Author: Chris

Anger body language, Body cross, Clenching and gripping, Closed body language, Defensive body language, Dislike (nonverbal), Hostile body language, Indicators of disinterest (IOD), Protective reflexes, Stubborn body language

Body Language Meaning of Arm Cross With Clenched Fists

by Chris • October 17, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language Meaning of Arm Cross With Clenched Fists

Cue: Arm Cross With Clenched Fists.

Synonym(s): Clenched Fist Arm Cross.

Description: The arms fold over the chest coupled with balled up fists.

In One Sentence: Balled fists display desire for power and when coupled with arms crossed shows that one is steadfast in disagreement.

How To Use it: Use the arm cross with balled fists to show restrained anger. This is useful in a confrontation when words are not permitted to display a high level of frustration and anger. Couple the posture with an angry facial expression to show others that you should be taken seriously and that you are working hard to contain your deeply felt aggression. The posture is useful in situations where you wish to show that aggression is immanent and that people should back off and give you some space and time to relax.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m shielding myself from outside negative stimuli by crossing my arms. My fists are balled due to anger and aggression.”

Variant: See Arm Crossing, Arms Crossed With Gripped Arm or Reinforced Arm Cross, Arms Crossed With Thumbs Up.

Cue In Action: Upon hearing bad news, Mary folder her arms across her chest, but when she found out there was an accident she gripped her arms tightly. The more she listened, the more obvious it was that the culprit had done it on purpose. She released her arms and instead balled up her fists.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Arms crossed with clenched fist shows defensiveness or even hostility nearing anger or aggression. It is a sign of authority and control that is commonly seen in police officers.

The meaning and motivation of arm crossing is varied, complex and universal (see variants).

Arms, as they relate to non-verbal meaning, are like shields. They can block and shank ideas from entering just as well as a shield can protect against swords and arrows. Using the arms across the body in a fold is like cutting off access to our core where our heart and lungs are present. The arm crossing usually shows defensiveness and protectiveness, but can also show aggression and anger depending on its variant. Arm crossing simultaneously holds our feelings inside and prevents other people’s feelings from entering. Alternatively, arms crossed indicate that a person is cold. To determine if someone is cold just watch for hands tucked under the armpits, shivering, with legs tightly pressed together.

Cue Cluster: Arm crossing is usually coupled with head up, down or turned away, shoulders oriented away or toward, legs crossed and various negative facial expressions. When arm crossing is combined with a tight-lipped smile or clenched teeth it signifies that a verbal or physical confrontation is immanent.

Body Language Category: Defensive, Hostility, Anger, Closed, Dislike (nonverbal), Indicators of disinterest (IOD), Protective reflexes, Stubborn or stubbornness, Body cross, Clenching and gripping.

Resources:

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Body cross, Defensive body language, Discomfort body language, Disengagement body language, Fearful body language, Negative body language, Stressful body language

Body Language of The Ankle Cross or Scissor Cross

by Chris • October 17, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Ankle Cross or Scissor Cross

Cue: The Ankle Cross or Scissor Cross

Synonym(s): Scissor Cross, Ankle-Ankle Cross, Interlocking Feet, Interlocking Legs, Ankle Lock, Foot Lock, Knotted Ankles, Ankle Cross Under Chair.

Description: While seated or standing, the ankle of one foot wraps around the ankle of the other foot.

In One Sentence: The ankle cross is a sign that one is showing restraint, discomfort or insecurity and also that one is not prepared to immediately leave.

How To Use it: Use the posture while standing to show that you are not immediate ready to vacate but rather are prepared to listen to someone else speak. This posture also shows submission which can be helpful in placating a domineering counterpart such as a boss. Finally, the posture can create a sense of security as it protects the genital area from over-exposure. Thus, in a crowded area, the ankle cross can make one feel more comfortable.

Context: a) Business, b) Social/Friendly and Dating

Verbal Translation: “I’m not totally comfortable, but I’m not going anywhere.”

Variant: The top of one foot locks around the leg of the other while seated or standing (mainly female posture). The feet might suddenly be pulled in under the chair withdrawing emotionally even further. This shows insecurity and discomfort.

