is there really a connection between a person's interior states and his bodily expressions?

Answer 1

Think about this: A 7 year old child fidgets and stands shyly, slightly off to the side, in a group of other kids his age. That child then becomes the target for the bully in the group. The child never actually says anything - but the bully can always pick up on the insecure vibes of his prey.

The point is, I believe we outwardly project our inner feelings. On the other hand, if we are confident and joyful we exude that self-assuredness and others tend to gravitate toward it.

I gave the example of the 7 year old because children--being bright as they are--can always distinguish the "cool" kids (the ones who are confident) from the "losers" (the ones who are apprehensive and self-doubting).

(I should clarify that I don't think shy or insecure people are by any means losers. That was just part of the example.)

Apart from that, if you have hunger pains or you are feeling nauseous, or something, can you generally sit comfortably and continue doing whatever it is you're doing? Probably not. If we are physically uncomfortable, it usually shows in some way. Perhaps we get quiet or we being fidgeting. So, in this sense, yes, I believe there is a connection.

Furthermore, my internal state will usually determine my actions. For example, if I am a very introverted person and I am invited to a high faluting social event, very likely, I will opt not to attend. Likewise, if someone feels very confident, they will likely feel more confident approaching someone they are attracted to.

To accept that our inner states influence our expressions, body language and behaviour, in no way rejects our free will. I believe that if someone is dieting and has a craving for cake--while that craving can be very powerful and often the factor that breaks the diet--if that person's will is strong she can endure the temptation and not cave in.

Likewise, if a married woman (or man) is attracted to someone else but her desire to remain faithful is strong, she will likely not crumble when faced with the temptation to cheat.

(Of course, it *could* go the other way, too, unfortunately ...)

Hope these examples helped ....

Answer 2

Some people think your expressions control your mood as much as your mood controls your expressions. It's been scientifically proven that smiling can make you happy. Although I believe this, I also believe that General's idea that there is an exact quantification of every interior state is laughable. But then, I'm still going to take a look at that book, just to see what's in it.

Answer 3

Yes. Some believe that thoughts are random and that we have no control. Those people suffer. There are others who know we can pick and choose our thoughts, our beliefs, our memories and even our emotions.

As an example, for the next 10 minutes things of all the ways that you could be killed. What you will experience is fear and anxiety. Then think about your favourite activities for 10 minutes. Your fear and anxiety will vanish.

Answer 4

That depends.

Most people don't try too hard to control their nonverbal behavior--and in those cases, the facial expression, posture, and tone of voice give fairly good clues as to the inner state.

However, it is possible for people to learn to control nonverbals. If not, then nobody could ever bluff in poker, no actor could ever weep in a scene while she was earning 20 million for the film, and none of the current crop of candidates would ever get elected to the presidency.

How well one can control nonverbals depends on the amount of practice they've had; some yogis, I suspect, could exert absolute control.

Answer 5

Robert Sapolsky at Stanford, V.s. Ramachandran at UCSD, and a sea of psychologists don't even need to assume anything about that. It is heavily documented scientifically and anecdotally among people who live by reading face and body language.
If you want a deep and difficult answer, look up Tientai. He concluded, after cataloguing and systematising all of the sutras attributed to Shakyamuni, and the commentaries thereon, that all 3000 aspects of a moment of consciousness are determined by your interior state.
If you want a good explanation of Tientai's "i nien, san chien" or "ichinen sanzen", go to http://sgi-usa.org and ask them about buying at copy of Greg Martin's explanation of ichinen sanzen.

Answer 6

Sure, my thoughts are random but I do have control.

When it comes to a bar of chocolate or any food with chocolate in it, I choose to ignore it, knowing that I'll have an allergic reaction.

Sometimes, I give in and eat the damn chocolate anyway, why, because it's SO damn good!

Then, my internal organs suffer, upset stomach, other things happen, and I get a big frown on my face, hives on my upper body, and WALLAH! My internal is expressed through my external. :)

Thank God for chocolate.

Answer 7

I'm sure in these connected interior States, ie.) Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri...there are bodies of water.

Answer 8

My God yes! Just observe people on public transport,lifts,the way they carry themselves...walking,talking,listening...What did the old doctors refer to it?....The 5 Humours..eg..Sanguine,Melancholic etc.

Answer 9

You know there is, lioness, called body laguage. Think of a lion hunting and how its body moves. That speaks of its intentions.

Answer 10

ya certainly
cuz whatever we think/ feel do effect our expressions n behaviour