Category: Comfort body language

*No Photo, Childlike playfulness, Comfort body language, Friendship touching or friendly touching, Open body language, Rapport or rapport building, Social touching

Body Language of The Oddball Handshake

by Chris • October 27, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Oddball Handshake

Cue: Oddball Handshake (The).

Synonym(s): Secrete Handshakes.

Description: Handshake that often include bumps, slaps, flicks and clicks.

In One Sentence: The oddball handshake symbolizes camaraderie and friendship.

How To Use it: Create your own unique handshake to create a strong individual bond with another person whom you share common interests. Players in sports such as baseball can benefit by creating their own handshake to bolster team spirit. Close members of cliques can also benefit since it is a shared greeting that is only known to the members involved.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “Let’s do a weird and unique handshake together so we can build camaraderie and friendship.”

Variant: See Country Handshake (The), Cold Dead Wet Fish Handshake, Double Gripper Politician Handshake or Double Hander (The), Short Grabber/Finger Grabber Handshake, Oddball Handshake, Palm Up, Palm Down and Palm Even Handshakes, Stiff Arm And Thrust Forward Handshake, Death Grip Handshake, Wrench Forward Handshake, Undershaker Handshake, Wrist Hold Handshake, Wrist Hold Handshake and Upper Arm Grip Handshake, Limp Fish Handshake, Teacup Handshake, Arm Twister Handshake (The), Firm handshake, Fist Bumping.

Cue In Action: The baseball player returned to the dugout and did a unique handshake for each player he met on his way back.

Meaning and/or Motivation: This is the sort of handshake your teenage son or daughter comes home with in effort to confusing the heck out of you! It’s the handshake that has you saying “You do what with what, then what?!?” It often includes bumps, slaps, flicks and clicks.

This handshake is fine amongst casual friends but please avoid this on a job interview or with other employees. It does however show a relaxed atmosphere and has its place between friends.

Cue Cluster: The body language surrounding the oddball handshake includes open body language that lacks tension, palms up, loose torsos and relaxed, smiling faces.

Body Language Category: Comfort body language, Childlike playfulness, Friendship touching or friendly touching, Open body language, Rapport or rapport building, Social touching.

Resources:

Aström, J ; Thorell, L H ; Holmlund, U ; D’Elia, G. Handshaking, personality, and psychopathology in psychiatric patients, a reliability and correlational study. Perceptual and motor skills 1993, Vol.77(3 Pt 2): 1171-86.

Chaplin William F.; Phillips Jeffrey B; Brown Jonathan D.; Clanton Nancy R.; Stein Jennifer L.; 2000. Handshaking, gender, personality, and first impressions Journal of personality and social psychology. 79(1): 110-117.

Dolcos, Sanda ; Sung, Keen ; Argo, Jennifer J ; Flor-Henry, Sophie ; Dolcos, Florin. The power of a handshake: neural correlates of evaluative judgments in observed social interactions. Journal of cognitive neuroscience. 2012 24(12): 2292-305.

Fisher, J; Rytting, M and Heslin, R. 1976. Hands touching hands: affective and evaluative effects on interpersonal touch, Sociometry 39: 416–421.

Frumin, Idan; Ofer Perl; Yaara Endevelt-Shapira; Ami Eisen; Neetai Eshel; Iris Heller; Maya Shemesh; Aharon Ravia; Lee Sela; Anat Arzi and Noam Sobel. A Social Chemosignaling Function for Human Handshaking. eLife 2015. 4:e05154
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05154.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/shake-hands-share-human-scent-curious-case-hand-sniffing-body-language/

Greenbaum, Paul ; Rosenfeld, Howard. Varieties of touching in greetings: Sequential structure and sex-related differences. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 1980. 5(1): 13-25.

Gueguen, Nicolas. Handshaking and Compliance With a Request – A Door-to-door Setting. Social Behavior and Personality. 2013. 41(10): 1585-1588.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/handshakes-lead-compliance-study/

Ghareeb, P.A. ; Bourlai, T. ; Dutton, W. ; McClellan, W.T. Reducing pathogen transmission in a hospital setting. Handshake verses fist bump: a pilot study. Journal of Hospital Infection. 2013. 85(4): 321-323.

