You may not have heard of synergology yet, but if you are keen to master body language, it's a term you will certainly want to know. This discipline focuses on decoding the unconscious cues we send every day; by analysing non-verbal communication, we can gain a much deeper understanding of those we interact with.
According to author and synergologist Eva García, the practice elevates our communication by revealing the true meaning behind every gesture. In this revealing Q&A the expert helps debunk common myths about body language, and explains how our own biases can cloud our judgement.
You debunk many popular misconceptions about non-verbal communication. What would you say is the most persistent myth, and why is it so difficult to shift?
"It's the belief that if someone won't look you in the eye, they must be lying or hiding something. We have these deeply ingrained convictions about how a dishonest person behaves, but the truth is, they are exactly that: myths.
"In reality, there are many reasons why someone might look away; it could be down to shyness, cultural differences - there are some [cultures] where direct eye contact is actually seen as aggressive - or simply because they are trying to recall a memory. To retrieve information, we are often unconsciously 'obliged' to look away from the person we're talking to so we can find that data before re-engaging. It's a natural cognitive process, not a sign of deceit."
© Getty ImagesYou mention how our intuition often leads us astray when we try to interpret body language. Could you give us a specific example?
"A classic example is seeing someone looking nervous during a televised trial and immediately assuming they’re lying. We call this the Pygmalion bias; once we've decided we're looking at a liar, our brain becomes biased and essentially constructs that narrative, blinding us to any evidence to the contrary. This usually happens with behaviours that we perceive as abnormal. Anything unfamiliar puts us on high alert, whereas anything familiar often goes unnoticed. That is precisely where our intuition can lead us into a trap."
If intuition isn't always reliable, what strategies would you recommend to help us read cues more objectively?
"A good starting point is to watch television with the volume turned off, and then watch it again with the sound on. You’ll be surprised; you quickly realise that, in many cases, the body language and the spoken word don't match up nearly as much as it might seem. We essentially have to 'train' the eye to pick up on those subtle discrepancies."
© Getty ImagesHow can we train ourselves to lessen the influence of these biases in our daily lives?
"The easiest win is simply to take a breath before reacting. Giving ourselves a moment's grace before rushing to judgement is vital. A bias is essentially a mental shortcut - a way for the brain to save energy. If we want to truly understand others, we need to cultivate a more measured gaze. We can't afford to be swept away by first appearances or gut feelings."
"We have these deeply ingrained convictions about how a dishonest person behaves, but the truth is, they are exactly that: myths"
Synergology classifies more than 1,200 distinct body movements. Which of these are the most significant for our day-to-day interactions?
"Whenever the body exerts more effort and 'spends' more energy, an internal alarm should go off - it usually means something meaningful is happening beneath the surface. For instance, we consume far more energy shifting our position in a chair or crossing our legs than we do simply blinking. When someone makes a significant physical adjustment, prick up your ears; it's a clear sign that something important is playing out."
When it comes to lie detection, you explain that there are no universal 'tells'. How can we identify if someone isn't being entirely truthful?
"Strictly speaking, there is no single movement that guarantees someone is lying. Take scratching one's nose - a gesture shrouded in myth. The 'Pinocchio effect' is, quite simply, a fairytale. Lie detection is far more nuanced; it requires a specific questioning technique paired with a holistic observation of the entire body. Synergology allows us to read between the lines and understand what a person is thinking, even if they haven't put it into words."
© Getty Images/iStockphotoHow can we work on our own non-verbal communication to project genuine confidence?
"The simple truth is that you cannot force the body to say what you do not feel. If you try to stage-manage your movements to feign confidence, your body will produce a mix of forced gestures and the natural cues of how you truly feel. This creates a sense of inauthenticity. Even if the person you're speaking to isn't an expert, their brain will pick up on these contradictory signals and they will feel suspicious. If you want to project confidence, you have to feel it first."
In a professional setting, how can Synergology help us in meetings or negotiations?
"I'd summarise it by saying that synergology provides 'subtitles' for every interaction. In negotiations, it allows you to uncover aspects that are usually kept hidden. In meetings, you can identify which parts of your pitch are landing well and which are sparking doubt.
"When someone makes a significant physical adjustment, prick up your ears; something important is playing out"
"You can even tell the exact moment someone has switched off. A client might promise to push your proposal through, but their body could be showing signs of withdrawal. It tells you immediately that they aren't nearly as convinced as they'd like you to believe."
Could you give us a practical example of how to better read the cues sent by our loved ones?
"Synergology can help us grasp how someone is truly feeling, even if they aren't letting on. For instance, I once took my son on a trip. When I looked at his eyebrows, I could see they reflected pure fear - even though he insisted he wanted to go. Because I spotted that cue, we were able to sit him down and reassure him. It allowed us to support him in a way we might have missed otherwise."
© Getty Images/iStockphotoWhat is the most common mistake people make when they first start studying body language?
"Impatience. It's incredibly common for people to finish a session on hand gestures and immediately try to find a hidden meaning in every movement. Someone might cross their arms simply because they're comfortable, not because they’re being 'closed off'. If we jump the gun, we’ll likely get it wrong."
Can synergology be applied to video calls and digital conversations?
"Absolutely. While a video call only shows a limited part of the body, that area is rich in meaning. The only rule of thumb is that we have to be more mindful of the person’s environment. If someone walks past them off-camera, their body will react to that, not to what you've just said. We have to filter out those cues linked to external distractions."
"The very last conversation I had with my father - when his brain could no longer articulate words - was only possible thanks to synergology"
What has been the most impactful case where you’ve applied this knowledge?
"I’ve trained people across a huge variety of sectors, including sales, HR, law, and medicine. However, the most impactful experience for me was deeply personal. The very last conversation I had with my father - at a time when his brain could no longer articulate words - was only possible thanks to synergology.
"His body spoke, and he was able to understand my words in return. Nothing could ever surpass that memory, nor my gratitude to the discipline to which I've dedicated my life."
About the expert:
Eva García is a body language expert and author of the Spanish-language book: Sinergología: Aprende a decodificar el lenguaje corporal de quienes te rodean (Synergology: Learn to Decode the Body Language of Those Around You).
