Category: Body size reduction

Body size reduction, Closed body language, Emotional body language, Low confidence body language, Low confidence hand displays, Negative body language, Protective reflexes, Submissive body language

Body Language of Thumb Hiding

by Chris • October 29, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Thumb Hiding

Cue: Thumb Hiding.

Synonym(s): Hiding The Thumb, Tucking The Thumb In.

Description: Placing the thumb of the same hand inside the clasped fingers, or placing only the thumbs in a pants pocket with the remainder out, are two ways thumbs can be hidden.

In One Sentence: Thumb hiding indicates insecurity.

How To Use it: Hiding the thumbs is a negative cue and is associated with negative feelings so should generally be avoided. That being said, it is rarely noticed by others so if you feel more comfortable putting your hands (and thumbs) in your pockets, feel free to do so. One should generally avoid this, however, in front of large audiences as the cue is seen as indicating insecurity.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m insecure, timid, or feel social discomfort so I’m hiding my thumbs from view.”

Variant: See Thumb Displays or Thumbs Up Posture.

Cue In Action: a) His mom re-introduced her friend’s daughter – a cute girl. Her son blushed, stuffed his thumbs into his back pocket, put his head down. They were childhood friends, but she had grown up. b) He balled up his fist and tucked his thumb inside his palm when he heard that he’d have to redo the entire presentation. c) The teenage boy thought he was cool, but his thumbs were tucked in his pockets with the rest of his hand hanging out revealing his hidden insecurity.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Hidden thumbs can be found when people are timid and insecure. The polar opposite to the thumb display is the hidden thumb. This posture says “I’m unsure of myself” and denotes low confidence and low status.

Cue Cluster: Watch for submissive cues such as shoulders rolled inward, head lowered or bowed, feet together or crossed at the ankles and eyes averted.

Body Language Category: Body size reduction, Closed body language, Emotional body language, Low confidence body language, Low confidence hand displays, Negative body language, Protective reflexes, Submissive body language.

Resources:

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Bernardis, P.,& Gentilucci,M.(2006).Speec hand gestures are the same communication system. Neuropsychologia, 44, 178–190.

Buccino, G.,Vogt,S., Ritzl, A., Fink, G .R., Zilles, K., Freund, H. J., et al.(2004).Neural circuits underlying imitation learning of hand actions: Anevent-related fMRI study. Neuron, 42, 323–334.

Chandler, Jesse ; Schwarz, Norbert. How extending your middle finger affects your perception of others: Learned movements influence concept accessibility. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2009. 45(1): 123-128.
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Dick, A.S., Goldin-Meadow,S., Hasson,U.,Skipper, J.I., & Small, S.L. (2009). Co- speech gestures influence neural activity in brain regions associated with processing semantic information. Human Brain Mapping, 30, 3509–3526.

Fabbri-Destro, M.,& Rizzolatti,G. (2008). Mirror neurons and mirror systems in monkeys and humans. Physiology, 23, 171–179.

Fogassi, L., Gallese,V., Fadiga,L., & Rizzolatti,G. (1998). Neurons responding to the sight of goal directed hand/armactions in the parietal area PF (7b) of the macaque monkey. Society for Neuroscience, 24, 257.5.

Fusaro, M., Harris, P. L., & Pan, B. A. (2012). Head nodding and head shaking gestures in children’s early communication. First Language, 32, 439–458. doi:10.1177/0142723711419326

Gentilucci, M., Bernardis, P., Crisi,G., & Dalla Volta, R. (2006). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of Broca’s area affects verbal responses to gesture observation. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18, 1059–1074.

Goldin-Meadow, S. (1999).The role of gesture in communication and thinking. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 3, 419–429.

Goldin-Meadow, S.(2003). Hearing gesture: How our hands help us think. Cam-bridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press.

Gräfenhain, M., Behne, T., Carpenter, M., & Tomasello, M. (2009). One-year-olds’ understanding of nonverbal gestures directed to a third person. Cognitive Development, 24, 23–33. doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2008.10.001

Guidetti, M. (2005). Yes or no? How do young children combine gestures and words to agree and refuse. Journal of Child Language, 32, 911–924. doi:10.1017/S0305000905007038

Hummer, P., Wimmer, H., & Antes, G. (1993). On the origins of denial negation. Journal of Child Language, 20, 607– 618. doi:10.1017/S0305000900008503

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Hansen, Jacqueline. Teaching without talking: teachers need to be aware of more than just the words they speak to children. They also need to monitor the nonverbal messages that they’re sending to students through proximity, eye contact, gestures, and touching. Phi Delta Kappan. 2010. 92(1): 35(6).

Holle, H., & Gunter,T.C. (2007). The role of iconic gestures in speech disambiguation: ERP evidence. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 19, 1175–1192.