Hiemstra, Kathleen M. Shake My Hand: Making the Right First Impression in Business With Nonverbal Communications.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included). Business Communication Quarterly. 1999. 62(4): 71.

Jeffrey D. Fisher; Marvin Rytting; Richard Heslin. 1976. Hands Touching Hands: Affective and Evaluative Effects of an Interpersonal Touch. Sociometry, 39(4): 416-421.

Lipsitz, Rebecca (2000). “A Gripping Start.” In Scientific American (September), p. 32.

Morris, Desmond (1994). Bodytalk: The Meaning of Human Gestures (New York: Crown Publishers).

Stewart, Greg L. ; Dustin, Susan L. ; Barrick, Murray R. ; Darnold, Todd C. Zedeck, Sheldon (editor). Exploring the Handshake in Employment Interviews. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2008. 93(5): 1139-1146.

Spezialetti, Brian D. Do’s and don’ts for winning the job interview. (laboratory technicians). Medical Laboratory Observer. 1995. 27(7): 51-53.

Sanda Dolcos; Keen Sung; Jennifer J. Argo; Sophie Flor-Henry and Florin Dolcos. The Power of a Handshake: Neural Correlates of Evaluative Judgments in Observed Social Interactions. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience. 24; 12: 2292–2305.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/handshake-open-body-language-powerful-nonverbal-effect-brain/

Wesson, David A. The handshake as non-verbal communication in business. (marketing technique). Marketing Intelligence & Planning. 1992. 10(9): 61(6).

Comfort body language, Honest body language, Liking, Nonthreatening body language, Open facial gestures, Relaxed body language

Body Language of Loose Lips or Relaxed Lips

by Chris • October 24, 2014 • 0 Comments

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:

Arsenio, W. F., Cooperman, S., & Lover, A. Affective Predictors of Preschooler’s Aggression and Peer Acceptance: Direct and Indirect Effects. Developmental Psychology. 2000. 36: 438-448.

Carvajal, Fernando ; Rubio, Sandra ; Serrano, Juan ; Ríos-Lago, Marcos ; Alvarez-Linera, Juan ; Pacheco, Lara ; Martín, Pilar. Is a neutral expression also a neutral stimulus? A study with functional magnetic resonance. Experimental Brain Research, 2013. 228(4): 467-479.

Calvo, Manuel ; Fernández-Martín, Andrés. Can the eyes reveal a person’s emotions? Biasing role of the mouth expression. Motivation and Emotion. 2013. 37(1): 202-211.

Ekas, Naomi V. ; Haltigan, John D. ; Messinger, Daniel S. The Dynamic Still-Face Effect: Do Infants Decrease Bidding over Time when Parents Are Not Responsive?
Developmental Psychology. 2013. 49(6): 1027-1035.

Kraft, Tara L ; Pressman, Sarah D. Grin and Bear It. Psychological Science. 2012. 23(11): 1372-1378.

Mignault, Alain and Chaudhuri, Avi. The Many Faces of a Neutral Face: Head Tilt and Perception of Dominance and Emotion. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 2003 27(2): 111-132.

Matsumoto, David ; Hwang, Hyisung C. Desteno, David (editor). Judgments of Subtle Facial Expressions of Emotion. Emotion. 2014. 14(2): 349-357.

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

Pinkham, Amy E. ; Brensinger, Colleen ; Kohler, Christian ; Gur, Raquel E. ; Gur, Ruben C. Actively paranoid patients with schizophrenia over attribute anger to neutral faces. Schizophrenia Research. 2011 125(2): 174-178.

Pell, Philip J. ; Richards, Anne. Cross-emotion facial expression aftereffects. Vision Research. 2011. 51(17): 1889-1896.

Roberson, Debi ; Kikutani, Mariko ; Doge, Paula ; Whitaker, Lydia ; Majid, Asifa. Shades of Emotion: What the Addition of Sunglasses or Masks to Faces Reveals about the Development of Facial Expression Processing. Cognition. 2012. 125(2): 195-206.

Shah, Rebecca ; Lewis, Michael. Locating the neutral expression in the facial-emotion space. Visual Cognition. 2003. 10(5): 549-566.

Tipples, Jason. Wide eyes and an open mouth enhance facial threat. Cognition & Emotion. 2007. 21(3): 535-557.

