Nonverbal
language reveals your roots
from Scientific American
Mind, August/September 2007
Just as an Irish brogue or a Minnesota lilt betrays one’s background, facial expressions and body language can also reveal our
cultural origins. According to new research, such “nonverbal accents” also
provoke stereotyped perceptions of others’ personalities.
Many researchers regard
nonverbal behavior to be a universal language—wherever you go, a smile looks
like a smile. But a growing body of research suggests that where we hang our
hats shapes both how we display emotion and how we perceive it in others. In a
new study, psychologists Abigail Marsh, Hillary Elfenbein and Nalini Ambady,
all then at Harvard University, found that American volunteers could
distinguish American from Australian faces when the faces were
photographed smiling but not when they were photographed with neutral
expressions.
In addition, the way Americans and Australians
walked or waved in greeting not only telegraphed their nationality but also
triggered prevailing stereotypes about the two groups: Americans were judged
more dominant (think, “Carry a big stick”) and Australians more likable (think,
“G’day, mate!”).
A different study, led by
psychologist Masaki Yuki of Hokkaido University in Japan, suggests that people from different cultures are attuned to different
nonverbal cues. The group found that Americans,
who tend to express emotion overtly, look to the mouth to interpret others’
true feelings. Japanese, who tend to be more emotionally guarded, give greater
weight to the eyes, which are less easily controlled.
“These studies show both that
people can be sensitive to cultural cues that they are barely aware of, and
also that their own cultural norms can lead them astray," comments Judith
Hall, who studies nonverbal communication at Northeastern University. For
example, "Americans who think the Japanese are unexpressive mistake
subtlety for lack of expression. These Americans would misjudge facial cues
that Japanese might be very successful at interpreting.”
Such
misjudgments can have unintended consequences, Marsh argues. “Everyone knows
how spoken communication breakdowns can lead to cross-cultural
misunderstandings,” she says. “These studies highlight the importance of
nonverbal communication as well. Improving awareness of these differences might
go a long way toward improving cross-cultural interactions.”—Siri Carpenter