"Oh my god! What a disaster!" Recently, I was watching a podcast, an interview or a conversation of a renowned body language expert. After doing an elaborate research on the topic and publishing an article about it, I felt extremely sorry for him when I heard him claiming that the steeple pose was used by the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel to exhibit, indicate or assert her confidence (in public). He mentioned a couple of other persons, including Elon Musk.
According to Angela Merkel herself, "There was always the question, what to do with your arms, and that's how it came about." So, it's as clear as day that she consciously chose to use the steeple pose than keeping her arms free. Perhaps, she liked the symmetry of the steepled fingers and chose the same pose among all available poses of arms that she could have possibly chosen from. Please read my article by following this link.
Although he has proved his expertise internationally, his claim was entirely hijacked by his own confirmation bias about the steepled fingers. It's more likely that his confirmation bias is deeply rooted in his own practice of steepling the fingers in public. However, it's not at all necessary that other people steepling their fingers are exhibiting, indicating or asserting their confidence, authority and/or expertise.
Quickly arriving on conclusions based upon the existing beliefs may be convenient, pleasing or harmless for a person but if the same person is educating, shaping perception and/or guiding the decisions of other people using the same conclusions then it can lead to a disaster in their lives. Sometimes, meaning of a cue can be specific to a single person only e. g. Angela Merkel.
Despite of change in the context, many people readers, social observers and body language experts assume that some body language cues always carry the exact same meaning that matches their existing belief. They need to question their firm belief by investigating into the other facts because the confirmation bias is as detrimental as over-generalisation.
[#Special Note: The podcast of the renowned body language expert went online in April 2025. However, the link of the article Secret of Angela Merkel's Steeple was sent to him by email, in October 2024.]
According to Angela Merkel herself, "There was always the question, what to do with your arms, and that's how it came about." So, it's as clear as day that she consciously chose to use the steeple pose than keeping her arms free. Perhaps, she liked the symmetry of the steepled fingers and chose the same pose among all available poses of arms that she could have possibly chosen from. Please read my article by following this link.
 |
| Are you still trapped in the confirmation bias? |
Although he has proved his expertise internationally, his claim was entirely hijacked by his own confirmation bias about the steepled fingers. It's more likely that his confirmation bias is deeply rooted in his own practice of steepling the fingers in public. However, it's not at all necessary that other people steepling their fingers are exhibiting, indicating or asserting their confidence, authority and/or expertise.
Quickly arriving on conclusions based upon the existing beliefs may be convenient, pleasing or harmless for a person but if the same person is educating, shaping perception and/or guiding the decisions of other people using the same conclusions then it can lead to a disaster in their lives. Sometimes, meaning of a cue can be specific to a single person only e. g. Angela Merkel.
Despite of change in the context, many people readers, social observers and body language experts assume that some body language cues always carry the exact same meaning that matches their existing belief. They need to question their firm belief by investigating into the other facts because the confirmation bias is as detrimental as over-generalisation.
[#Special Note: The podcast of the renowned body language expert went online in April 2025. However, the link of the article Secret of Angela Merkel's Steeple was sent to him by email, in October 2024.]
Hi Sachchidanand,
ReplyDeleteHope you’re doing well.
I had a quick read at your article, it’s good.
I also wanted to commend you for your consistency in publishing these articles, keep up the great work.
All the best.
Regards,
Your Friend