Teixeira Fiquer, Juliana; Paulo Sérgio Boggio and Clarice Gorenstein. Talking Bodies: Nonverbal Behavior in the Assessment of Depression Severity. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2013. 150: 1114-1119.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/using-nonverbal-behaviour-to-assess-depression-severity/

Weisfeld, Glenn E. and Jody M. Beresford. Erectness of Posture as an Indicator of Dominance or Success in Humans. Motivation and Emotion. 1982. 6(2): 113-130.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/body-language-cues-dominance-submission-children/

Woud, Marcella L. ; Becker, Eni S. ; Lange, Wolf – Gero ; Rinck, Mike. Effects of approach-avoidance training on implicit and explicit evaluations of neutral, angry, and smiling face stimuli.(Relationships & Communications). Psychological Reports. 2013. 113(1): 1211(18).

Vanderhasselt, Marie – Anne ; Kühn, Simone ; De Raedt, Rudi. Put on your poker face’: neural systems supporting the anticipation for expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. 2013 8(8): 903-910.

Wolf K, Mass R, Ingenbleek T, Kiefer F, Naber D et al. (2005) The facial pattern of disgust, appetence, excited joy and relaxed joy: an improved facial EMG study. Scand J Psychol 46: 403-409. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2005.00471.x. PubMed: 16179022.

Zeinstra, Gertrude G.; M.A. Koelen; D. Colindres ; F.J. Kok; C de Graaf. Facial Expressions in School-Aged Children are a Good Indicator of ‘Dislikes’, but not of ‘Likes.’ Food Quality and Preference. 2009. 20: 620-624.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/read-kids-dislike-food-facial-expressions-accurate-detecting-dislike-not-like-children/

Comfort body language, Friendship touching or friendly touching, Greeting gesture, Social touching

Body Language of The Handshake

by Chris • October 22, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Handshake

Cue: Handshaking.

Synonym(s): Pressing The Flesh.

Description: A handshake is a type of gesture that is used in greeting where the hands of two people meet palm to palm. A pumping action then takes place.

In One Sentence: Handshaking is a universal greeting expression that carries many meanings depending on how it is performed.

How To Use it: Handshakes carry many hidden meanings. Use a firm handshake that is neither too long or two short (about 3 pumps). Keeping the hand dry, but warm to the touch will produce the best impression. A palm even, neither facing up, nor down, is the default and seen as most diplomatic. To power-play, either hold the hand palm down or twist it down as the handshake progresses. To appear submissive couple a weak handshake with the palm oriented upward.

Use the handshake to make a positive first impression.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I am pleased to meet you. I would like to extend my hand to yours so we can exchange some moderate, yet controlled, and generally impersonal intimacy.”

Cue In Action: When Bob and Doug greeted each other, they extended their hands out vertically with their fingers held together, interlocked the thumbs, and lightly, yet firmly grasped each others palm and moved their hands in unison, palm-to-palm, up and down.

Meaning and/or Motivation: There are three main orientations that can occur during a handshakes. They are palm down (superiority), palm up (submissive) and palm even (equality).

Palm down handshakes emphasizes that a person wishes to control and dominant us, the palm up means someone feels subordinate and an even palm seeks an equal relationship.

See various types of handshakes and their hidden meaning in the “Variant” section.

Cue Cluster: The handshake is a stand-alone cue who’s meaning is interpreted by it’s variant. See the various types of handshake for their meaning and associated cue cluster.

Body Language Category: Comfort body language, Greeting gesture, Friendship touching or friendly touching, Social touching.

Resources:

Fisher, J; Rytting, M and Heslin, R. 1976. Hands touching hands: affective and evaluative effects on interpersonal touch, Sociometry 39: 416–421.

Greenbaum, Paul ; Rosenfeld, Howard. Varieties of touching in greetings: Sequential structure and sex-related differences. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 1980. 5(1): 13-25.

Jeffrey D. Fisher; Marvin Rytting; Richard Heslin. 1976. Hands Touching Hands: Affective and Evaluative Effects of an Interpersonal Touch. Sociometry, 39(4): 416-421.

Lipsitz, Rebecca (2000). “A Gripping Start.” In Scientific American (September), p. 32.