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Appease, Body size reduction, Low confidence body language, Nonthreatening body language, Readiness to submit postures

Body Language of Standing At Attention or Parallel Stance

by Chris • October 28, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Standing At Attention or Parallel Stance

Cue: Standing At Attention or Parallel Stance.

Synonym(s): Parallel Stance.

Description: A standing position where the legs are together, neither one in front of the other.

In One Sentence: Standing at attention is a sign of submission and preparedness to head to someone else’s leadership.

How To Use it: Stand at attention when you are fully committed to be lead by another person of higher authority. The parallel stance should be done when a low ranking person meets with a high ranking person out of respect. This therefore, finds a place in the military and occasionally in business settings. When children meet with principles or teachers, they may also use the stance to show that they are prepared to submit, take orders or receive punishment without a fight.

A submissive husband may also use this posture to show his wife that she “wears the pants” and he’s prepared to take her abuse. Generally speaking, this is, however, to be avoided as it often causes only a temporary lowering of aggression, which due to the submissive posture, is bound to persist indefinitely.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m timid, shy, submissive, uncertain, hesitant and tentative. I’m totally at your mercy, which is why my feet are close together in a precarious standing posture. I’m the subject of your dominance, do what you wish.”

Variant: See Arms Akimbo.

Cue In Action: a) The teacher pulled the student aside. His arms dropped to his sides, head bowed with his feel parallel touching each other. He submitted to her dominance. b) The officer made his way around, walked with a firm stride, head held high, eyes straight forward. When he reached the commander, he stopped, place his feet neatly together, maintained a straight gaze, head high and arms to his side. He showed the commander his respect and subservience.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The parallel stance posture occurs subconsciously when we talk about ideas in which we don’t feel total confidence or are uncertain. It shows timidity, hesitation, and tentativeness.

Standing at attention is a submissive posture where the context includes being reprimanded by a teacher or principle, a child facing a parent, reporting to a head officer in the military or standing in front of the judge during sentencing. It signifies “no comment” and is found in a person who has neither committed to stay or go. Because the posture is submissive, it is used more often by women (and children) than men. When it is seen in men, it happens when meeting with higher ranking people indicating submission. The standing posture is nearly mandatory when lower ranking officers address higher ranking officers to demonstrate their subservience.

The stance creates a weak and precariously balanced base as opposed to a leg-splayed stance. The legs being close together, permits others to easily shove you over should they wish. Therefore, offering this posture to another is the key to its hidden meaning. It shows that we are trusting of them and also subject to their dominance.

Cue Cluster: Watch for eyes averted, head lowered or bowed, arms to the side, blushing, blank face or one that shows grief.

Body Language Category: Appease, Body size reduction, Low confidence body language, Nonthreatening body language, Readiness to submit postures.

Resources:

Bohns, Vanessa K. and Scott S. Wiltermuth. It Hurts When I Do This (Or You Do That): Posture And Pain tolerance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2012. 48: 341-345.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/dominant-and-submissive-postures-affects-more-than-public-perception-it-also-affects-felt-pain-and-physical-strength/

Broth, Mathias and Lorenza Mondada. Walking Away: The Embodied Achievement of Activity Closings in Mobile Interaction. Journal of Pragmatics. 2013. 47: 41-58.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/nonverbally-negotiate-conversation-walking-away/

Becchio, Cristina ; Sartori, Luisa ; Bulgheroni, Maria ; Castiello, Umberto. The case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A kinematic study on social intention. Consciousness and Cognition. 2008. 17(3): 557-564.

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Li Huang, Adam D. Galinsky, Deborah H Gruenfeld and Lucia E. Guillory. Powerful Postures Versus Powerful Roles: Which Is the Proximate Correlate of Thought and Behavior? 2011, Psychological Science; 22(1): 95–102.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/whats-more-powerful-nonverbal-power-or-real-power/

Lockard, J.S. ; Allen, D.J. ; Schiele, B.J. ; Wiemer, M.J. Human postural signals: Stance, weight-shifts and social distance as intention movements to depart. Animal Behaviour. 1978 26: 219-224.

Mehrabian, A. (1968) Inference of attitudes from the posture, orientation, and distance of a communicator. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 32, 296–308.

Mehrabian, A. (1969). Significance of posture and position in the communication of attitude and status relationship. Psychological Bulletin, 71, 359–372.

Pease, Barbara and Allan Pease. 2006. The Definitive Book of Body Language Hardcover. Bantam.

Pitterman, Hallee ; Nowicki Jr, Stephen. A Test of the Ability to Identify Emotion in Human Standing and Sitting Postures: The Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy-2 Posture Test (DANVA2-POS). Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs. 2004. 130(2): 146-162.

Schwartz, Barry ; Tesser, Abraham ; Powell, Evan. Dominance Cues in Nonverbal Behavior. Social Psychology Quarterly. 1982. 45(2): 114-120.

Sartori, Luisa ; Becchio, Cristina ; Castiello, Umberto. Cues to Intention: The Role of Movement Information. Cognition. 2011. 119(2): 242-252.

