BODY POSTURES and HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Postures: Postures are transient body positions. Postures are taken for change, relaxation, transition, exercise, for conducting tasks, and also for expression, communication and interactions. Posturing is using own body limbs and sensorial nodes in coordinated manner vis-à-vis another individual, groups of persons, or the elements of the space.

One can also reposition the objects and reshape the surroundings, change the environment or force recast the connection with other beings or group, and thereby avoid some degree of posturing, or enforce certain posturing from the space users.

One uses body to take-up postures with and without the tools, amenities and facilities. Postures are reinforcing so create empathetic and confirming images. Certain body positions, patterns and movements suggest specific emotions. Postures directly and abstractly convey the state of interpersonal relationships, social standing, personality traits such as confidence, submissiveness, and openness, current emotional state and temperament. Postures are also used for offensive and defensive and non-involvement purposes. Posture could have many variations within a basic theme. The variations are micro postures or gestures that express or communicate complex concepts metaphorically. Gestures or micro changes of the body help tune in the sensorial perceptions.

Aids for posturing: A posture often requires support, aid, or simply a physical proximity (as an assurance) of tools, amenities, facilities and structural elements. Support structures for postures may not be versatile enough to provide all the required proficiencies. Some degree of personal adjustments is required to achieve the intended purpose. To attain and continue the posture, one needs support from other means.

Real supports are like: tools (walking sticks, shoes, etc.), amenities and facilities (architectonic elements, equipments, furniture, furnishings, etc.).

Virtual supports are abstract: such as the required environmental conditions and psychological sureties that in need, these are available in the vicinity.

Postures resist or follow the gravity by exploiting or overcoming its effects. Free active movement is used by a person to overcome the effect of gravity, for example getting up from lying or seating position. Resisted active movement is used by the person to overcome the effects of a manual or mechanically applied force, for example, lifting a load, closing a door, using a knife and fork, or digging with a spade.

Posturing helps one control incursion by others into the personal domain of behaviour, as much as it allows one to project a participating personality.

A podium or a front desk is a very assuring platform for a speaker, but shields the expression coming through the body language. A leader, on a higher platform, controls the assault from the audience, and thereby dominates. By standing against a wall one assures that intrusion from that side is blocked, but by occupying a corner one limits the escape routes. Sitting in an aisle seat (In comparison to a window seat) allows one the postural freedom, but makes one prone to disturbances. Front benches have to be attentive. Occupying a geometrical centre or a spatial focus automatically enhances the interference.

Open body postures: An open posture is one in which vulnerable parts of the body are not covered. Some important elements differentiating an open posture from a closed posture are the position of hands, fingers, feet and head. Open posture is perceived as a friendly and positive attitude. People with open body posture are able to carry out multiple movements such as body movement while shifting the gaze.

A chair with arms rests, railings, bus or railway hang-straps encourage open posture. A moving object like a bus will not allow closed body posture. A deep seat that allows stretching of legs and excludes the crossing of legs, supports the open posture. A stool seat (without back) allows one to lean forward as an open posture.

Closed body postures: It is one in which vulnerable parts of the body are obscured and protected by humans (as well as animals). The body parts are: throat, abdomen and genitals. For humans arms crossed on the chest or abdomen, hands clasped in front of the genitals, and crossing of legs signify closed postures. Showing the back of the hand or clenching hands into fists may represent a closed posture. Hands clasped behind the back may also signal closed posture even though the front is exposed because it can give the impression of hiding something or resistance to closer contact. Closed body postures give the impression of detachment, disinterest, unpleasant feelings and hostility. Similarly clothing may also signal closed posture such as a buttoned suit, or a handbag or briefcase held in front of the person.

The male vs female behaviour 

Sitting on the side of a fairly wide chair, leaning too much on one of the armrest, sitting upright (without touching the back) in an easy chair, sleeping very straight in a bed, keeping hands in pockets of the garment, are some of the signs of closed body postures.

A person with a higher position nominally takes a more relaxed posture that seems to be less challenging, often sits down to talk. Whereas a person with a lower position, often maintains balanced or formal posture by placing both hands on the lap or at the sides and may remain standing until asked to sit.

