The Speaking Body: How Psychisme Manifests Through Gesture, Posture, and Sensation

Abstract

The human body functions not only as a biological organism but as a living expressive medium through which psychological states—collectively termed here as psychisme—are manifested and communicated. This review integrates interdisciplinary research from psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, and social interaction studies to explore how gesture, posture, and bodily sensation serve as observable and felt indicators of internal psychological processes. Building on theoretical frameworks of embodied cognition and interoception, we examine how bodily behaviors not only reflect underlying cognitive and emotional states but also causally shape mental processes. The review synthesizes empirical findings on the communicative and regulatory roles of gesture, the feedback effects of posture on affect and self-concept, and the central role of interoceptive awareness in linking bodily sensation to emotional experience. We argue that the “speaking body” is a core interface for psychisme, influencing social interaction, self-awareness, and cognitive processing. Implications for clinical practice, social exchange, and future research directions are discussed.