Tessari, Alessia ; Ottoboni, Giovanni ; Mazzatenta, Andrea ; Merla, Arcangelo ; Nicoletti, Roberto Alain, Claude (Editor). Please Don’t! The Automatic Extrapolation of Dangerous Intentions (Automatic Extrapolation of Dangerous Intentions). 2012. 7(11): p.e49011.

Body size reduction, Closed body language, Embarrassment (nonverbal), Emotional body language, Escape movements, Low confidence body language, Protective reflexes, Readiness to submit postures

Body Language of Sinking In The Chair

by Chris • October 28, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Sinking In The Chair

Cue: Sinking In The Chair.

Synonym(s): N/A

Description: The posterior is moved forward toward the front of the chair so a person can slouch and drop down low. The feet are held tightly together, head lowered chin down, eyes averted and downcast, the shoulders hunch up, the arms are kept close to the body.

In One Sentence: Sinking in the chair is a demonstration of relaxation and a casual attitude.

How To Use it: Sink in the chair when you want to show that you are withdrawing from a situation. Teenagers are particularly effective at this posture, especially in an educational setting. When sinking in the chair you are sending a message of indifference so be sure to use it with caution. Additionally, sinking in the chair is a way to reduce your overall profile. This is effective in reducing the changes that one is called upon.

Finally, sinking down in a chair is a way to get closer to a relaxed state as it puts our body in a sleep-like posture. When one has some downtime, slinking forward can help create a sense of relaxation without being totally prone.

Context: a) General.

Verbal Translation: a) “I’m hiding in plain sight by reducing the size of my body and remaining motionless so that other people don’t notice me.” a) “I have a relaxed attitude. I’m too cool for school.”

Variant: See Crouching, Body Lowering.

Cue In Action: a) The student sunk down really low in his chair and avoided eye contact with the professor. He hadn’t completed his homework and didn’t want to be called on. a) The new employee kept quiet and to herself. She had fudged some of the credentials on her resume and wasn’t familiar with the application.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Sinking in the chair is a closed body postures, as are most submissive postures. Reducing body size is the exact opposite from what one would do to indicate dominance. Dominance is displayed by taking up more space, being loose and free flowing, pushing the chin out, broadening our shoulders and so forth.

Making the body small limits the potential of being hit and covers up vital areas of the body. In today’s age, it is uncommon to be physically attacked, but the mechanism by which we display can have a big impact on how people react physiologically to us. In other words, body language plays a big part in how other’s perceive us even if we don’t know them, and so we can influence them to our advantage even before a word is spoken.

The extremity of submissive language is being curled up in the fetal position, however as we get older, we find that these gestures are not acceptable so we abbreviate them. We might therefore take on a crouched position.

Slouching in the chair can also show others that they are rejecting the situation and slipping away. We see this in people who are bored or those who wish to tell authority figures that they are superior to others and do not need or desire to immerse themselves in the material. This certainly applies to the student who parks himself in the rear of the class, slumps down, whose eyes begin to glaze. By comparison, the student who sits upright near the front of the glass proves that she is fully engaged in the course material (or is pretending to be).

Cue Cluster: Sinking in the chair includes pulling the arms inward, pulling the shoulders down and rounding them, hunching in, pulling the chin in and pulling the legs or knees closer together. Remaining motionless and avoiding eye contact are other key features of a submissive posture. What all these cues have in common is that they give us a better chance of being overlooked as a threat, and help to repel attention from us. Emotional tension created by submission can occur in either sex, such as a pale face, fidgeting, jerky movements, sweating, or displacement behaviours such as playing with the hair or rubbing the palms.

Body Language Category: Body size reduction, Closed body language, Embarrassment (nonverbal), Emotional body language, Escape movements, Low confidence body language, Protective reflexes, Readiness to submit postures.

Resources:

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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/emotions-read-context-study/

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Katza, Carmit; Irit Hershkowitz; Lindsay C. Malloya; Michael E. Lamba; Armita Atabakia and Sabine Spindlera. Non-Verbal Behavior of Children Who Disclose or do not Disclose Child Abuse in Investigative Interviews. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2012. 36: 12-20.
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Amplifier, Appease, Barriers, Blocking or Shielding, Body cross, Body size reduction, Clenching and gripping, Closed body language, Comfort body language, Defensive body language, Emotional body language, Low confidence body language, Nervous Body Language, Protective reflexes, Pseudo-infantile gestures, Submissive body language

Body Language Of Self-Hugging or The Double Arm Hug

by Chris • October 28, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language Of Self-Hugging or The Double Arm Hug

Cue: Self-Hugging or The Double Arm Hug.

Synonym(s): Self-Administered Hug, Double Arm Hug, Hugging The Self.

Description: Self-hugging can be done by grabbing both arms across the body, in extreme cases to each shoulder, or by clasping one arm onto the arm, elbow or shoulder on the opposite side (Partial Arm Cross or Incomplete Arm Cross). At times, the hands will pacify by rubbing the shoulders.

