“A Freudian slip, also called parapraxis, is an error in speech, memory, or physical action that is interpreted as occurring due to the interference of an unconscious subdued wish or internal train of thought. The concept is part of classical psychoanalysis. Classical examples involve slips of the tongue, but psychoanalytic theory also embraces misreadings, mishearings, temporary forgettings, and the mislaying and losing of objects.” – Wikipedia
This definition has lots of fancy words, but it actually refers to the moments when a wish messes up with our speech, memory, action or others (as the above). For example, if we have a secret about someone and we truly wish to tell that secret to that person, we might catch ourselves saying to that person some parts of the secret without us intending to. It refers to the moments what we behave in a certain way even though we really want something else and we give it away somehow. Maybe this is why Jordan B. Peterson says that if we truly listen to someone we’ll find out more about that person because he/she will tell us what he\she truly wants and needs.
Is body language part of this? Hard to tell. I think it doesn’t because Freudian slip is based on intense emotions while our body language is a form of communication which isn’t necessarily driven by intense emotions. With body language we can express an opinion while this slip expresses wishes. Even though the definition includes physical actions and other “errors”, I believe the most common is the speech slip. If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, you remember when Hagrid told Harry lots of things without intension and after that he says “I shouldn’t have said that”. That is the best example of Freudian slip.
What have you “slipped” lately?