justified by the author observing (or being a self-proclaimed expert in) "body language." I have always thought this was ridiculous, sort of a faux psychological claim of expertise. Of course, the French have long studied graphology (handwriting) to determine behavioral traits (hard in a world forsaking cursive), and scapulimancy, the study of old, burned animal shoulder bones, has been used by various cultures to contact the gods. "Body language" is a similar myth. You don't believe me, here's what Psychology Today has to say about it: "Every day, we get queries from around the world about non-verbals and invariably about detecting deception through body language. The biggest takeaway from the hundreds of messages is that despite the undeniable importance of nonverbal communication, many myths and false beliefs undermine its importance, relevance, or utility. So, we decided to pool our resources and comment on ten myths about body language that are currently trending, and you may notice some have been trending for a long time." https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/202207/debunking-body-language-myths But why trust me or science? After all, who knows what my body language looks like right now?

SHOW NOTES: There are myriad claims on social media that are justified by the author observing (or being a self-proclaimed expert in) "body language." I have always thought this was ridiculous, sort of a faux psychological claim of expertise. Of course, the French have long studied graphology (handwriting) to determine behavioral traits (hard in a world forsaking cursive), and scapulimancy, the study of old, burned animal shoulder bones, has been used by various cultures to contact the gods. "Body language" is a similar myth. You don't believe me, here's what Psychology Today has to say about it: "Every day, we get queries from around the world about non-verbals and invariably about detecting deception through body language. The biggest takeaway from the hundreds of messages is that despite the undeniable importance of nonverbal communication, many myths and false beliefs undermine its importance, relevance, or utility. So, we decided to pool our resources and comment on ten myths about body language that are currently trending, and you may notice some have been trending for a long time." https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/spycatcher/202207/debunking-body-language-myths But why trust me or science? After all, who knows what my body language looks like right now?

NOW PLAYING

Body Language

0:00 3:05

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Alan Weiss's The Uncomfortable Truth®?

This episode is 3 minutes long.

When was this Alan Weiss's The Uncomfortable Truth® episode published?

This episode was published on August 14, 2025.

What is this episode about?

SHOW NOTES: There are myriad claims on social media that are justified by the author observing (or being a self-proclaimed expert in) "body language." I have always thought this was ridiculous, sort of a faux psychological claim of expertise. Of...

Can I download this Alan Weiss's The Uncomfortable Truth® episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!