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Does Familiarity Make Someone More Attractive? How Can You Become More Attractive to Someone?

I am a body language expert, with degrees with an emphasis in Body Language and Nonverbal Communication. Just as the research on song shows that repetitive lyrics increase the liability of a song and the repeated playing of a song increases our liking of a song there is “Familiarity Breeds Liking and Attractiveness. Effect” I use to teach this to my students in my Body Language Class at Florida State and now I teach in my corporate training on first impressions and sales.  I told my college students “If you like someone and don’t know how to ask them out find a way to casually cross their path on campus even if just to wave or smile Don’t stalk them just pass by them once a day or once a week and overtime the familiarity breeds liking and attractiveness effect” has the potential to make the person find you attractive. This familiarity opens the possibility of a connection. Nonverbal Communication Research and Research on Attractiveness sometimes called this the “Exposure Principal.” The Exposure principle has also been shown to increase our perception of someone’s intelligence. 

Here is a research study on the topic. 

A group of 22 single people was shown pictures of 112 faces that had rated reasonably highly on a 9-point scale of attractiveness and were then asked to give their own rating out of nine.

The photos kept scrolling so faces were shown multiple times and the scores out of nine increased when faces were shown multiple times.

Rather than love at first sight, it seemed that participants experienced love at fourth sight, which was when the repetition effect was strongest. 

At the same time, the brains of the participants were scanned for electrical activity and the pattern was backed up — the more times people saw faces, the more brain wave activity associated with excitement took place.

“Much to their surprise, people often find themselves drawn to individuals after multiple encounters, even when there was no initial attraction. Cupid’s arrow is often slow to strike. An important part of the phenomenon may be attributable to the gradual change in attractiveness from repetition,” Psychologist Dr Ravi Thiruchselvam told the Daily Mail.

Not sure whether this study is encouraging for those of us who don’t have Ryan Gosling wow-factor, or a little creepy that we can effectively be brainwashed into finding people attractive if we see them enough. But it seems that when it comes to flirting if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.


Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Convention and Conference Speech and Breakout Sessions Topics Patti Wood M.A. Communication Dynamics Inc.

SNAP -Making the Most of First Impressions and Body Language Skills and Insights for the First Five Minutes

Patti is the author of, “SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma”

You are using up to 10,000 nonverbal cues in the first minute of interaction to form a SNAP impression that determines how you’ll interact with that person in that particular situation and you’re sending cues that determine what they think of you! Patti is an internationally known expert in Nonverbal Communication. In this high-energy, interactive, humor-filled program you will learn how body language and first impressions impact your interactions, improve the signals you send, and your ability to read others. Based on Patti's research and book, “SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma” this "Wow!" filled program will share the secrets inside each face-to-face and over the phone interaction. If you google Patti Wood, body language, first impressions, and or handshakes, you will see the amazing insights your audience members can gain in this program.

 

Getting What You Want From People

If you have an important idea to communicate to someone and you need to buy-in, you have a task to assign to someone and you want to make sure they follow through, or you want to make sure you will get enthusiastic participation, what’s the best way to present your message? You need to consider the personality of the person you are going to talk to and form a message and delivery style that suits them. Using DISC personality this program will teach you how to communicate more effectively.


Stand and Deliver
How to Deliver an Audience Focused Presentation
Patti is the author of “Easy Speaking”

 Whether you are a beginner or seasoned presenter, this training will enhance your abilities by giving you fresh, new tools to deliver dynamic, audience-focused presentations. Practicing these new techniques will help you powerfully connect with the audience, create buy-in and excitement.

 

Body Language and Deception Detection

Would you like to know the newest research and cutting-edge techniques to discover if someone is telling you the truth or lying?  Would you like to learn how to ask questions to get the most honest answer and or question effectively if you think they are lying? You need to be aware of what customers are saying to you and you need to be closely monitoring for honesty and deception cues given non-verbally. In addition, you will learn how to present yourself credibly in your business and personal relationships.

The Conflict Cure -Giving and Getting Criticism Effectively

Patti is the author of, “The Conflict Cure”

Do you ever feel that people are getting ruder? Perhaps all the pressure we are under is just making it harder for us to "play well with others."  After years of training people on interpersonal skills, my participants are telling me that there their coworkers are not as "co" as they used to be, and their customers can sometimes be very upset, and sometimes it is difficult to deal with our working relationships.  This program is designed to give you tools to gain confidence and skills to prevent and deal with conflict-related to giving and receiving criticism. 




Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Why We Take Off Our Shoes At the Door

Shoes are part of our “armor” that protects from harm and injury in the outside world They are also part of our “uniform’ to communicate status, and wealth as well as an “artifact” that communicated our style and personality. When we take our shoes off we feel safe physically and psychologically and can shed our need to communicate are artifices like status and style. For years as a body language expert, I have noticed how most people become more comfortable and relaxed when they take off their shoes in a house and interact. The shedding seems to help us become kids again, unpretentious and more vulnerable and playful.  Now shoe bottoms have been proven to carry germs, bacteria, and other pathogens so taking them off as we enter our home actually has a new meaning. I first noticed a shoe shelf at the door of my Physician niece's family house years ago and it made me realize how serious  And that is my home and or your home is sacred and I want to help you keep it safe so I shed the dangers I am carrying on my shoes when I enter your home.  So now the act of taking off shoes by friends and home service personnel like plumbers and such seems an act of consideration and honoring of your home. I encourage shedding shoes at my house by having a special pretty carpet and standing by the door where they see two pairs of shoes already there and place for theirs I don’t even have to say anything the “shoe station” communicated the ritual for me. 

