Body language of a hoodie: While reading body language there are a few things that you must do first while determining what the nonverbal communication means.
There are a few thins to think about when you are interpreting the body language of a person that you are reading.
Anytime you are reading body language or nonverbal communication you must first baseline the situation.
Read the context of the situation
The situation for any body language reading includes:
- · People or groups associated
- · The location of the person or the people
- · The context of the location
- · The norms of society for the location at hand
- · The possibilities of what happened before you started base lining the situation
When looking at what someone is wearing you must first determine what is going on in their surroundings. Someone wearing a hoodie when it’s cold outside may not be abnormal as someone wearing a hoodie while its warm may not be out of the norm either.
One of the things to look at is what is the person who is wearing the hoodie up? To add to the situation the clothes do not always determine what a person is up to the person may have just arrive upon whatever is going on.
So the question is for the person wearing the hoodie comfortable or are they up to no good? Some people automatically think that the body language associated with a hoodie is offensive.
Now if you think that a hoodie has the signs and signals of causing trouble or problems you may fall into the Law of reaction. When you interact with person you will react to them and they will then react to you. In some ways the thoughts that you have about a person become a self-fulfilling prophesy.
Some men or women that wear hoodies cover their face. Now for some there is a lack of trust if the face and the eyes cannot be seen. When the hood of a hoodie is used it makes it difficult to the full face. The fear from the hood being over the head comes from the thought that the man or the woman wearing the hoodie is covering their face to hide it so that they can do bad things. In most instances the person who is reacting to the hoodie may be wrong and in some situations they may be right.
The body language or the nonverbal communication of the hands and arms mist be looked at also when reading the body language of a hoodie.
Does it seem like the man or the woman is trying to hide?
Does it seem that the man or the woman is comfortable?
Is it too hot to wear the hoodie?
Does the clothing fit the situation or is it out or the norm?
Could there be more to the story?
Is the man or the woman doing other things you may consider strange?
Is there any other possible reason why the man or the woman may be wearing a hoodie?
There is so much more to look at then just the clothes and that should give you something to think about when looking at the nonverbal communication and association of any clothing article that may have a stigma or pre conceived thought about it.
Learning how to read body language can open your mind to other ideas and beliefs:
As always I would like to thank you in advance for your comments and or questions about reading the body language of a hoodie.
Scott Sylvan Bell
Now go implement!
Video credits for reading body language of a hoodie – Body language expert Scott Sylvan Bell
Another informative video Scott!
Especially interesting in light of the role a hoodie may or may not have played in the Trayvon Martin case.
Michael
Thorne Smith Blog Now Open
I love learning about body language – I like that it opens the mind to other ideas!
Looking forward to tomorrow!
Can You be trained in Caregiving?
Fascinating Scott, very valid points about needing to look at the context as well as our own reactions and what they engender in the recipient.
EcoFriendly Matters
Ekobrew Coffee – can one-cup coffee be eco friendly?
I will admit that someone wearing a hoodie will nearly always cause me to raise my guard.You are providing a valuable service by calling attention to how our clothing affects the perception of others.
Sonya Lenzo
http://sunnyincostarica.com/whycostarica/
A timely article! I never realized that they bothered people until recently. Interesting.
Suzanne
Help With Elderly Parents
Mr. Bell,
This is definitely a very timely and hot topic (especially in the U.S.) in light of the Trayvon Martin tragedy.
Personally, I’ve always thought I was too old to wear a hoodie. I’ve always thought the demographic for hoodies was 12 – 24 years of age. I could definitely be wrong on that. Scott, do you have any fashion age demographics on this?
Yours In Health!
G.E. Moon II
http://www.abundanthealthcenter.com/item/Digestive-13
I think wearing hats and hoods (well, and also scarfs) is partly cultural. In Spain is very impolite to go inside a house or a close place with your head covered…I think is not the same in other countries.
Hipnosis Barcelona
Scott,
you are very talanted. I like your videos. Very funny.
Wearing a hoodie is a cultural thing, as Eva mentioned. We have to look at the contest, not only at the content. I personally do not like when I see someone wearing a hoodie. But my mind is conditioned to think this way. It does not mean that the hoodie has to do with someone being good or bad.
Hey Scott,
Like you, being cold is one thing I detest! You make a good point about the context and the body language of someone wearing a hoodie – I know it is on the mind of A LOT of people, especially because of the Trayvon Martin case.
To a Life of Success, Neil
Imagine a Successful Life
From what I am reading I take it that body language is much more important than the clothes that someone is wearing.
Yours In Health!
Dr. Wendy
http://happynewyou.com/sinusitis-and-congestion/
Very interesting and timely!
Cherie Miranda
Meditation on ABC News!
Scott, you are very creative. I like your videos. We all think in pictures, so it is easy to remember the information. Thank you.
Great Article. I live in an area where people are wearing hoodies Up night and day 90 degrees or 9 degrees. It just seems like more of a fad than anything. there isn’t really much trouble around here. LOL. It does strike me as a defensive position on the wearers part at times. But hey everything I have just mentioned just adds to the self fulfilling prophecy. And THAT is the story of my life!
The neighborhood I used to live in has become somewhat unsafe(drug dealer, prostitutes, higher violent crime rates) over the past few years. I hate to admit that when I see someone shifty looking wearing a hoodie, I assume they are not the most upright, law-abiding of citizens.
Sabrina Peterson, NASM CPT, CES
Fat Burning Home Workouts
I’d honestly never thought about it with that mindset. But when you break it down and explain why a person could potentially have a negative reaction, the eyes face and hands potentially hidden, it helps me understand the distrust a little more. But your comment on a self fulfilling prophecy is spot on.
http://actpresidential.com/introduction-redux/
Well done. I suspect that the social context of “hoodies” has changed drastically in the past few weeks. It’s interesting how suddenly attitudes can turn on a dime.
Be Well.
Jc
Human being leaping to conclusions based 99% on their fears – i’m soooo glad i never do that… ;>) – I wear a hoodie almost every night when I walk our girls / commonly mis-categorized as dogs!
Could you relate the body language of clothing to, say, judging a book by its cover?
I really love how you added “Is there more to the story?” because, unfortunately, sometimes we just can’t see everything going on.
Thanks for the great read again!
Mark Hogan
Kevin Hogan Makes Reading Body Language Easy!
Hi Scott,
The wearing of hoodies really has become the clothing costume to identify yourself with certain groups. Paying close attention to both how we are dressed but also to how what you’re selecting to wear speaks volumes to others. Very interesting indeed!
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Singles Classes LA