Cue In Action: a) It was suggested that the company increase it’s workforce from ten to fifteen employees. Upon hearing the suggestions, Debbie from human resources wrapped her legs together at the ankles and pulled them under her chair showing passive disagreement. b) Long-time friends discussed politics while standing with their feet in a causal shoulder width stance. But when the topic switches to sports, and the discussion evolves, the feet of both parties cross. This shows that they are vested in the conversation, and aren’t thinking about escaping. c) The legs are wrapped around the legs of a chair sometimes called the Ejector Seat Posture (See Seated Readiness or The Ejector Seat Position and Feet Wrapped Around Legs Of Chair) showing anxiety, concern or discomfort.

Meaning and/or Motivation: While seated, a sudden locking of the feet indicates discomfort or insecurity. Conversely, if the feet are suddenly unlocked, the signal that the discomfort has been removed and that comfort is present.

When feet are crossed while standing, it indicates that a person is in no hurry to leave, and are that they comfortable discussing the topic.

a) While seated, it indicates that a person is holding a negative emotion, uncertainty, fear, anxiety, insecurity, reserved self-restraint, lack of confidence, or in general, uncomfortable or timid due to withholding a thought or emotion. It is a closed body posture and indicates that a person does not wish to budge and is likely holding negative attitude.

b) While standing, it is modest and formal and has no meaning at all unless the posture is adopted suddenly. When seated, the ankle cross indicates that modest comfort is present as crossed legs impede a quick escape. Other times it indicates negativity, defensiveness and insecurity especially if coupled with arm crossing or the Fig Leaf. Also shows commitment due to inability of making a quick escape, submission and sometimes vulnerability if coupled with a dipped head.

c) The person who locks their feet around the chair is bracing and locking (freezing) themselves as they have heard things they don’t want to hear, but aren’t permitted to leave.

Cue Cluster: Legs crossed at the ankles coupled with arm withdrawal, a scowling expression, and head turned away, amplifies the negative emotion communicated by the ankle cross. Couple interlocked legs, which is a freeze response meant to reduce foot movement, with pacifying behaviours such as rubbing the thighs palm down, as if to dry them, and you’ve got a cluster signaling that a secret is being covered. If the feet are pulled under the chair, the message is even more exaggerated. The feet are saying exactly what the person is thinking, that he or she is closed and withdrawn from the conversation.

Body Language Category: Disengagement, Defensive, Negative body language, Fearful body language, Discomfort, Stressful body language, Body cross.

Resources:

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Blading, Body pointing, Escape movements, Liking, Orienting reflex or orienting response

Body Language of Angular Distance or Body Alignment

by Chris • October 16, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Angular Distance or Body Alignment

Cue: Angular Distance

Synonym(s): Body Alignment

Description: The orientation in space between two people relative to one another. The angular distance measures how chairs, shoulders, or even feet, are positioned in relation to other people.

In One Sentence: Bodies orient toward things they like and away from things they dislike.

How To Use it: Use angular distance to show how interested or disinterested you are with a person. Orient your shoulders toward people you find appealing and away from those you don’t. Conversely, you may feign disinterest or interest by angling shoulders away, or toward, respectively. In more advanced body language, you may turn the shoulders away, but still face your conversation partner. This keeps them guessing and permits you to maintain a frame of control over them. Angling away in this case, keeps them guessing causing them to fight to keep your attention. This technique has proven effective in creating social value in a dating context.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: a) “I’m totally engrossed in this conversation.” b) “We’re talking right now, but we need to keep our possible exits clear in case problems arise c) “We totally disagree and we will never see eye-to-eye.”

Cue In Action: Mark was new at the office and started up a conversation with Julie. At first they took up a 45-degree angle toward one another, showing an informal interaction. But as common interests were discovered, they closed into a head-to-head orientation and became fully engrossed.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Body alignment deals with the degree to which people agree or disagree.

a) Generally head-to-head orientation or squared-up position (0 degrees), is reserved for intimacy or direct confrontation, so does not always signal good things. b) A 45-degree angle is used for a general open interaction between collaborators and c) Bodies angled away at 45-degrees is a signal that someone is being blocked out of a conversation to a great degree, and that they are at risk of being totally dismissed. d) back to back (180-degrees) implies that completely dismissal is occurring.

Cue Cluster: Various depending on context and arrangement.

Body Language Category: Body pointing, Blading, Like, Disliking, Escape movements, Orienting reflex or orienting response.