Do Face Coverings, Masks Help or Hinder Defendants in Jury Trials, Body Language of Elizabeth Holmes

Elizabeth Holmes' lawyers stated before trial that Holmes had a "strong preference" to go unmasked in the courtroom, but she did not challenge the judge's decisions regarding mask-wearing. Photo by Nick Otto/AFP via Getty Images.

Before her fall from grace, Elizabeth Holmes’ ability to court and charm establishment luminaries fueled her meteoric rise as head of Silicon Valley blood-testing company Theranos. In her ongoing criminal fraud trial, she might be hoping she can work the same magic on jurors.

But could wearing a mask weaken her defense and make her less likable in the eyes of the jury?

That question appeared top of mind for her defense team in the run-up to her federal criminal trial, which began in August in San Jose, California. Her lawyers told Judge Edward Davila that she had a “strong preference” to go unmasked. But with COVID-19 cases trending upward because of the delta variant, the judge said he would allow only testifying witnesses to go without masks. Attorneys do not have to wear them while examining witnesses.

Judges across the country are balancing public health with the right to a fair trial. In some cases, they have left it to defendants to decide if they want to wear a mask in front of jurors. And while Holmes’ case is a high-profile example, the subject of mask-wearing and whether it helps or hinders defendants is broader concern for both civil and criminal defense lawyers. They know that the nuances of facial expressions and body language are as much a part of courtroom dramas as explosive witness testimony or damning smoking-gun evidence.

Link to the rest of the article. https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/do-face-coverings-help-or-hinder-defendants


https://www.abajournal.com/web/article/do-face-coverings-help-or-hinder-defendants

Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Elizabeth Holmes Body Language, The CEO of Theranos, The Inventor: Out For Blood in Silicon Valley By Body Language Expert Patti Wood

 What does the body language of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder, and CEO of Theranos tell us? In June 2018 she was accused of fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). (Holmes and Theranos' former COO, Sunny Balwani, who was also charged, have pled not guilty to the charges.) After the publication of journalist John Carreyrou's Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup, and ABC's podcast The Dropout, HBO has now thrown its hat into the ring with its documentary The Inventor: Out For Blood In Silicon Valley.

 The documentary is the first to compile footage of Holmes in the context of the accusations that the company's machines did not work. And this new flood of footage has people wondering what Elizabeth Holmes' body language says about her — especially that whole not-blinking thing. Patti Wood, an expert in deception detection and author of the book SNAP — Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma, tells Bustle that "laser focus" allows people to charm those around them.

"It's a charismatic body language behavior. When you're in their presence, you feel like you're the only person in the entire world, that you're the center of their focus and attention," she explains. "It's a superpower, really, and it affects your ability to think logically and go to your [brain's] neocortex and analyze what's going on because it feels so good."

 Holmes founded the healthcare company that eventually became known as Theranos in 2003 at age 19, after dropping out of Stanford. The company claimed to be developing technology that could analyze a fingerprick's worth of blood to detect myriad health problems. Before Theranos was accused of fraud, Holmes was lauded as the next Steve Jobs and became the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world. However, the technology was eventually shown not to be functional and the company was defunct by 2018, according to a Theranos timeline of events reported by Business Insider.

 As people try to unravel the mystery of how Holmes was able to court investors to fund the development of a product that allegedly did not work, many have made mention of Holme's ability to focus on people without blinking.

Wood says this prolonged eye contact is part of the laser focus tactic. She explains that the four factors of a first impression are credibility, likability, attractiveness, and power. When you're dealing with someone who is highly charismatic, the last three factors override your need to find the person credible, she says.

While anyone can fall prey to a charismatic person who is not well-intentioned, there are some red flags to be aware of. "Watch out for 'robots,'" Henderson advises. "If the person you are with looks a bit stiff and robotic, [it means] they are gesturing without any connection to their spine in an attempt to suppress their real behavior. Essentially, they are putting on a show for you which is not genuine and could be a scam."

Additionally, Wood says that your body may alert you that the person you're dealing with is being less than truthful. You might feel unsettled, uncomfortable, or experience a rapid heart rate. Sometimes this can be mistaken for excitement. 

Patti's additional notes 

Signs of a Dangerous Person

Trust your gut. Your central nervous system alerts you to danger. Your limbic brain alerts you through sight, sound, touch, smell, and kinesthetic cues.  Your body may tense or freeze. You may feel heavy, oddly fatigued, or pumped up, nauseous, or headache or just have an odd feeling that something is off.  If you think you may be scammed, it is your limbic brain reading their behavior at a subconscious level. And alerting you with that 'Ask questions, see if you are right, or simply end the interaction. 

 



Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.