Eye level and its focus are some of the most important means of behaviour exposition. Eye level and focus related physiological deficiencies can be corrected through appropriate postures. Postures can increase the distance and help de-focus the ‘gaze’, by taking a side seat or stand or by seating behind a desk. Often the opponents are disadvantaged by offering an uncomfortable seat, a seat lower in height and placing them in a non-axial position. Opponents are discomforted by providing them a fixed position with little or no chance for sub-posturing, like very narrow space, unbalancing, scary or distracting position. One, as an opponent can correct such conditions: by sitting or standing upright, by aligning body and sensorial faculties in the same direction, by heavily gesticulating, and raising the voice.

Inclination of the body. During conversation, a person unconsciously inclines or moves body or head, either close to or away from the opposite person. The action depends on the sex and age of the opposite person and the nature of the topic. An inclination towards the opposite person can be an expression of sympathy and acceptance, whereas moving or inclining away can show dislike, disapproval, or a desire to end the conversation.

Different people - Different postures

An intense conversation with heavy gesticulation or posture changes can be subdued by adding to the distance between the parties. Deep seating or reclining elements and mirrors not only reduce gesticulation, postural changes but also intensity of conversation. In waiting rooms seats are distanced and do not face the receptionist. A TV monitor that shows the class or office space disciplines the users.

Synchronous or empathetic behaviour: During intense conversations participants have a tendency to imitate each other’s behaviour. They emulate postures and gestures. Such synchronous behaviour encourages deeper relationship, provided necessary support means are available. Correct distance, equalized ergonomic facilities, non-specific environmental conditions are some such means.

Designing for postures and relevant behaviour: Normally a designer designs for important poses of behaviour sequences. But some flexibility within the postural pose is required. The flexibility relates to minor changes for relaxation, resetting the body rhythms and facility to conduct momentary postural variations. A chair that is slightly wider or lower, a bar stool with a foot support ring, a seat with multi flexural (revolving, tilting, rotating) adjust-ability, TV or monitor swivelling stands are some of the examples that allow flexibility.

Postures are axially balanced or skewed. Balanced postures are mirror-image (congruent) postures, such as equally posed two feet, two hands, etc., or are normal like the frontal face, upright torso, erect neck, straight eye level, etc. Skewed postures reflect a readiness to transfer to another posture, due to shift in interest or saturation of boredom. Both, the balanced and skewed postures, are unstable and cannot be maintained for a very long period. It is better to design some support system. In the first case the support must be subtle, almost imperceptible, but in the second case the obvious support system should be obvious but a casual one.

Posture support systems 

Office executive chairs allow many postures, due to the width of the seat, height of the seat, height of the handles from the seat, depth of the handles (elbow or arm accommodation), inclination of the back (tilting), height of the back (mid spine, shoulder support, neck and head support), swivelling, etc. Other postural options are provided by the table top height from the ground and seat level of the chair, depth and width of the table, nature of foot rest, task being handled, mobility of the chair (depending on the quality of wheels and flooring surface), etc. The site and its environmental conditions also play their role, such is the chair close against a wall, against an open space, facing a barrier or an open area, the source of illumination and air handling devices, one sided or multi directional interaction, communication devices being used and duration of work.

Similarly ordinary people exploit their familiar or novel seating systems for many postural positions that are for behavioural setting. Where possible a person would choose an appropriate seat with reference to the host or other participants, own social status, own psychological make-up, presence or absence of intervening elements, angle, level and distance of the encounter, level of comfort and formality desired. Next strategy would be for macro or micro shifting of the seat. Where such devices are lightweight mobile, micro shifting for angular and distance adjustments are done, but such choices are usually limited. Other strategies will include body or postural accommodation, such as seating by fully drawing back or upright, leaning on, one of the arm rest rather then a balanced posture, keeping arms on armrest, lap or any other front side device, placing the legs under the seat, straight-up, seating with cross feet or leg, seating frontally but looking sideways.

Different gaze and postures reflect lack of miscibility