Beyond Words . . .Understanding and Interpreting

Body Language

Introduction

• Humans pride themselves on their seemingly unique ability to verbalize feelings and ideas.

• While the mouth tells one story, gestures and posture may tell a different story.

Taking Gestures Out of Context

(attaching significance to a single gesture)

• Gestures should be observed in clusters to provide a more accurate picture of person being observed

• Each gesture is like a sentence

• The sum total of postures and gestures relate a non-verbal story

“Gut Feelings” & Congruence

• When intuition tells you that certain people are not being straightforward even though they sound logical & appropriate

• This “intuition” or gut feeling results from subconscious ability to read another person’s body language

Evolution and Refinement of Inherent Gestures

• Behavioral scientists have found that some basic communication gestures are universal and believed to be inherent

• Examples are: smiling, shrugging, nodding

• Children tend to exaggerate these gestures making their body language easy to read

(See Fig. 1)

When children are small and tell a lie, their hands fly over their mouth.

Fig. 1

A teenager might “refine” this inherent gesture by simply bringing tips of fingers to the mouth

This gesture is inherent and continues to be used throughout a lifetime in more refined and varied forms.

An adult may bring the little finger to edge of mouth.

Sometimes adults will refrain from using hands and bite lower lip, purse lips, or skew mouth from side to side.

The PalmHistorically, an open palm has

signified honesty, truth, allegiance, and submission.

Two Basic Palm Positions:

• Open palm in upward position- gesture signifies appeal or request to others

• Open palm facing outward or downward-a gesture that indicates desire to stop or hold something down; signal of restraint

(Fig. 4 & Fig. 5)

Fig. 4

An Appeal or Request to Others

A Desire to Stop or Hold Something Down

Fig. 5

Palms-up Expresses Submission

Fig. 6

Palms-down Expresses Authority

Fig. 7

Closed Palm With Extended Finger

Expresses Authority That Borders on Tyranny

Fig. 8

Veterans of Palm Deception!Body language is an important

consideration for certain individuals:

• Politicians – generally expose palms of hands as though appealing to public

• Remember—this is a position of submissiveness and demonstrates to voters that he/she is their public servant!

Handshakes

• Three basic attitudes are transmitted through the handshake:

Dominance

Submission

Equality

Dominance is shown by turning hand so that palm is facing down during

the handshake.

Fig. 9

Submission is shown by turning hand so that palm is facing upwards during

the handshake

Fig. 10

Equality is shown by turning palm so that it faces neither up nor downwards.

Fig. 11

Hybrid Handshakes

The “Glove” Handshake

-Demonstrated by initiator clasping both hands around the recipient’s hand.-It is intended to give impression of companionship and warmth.-Sometimes referred to as “politician’s handshake”.

Clasping the Arm Handshake

-Variation of the glove handshake whereby initiator shakes person’s extended hand in conventional fashion while grasping receiver’s upper arm with free hand.-This too is intended to demonstrate sincerity and warmth but is often seen as a violation of personal space.

Knuckle Cruncher Handshake

-The hallmark of aggressive handshake whereby one or both participators firmly squeeze offered hand.-Sometimes referred to as the “Texas Vice”.-Thought to be due to socialization process which encourages boys to demonstrate their assertive, powerful, “manly” attributes.

“Dead Fish” Handshake

Fig. 15

Fingertip Clasp

-Occurs when one party stops short of grasping other participant’s palm and instead clasps his/her fingers.-Sometimes happens when one party “misses his/her mark due to lack of confidence or nervousness.-Other times, this technique is used when people want to maintain spatial distance and less intimacy.

Straight-Arm Extension Handshake

Fig. 17

The Hands

Hand Clenching

This gesture can have several meanings: -when clenched hands are held at chest level and against body, this if often indication of personal pleading -when clenched hands are at chin or chest but not next to body, this is signal of frustration or negativity.

Hand clenching not next to body is a signal of frustration or negativity.

Fig. 19

Hand Chop

-An aggressive gesture that speakers sometimes use when they want to accent what is being said.-Although this is a forceful gesture, it does not have the violent connotation as does the chopping fist with extended finger.

Hand Steepling

Fig. 21

Fig. 22

Hand-Holding Behind the Back

-When individual holds both hands behind back, this signals confidence.-Note that this position allows individual to expose trunk of his/her body and signals unconscious act of fearlessness.

Don’t confuse handholding behind back with wrist or arm holding!

-These gestures indicate an attempt at self-control (hence the phrase, “Get a grip on yourself”).-Generally speaking, the higher the hand grips the arm, the angrier the individual and the greater the attempt at self-control.

Thumb Presentation

-Presentation of thumbs is a gesture, which signals superiority or dominance.-Often displayed from pockets and usually part of gesture cluster that signals an authoritative attitude.

Fingers & HandTo Face, Head, & Neck

Finger(s) to Mouth

-A signal that he/she is under pressure or feeling insecure.

Hand to Chin & Cheek Indifference/Boredom Gesture

-Resting jaw and cheek against hand as though to support weight of head.-The more assistance from the hand, the greater degree of boredom.

Gesture of Interest

-If the hand is closed and resting on cheek with index finger extended towards temple (and not used as head support), this indicates interest.-Men tend to hold their head in a vertical position, whereas women tend to tilt their head when using this gesture.

Forming a Decision Gesture

-One hand moves to lower jaw and begins chin-stroking.

Deceit GesturesHand to Mouth, Ear, or Eye

Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil . . .

The Mouth Guard Gesture

-When an individual’s hand covers mouth (partially or entirely).-A signal that he/she is exaggerating or lying.-If, however, someone covers his/her mouth while you are speaking, it indicates that listener doesn’t believe you!

The Nose Touch Gesture

-A modified version of mouth guard gesture.-May be physiological reason for this gesture: researchers determined that lying can cause sensitive nerve endings at base of nose to tingle and itch.

The Eye Rub

-A subconscious gesture that is used when a person is intentionally trying to deceive others.-Whereas a teenager will obviously look down at his/her feet when trying to deceive, an adult might rub the corner of his/her eye which allows a break in eye contact.

The Ear Rub

-A subconscious gesture that indicated the individual is perplexed about what he/she is hearing.

Hand to Neck:Back Neck Rub

Has a couple of meanings:-Sometimes people who are lying will rub back of neck while looking down and avoiding your gaze.-Other times this gesture is a signal of frustration or anger (“pain in the neck”).

Hands Behind Head

Fig. 37

Language of the Arms

Folded Arms

Fig. 38

Folded Arms With Clenched Fists

Fig. 39

Arm Gripping

Fig. 40

Single Arm Cross

Fig. 41

Sophisticated Arm Cross Barriers

Fig. 42

Language of the Legs and Feet

Crossing at the Knee

Fig. 43

Ankle on Knee

Fig. 44

Leg Lock Position

Fig. 45

Ankle to Ankle Leg

Cross

Fig. 46

Foot Tapping or Wagging

Fig. 47

Language of the Hair, Head, and

Face

Hair Stroking and Head Tossing

Fig. 48

Hair Twisting

Fig. 49

Head Tilt

Fig. 50

Backward Head Tilt

Fig. 51

Lifted Eyebrow

Fig. 52

Raised Eyebrows

Fig. 53

Wide-Eyes

Fig. 54

Nose Flare

Fig. 55

Skewed Mouth

Fig. 56