I attended the CIPD’s HRD conference yesterday and listened to a very interesting discussion on the use of body language in deciphering our true feelings by Professor Geoff Beattie, Head of School and Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester better known for his role as resident psychologist on all five of the ‘Big Brother’ series.
It was interesting to me to see that when we lie, we can be given away by decreasing our iconic messages. While our language is used to convey our lie the fact that we may stop using our body language to the extent we may usually do so can give us away. A clip shown by Beattie, shows Tony Blair in a recent pre-election photo shoot with a young girl on his knee, appealing to women voters. Blair says to the group of ladies that bringing up his children was the hardest thing he’d ever done but then brings his hands down to rest on his lap, while saying this.
According to Beattie, this indicates he is lying. I’d like to hear your views on what you think of this – imagine the doors that can be opened if HR could read body language!
Annie Hayes