Resources:

Aiello, J. 1977. A further look at equilibrium theory. Visual interaction as a function of
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Broth, Mathias and Lorenza Mondada. Walking Away: The Embodied Achievement of Activity Closings in Mobile Interaction. Journal of Pragmatics. 2013. 47: 41-58.
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Eerland, Anita; Tulio M. Guadalupe; Ingmar H. A. Franken and Rolf A. Zwaan. Posture as Index for Approach-Avoidance Behavior. PLOS one. February 2012. 7(2): e31291.
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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/reading-nonverbal-behaviour-child-abuse-cases-encourage-children-divulge-information-truth-telling/

Moore, Monica. Courtship Signaling and Adolescents: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Journal of Sex Research. 1995. 32(4): 319-328.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/girls-just-want-to-have-fun-the-origins-of-courtship-cues-in-girls-and-women/

Mehrabian, Albert Holzberg, Jules D. (editor). Inference of Attitudes From the Posture, Orientation and Distance of a Communicator. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1968. 32(3): 296-308.

Mehrabian, Albert Deese, James (editor). Significance of posture and position in the communication of attitude and status relationships. Psychological Bulletin. 1969. 71(5): 359-372

Mehrabian, Albert (1969). “Significance of Posture and Position in the Communication of Attitude and Status Relationships.” In Psychological Bulletin (Vol. 71), pp. 359-72.

Mehrabian, Albert (1974). “Communication Without Words.” In Jean Civikly, ed., Messages: A Reader in Human Communication (New York: Random House), pp. 87-93.

McBride, Glen, M. G. King, and J. W. James (1965). “Social Proximity Effects on GSR in Adult Humans.” In Journal of Psychology (Vol. 61), pp. 153-57.

Navarro, Joe. 2008. What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People. William Morrow Paperbacks.

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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/read-kids-dislike-food-facial-expressions-accurate-detecting-dislike-not-like-children/

Anger body language, Microexpression

Body Language of The Anger Facial Expression

by Chris • October 16, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Anger Facial Expression

Cue: Anger Facial Expression

Synonym(s): Facial Expression Of Anger.

Description: The anger face is done by lowering the browridge, lowering the brow, raising the cheekbones, widening (flaring) the nose, raising the mouth, thinning the lips, raising the chin bun, and raising the chin raised. The anger face involves Action Units 4, 5, 7 10, 17, 22, 23, and 24.

In One Sentence: The anger face is a signal of strength and used as a bargaining tool to advance the position of the signaler.

How To Use it: Use the angry facial expression to demonstrate the seriousness of your conviction. Research shows that angry faces are more likely to be taken seriously as they are seen as more dominant. Using an angry face is physical proof that one is actually emotionally invested.

Context: General

Verbal Translation: “I’m angry forcing the muscles in my face to contort my eyes and nose.”

Variant: At times the anger facial expression flashes over the face and quickly disappears. Thus, it is a microexpression that wishes to go unnoticed. If this is noticed, it can be trusted as an honest emotion.

See Contempt Facial Expression, Disgust Facial Expression, Fearful Facial Expression, Sadness Facial Expression, Happiness And Joy, Surprised Facial Expression, Eyebrows Knit or Oblique Eyebrows Of Grief.

Cue In Action: A baseball player looked angrily at the pitcher after being beaned in the leg with a pitch.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The intent of the anger facial expression is obvious and universal.

Cue Cluster: The arms go limp to the sides of the body, the chin juts out taunting, the feet point toward the target, fingers may point, chests might be pounded the voice might be raised. We may also see encroaching or distancing and erratic behaviour.

Body Language Category: Anger, Microexpression.

Resources:

Aviezer, Hillel; Ran R. Hassin; Jennifer Ryan; Cheryl Grady; Josh Susskind; Adam Anderson; Morris Moscovitch and Shlomo Bentin. Angry, Disgusted, or Afraid? Studies on the Malleability of Emotion Perception. Psychological Science. 2008. 19(7): 724-732.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/emotions-read-context-study/

App, Betsy; Catherine L. Reed and Daniel N. McIntosh. Relative Contributions Of Face And Body Configurations: Perceiving Emotional State And Motion Intention. Cognition and Emotion. 2012. 26(4): 690-698.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/facial-expressions-versus-bodily-expressions-nonverbal-communication/

Ben-Zeev, Avi; Tara C. Dennehy; Rachel Sackman; Andres Olide and Christopher C. Berger. Flirting With Threat: Social Identity and the Perils of the Female Communality Prescription. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2011. 47: 1308-1311.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/flirting-with-danger-women-flirt-to-avoid-conflict/

Bard, K. A. (2003). Development of emotional expressions in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). In P. Ekman, J. Campos, R. J. Davidson & F. B. M. De Waal (Eds.), Emotions inside out: 130 years after Darwin’s The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (Vol. 1000, pp. 88-90). New York: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

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de Waal, F. B. M. (2003). Darwin’s legacy and the study of primate visual communication. In P. Ekman, J. Campos, R. J. Davidson & F. B. M. De Waal (Eds.), Emotions inside out: 130 years after Darwin’s The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals (pp. 7-31). New York: New York Academy of Sciences.