In One Sentence: Self hugging is a cue signaling the desire to be comforted.

How To Use it: Self hugging replaces the need for the comfort of another. Thus, it is to be used when one does not wish to rely on the care of others, but when one still wishes to receive a caring touch. The cue is generally perceived in a negative light so should be used only in instances when one is not concerned with appearing vulnerable. Self-hugging in a business meeting, for example, is ill advised. However, hugging the self is perfectly acceptable in the privacy of your own home, or when surrounded by close friends or family where we are generally permitted to show our softer side.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m awkward and self conscious so I’m wrapping myself up in a self embrace to provide comfort and care as my parents provided to me in my youth.”

Variant: See Partial Arm Cross or Incomplete Arm Cross, Fetal Position (The), Self-Stroking or Auto Contact, Hand Gripping Upper Arm or Wrist Behind Back.

Cue In Action: It was the first time away from her parents at camp and most of the other girls were getting along fine and seemed to know each other from last year. Autumn was left by herself in line and looked awkwardly at the others while wrapping her arms around herself in a self hug. She was reminded of the care she got from her parents.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Hugging one’s self is both defensive and a closed body position. People who hold this posture exclaim that they are cold, but in reality, the cold sensation stems from feeling awkward, timid, self conscious, or distress. Self-hugs, done in this way, remind us of the care and comfort we received from mom and dad, and when found in adulthood, indicate a need for reassurance.

In adulthood, self-hugging is found when we’re insecure, self-conscious, afraid or defensive, generally. Because it’s generally not appropriate to show vulnerability to others and seek support from other’s we instead hug ourselves discreetly. The astute body language reader will notice this signal and step in to help make the carrier of the signal feel better.

Cue Cluster: Watch for submissive cues to accompany the self-hug such as head lowered or bowed, eyes up-cast, shoulders hunched over and toes pointed inward.

Body Language Category: Amplifier, Appease, Barriers, Body cross, Body size reduction, Blocking or Shielding, Comfort body language, Clenching and gripping, Closed body language, Defensive body language, Emotional body language, Low confidence body language, Nervous body language, Pseudo-infantile gestures, Pacifying body language, Protective reflexes, Submissive body language.

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Amplifier, Appease, Body size reduction, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Pseudo-infantile gestures, Readiness to submit postures, Submissive body language

Body Language of Pigeon Toes or Tibial Torsion

by Chris • October 27, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Pigeon Toes or Tibial Torsion

Cue: Pigeon Toes.

Synonym(s): Tibial Torsion, Toes Pointed Inward.

Description: While standing, the toes are pointed inwards toward each other.

In One Sentence: Pigeon toes indicate submission.

How To Use it: The pigeon toes posture is most effective when used by children and women as it is submissive in nature. Men can also use the posture, however, their challenge is finding a sympathetic partner who will read the cue and react in ways that benefit them. That being said, when children and women wish to show submission and lessen punishment or gain special treatment or favours, pointing the toes inward and taking on a smaller profile, is the answer. Pigeon toes can work to women’s advantage in dating as it shows their willingness to submit.

Context: a) General b) Dating.

Verbal Translation: “When I point my toes inward, I’m shrinking my body profile so as to appear more submissive and docile.”

Variant: See Splayed Feet or Feet Pointed Outward.

Cue In Action: a) The kid was upset and scared of the teacher, he turned his feet inward, lowered his head and began to sob. b) She stood near the bar, turned her feet inward and batted her eyes at the cute boy – she felt smitten, girly, attractive.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Having the toes pointed inwards, often called pigeon toes or anatomically “tibial torsion” is a submissive body posture.

Children, and women who are smitten, will point their toes inwards to show their meekness signaling their willingness to be lead by more dominant individuals. Pigeon toes makes the body appear smaller forcing it into a less threatening profile.

In a sexual situation, aiming the toes inward indicates submission and is usually performed by the woman in this context. This claim assumes that most women wish for and choose more dominant men than themselves, which of course isn’t always the case. However, when the cue persists, it can be assumed that she’d rather follow than lead.

Body Language Category: Amplifier, Appease, Body size reduction, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Pseudo-infantile gestures, Readiness to submit postures, Submissive body language.

Amplifier, Attentive body language, Body size reduction, Courtship display, Indicator of interest (IoI), Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Liking, Open body language, Undivided attention (nonverbal)

Body Language of Head Tilted or Head Cocked To The Side

by Chris • October 23, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Head Tilted or Head Cocked To The Side

Cue: Head Tilted or Head Cocked To The Side

Synonym(s): Canting The Head, Cocking The Head, Head Tilted At Forty Five Degrees, Head Cocked, Head Canting.

Description: The head tilt happens by tilting the head at forty-five degrees. It is much more commonly held by woman and children, than by men.

