The Power of Non-verbal Communication in Relationships: What Your Body Language Says 

People often say, “Use your words wisely.” Because they carry powerful meaning, but have you ever thought about how your silence af ected others? 

Non-verbal cues also have weightage to say a lot in relationships, they even have the power to communicate faster than words. In every type of connection, these cues, such as body language, eye contact, facial expression, and touching, tell us about people more than spoken language. When two people get each other in this way, they can recognise hidden emotions, it builds trust, and all of this encourages them to have an intimate dialogue. 

Read More: Mastering Effective Communication: Building Trust and Strong Relationships

The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t said.

Peter F. Drucker

Mehrabian explained that the frame of mind will be determined when posture and speech are not on the same page. According to this study, just 7% of communication is verbal; people interact 55% through body language, and the tone of their words is another 38%. So, Therefore, these cues are important in the cultivation of long-term relationships. 

1. Eyes: Not just for tears, but for communicating

Remember the feeling when you are talking with your partner on a serious topic, and your partner is busy on their laptop and not even looking at you.  Ugh!! Feeling frustrated. Right? 

Without eye contact, elements of conversation can be absent, such as clarity about emotions and recognising accurate intentions. As always depicted in Indian TV or cinema, falling in love at first sight exaggerates the ancient poet’s words that “eyes are windows to the soul.” In reality, eye contact can be effective if used it or interpreted properly, because various emotions, feelings can be delivered.

For instance, it is considered a sign of kindness or devotion when someone looks at you longer than usual. Conversely, avoiding eye contact signifies shyness, unfriendliness, or that they don’t like us (Kleinke, C. L., 1986). Likewise, in a relationship, a person feels validated, emotionally connected when the companion makes appropriate eye contact while talking.

And it missed out on the conversation, then words might not be fully heard or understood, but rather express disengagement or awkwardness. 

“Let’s slip away from this party,” “I believe in you,” “Trust you.” Such of thousand words can pass through eye contact. How more you and your partner utilise this way your bond can be cherished beautifully with a lot of trust, openness, and involvement. Simplicity in just looking at the partner’s eyes is a way of providing warm feelings and understanding their need. 

Read More: Why do we Replay Awkward Moments in our Minds? 

Where words are restrained, the eyes often talk a great deal.

Samuel Richardson

2. Posture, Gestures: Our Body’s stance 

People carry distinct love languages, but there are many common points, such as leaning onto. This shows likability, dependability on each other in a relationship. Our body movements indicate how much we are interested in others, and if it is reciprocal, then chemistry exists between them. Physical intimacy is essential and the best way to convey emotions. 

Holding arms around the shoulder at any emotional moment, patting on the back to calm down, bringing you closer while walking in the crowd to protect you. Being protective toward their partners is another way of showing affection. 

Crossed arms, distant sitting, and rigid posture can give the impression of disinterest, emotional unavailability, and not willing to open up. Even words cannot convey your true emotions when you are giving wrong signals unknowingly. So, make sure your posture is free and open to show a caring nature. 

Read More: Nurturing Intimacy: Strategies to Deepen Your Connection with Your Partner

3. Mimicking your partner 

Have you ever felt you have adopted a partner’s habit of organising things in a certain way? People in love synchronise with each other’s lives. And subconsciously, they started to mimic each other in posture, tone, accent, and body movements. That phenomenon in close relationships can improve understanding, decision making, and intimate bonding. Every step forward with their loved ones is synchronised. This is the emblem of empathy, togetherness. It reflects the promise to each other. 

4. Facial Expressions 

The face is a picture of the mind with the eyes as its interpreter.

Roman Orator Cicero 

Universally, a face expresses motions like anger, happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, and surprise. In relationships, facial expressions reveal your current emotions. Smiling can give reassurance and boost positive affect, also. A smile can create a connection with anyone out there. When one gets angry or annoyed by someone, their eyebrows furrow, and it is received as confusion or concern. 

