Masks and their impact on body language

On many occasions, the content of a gesture, a smile or even a posture not only complements the message, but also provides more information than words.

The value of non-verbal communication has been widely studied and influences both social and family and work relationships.

Specifically, a study by Albert Mehrabian shows that 55% of communication corresponds to gestural language, ahead of the 38% that belongs to the intention to speak and 7% of the oral communication itself. These data confirm the relevance of communication skills in each of the spheres of our day-to-day life.

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How does wearing a mask influence non-verbal language?

As in many other areas, the coronavirus has also generated changes in non-verbal communication, making the mask a novel element that somewhat limits the capacity for facial expression, but to which we will have to adapt during the famous "new normal".

That is why in this article we would like to tell you about the limitations that it generates in our regular communication and how we can minimize such effects to avoid loss of wealth gestural.

1. Trust your ability to adapt

Darwin already advanced that "those who best adapt survive", and luckily the brain is perfectly capable of facing changes and assuming them normally.

The initial feeling of strangeness when having a conversation with a person with part of the face covered is progressively transformed into something natural and therefore this pattern is internalized without generating significant alterations.

The same is replicated in the affective sphere; at first it was peculiar to arrive at a place and not greet with the previous codes, and now the absence of such physical contact is not surprising.

It is precisely that brain plasticity the one that allows not only to reinforce neural connections that already exist but to generate new circuits that are exercised over time.

2. The look, more important than ever

Even though much of facial communication pertains to the eyes and eyebrows, Losing information from your smile can reduce your ability to show empathy and trust.. In addition, the mask alters the tone and volume when speaking, which can cause difficulties in understanding.

For this reason, we must compensate for this deficit by enhancing other aspects of non-verbal communication, such as body movements or gestures with the hands.

The fact of focusing on the gaze of the person with whom we speak and that this is the richest source information, will make us experts both in its interpretation and in its use in our expression. From this point of view the use of the mask can have positive effects on facial expression detail.

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3. Beware of misunderstandings

Changes in tone projection and the absence of certain gestural support can lead to misinterpretations in communication. This may affect irony more specifically, being more complicated to abstract from the literal part without expressions that facilitate the understanding of the intention.

In the same way that communication through messages is prone to misunderstandings, this special modality of Communication may require at some point the assurance by the speaker that the message sent and the one received is correspond.

4. Don't lose sight of its function

Despite the difficulties that appear with the use of the mask, we must not forget its main objective, to protect ourselves.

It will not be difficult to relativize the annoyances that it produces in us if we remember the beginning and the evolution of the pandemic, bring the mind to that moment it will help to assess what was once a basic necessity, but difficult to acquire, and in turn, the way to protect ourselves from an enemy powerful.

In addition, the fact that they are part of our current routine can be one more way to express aspects of our personality, tastes or preferences, since the market has multiplied and the offer of masks and their customization is practically infinite.

Special cases

Finally, it is necessary to clarify that certain groups may be particularly affected by its use, is the case, for example, of people with hearing difficulties, who require the support of lips at many times or from children who obtain much of the information from the gestures of the adult.

At a professional level, it can also produce handicaps in jobs in which displays of empathy and trust are important, in the case of doctors or psychologists, among others.

However, we must once again see it as a useful contribution that the virus leaves in our lives, since it can allow us be more aware of something that was automatic before and therefore improve a fundamental part of the skills of communication.

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