Daniele Marzoli, Mariagrazia Custodero, Alessandra Pagliara, and Luca Tommasi. Sun-Induced Frowning Fosters Aggressive Feelings. Cognition And Emotion. 2013; 27 (8): 1513-1521.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/the-sun-can-produce-feelings-of-anger-and-aggression-it-makes-us-frown/

Daniel H. Lee, Reza Mirza, John G. Flanagan and Adam K. Anderson. Optical Origins of Opposing Facial Expression Actions. Psychological Science published online 24 January 2014 DOI: 10.1177/0956797613514451
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/eyes-and-facial-expressions-may-be-biologically-controlled-serve-a-real-non-emotional-purpose-says-research/

Darwin, Charles (1872). The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, third edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 1998).

Ekman, Paul, Wallace V. Friesen, and Sylvan S. Tomkins (1971). “Facial Affect Scoring Technique: A First Validity Study.” In Semiotica (Vol. 3), pp. 37-58.

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Ekman, P., Levenson, R. W., & Friesen, W. V. (1983). Autonomic nervous system activity distinguishes among emotions. Science, 221(4616), 1208-1210.

Ekman, P., O’Sullivan, M., & Matsumoto, D. (1991a). Confusions about context in the judgment of facial expression: A reply to “The contempt expression and the relativity thesis.”. Motivation & Emotion, 15(2), 169-176.

Ekman, P., O’Sullivan, M., & Matsumoto, D. (1991b). Contradictions in the study of contempt: What’s it all about? Reply to Russell. Motivation & Emotion, 15(4), 293-296.

Elfenbein, H. A., & Ambady, N. (2002). On the universality and cultural specificity of emotion recognition: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 128(2), 205-235.

Ekman, Paul. 1986. A new pan-cultural facial expression of emotion. Source: Motivation and Emotion Ekman. 10(2): 159-168.

Ekman, Paul and Friesen, W. V. 1987. Universals and cultural differences in the judgments of facial expressions of emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 53(4): 712-717.

Ekman, Paul; Friesen, Wallace V. 1971. Constants across cultures in the face and emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 17(2): 124-129.

Ekman, Paul. 1972. Universals and cultural differences in facial expressions of emotion. In J. Cole (Ed.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, 1971. 19: 207-282. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

Fulcher, J. S. “Voluntary” facial expression in blind and seeing children. Archives of Psychology, 1942. 38: 272.

Friesen, W. V. 1972. Cultural differences in facial expressions in a social situation: An experimental test of the concept of display rules. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California, San Francisco.

Grezes, Julie; Le´onor Philip; Michele Chadwick; Guillaume Dezecache; Robert Soussignan and Laurence Conty. Self-Relevance Appraisal Influences Facial Reactions to Emotional Body Expressions. PLoS ONE. 2013. 8(2): e55885. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055885
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/face-reacts-body-anger-brains-wired-process-emotional-body-language

Hatz, Jessica L. and Martin J. Bourgeois. Anger as a Cue to Truthfulness. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2010. 46: 680-683.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/anger-nonverbal-cue-truth-telling/

Hareli, Shlomo; Noga Shomrat and Ursula Hess. Emotional Versus Neutral Expressions and Perceptions of Social Dominance and Submissiveness. Emotion. 2009 9(3): 378-384. DOI: 10.1037/a0015958
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/dominance-expression-conveyed-different-facial-expressions-men-women/

Kret, Mariska Esther and Beatrice de Gelder. Social Context Influences Recognition of Bodily Expressions. Exp Brain Res. 2010. 203:169-180. DOI 10.1007/s00221-010-2220-8
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/context-matters-judging-body-language/

Kret, M. E. and B. de Gelder. When a Smile Becomes a Fist: The Perception of Facial and Bodily Expressions of Emotion in Violent Offenders. Exp Brain Res. 2013. 228: 399-410. DOI 10.1007/s00221-013-3557-6.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/reading-bodily-postures-facial-expressions-incorrectly-can-disastrous-just-ask-violent-offenders/

Levenson, R. W., Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1990). Voluntary facial action generates emotion-specific autonomic nervous system activity. Psychophysiology, 27(4), 363-384.

