Closed body language, Defensive body language, Low confidence hand displays, Lying or deceptive body language, Nervous Body Language

Body Language of Hands In Pockets

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Body Language of Hands In Pockets

BodyLanguageProjectCom - Hands In Pockets 4Cue: Hands In Pockets

Synonym(s): N/A

Description: When the hands are placed in the pockets.

In One Sentence: Having the hands in the pockets signals lack of confidence, overexposure, and the need for privacy.

How To Use it: Hiding the hands in the pockets can be used to create additional security when you feel uncomfortable. This is useful in front of large audiences. Jamming the hands in the pockets can provide them a safe place to hide which is especially welcome when feeling awkward.

That being said, it’s generally not advised to hold the hands in the pockets, but rather work on ways to be assertive enough to keep hands exposed despite feeling uncomfortable. The hands in pockets are often read as a negative posture.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m thankful to have pockets because I’m insecure and really need to put my hands someplace lest I feel even more awkward.”

Variant: Hands are sometimes sat on so they are neatly tucked out of the way.

Cue In Action: Before presenting to the audience, the candidate stood left of stage with his hands in his pockets. A more presidential posture would have included hands to his sides.

Meaning and/or Motivation: A comfort and informal position, but also one that reveals insecurity and a lack of confidence and in more extreme cases even secretiveness as if a person has something to hide.

It is a convenient place to put hands that might otherwise need to find purpose when in awkward situations. Hiding the hands generally is seen as dishonest because the hands carry so much information. For example, the palms of the hands are flashed at a distance, a wave, to prove to others that we carry no weapon. At least this is its theorized origin. Hands that are shaking with fear or sweating from nervousness are often stuffed into pockets to be hidden from critical eyes.

Thus, when hands are jammed into pockets we subconsciously fear and worry that they might be carry something that might harm us. One thing is for certain, if we get pulled over by the police, the last place you should put your hands is in the pockets – keep them high where they can be seen!

Cue Cluster: Hands in pockets is not usually coupled by much else because they usually provide enough security that nothing additional is required. If someone is particularly awkward they might blush or bring their hands out of their pockets to pat the back of their head or neck or smooth their pants to dry them of their sweat. A person might also play with their cufflink or sleeve – a masked arm cross. The head may be bowed during extreme discomfort.

Body Language Category: Closed body language, Defensive, Low confidence body language, Low confidence hand displays, Lying or deceptive body language, Nervous body language.

Resources:

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