Shout It Out Loud for Our Nonverbal Communication Quiz

According to behavioral investigator Vanessa Van Edwards, shooting for about 60 to 70 percent eye contact during a conversation strikes the right balance. It shows you’re interested without making the other person uncomfortable or intimidated.​

Furrowed brows and frowns are universal indicators of concern, worry or confusion, and often convey those emotional states far more powerfully than words.​

Micro expressions are brief, involuntary facial cues. The eyebrow flash (a quick upward movement) is a micro expression that signals welcoming or openness. Infants as young as 2 weeks old can recognize it.​

Good posture — standing straight, shoulders back, chest open — is associated with confidence. Expansive poses can even cause physiological changes like increased testosterone and reduced cortisol, which relate to confidence and lower stress.​

Proxemics refers to how people use space. For example, standing too close to someone can feel invasive, while standing far from them may come across as cold. It’s a nonverbal signal of comfort, respect or intimacy, and it can vary depending on the culture.​