Levenson, R. W., Ekman, P., Heider, K., & Friesen, W. V. (1992). Emotion and autonomic nervous system activity in the Minangkabau of West Sumatra. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 62(6), 972-988.

Matsumoto, D. (1989). Cultural influences on the perception of emotion. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 20(1), 92-105.

Matsumoto, D. (1992). American-Japanese cultural differences in the recognition of universal facial expressions. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 23(1), 72-84.

Matsumoto, D. (2001). Culture and Emotion. In D. Matsumoto (Ed.), The Handbook of Culture and Psychology (pp. 171-194). New York: Oxford University Press.

Matsumoto, D., & Ekman, P. (1989). American-Japanese cultural differences in intensity ratings of facial expressions of emotion. Motivation & Emotion, 13(2), 143-157.

Matsumoto, D., Keltner, D., Shiota, M. N., Frank, M. G., & O’Sullivan, M. (2008). What’s in a face? Facial expressions as signals of discrete emotions. In M. Lewis, J. M. Haviland & L. Feldman Barrett (Eds.), Handbook of emotions (pp. 211-234). New York: Guilford Press.

Matsumoto, D., & Willingham, B. (2009). Spontaneous Facial Expressions of Emotion of Congenitally and Non-Congenitally Blind Individuals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(1), 1-10.

Mesquita, B., & Frijda, N. H. (1992). Cultural variations in emotions: A review. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 197-204.

Marzoli, Daniele; Mariagrazia Custodero; Alessandra Pagliara and Luca Tommasi. Sun-Induced Frowning Fosters Aggressive Feelings. Cognition And Emotion. 2013; 27 (8): 1513-1521.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/avoid-anger-sunny-days/

Mondloch, Catherine J.; Nicole L. Nelson and Matthew Horner. Asymmetries of Influence: Differential Effects of Body Postures on Perceptions of Emotional Facial Expressions. PLOS one. September 2013. 8(9): e73605.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/facial-expressions-versus-bodily-expressions-nonverbal-communication-2

McClure, Erin B 2000. A meta-analytic review of sex differences in facial expression processing and their development in infants, children, and adolescents
Psychological Bulletin. 126(3): 424-453.

Mead, M. 1975. Review of “Darwin and facial expression.” Journal of Communication, 25: 209-213.

Nao, Misako Sawada and Motonobu Ishii. Development of the Movements Impressions Emotions Model: Evaluation of Movements and Impressions Related to the Perception of Emotions in Dance. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 2013. 37:107-121.
DOI 10.1007/s10919-013-0148-y
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/convey-emotion-nonverbally-dance-study/

Nelson, Nicole L and James A. Russell. Children’s Understanding Of Nonverbal Expressions Of Pride. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 2012; 111: 379-385.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/can-children-read-pride-body-language/

Petersen, Michael Bang; Daniel Sznycer; Aaron Sell; Leda Cosmides, and John Tooby. The Ancestral Logic of Politics: Upper-Body Strength Regulates Men’s Assertion of Self-Interest Over Economic Redistribution. Psychological Science. 2013. 24(7): 1098-1103. DOI: 10.1177/0956797612466415
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/rich-male-vote-left-small-biceps-politics-upper-body-strength/

Peleg, G., Katzir, G., Peleg, O., Kamara, M., Brodsky, L., Hel-Or, H., et al. (2006). Heriditary family signature of facial expression. Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences, 103(43), 15921-15926.

Russell, James A. 1995. Facial Expressions of Emotion: What Lies Beyond Minimal Universality? Psychological bulletin. 118(3): 379-391.

Russell, James A. 1994. Is There Universal Recognition of Emotion From Facial Expression? A Review of the Cross-Cultural Studies. Psychological Bulletin. 115(1): 102-141.