In One Sentence: Having the head titled to the side indicates sincere interest and curiosity.

How To Use it: Tilt the head to the side whenever you want to show someone that what they are saying fascinates you. Use this when you want the speaker to see your admiration in a nonverbal way. Men and woman can both use this to encourage each other to share more information.

Women can use the head tilt in a dating context to show men that they are submissive as the head tilt reveals the vulnerable neck. Thus, the posture, is particularly alluring.

Context: a) General b) Dating.

Verbal Translation: a) “I like what I’m hearing so I’m canting my head to the side in sincere interest and amusement.” b) “I’m trying to gain your sympathy and protectiveness so I’m appearing childlike and vulnerable so you will want to be my protector.”

Variant: Men will normally cant their heads by raising the chin slightly whereas women prefer to lower their chins coupled with the head tilted upward. It is thought that women wish to send a more childlike image with their head cant, in order to elicit a protective response in men. When men tilt their heads it usually signifies interest and recognition of others and their ideas. See Forehead Bow (The), Head On.

Cue In Action: a) The audience was totally engaged after he opened with some interesting and surprising facts about how he overcame bullying. b) She wanted to score a date with a particularly handsome and wealthy man so she really fired on the charm. She tossed her head to the side revealing her neck, cocked her head, look up at him and smiled coyly.

Meaning and/or Motivation: a) People and animals both incline their heads slightly when they are interested, attentive, or curious. You might have seen a dog twist his head to the side when puzzled by something a person has done. The head cant is a universal signal of interest and attentive listening. When women cant their heads, it depicts appeasement and submission and when men cant their heads they demonstrate recognition. Women also display their necks during their head tilt in order to appear more vulnerable and less threatening.

b) This is a submissive gesture and normally performed by women. The head tilt happens by tilting the head at forty-five degrees and delivering eye contact in a come hither type, coy, teasing, type look with plenty of neck exposure. It makes women appear more childlike and helpless, and evokes protective feelings in men. Its primary motive is to expose vulnerable parts of the body, the neck, to show submission and trust in a man’s dominance.

Cue Cluster: The head cant is normally coupled with eye contact toward the person showing interest coupled with relaxed facial expression and smiling gently.

Body Language Category: Amplifier, Attentive body language, Body size reduction, Courtship display, Indicator of interest (IoI), Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Liking, Open body language, Undivided attention (nonverbal).

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Moore, M. M. 2001. Flirting. In C. G. Waugh (Ed.) Let’s talk: A cognitive skills approach to interpersonal communication. Newark, Kendall-Hunt.

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Walsh, D. G., & Hewitt, J. (1985). Giving Men The Come-On: Effect Of Eye Contact And Smiling In A Bar Environment. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 61, 873-874.

Body size reduction, Courtship display, Eye Language, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Power play, Pseudo-infantile gestures, Remotivating gesture, Submissive body language

The Secrete Meaning Behind The Forehead Bow Body Language

by Chris • October 22, 2014 • 0 Comments

The Secrete Meaning Behind The Forehead Bow Body Language

Cue: Forehead Bow (The)

Synonym(s): Come-Hither-Look, Downward Titled Head With Upcast Eyes, Looking Up Through The Forehead or The Looking-Up Cluster, Dipping The Head, Looking Up Cluster, Head Down With Eyes Up.

Description: The forehead bow is a posture done by artificially lowering the head, then looking up from under the eyebrows. It is often coupled with a titling of the head at forty-five degrees to the side and when done by women in a dating context, batting the eyelashes.

In One Sentence: The forehead bow signals the desire to submit in a coy fashion.

How To Use it: The forehead bow is effective when trying to play submissive in order to gain extra favours. Children can use this effectively to gain special permission, as can women whom are trying to manipulate men. In dating, eyes cast upward makes women look childlike and this can be arousing due to its submissive origin. Cast the eyes upward whenever you wish to gain special treatment and sympathy from others. However, the cue is far less effective when done by men as compared to women and children. In other words, the cue, requires a sympathetic audience to gain any traction.

Context: a) General b) Dating.

Verbal Translation: “I’m weak and vulnerable, pleading, just watch how I look coyly and submissively up at you from my lowered position with big eyes. I need your sympathy, care, attention, permission and assistance – can you please help and care for me.”

Variant: See Sideways Glance Over Raised Shoulder.

Cue In Action: a) His daughter wanted a new pony so she stuck out her lip, cast her eyes up pleading, batted her eyes and tilted her head to the side. How could a Dad refuse? b) She wanted a new BMW so she stuck out her lip, cast her eyes up pleading, batted her eyes and tilted her head to the side. How could her husband refuse?

Meaning and/or Motivation: The forehead bow is a posture done by artificially lowering the head, then looking up under the eyebrows in a “come hither” fashion. It has roots in the bow (greeting gesture) since it exposes the top of the head making it vulnerable to attack.

