Most behavioral coding is acquired unconsciously during childhood socialization

Evidence

Third, while there is some explicit teaching of the meaning of behavior to adults (see the next section), much teaching of behavioral meanings occurs outside the awareness of both teacher and student, primarily in the course of childhood socialization. This is particularly the case with “body language” -those nonverbal gestures and movements which humans use to help them communicate with one another. One is often able to read such “language” quite accurately (theatrical productions depend on this ability as do many humans seeking privacy in public, as we shall see in Chapter Seven), but one is frequently not aware how one learned to do so; often not aware how one did so; and sometimes not aware that one did so. — Lyn H. Lofland, World of Strangers_ Order and Action in…, 615

Categorization

Category: Definitional Content

• DEFINE: Defines body language as a behavioral code learned outside awareness, which is why it misfires so hard in cross-cultural contact.

Related

• Body-language reading is learned largely outside conscious awareness. (similarity 0.89)