Summary
Researchers from the University of British Columbia found that using purposeful hand gestures can make a person seem more persuasive and knowledgeable. The study analyzed TED Talks with AI to measure the effect of different types of hand movements on audience engagement. "Illustrator" gestures, which visually show what a speaker is talking about, were the most effective in enhancing understanding and perception of competence.
Key Facts
- University of British Columbia researchers studied how hand gestures affect persuasiveness.
- They used AI to analyze over 2,184 TED Talks and focused on more than 200,000 hand gestures.
- "Illustrator" gestures, which visually demonstrate spoken words, proved to be the most effective.
- The researchers found that audiences saw speakers using illustrator gestures as more competent.
- Types of gestures analyzed included illustrators, highlighters (pointing), and random movements.
- AI helped classify gestures by analyzing hand movements and their link to spoken content.
- The study suggests that how content is delivered can significantly impact persuasiveness.
