Book The Body Speaks: a summary by Pierre Weil

George Alvarez 11-07-2023
George Alvarez

O book "The body speaks The work tries to unveil how the non-verbal communication of our human body works, so, to know more about it, we invite you to read our post.

"The Body Speaks" by Pierre Weil

Pierre Weil's book "The Body Speaks: The Silent Language of Nonverbal Communication" aims to show how we react to various relationships we have According to the synopsis of the work, to understand this non-verbal communication, it is necessary to analyze the subterranean principles that govern and conduct our body.

Only in this way will it be possible to understand gestures, expressions, and bodily acts that express our feelings and our conceptions. With the intention of explaining the content in a simple and didactic way, the work presents 350 illustrations.

Book Summary: "The Body Speaks: The Silent Language of Nonverbal Communication

Generally speaking, Pierre Weil and Roland Tompakow's book has two parts, a theoretical part and a practical part. It is in the latter that there are explanatory figures to understand to which bodily expressions the authors are referring.

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In the first chapter of the work, the authors introduce the three animals as part of the vocabulary of the book: the ox, the lion, and the eagle.

In fact, it is in the second chapter that the authors also compare our human body to a sphinx divided into three parts:

  • ox - represents the abdomen of the sphinx and signifies vegetative and instinctive life, where the desires dwell;
  • lion - is equivalent to the heart, where the emotional being is and where feelings such as love, hate, fear, anger, etc. are harbored;
  • eagle - represents the head, where the intellectual and spiritual part of the being is stored.

Thus, the human being is the sum of all of these. The idea that it is possible to dominate the three unconscious mentioned above stands out.

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During the remaining chapters of the book, Pierre Weil and Roland Tompakow explain how these symbols have a relationship with our body. Each representation is equivalent to a body expression, which occurs through gestures and expressions. In addition, it represents the person's emotional state, such as shyness and submissiveness.

Another point made in the work is that all our body parts play a fundamental role, so each one of them has a meaning and is loaded with information necessary to understand what the person is thinking or feeling.

Finalization of the book "The body speaks: the silent language of non-verbal communication

In the final part of the book, the authors explain that feelings such as fear and hunger are expressed through body attitudes. Some expressions that are dealt with in the book are, for example:

  • Nail biting is a sign of tension;
  • standing with chin resting on hands represents patient waiting.

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Another point made in the book is that Non-verbal language is often related to verbal language. Because of this, it is necessary to take all these aspects into consideration in order to understand what another person is thinking.

Furthermore, a fundamental step in understanding what the body is saying is to put yourself in the other person's shoes.

The main ideas of the book the body speaks

Several ideas from the book "The body speaks: the silent language of nonverbal communication" are quite important. However, we decided to select some gestures and expressions and what their meanings are. For example:

Compliance

A person's manner of greeting has a lot to do with how he or she thinks. For example, a strong grip is a sign that there are no restrictions in that connection, while a loose hand is a sign that the person is afraid to get involved.

Sitting Mode

Another issue that must be taken into consideration is the way a person sits and how he arranges objects somewhere. If she is "protecting the ox" with a briefcase or a purse, it means that she is not at ease.

See_also: Anti-fragile: definition, summary and examples

Feet

Even the feet have their importance. If the person's feet are towards a certain person, it means that he has a certain interest in that individual. Now, if the foot is towards the door, he wants to leave the room.

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Read Also: The Trial of Franz Kafka: Psychological Analysis

Arms

Keeping your arms folded across your chest means that you do not want to change your mind, and another meaning of this gesture is that you do not want to accept what you are being told.

Hands

The hands are the main members of our body and are always moving, so they are related to emotions. For example, pulling one's own hair suggests that the person is pursuing a great idea, while propped elbows are trying to delineate space when the person is feeling intimidated.

If the hands are in front of the mouth, this generally means that the person wants to say something, but cannot find an opportunity. Still about the hands, if they are crossed backwards, it is an indication that the person does not agree with something that is being discussed.

Finally, the closed hands show a certain insecurity, as if the individual were trying to hold on to something in order not to fall.

Thorax

The thorax also expresses a lot what the person is thinking. If she is stewing this part of the body, it means that she wants to impose herself and show herself superior in front of others.

In contrast, it shows that the person is feeling suppressed or overwhelmed by a certain situation that is occurring at that moment. Also, a sudden increase in breathing means that a person is feeling tense or going through strong emotions.

Finally, if her head is tucked between her shoulders it means that she is aggressive, whereas if it is resting on her hands it shows that she is patient.

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As we have said throughout this post, verbal and non-verbal communication need to be in agreement. Only in this way will communication be a coherent and complete process.

To do this, it is important to be aware of the fact that we can convey a verbal message quite differently from a body message. Although this information is assertive, it is always subject to some subjectivity. After all, we are talking about human relations.

This is why it is fundamental to put yourself in the other person's shoes. This is the only way to correctly interpret and have more control over situations. Furthermore, by having this skill you will be able to perceive the signs of openness, attraction, or boredom, and act in an appropriate manner to conduct an interaction.

Final considerations about the book the body speaks

By reading the book by Pierre Weil and Roland Tompakow, you will realize that the body does indeed speak! In fact, you will have good tools to know how to deal with any kind of situation.

See_also: SpongeBob SquarePants: behavioral analysis of the characters

Now that you understand about book "The body speaks Get to know our online course on Clinical Psychoanalysis. With our classes you will be able to learn more about this rich area of human knowledge. So, register now and start a new change in your life today!

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George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.