Research says that people see the face and pass judgment in 100 milliseconds, such as trustworthiness, competence, and aggressiveness. This study also found that modest smiling is associated with friendliness. (Alexander Todorov, Sean G. Baron, et al, 2008). 

Recognising facial expression in a long-term relationship is a tool to establish that connection beyond words. Because it can work as hints to give some own space to your partner. But sometimes, people misunderstand others’ emotions. And here, evidence highlighted that if one intentionally portrays their emotion on their face, then their other person can recognise it accurately. 

5. Touching 

Let’s discuss a more comforting touch, a warm hug, it is not just a gesture, but has a greater role in biological changes. According to the professor at the University of Oxford, hugs can release oxytocin, which can reduce stress and enhance emotional connection with others (Dunbar, 2016). In romantic relationships, a hug can solve conflicts. It can bring the disagreements on a mutual ground of harmony and bridge the gap between your rationality and emotional side. So, touch can do what spoken language cannot. Love, affection, secure feelings, support, reliance, or consolation are smoothly transferred through touch. 

Read More: The Psychology of Falling in Love

6. Tone: How do we say? 

Tone of voice matters. Clarity of thoughts, soothing experience arise from the softness of the voice. But, the pitch and volume are raised disproportionately, you will feel uneasy, and responding can get harder. It can reflect anxiety, underconfidence. 

A gentle tone can comfort, while a harsh one can sting even if the words are kind. Speaking too fast or too loudly may make us seem anxious or overpowering, while calm, steady speech builds trust. Even silence speaks; pauses can show reflection, hesitation, or emotional depth.

The voice often “leaks” our true feelings, more than our face or body. In relationships, how we say things can make all the difference in being understood and feeling connected (Sikorski, Wiesław, 2012). High volume can tell you whether it is anger or love; tone reveals easily if it is sarcasm or genuine words. When you can recognise non-verbal cues, you can get others’ perspectives. All of that prepares you to respond compassionately. 

Read more: How to Build Trust in Yourself After Betrayal: According to Psychologist

How does emotional intelligence play a role in it? 

Highly emotionally intelligent people can recognise the inconsistency between your words and facial expressions. They can identify what lies beneath the surface faster than usual listeners. So, this makes them a proactive listener and respondent, without any confusion. They rely more on non-verbal cues like smiles, handshakes, blushing, foot tapping, and biting nails. And therefore, they effortlessly avoid misunderstandings, and this leads to an honest bond with others (Jacob H, Kreifelts B, et al, 2016). 

Read More: These 10 Tiny Tricks Can Make or Break Your First Impression, According to Psychology

Why is it important? 

While recognising partners’ feelings, it can also tap into our feelings. And, this aspect of soft skills increases the standard of our emotional intelligence. It can turn us into better listeners, good lovers or friends, and supportive. 

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

George Bernard Shaw 

Final thought

Spoken words are important, but pauses between them can also disclose hidden feelings. Non-verbal cues such as touch, tone, facial expression, posture, gesture, and movements are louder than the words. If we excel in recognition and implementation, then they are the best channel where real connections take place. By connecting with others in a more aware way, we can resolve conflicts and break that awkward silence with an abundance of love, care.  So, a reading partner might be the next valuable skill to acquire for a better relationship. 

FAQs 

1. What is the power of nonverbal communication in relationships? 

They are more elaborate to understand your partner. People can use them to show affection, respect, support, and comfort. People in relationships can avoid quarrels while understanding the true emotions of themselves and their partners. So, this is the way to sustain your emotional bond forever. 

2. How does body language affect the relationship? 

Gentle touch, protective gestures, smiling, rigid or comfortable posture, all can bring two people together with a better understanding of themselves. This also inculcates attentiveness, warmth, and openness. 

3. How to read someone’s body language? 

• Pay attention to them. 
• Observe their posture, how they sit exactly on the couch. 
• Notice their hand gestures. For example, Open palm gestures are more positive. 
• Notice their tone, pitch, and volume.