body Language

1. Chapter 7
Body language
power is in your hands

2. 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.

3. 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

4. “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

5. 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)

6. Palms-up Expresses
Submission
Fig. 6

7. Palms-down Expresses
Authority
Fig. 7

8. Closed Palm With Extended Finger
Expresses Authority That Borders on Tyranny
Fig. 8

9. 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!

10. Handshakes
■ Three basic attitudes are transmitted
through the handshake:
Dominance
Submission
Equality

11. Dominance is shown by turning hand
so that palm is facing down during
the handshake.
Fig. 9

12. Submission is shown by turning hand
so that palm is facing upwards during
the handshake
Fig. 10

13. Equality is shown by turning palm so
that it faces neither up nor downwards.
Fig. 11

14. Hybrid
Handshakes

15. 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”.

16. Clasping the Arm Handshake
Fig.
13

17. -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.

18. Knuckle Cruncher Handshake
Fig. 14

19. “Dead Fish” Handshake
Fig. 15
The hallmark of passive handshakes.
-Carries negative connotations and generally
considered to
demonstrate weak,
apathetic, or submissive individual.
-Traditionally an acceptable handshake for women.

20. Fingertip Clasp
Fig. 16

21. -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.

22. Straight-Arm Extension
Handshake
Fig. 17

23. -Initiator of this handshake
will offer a straight,
extended arm in greeting.
-Primary purpose is to
maintain distance and
formality.
-Sometimes people from
rural areas who are used to
keeping their distance will
use this handshake.

24. The Hands

25. Hand Clenching
Fig. 18

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

27. Hand clenching not next to body is
a signal of frustration or negativity.
Fig. 19

28. Hand Chop
Fig. 20

29. -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.

30. Hand Steepling
Fig. 21
Fig. 22

31. -Used by individuals who feel confident.
-When steepled hands are in raised position, the
individual is usually speaking (offering ideas,
comments, etc.).
-When steepled hands are in lowered position,
individual usually is listening.
-Researchers have noted that women tend to use the
lowered steeple position more than the raised
position.

32. Hand-Holding Behind the Back
Fig. 23

33. -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.

34. Don’t confuse handholding behind back
with wrist or arm holding!
Fig.
24
Fig.
25

35. -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.

36. Thumb Presentation
Fig. 26

37. -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.

38. Fingers & Hand
To Face, Head, & Neck

39. Finger(s) to Mouth
Fig.
27
-A signal that he/she is
under pressure or feeling
insecure.

40. Hand to Chin & Cheek
Indifference/Boredom Gesture
Fig.
28

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

42. Gesture of Interest
Fig.
30

43. -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.

44. Forming a Decision Gesture
-One hand moves to lower
jaw and begins chin-
stroking.

45. Deceit Gestures
Hand to Mouth, Ear, or Eye
Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil .
. .

46. The Mouth Guard Gesture
Fig. 32

47. -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!

48. The Nose Touch Gesture
Fig. 33

49. -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.

50. The Eye Rub
Fig.
34

51. -A subconscious gesture that is used when a person
is intentionally trying to deceive (Cheat) 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.

52. The Ear Rub
Fig.
35

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

54. Hand to Neck:
Back Neck Rub
Fig.
36

55. 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”).

56. Hands Behind Head
Fig. 37

57. -Clasped hands behind head
is an indication that the
individual is relaxed.
-If individual is also leaning
back and has chin lifted, this
indicates feeling of
superiority or smugness
(Self-Satisfaction).

58. Language of the
Arms

59. Folded Arms
Fig. 38

60. -A common posture whereby an
individual will casually fold arms
across the chest.
-Posture may be in response to the
cold.
-More often, this posture signifies a
defensive or insecure attitude.
-If both hands are tucked under
armpits, this generally signifies a
response to the cold.

61. Folded Arms With
Clenched Fists
Fig. 39

62. -The clenched fists indicate
defensive and hostile
feelings.
-This posture might also be
accompanied by clamped
jaw and flushed face.

63. Arm Gripping
Fig.
40
This variation of
arm folding usually
indicates insecurity
and fear

64. Single Arm
Cross
Fig.
41
This variation of arm
folding usually
indicates insecurity
and fear

65. Sophisticated Arm Cross
Barriers
■ Gesture provides a discreet, temporary barrier every time
someone adjusts a watchband or straightens a shirtsleeve.
Fig. 42

66. Language of the
Legs and Feet

67. Crossing
at the
Knee
Fig. 43

68. -A relaxed social leg crossing
posture that is assumed by
both men and women in
Europe.
-Generally in America, this
posture is limited to females
and thought to be essentially
effeminate (Unsuitable
Feminine quality).

69. Ankle on
Knee
Fig. 44

70. -Sometimes referred to as
the “cowboy” pose and is a
predominately male form of
leg crossing in the Western
world (particularly in US).
-This posture is not
acceptable in Middle East
since any display of the sole
of a shoe is an insult.

71. Leg Lock Position
Fig. 45

72. -A posture where legs are crossed at
the knee and the free foot is tucked
behind the ankle of the stationary leg
or locked to front leg of the chair.
-Generally women will assume this
posture.
-Many women will sit like this when
cold.
-Some women will assume this
posture when they are nervous or
defensive.
-The foot acts like an anchor and
provides a fake form of security.

73. Ankle to
Ankle Leg
Cross
Fig. 46

74. -This is considered the most polite,
modest form of leg crossing.
-Used by people posing for formal
pictures and sends a message of
proper form and decorum.

75. Foot Tapping or Wagging
Fig. 47

76. -Repetitive tapping or wagging of
the foot is an indication of
impatience, boredom, or
nervousness.
-The redundant foot movements
are said to reflect a latent desire to
run away.

77. Language of the
Hair, Head, and
Face

78. Hair Stroking
and Head
Tossing
Fig. 48

79. -Absent-minded running of fingers
through hair or swishes hair
behind shoulders with a toss of the
head is an unconscious gesture that
occurs when an individual finds
someone attractive.

80. Hair Twisting
Fig. 49

81. This is generally a sign of
nervous distraction.
-A variation of this is the
twisting of a neck chain.

82. Head Tilt
Fig. 50

83. -A slight tilt of the head to one side
indicates interest on that individual’s
part.
-Seems to be an inherent gesture and
is not limited to the human species.
-Women tend to use the head tilt
gesture more than men do.
-Oftentimes, when women use this
posturing in the presence of a man, it
is an indication that she finds him
attractive.

84. Backward Head Tilt
Fig. 51

85. -This gesture generally
indicates a perceived
superiority and (sometimes)
contempt for people he/she
is interacting with.
-This gesture probably gave
rise to sayings like, “looking
down his nose” (at
someone), or “she has her
nose in the air”.

86. Lifted Eyebrow
Fig.
52

87. -When one eyebrow lifts
while the other remains in
the natural position, it
signals skepticism.

88. Raised Eyebrows
Fig.
53

89. This gesture can indicate a couple of things:
-rapid lift of both eyebrows and widening
of the eyes is most often an unconscious display
of greeting behavior.
-can also represent a flirting gesture;
different from greeting behavior in that the
raised eyebrow position is sustained slightly
longer (or gesture might be accompanied by a
sideways glance).

90. Wide-Eyes
Fig. 54

91. -If this gesture is
accompanied by blinking, it
indicates innocence (if eyes
still maintain eye contact).
-Wide eyes are also an
indication of surprise.

92. Nose Flare
Fig. 55

93. -An indication of agitation
or indignation (which might
border on anger).

94. Skewed Mouth
Fig.
56

95. -A distorted version of the
smile that indicates sarcasm.