Russell, James A.; Naoto Suzuki and Noriko Ishida. 1993. Canadian, Greek, and Japanese freely produced emotion labels for facial expressions. Motivation and Emotion. 17(4): 337 -351

Reed, Lawrence, Ian; Peter DeScioli and Steven A. Pinker. The Commitment Function of Angry Facial Expressions. Psychological Science. 2014 DOI: 10.1177/0956797614531027
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/anger-facial-expression-gets-people-to-do-what-you-want/

Susskind, Joshua M and Adam K Anderson. Facial Expression Form and Function. Communicative Integrative Biology. 2008. 1(2): 148–149. PMCID: PMC2686004
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/emotional-facial-expressions-evolve/

Sell, Aaron,; Cosmides, Leda and Tooby, John. The Human Anger Face Evolved to Enhance Cues of Strength. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2014. 35(5): 425-429.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/the-universal-anger-face/

Sell, Aaron; Liana S. E. Hone and Nicholas Pound. The Importance of Physical Strength to Human Males. Human Nature. 2012. 23:30–44. DOI 10.1007/s12110-012-9131-2
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/hes-strong-means-believes-war-reading-nonverbals-physical-strength/

Sell, Aaron, Bryant, G., Cosmides, L.,Tooby, J., Sznycer, D., von Rueden, C., Krauss, A. & M. Gurven. (2010). Adaptations in humans for assessing physical strength and fighting ability from the voice. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 277, 3509-18.

Sell, Aaron, Cosmides, L., Tooby, J., Sznycer, D., von Rueden, C. & Gurven, M. (2009). Human adaptations for the visual assessment of strength and fighting ability from the body and face. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 276, 575-584.

Sell, Aaron , L Cosmides, J Tooby, D Sznycer, C von Rueden, M Gurven. Human adaptations for the visual assessment of strength and fighting ability from the body and face. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 276, 1656: 575-584.

Sinke, C.B, Sorger, B, Goebel, R, and de Gelder, B. Tease or Threat? Judging Social Interactions From Bodily Expressions. Neuroimage. A Journal of Brain Function. 2009. 49:1717-1727. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/friend-foe-let-body-language-decide

Stienen, Bernard M. C.; Akihiro Tanaka and Beatrice de Gelder. Emotional Voice and Emotional Body Postures Influence Each Other Independently of Visual Awareness. PLoS ONE. 2011. 6(10): e25517. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0025517.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/body-language-read-quickly-subconsciously-study/

Sell, A., Tooby, J., and Cosmides, L. Formidability and the Logic of Human Anger. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. 2009. 106(35), 15073-78.

Thompson, Erin H. and James A. Hampton. The Effect of Relationship Status on Communicating Emotions Through Touch,. Cognition and Emotion. 2011. 25(2): 295-306. DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2010.492957.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/using-touch-convey-emotion/

Wilkowski, Benjamin M. and Brian P. Meier. Bring It On: Angry Facial Expressions Potentiate Approach-Motivated Motor Behavior. 2010. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 98(2): 201-210.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/anger-facial-expression-elicits-approach-not-avoidance-study/

Zieber, Nicole; Ashley Kangas; Alyson Hock; and Ramesh S. Bhatt. Infants’ Perception of Emotion From Body Movements. Child Development. 2014. 85(2): 675-684.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/careful-infants-perceptive-reading-body-language/

Zhao, Ke; Wen-Jing Yan; Yu-Hsin Chen; Xi-Nian Zuo and Xiaolan Fu. Amygdala Volume Predicts Inter-Individual Differences in Fearful Face Recognition. PLOS one. August 2013. (8): 8: e74096. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0074096.g001
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/fear-amygdala

Zilioli, Samuele, Aaron N Sell, Michael Stirrat, Justin Jagore, William Vickerman, Neil V Watson. Face of a fighter: Bizygomatic width as a cue of formidability. Aggressive behavior. 6 JUN 2014. DOI: 10.1002/ab.21544.

Adornments, Elective nonverbal traits

The Body Language Of Adornments and Bodifications

by Chris • October 16, 2014 • 0 Comments

The Body Language Of Adornments and Bodifications

Cue: Adornments

Synonym(s): Tattoos, Piercings, Body Piercing, Fashion, Jewelry,

Description: Elective nonverbal traits. Some adornments can be particularly intrusive such as piercings. These can be found in the ear, bellybutton, eyelid, mouth, tongue, nipple, and so forth. Other adornment include tattoos. Adornments also include fashion, jewelry, severely plucked eyebrows, false nails. More severe bodifications are the forms that are permanent such as breast implants, facelifts, liposuction, collagen insertion and so forth.

In One Sentence: Adornments include body piercing, fashion, jewelry, tattoos and so forth that a person uses to decorate their body in order to create a desired impression.

