The art of body language

Dwain Walden

Have you ever heard the expression “body language?”

There’s a series on television called “Criminal Minds.” I’m rather fascinated by this show because it depicts how the FBI’s “behavioral analysis unit” solves crimes. Part of their technique is interpreting the body language of a suspect.

And while interpreting “body language” may be a science, it did not start yesterday. Remember that age-old question, “How can you tell when a politician is lying? ... His lips are moving.”

I became aware of body language at a very early age. It was not unusual on a July Sunday morning for the preacher to take off his coat. But when he took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves, we were about to gain a new appreciation for the Israelites wandering in the desert for 40 years. Yesiree, his body language told me that it would be quite some time before we got to that pot roast and mashed potatoes.

Then there was my English teacher, Miss Grace Puckett. If she was writing questions on the chalk board and it sounded like she might be driving nails without a hammer, that was a good indication that she was not happy about some prior performance on our part. She could pound a period to the end of a paragraph and then turn around and give us a stare that would loosen rusty lug bolts.

Entertainers offer us lots of body language — and I’m not talking just about exotic dancers. Comedian/singer Jim Stafford “Swamp Witch Hattie,” “Wildwood Weed,” “Spiders and Snakes”) is a master of body language. In fact, his eyes and his grin can bring a laugh even before he finishes a joke. Former President George Bush had a specific body language. It often said, “Oh my goodness, a car with bright lights is coming at me!”

Poker players have always used and observed body language. Nervous twitches, deep breaths and sweat on the forehead could indicate a handful of nothing. Or it could be reverse psychology while holding three aces.

It was often said that former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan’s body language going into a meeting could impact the Dow Jones trading. Whether he looked rested, tired or worried was calculated. Traders had to bet on whether a financial storm was brewing or if it was just his Preparation H not working.

Not long ago I saw a guy going into the emergency room grimacing in pain, clutching his lower back. His face was pale and he exuded beads of sweat the size of garden peas.

Without him saying a word, my diagnosis was kidney stones. Someone might have suggested that he had just fallen off a step ladder, which is plausible ... right after that jagged little chunk of rock moved into a bladder duct.

Back to “Criminal Minds.” If you notice that when someone is being interrogated, there are behavioral specialists behind the glass interpreting body and voice. Perhaps it hasn’t occurred to anyone yet, but maybe we could apply such specialists in a similar technique to Congress. But then again, anyone can tell when someone’s lips are moving.

(Email: dwain.walden@gaflnews.com)

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