Just like neck and wrist displays, it indicates that trust is present. It also comes off as a childlike gesture primarily because children are shorter than adults and habitually peer up at them.

The posture is a reflection back into early childhood as children look up at us seeking our approval or permission. It is designed to appear vulnerable and pleading. As we age, we recall these gestures and go back to them when wish to revive juvenile submissive feelings and evoke protective feelings in others. The opposite to the forehead bow happens by tilting the head back and looking down one’s nose at someone, which is a judgment posture and is seen negatively.

The forehead bow is a submissive posture and can be done by anyone but is especially prevalent during courtship. When done by women towards men it is a “come hither” look and when done by children shows shyness and submission. Either way, it is a submissive posture aimed at gaining sympathy, protection and favours from others.

Cue Cluster: It is often coupled with a titling of the head at forty-five degrees to the side and when done by women, batting the eyes.

Body Language Category: Body size reduction, Courtship displays, Eye Language, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Pseudo-infantile gestures, Power play, Remotivating, Submissive body language.

Resources:

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Auto contact or self touching, Barriers, Blocking or Shielding, Body cross, Body size reduction, Defensive body language, Low confidence body language, Negative body language, Nervous Body Language, Protective reflexes, Pseudo-infantile gestures, Shy nonverbal

Body Language of The Fetal Position

by Chris • October 21, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Fetal Position

Cue: Fetal Position (The)

Synonym(s): Hugging The Knees, Pulling The Knees In, Balling Up.

Description: The knees are pulled into the body and hugged.

In One Sentence: Pulling the knees into the body is akin to the fetal position and is a protective posture signaling the need for emotional comfort.

How To Use it: Use this cue to signal that you are under distress and wish for others to offer care and support. Balling the body in this way can produce a smaller profile making the body feel like a smaller, less noticeable target. Hugging the knees also simulates the sensation of being hugged, thus activating the embodiment of being comforted. The sensation is not unlike being hugged by parents. Thus, the fetal position is a way we can self-sooth when parents or friends are not nearby.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I need to feel the comfort of being held to remind me of the protection I felt in my mom’s womb or when she snuggled me, as I am suffering extreme discomfort and stress.”

Variant: See Bow and Body Bend, Crouching, Self-Hugging or The Double Arm Hug.

Cue In Action: a) She was alone for the first time at camp and hugged her knees while the other girls read scary books and fooled around. b) When she found out about a death in the family, she balled herself up on the couch and a grief filled expression came across her face.

Meaning and/or Motivation: It is a child-like posture because it reminds us of being protected by our mothers. It signifies grief, fear, timidity, shyness, discomfort and pain. The body shows that it needs to take on a smaller profile and seek comfort at the same time. As adults, we must provide comfort for ourselves so we are forced to use our own arms and legs to self-hug. With age, we learn that taking up the fetal position, like thumb sucking, is not an acceptable way of dealing with our insecurity so we drop the extreme form of the gesture in favour of more subtle cues.

In mild forms, it can be simply a posture one uses for comfort. When it appears in public it signifies that a person has an underlying motivation for pacifying and feels insecure. When done at home, can simply be a way to feel embraced and cared for.

While it might seem far-fetched to expect someone in your company to have this posture, it does occur although in more abbreviated adult acceptable ways. While at an informal party, for example, a woman might find herself hugging her knees at the end of a couch. To her, this feels comfortable, which is why she does it, but it reveals her true emotions.

The abbreviated form of this position, of course, and one that is more acceptable in public is to pull the limbs in closer to the body and across the centerline as in the “self hug”.

Cue Cluster: The fetal position is commonly associated with averted or wandering eyes, head turned away or down, being quiet, reading a book, wearing headphones or other ways to escape coupled with an expressionless, worry or pensive facial expression.

Body Language Category: Auto contact or self touching, Barriers, Body cross, Body size reduction, Blocking or Shielding, Defensive, Low confidence body language, Negative body language, Nervous body language, Pseudo-infantile gestures, Protective reflexes, Shy nonverbal.

Resources:

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Appease, Arrogance or arrogant body language, Authoritative body language, Body size reduction, Closed body language, Courtship display, Defensive body language, Disengagement body language, Dislike (nonverbal), Distancing or moving away, Embarrassment (nonverbal), Escape movements, Eye Language, Fearful body language, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Negative body language, Nervous Body Language, Nonthreatening body language, Power play, Readiness to submit postures, Rejection body language, Shy nonverbal, Submissive body language

Body Language of Eye Aversion, Gaze Avoidance and Wandering Eyes

by Chris • October 21, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Eye Aversion, Gaze Avoidance and Wandering Eyes

Cue: Eye Aversion and Wandering Eyes

Synonym(s): Eye Avoidance, Eye Withdrawal, Gaze Avoidance, Averting Eyes, Roving Eyes.

Description: When eyes avoid making contact with other eyes on purpose.

