nvrel

NONVERBAL RELEASE

Principle. The idea that certain body movements and gestures (e.g., hand-behind-head) may be touched off automatically by strong emotions, feelings, and moods.

Usage: Nonverbal release is a reminder that much of our body-motion communication may be emitted apart from conscious awareness.

See also NONVERBAL CONSCIOUSNESS.

NONVERBAL OVERFLOW

Principle. The idea that certain body movements, such as protruding the tongue (see TONGUE-SHOW) may be touched off by other, seemingly unrelated, body movements such as writing with a pencil or pen (see PRECISION GRIP).

Sports. "Michael Jordan, who many consider to be the best basketball player ever, was famous for sticking out his tongue as he raced down the court preparing to go airborne for a monster dunk" (http://thesquashist.blogspot.com/2010/02/motor-overflow-in-sports.html).