Body Language of Loose Lips or Relaxed Lips
Cue: Loose Lips or Relaxed Lips
Synonym(s): Relaxed Lips, Full Lips, Contented Lips, Plump Lips.
Description: When the lips are not stretched, compressed or pursed, curled or even smiling, the lips are full, relaxed, might be parted or just rested and plump.
In One Sentence: Lips that are full rather than compressed signal a relaxed and positive attitude.
How To Use it: Keep the lips relaxed to show others that you lack tension. Full lips that do not stretch across the face, but rather, are plump and loose, indicate a person who is happy and healthy.
Women can benefit best by showing full lips as they are associated with youthfulness, health and fertility. Lips are known to shrink as we age, so applying lipstick can help make them seem larger. Additionally, puckering them outward is a salient demonstrating of youthfulness and fertility. Benefits come to those with desirable features.
Puckering the lips outward rather than compressing them can also be used as a kiss indicator. To cue a kiss, or perform a “kiss-request,” woman simply need to puff out their lips while simultaneously looking at the lips of the man she desires.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: a) “I’m so relaxed and content that my lips are full and not stretched or compressed because my entire body lacks tension and negative emotions.” b) “I’m happy and relaxed and feel no negative thoughts so my lips are not being stretched or compacted in any way.”
Variant: See Compressed Lips for the opposite cue.
Cue In Action: a) While reading a book, his lips parted, were full and lacked any tension. b) We knew she was relaxed when her lips fattened back up. She had been tense all day long, biting and compressing her lips as if they were being consumed.
Meaning and/or Motivation: People whose lips are loose show that they are sad, depressed or relaxed. Lacking any direct context or cue cluster, one should assume that loose lips are relaxed – the opposite to lip pursing. This nonverbal cue usually indicates true contentment but one should check for associated cues to decide with certainty.
The accompanying signals and facial expressions will decide which of the above emotions are being demonstrated. Relaxed body language is any body language that lacks muscle tension, the body is loose and the arms and legs move freely and naturally swaying with any motion. The torso may sag slightly to one side, or slump, but is not held by irregular tension. Thus, the body holds regular open body postures, with the arms and legs uncrossed. Breathing is steady and slow and can even become deep showing even more relaxation.
When the lips are loose and part, the head drops down and the eyes stare emptily it often signals contempt or disapproval in an “I can’t believe what I’m seeing.” However, in most cases, when the lips lack any tension it is due to being relaxed without negative feelings.
Cue Cluster: Expect to see an open face, palm up displays, torso oriented toward people, rather than away, legs uncrossed or if crossed then crossed toward, leaning in toward a speaker or leaning back and relaxed.
Body Language Category: Comfort body language, Liking, Honest body language, Liking, Nonthreatening body language, Open facial gestures, Relaxed body language.
Resources:
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