Observing Body Language handout

Title of the Video: Body Language in Different Cultures

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMxRnzqrz9g&list=LL&index=2&t=1s

Country: I don’t know exactly what country is this but the two guy interacting in this video are American
and Indian.

Dress code:

▢ formal

Greetings

▢ no touching

▢ individual greeting

What are the individuals concerned trying to communicate through their greetings?

Indians prefer not to touch people when it can be avoided. Body contact between the genders is kept
minimal throughout most of Indian people. For example, hugging, kissing and holding hands are not
customary. As traditional values still hold a high place in Indian society, hugging and touching between
opposite genders in public isn’t taken very well. Indians during formal occasions, it is common for them
to greet with the traditional Hindu greeting of “Namaste” (‘I greet the divine within you’). This is
accompanied with a nod of the head or a bow depending on the status of the person you are greeting.
While in American countries shake hands when they meet someone for the first time. A handshake is
the most common greeting when meeting someone for the first time or in professional settings in
America.

Gestures and personal space

▢ keep their distance

▢ good eye contact

What are the individuals concerned to communicate through their gestures and personal space?

In this video, the Indian guy wants to keep his distance from the American guy. For Indian people, it
tends to be seen as an inappropriate distance for public behavior and entering the intimate space of
another person with whom you do not have a close relationship and can be extremely disturbing. Every
culture has different levels of physical closeness appropriate to different types of relationship, and
individuals learn these distances from the society in which they grew up.
General impression of the interaction

▢ formal

What are your overall impressions of the communication?

Indians prefer not to touch people when it can be avoided, but they may touch someone's arm or hand
when speaking so long as they are the same gender. Body contact between the genders is kept minimal
throughout most of India. For example, hugging, kissing and holding hands are not customary. Indians
generally respect each other's personal space and an arm's length of distance is common during
interactions. This is usually a similar proximity to what Westerners are familiar with. They may stand
further away from those who are of the opposite gender. In general, Indians prefer to keep eye contact
minimal or avert their eyes from the opposite gender rather than sustaining eye contact. Some women
may avoid eye contact altogether. Direct eye contact is generally appropriate so long as you divert your
gaze every so often. It’s important to keep in mind that body language isn’t universal. Several things can
impact how someone both uses and interprets body language. Someone’s cultural background can have
a big influence on how they use and read body language.