José Astorga, body language expert, on meeting people: “In just two seconds their brain has decided whether they like you or not”
The nonverbal communication specialist explains why the moment you smile when meeting someone can completely change the first impression.
When you meet someone, the moment lasts only a few seconds, but it can be decisive. According to José Astorga, a body language expert, the brain needs only a brief instant to form a first impression of another person.
“In just two seconds their brain has decided whether they like you or not,” he says. This judgment is strongly influenced by the signals the other person perceives from you. Eye contact, gestures, and even posture all shape how people may perceive us before we even finish speaking.
The key is the moment you smile
In this context, Astorga mentions psychologist Paul Ekman, an expert on facial expressions and emotions. According to findings often attributed to his research, “If you smile right after speaking, you convey distrust.”
From a body language perspective, smiling at that exact moment can sometimes communicate uneasiness or lack of authenticity. The person you are speaking with may perceive the smile as unnatural or forced.
For that reason, the expert recommends reversing the order of gestures when interacting with someone for the first time. First, maintain eye contact for about five seconds, then smile just before you begin speaking.
That gesture, although it may seem small, can make a difference. It projects warmth, confidence, and naturalness from the very beginning, three factors that are crucial in the first few seconds when our brain decides how to perceive the other person.
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