How To Use it: Use adornments in the method you feel best fits your personality. When using adornments be sure to understand that while you may seek to create an individualized personal impression, you will be ascribed traits common to the group you will subsequently fall into. For example, studies show that those with tattoos tend to be risk takers and use drugs and alcohol more often. These traits will be ascribed to you by the attire and decoration of the group you become part of. Therefore, be conscious of how your individual expressions may be linked to you so they work in your favour, rather than against you.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m expressing myself in a way that reflects my own personal feelings and beliefs.”

Variant: Any adornment that is not genetic is an expression of a person’s individual personality. See Clothing.

Cue In Action: a) She was mild-mannered after you got to know her, but most of her body was covered in tattoos, giving others a bad first impression. b) The lower back tattoo was something she grew to regret. She got it on her 16th birthday and at 30 years of age, it no longer suited her disposition. c) The skinhead with the facial tattoo meant he had to do very little to put the fear into his opponents. d) He was careful to only be seen in expensive suites and polished leather shoes so he would garner respect from others. e) He mostly dressed in sweats and t-shirts. He didn’t much care what other people thought of him.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Adornments are a form of chosen adornment. Therefore, where and how they are worn is a conscious reflection of the wearer’s personality and style.

At times, the accuracy of the message is lost on others to the detriment of the wearer making adornments something we should all be careful to use properly. Ignoring nonverbal signal emitted by clothing, piercings, tattoos, chains, baggy pants and dirty worn clothing is a surefire way to alienate and turn people off.

Particular bodifications can reveal a need to be different, rebellious, nonconformist, have an artistic nature, or conversely, a desire to fit in on a lower or higher socioeconomic status. Some might choose ill fitting clothing from a thrift store elucidating to their free spirit, while another might choose expensive name brand attire and pricey watches to appear wealthy.

Cue Cluster: Watch for congruency between someone’s bodifications and their nonverbal body language to discover if someone is using them to fake their way into a particular demographic. For example, does the person with the expensive suit walk with confidence? Does the girl with the lower back tattoo really appear trampy?

Body Language Category: Elective nonverbal traits, Adornments

Resources:

Armstrong ML, Owen DC, Roberts AE, Koch JR (2002) College students and tattoos: the influence of image, identity, family and friends. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing Mental Health Services. 40:20–29.

Armstrong ML, Owen DC, Roberts AE, Koch JR (2004a) Contemporary college students and body piercing. J Adolesc Health 35:58–61.

Armstrong ML, Roberts AE, Owen DC, Koch JR (2004b) Toward building a composite of college student influences with body art. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs 27:277–295.

Carroll ST, Riffenburgh RH, Roberts TA, Myhre EB (2002) Tattoos and body piercings as indicators of adolescent risk-taking behaviors. Pediatrics 109:1021–1027.

Friederike Funk and Alexander Todorov. Criminal Stereotypes in the Courtroom: Facial Tattoos Affect Guilt and Punishment Differently. American Psychological Association. 2013. 19(4): 466-478. DOI: 10.1037/a0034736.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/face-tattoos-make-others-look-guilty-consequences-elective-nonverbal-signals/

Guéguen, Nicolas. Tattoos, Piercings, and Alcohol Consumption. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2012. 36(7): 1253-1256. DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01711.x
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/think-before-you-ink-or-pierce-what-tattoos-and-piercings-tell-about-alcohol-consumption/

Guéguen, Nicolas. Tattoos, Peircings, and Sexual Activity. Social Behavior and Personality. 2012. 40(9): 1543-1548. http://dx.doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2012.40.9.1543
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/the-hidden-body-language-of-tattoos-and-piercings-sex-drugs-and-risky-behaviour/

Guéguen Nicholas. Effects of a Tattoo on Men’s Behavior and Attitudes Towards Women: An Experimental Field Study. Arch Sex Behav. 2013. 42 (8):1517-1524. doi: 10.1007/s10508-013-0104-2. Epub 2013 May 9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23657810
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/power-tramp-stamp-womans-tattoo-double-chances-approached/

Guéguen, Nicholas. Tattoos, piercings, and sexual activity. Social Behavior and Personality. 2012. 40: 1543-1547.

Koziel, Slawomir and Arkadiusz Sitek. Self-Assessment of Attractiveness of Persons with Body Decoration. Journal of Comparative Human Biology. 2013.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/people-tattoos-piercings-think-youll-find-attractive/

Koch JR, Roberts AE, Armstrong ML, Owen DC (2005) College students, tattoos, and sexual activity. Psychological Rep 97:887–890.

