Body Language of Wide Arms
Cue: Wide Arms
Synonym(s): Arms Apart, Catching The Applause.
Description: The arms are spread wide apart, palms even (neither up nor down) and eye contact is established with the target or targets.
In One Sentence: Wide arms is a long distance embrace-indicator.
How To Use it: Use the wide arms posture to collect adulation from other people at a distance. Presenters, politicians, entertainers, and so forth, should use the wide arm posture to connect and build bonds with many people at the same time.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I’m opening my arms wide, palms flashed to catch all your applause and adulation – I am your star.”
Variant: See Palm Up Displays or The Rogatory Posture, Arms Up Posture.
Cue In Action: The president approached the audience, flashed his palms out and circled the stage with wide arms held just above his head. He was soaking in the adulation like a rock star.
Meaning and/or Motivation: Wide arms are a long distance embrace-indicator. Entertainers frequently perform this gesture toward their audience after completing a routine in order to catch their applause and adulation. We also see politicians do the wide arms gesture to collect them all in one big long-distance hug.
The posture shows others that they have a positive attitude as it defies gravity, that they are dominant by taking up more space, and that they wish to be noticed.
Other times, the wide arms posture is used to calm an audience. This gesture appears more as a palm moving in an up and down movement.
Cue Cluster: Watch for a big smile, head held high, palm flashing, waving, a swagger, eye contact with the audience, blowing kisses, bowing, pointing to people that are recognized, shaking hands, kiss hello and hugging.
Body Language Category: Authoritative body language, Confident body language, Dominant body language, Expansive movements, Gravity defying body language, High confidence body language, High confidence hand displays, Leadership body language, Open body language, Palm power, Up nonverbals.
Resources:
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