Body Language In Amy Cudd's Ted Talk

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The TedTalk by Amy Cuddy, discusses the theme of power through body language. According to the talk, many of our judgment and inferences are based upon what we take in through the body language of others. Body language is key in human interaction. It can also be a form of education, we take in the body language of others and we can learn more about them. The talk also creates relations between all animals as well as humans. In both humans and animals, expansion of the body is a sign of dominance. When the body is closed in on the other hand, it can be a display of the mammal being powerless. Both body language displaying dominance and submission can be found in animals as well as humans. The talk also infers that gender has a very large role in the display of …show more content…

Many soldiers refer to prisoners as “it” and generals speak of fighters on the opposing side as the enemy. According to the text, many recruits have to be persuaded that killing people is acceptable and even honorable. Apparently, this wartime language is given to not only the soldiers fighting, but people at home as well. Wartime language is used as a way to view the opposing side as killable. This allows for soldiers to kill without having the regret of having taken a human life. According to the article, being able to give the opposing side names allows soldiers to feel a sense of power and control. The nicknames given are generally smaller and more childlike so that the views of the other side are not seemingly fully human. The language is also used to reassure civilians that war is not murder. The text concludes that the language causes soldiers to experience a psychological chasm between “us” and “them.” This allows the troops to have the ability to kill and torture. The reasoning provided shows that the soldiers no longer view the opposing side as human, and therefore will not feel the pain inflicted upon