Koch JR, Roberts AE, Armstrong ML, Owen DC (2007) Frequencies and relations of body piercing and sexual activity in college students. Psychological Rep 101:159–162.

Koch JR, Roberts AE, ArmstrongML, Owen DC (2010) Body art, deviance, and American college students. Social Sci J 47:151–161.

Koziel S, Krestchmer W, Pawlowski B (2010) Tattoo and piercing as signals of biological quality. Evolutionary Human Behavior. 31:187–192.

MermetG (2010) Francoscopie. Larousse, Paris. Pitts V (2003) In the Flesh—The Cultural Politics of Body Modification.

PalgraveMacmillan, New York. Roberts TA, Auinger P, Ryan SA (2004) Body piercing and high-risk behavior in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health 34:224–229.

Roberts TA, Ryan SA (2002) Tattooing and high-risk behavior in adolescent. Pediatrics 110:1058–1063.

Suris JC, Jeannin A, Chossis I, Michaud P-A (2007) Piercing among adolescents: body art as a risk marker. Journal of Family Practice 56:126–130.

Swami V, Furnham A (2007) Unattractive, promiscuous, and heavy drinkers: perceptions of women with tattoos. Body Image 4:343–352.

Wohlrab S, Stahl J, Kappeler PM (2007) Modifying the body: motivations for getting tattooed and pierced. Body Image 4:87–95.

Morris, T. L., J. Gorham, S. H. Cohen, and D. Huffman. 1996. Fashion in the classroom: effects of attire on student perceptions of instructors in college classes. Communication Education 45(2): 135.

Courtship display, Dislike (nonverbal), Dominant body language, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI)

Body Language Of Accidental Touching

by Chris • October 16, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language Of Accidental Touching

Cue: Accidental Touching

Synonym(s): Touching By Accident, Brushing Up Against Someone Accidentally,Bumping Into Someone.

Description: Touching between two people that seems to happen without meaning.

In One Sentence: Accidental touching can happen between random strangers usually in busy or crowded environments, or alternatively, done out of conscious awareness in order to create bonding and intimacy.

How To Use it: Accidental touching can be used to spark sexual interest or intimacy. This is done simply by lightly brushing up or bumping against another in order to put you on their sexual radar. Likewise, by sharing space that is very tight, friendships can blossom through occasional accidental touches. It may also be used to intimidate by encroaching on the space of others or even colliding directly with them. When used properly, touching, which is seemingly accidental in nature, can be used to create specific outcomes including intimacy, friendship, or to intimidate. The intent of accidental touching and the relative context will define how others interpret accidental touching and how effective it is in achieving your specific goals.

Context: a) General b) Dating c) Business or d) Friendly.

Verbal Translation: a) “Oops, sorry, my mistake”, b) “Hey look at me, I’m right here and looking for attention”, c) “Stay out of my way, I need more space – I exist,” or d) “I’m brushing up against you to bond and share space.”

Variant: See Self Stroking or Auto Contact, Head Touch (by others), Touching or Increase In Touching.

Cue In Action: a) Two people brush up against one another accidentally in a crowded elevator with no meaning at all. b) A woman backs into a man she finds interesting on the dance floor in effort to be noticed. c) Bob “accidentally” bumped up against his boss while walking to his office – he has been making a bid for the bosses’ managerial position for many months and wanted to keep him in his place. d) A husband and wife were washing and drying dishes together after dinner and accidentally brushed up against one another.

Meaning and/or Motivation: a) The cue has no specific intent. b) Feigned in a dating context where the cue signals sexual interest c) Feigned as a power play designed to intimidate. d) Usually meaningless, but can be a source of bonding by sharing intimate space.

Touch is a very powerful force and can be used to manipulate and influence others, but oftentimes, touching happens accidentally. We should be careful to properly assess the motivation of touching.

Cue Cluster: a) The head is down with no eye contact and no acknowledgement of contact is made. b) Eye contact is made with the target with a coy smile coupled with a feigned verbal apology. c) Head is down or up coupled with a forced stress smile or smirk. d) Both parties subconsciously acknowledge touching, but do not show any noticeable body language cues – they carry on with the task at hand while sharing space.

Body Language Category: Courtship Display, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Dominant/Aggressive Body Language, Dislike (nonverbal).

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