In One Sentence: Avoiding eye contact signals that a person wants to avoid being called upon or that they want to create an air of superiority.

How To Use it: Eye contact can be powerful especially when it is avoided. You can show your disdain for someone by simply ignoring their presence on purpose. Likewise, avoiding eye contact can have the effect of making you disappear as well. For example, if you want to avoid being called upon by the teacher or your boss, simply avert your eyes. This tells them that you’re not prepared to interact with them and nonverbally suggests that they move along and pick on someone else.

In a dating context, women should avoid eye contact with potential suitors they do not find agreeable. Even a small amount of eye contact can be seen to be an invitation to solicit especially when combined with a smile. Thus, if possible, keep eyes only for the types of men you wish would approach. This isn’t to say, however, that women should be unfriendly, but women should realize that with friendliness, comes the responsibility of having to acknowledge and interact. If you (accidentally) make eye contact, follow through with a polite verbal decline. Here is an example: “Hi, I’m sorry, I have to leave, I’m supposed to meet with someone.”

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: a) “I don’t want to cause any more problems for myself so I’m going to avoid making eye contact with other more dominant people so I don’t draw attention and provoke people into attacking.” b) “I’m superior to you and so I’m withdrawing my eye contact and affection, and pretending you are an object not worthy of my attention or acknowledgment.”

Variant: Many other variants in eye language exist. See Eye Language category.

Cue In Action: a) The pupil didn’t want to draw any more attention to himself after throwing the paper air plane so he ducked his head down and averted his eyes in shame. His teacher knew that he was embarrassed for what he had done so she went easier on him. b) They went to bed angry at each other and instead of talking it out the next morning; they avoided each other – pretending that they didn’t exist. c) The seducer had eyes for her, but she wasn’t game. Instead of acknowledging him, she chose to avert her eyes by looking at the ground instead.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The general meaning of eyes avoiding is to show submission or discomfort. Averting the eyes has two primary purposes. One is to avoid conflict and other to power play. Eye avoidance might mean defensiveness, submission, defeat, or negative feelings. It may be done to tease and allure.

People who avert their eyes might also do so because of uncomfortable feelings such as sadness, shame or embarrassment.

Eye aversion is used to prevent others from resorting to an attack response and prevents others from seeing us as a threat. Subordinates commonly avoid eye contact with dominant individuals to indicate submission and respect. Eyes might wander to avoid being reprimanded. Eyes that avoid can serve to “flee” from an encounter, a protective response, as a person subconsciously tries to make distance between himself and his aggressor.

This is the case even if an argument is minor – the eyes will withdraw first showing that a person does not wish to pursue the debate. Eyes can also avoid eye contact thus demonstrating submission. For example, a pupil will look away from his teacher to avoid reprimand. As such, avoidant eyes can be used to reduce conflict, and at the same time, search for possible escape routes to vacate the threat.

Alternatively, eyes can show other people that they aren’t worthy of being acknowledged. We see this when people act passive aggressive. They will avoid eye contact with another person at all costs. When women walk down the street, they will purposely avoid eye contact with men so as to avoid initiating conversation, and their nonverbal message says “I don’t see you as a person worthy of my gaze, so don’t bother me.”

Other times eye contact withdrawal is a way to tease and play such as the peek-a-boo game where the absence of eye contact is part of the allure and so is a signal of interest.

Cue Cluster: When eye aversion is linked to negative thoughts it will be coupled with head dropping, shoulders turned inward and down, cowering, slouching, arm withdrawal and other protective and shrinking body language

During a power play we will see signs of both dominance and apathy. For example, a person might ignore personal space by brushing up against the other person or bumping into them, orient their bodies away, talk over or around them. Likewise, they may purposely show affection to someone else thereby creating discomfort in another.

Body Language Category: Appease, Arrogance or arrogant body language, Anger, Authoritative body language, Body size reduction, Courtship displays, Closed body language, Defensive, Disengagement, Dislike (nonverbal), Distancing or moving away, Embarrassment (nonverbal), Escape movements, Eye Language, Fearful body language, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Nervous body language, Negative body language, Nonthreatening body language, Power play, Rejection body language, Readiness to submit postures, Shy nonverbal, Submissive body language.

Resources:

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Argyle, M., and Ingham, R. 1972. Gaze, mutual gaze, and proximity. Semiotica, 1, 32–49.

Argyle, M. and Cook, M. Gaze and Mutual Gaze. London: Cambridge University Press, 1976.

Allan Mazur; Eugene Rosa; Mark Faupel; Joshua Heller; Russell Leen; Blake Thurman. Physiological Aspects of Communication Via Mutual Gaze. The American Journal of Sociology. 1980; 86(1): 50-74.

Aguinis, Herman ; Simonsen, Melissam. ; Pierce, Charlesa. Effects of Nonverbal Behavior on Perceptions of Power Bases. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1998. 138(4): 455-469.

