Body Language of Stiff Arm and Curved Arm
Cue: Stiff Arm and Curved Arm
Synonym(s): Arm Out Posture, Arm Blocking
Description: a) happens by thrusting the arm forward and away from the body with the palm face vertical in a “stop” type signal. b) Done by thrusting the elbow outward facing down or horizontally.
In One Sentence: The stiff arm is a body language cue which signals the desire to maintain separation and space through the creation of a barrier.
How To Use it: Use the stiff arm in dating to show men or women that you don’t want to create intimacy. The arm raised is useful when we don’t want others to come any closer. Sports athletes habitually use the stiff arm to protect themselves from collisions. Football players, like any other person whom is being encroached upon, should use the stiff arm in order to avoid unwanted proximity.
Context: a) General b) Dating and General
Verbal Translation: a) “I’m going to show you my palm power by flashing it at you to get you to stop what you are doing right now.” b) “I don’t like you getting close to me so I’m going to preserve my space and stop you from entering my space.”
Variant: See other palm powerful gestures, like Palm Up Display or The Rogatory Posture and Palm Down Displays or Palm Power.
Cue In Action: a) The kids were acting up once again so Mary put her palm up and in a firm voice yelled “Stop it right now.” b) He awkwardly approached a girl in the elevator and she instinctively raised her arm, arm bent and put her forearm to her side to maintain space – the offer was not welcome.
Meaning and/or Motivation: a) A defensive arm distancing posture done in order to indicate to another person that they have overstepped boundaries and it’s time to stop. c) An arm distancing posture defensive in nature meant to reclaim and defend personal space.
Cue Cluster: a) Accompanied by leaning forward, head down and loud voice. b) Accompanied by head leaning back, wide eyes and grimacing or angry facial expression.
Body Language Category: Barriers, Closed body language, Authoritative body language, Defensive body language, Distancing or moving away, Escape movements, Fearful body language, Protective reflexes, Rejection body language.
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