Aguinis, Herman ; Henle, Christinea. Effects of Nonverbal Behavior on Perceptions of a Female Employee’s Power Bases. The Journal of Social Psychology. 2001 141(4): 537-549.

Beausoleil, Ngaio J. ; Stafford, Kevin J. ; Mellor, David J. Burghardt, Gordon M. (editor). Does Direct Human Eye Contact Function as a Warning Cue for Domestic Sheep (Ovis aries)? Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2006. 120(3): 269-279.

Baxter, James C., and Richard M. Rozelle (1975). “Nonverbal Expression as a Function of Crowding During a Simulated Police-Citizen Encounter.” In Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (Vol. 32, No. 1), pp. 40-54.

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Chen, Yi-Chia ; Yeh, Su-Ling. Look into my eyes and I will see you: Unconscious processing of human gaze. Consciousness and Cognition. 2012 21(4): 1703-1710.

Davis, Flora (1971). Inside Intuition: What We Know About Nonverbal Communication (San Francisco: McGraw-Hill).

Dawson, Michael E. ; Hazlett, Erin A. ; Filion, Diane L. ; Nuechterlein, Keith H. ; Schell, Anne M. Mineka, Susan (editor). Attention and Schizophrenia: Impaired Modulation of the Startle Reflex. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 1993. 102(4): 633-641.

Drew, G. C. (1951). Variations in reflex blink-rate during visual motor tasks. Quaterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3, 73–88.

Ellsworth, Phoebe; Carlsmith, J Merrill. 1973. Eye contact and gaze aversion in an aggressive encounter. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 28(2): 280-292.

Foddy, Margaret 1978. Patterns of Gaze in Cooperative and Competitive Negotiation
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Goodboy, Alan, K. and Maria Brann. Flirtation Rejection Strategies: Towards an Understanding of Communicative Disinterest in Flirting. The Quantitative Report. 2010. 15(2): 268-278.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/how-to-reject-flirting-using-nonverbal-and-verbal-tactics/

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Body size reduction, Closed body language, Defensive body language, Distancing or moving away, Escape movements, Fearful body language, Orienting reflex or orienting response, Protective reflexes, Submissive body language

Body Language of Crouching

by Chris • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Crouching

Cue: Crouching

Synonym(s): Cowering

Description: The body takes on a smaller form by bending at the knees or ducking the head.

In One Sentence: Cowering by lowering and taking on a smaller body profile indicates that one desires to submit.

How To Use it: Cower when you want to feel more protected or to ‘hide in plain sight.’ Bringing the chin down, arms in and slumping the shoulders will show others that you are not prepared to battle. More than likely, people will come to your assistance and offer you sympathy and care rather than present further attack. Cowering is best done when you feel that you can not win against another person and instead wish to manipulate their gentle side.

By reducing your profile, you are not only producing a smaller target for attack, but you are also flexing muscles which will help brace against impact. When viewed by an aggressor, cowering is a cue telling him or her than you are not a threat to their dominance and do not wish to challenge them. If read properly by an aggressor, it will lessen their verbal or physical violence.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m scared. I’m going to shrink the outline of my body in effort to escape injury or emotional threat.”

Variant: Bow and Body Bend, Body Lowering or Body Shrinking.

Cue In Action: a) A foul ball was coming straight for her so she duck her head down and bent her knees. b) The boss came in looking for trouble so the employees ducked down in their cubicles so they wouldn’t attract attention.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Crouching or cowering is a submissive body posture done to reduce confrontation. Crouching out of fear is a universal posture. When scared either due to emotional discomfort of physical fear, our bodies will shrink down to become a smaller target. Instinctively, people will pull their arms in, tuck their chins down, lower their eyes and otherwise seem to succumb to the effects of gravity.

Making the body smaller is the opposite of defying gravity through expansive movements. It is an indication of confidence and desire in the ability to challenge others.

Cue Cluster: Our heads tuck into our shoulders, our eyes wince and our face scrunches up. Heads can also drop forward to protect the neck from attack and the arms brought up over the chest to protect the heart and lungs. All sorts of crouching takes place over the body and takes on the form of contracted muscles pulling on various parts of the body and shrinking up. When bodies are un-crouched, they are relaxed and loose.

Body Language Category: Body size reduction, Closed body language, Defensive, Distancing or moving away, Escape movements, Fearful body language, Orienting reflex or orienting response, Protective reflexes, Submissive body language.

Resources:

Aviezer H, Trope Y, Todorov A. Body cues, not facial expressions, discriminate between intense positive and negative emotions. Science 2012;338:1225–9.

Allen, Jill; Sarah J. Gervais and Jessi L. Smith. Sit Big to Eat Big: The Interaction of Body Posture and Body Concern on Restrained Eating. Psychology of Women Quarterly 2013. 37(3): 325-336. DOI: 10.1177/0361684313476477pwq.sagepub.com
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/sit-big-to-eat-big-how-constrictive-postures-reduce-food-consumption/