Morris, Desmond (1994). Bodytalk: The Meaning of Human Gestures (New York: Crown Publishers).

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

Spezialetti, Brian D. Do’s and don’ts for winning the job interview. (laboratory technicians). Medical Laboratory Observer. 1995. 27(7): 51-53.

Wesson, David A. The handshake as non-verbal communication in business. (marketing technique). Marketing Intelligence & Planning. 1992. 10(9): 61(6).

Comfort body language, Courtship display, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Intention movements, Intimate touching, Liking

Body Language of Full Body Hug or Embrace

by Chris • October 22, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Full Body Hug or Embrace

Cue: Full Body Hug

Synonym(s): Embrace, Hip-To-Hip Hug, Sexual Hug, Hugging Sexually.

Description: This is one of two types of hugs. In this hug, the chests of each person makes contact, but more telling is the pressing together of the hips.

In One Sentence: The full body hug signifies sexual interest and high intimacy.

How To Use it: Testing the willingness to take part in a full hug can indicate the level of attraction between two people. For example, at the end of a date, a man may offer a kiss on the cheek and come in for a hug. If she permits their hips to connect, it’s a strong indication that she truly finds him attractive. On the other hand, should she maintain separation between her hips and his, he should assume that things are progressing more slowly. A large distance, on the other hand, indicates platonic feelings or even dislike. Therefore, the degree of separation between the hips is a good indication of the level of romance.

Context: Dating.

Verbal Translation: “I like you enough to press my entire body against yours, including our hips and genitals.”

Variant: See Hug.

Cue In Action: Dave and Scarlet had been dating for a while. When they hugged their torsos engulfed each others and their hip were tightly pressed together. On their first date, they only leaned in and touched each others shoulders together. Their feelings for each other had changed.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The full body hug is reserved for sexual partners and occurs with full chest-to-chest and hip-to-hip contact. The meaning is sexual in nature. Those who hug by pressing their hips together are telling each other that they are comfortable touching genital-to-genital.

The full hug is a reliable indicator of sexual interest and is never seen with family or friends. Simply by examining how a pair hugs, can tell others what sort of feelings are present. When family members and friends hug they will press their shoulders together and force their hips back and away to protect them from contact. A hug test at the end of the date will tell prospective mates what level of attraction is present.

Cue Cluster: This is a powerful and reliable stand-alone cue of intimacy and requires no additional cues.

Body Language Category: Courtship displays, Comfort body language, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Intimate touching, Intention movements, Liking.

Resources:

Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. British Journal of Psychiatry, 130, 201 -210, 42 1-43 1 .

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Bernal, Gilda Rios ; Wortham, Suec. How to Calm Children through Massage. Childhood Education. 1997. 74(1): 9-14.

Bohm. 1997. Effects of interpersonal touch, degree of justification, and sex of participant on compliance with a request. The Journal of social psychology. 137: 460-469.

Derlega, Valerian ; Lewis, Robin ; Harrison, Scott ; Winstead, Barbara ; Costanza, Robert. Gender differences in the initiation and attribution of tactile intimacy. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 1989. 13(2): 83-96.

Derlega, Valerian J. ; Catanzaro, Diane ; Lewis, Robin J. Lisak, David (editor). Perceptions About Tactile Intimacy in Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Pairs Based on Research Participants’ Sexual Orientation. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 2001, Vol.2(2), pp.124-132

Debrot, Anik ; Schoebi, Dominik ; Perrez, Meinrad ; Horn, Andrea B. Touch as an interpersonal emotion regulation process in couples’ daily lives: the mediating role of psychological intimacy. Personality & social psychology bulletin. 2013. 9(10): 1373-85.

Dickinson, Amy. Block That Hug: The rules on touching children have changed for parents who volunteer as coaches or tutors.(Personal Time/Your Family)(Brief Article). Time. 2000. 155(14): 142.

Fisher, J; Rytting, M and Heslin, R. 1976. Hands touching hands: affective and evaluative effects on interpersonal touch, Sociometry 39: 416–421.

Feldman, R., Singer, M.,& Zagoory, O. (2010). Touch attenuates infants’ physiological reactivity to stress. Developmental Science, 13(2), 271–278.

Fromme, Donald ; Jaynes, William ; Taylor, Deborah ; Hanold, Elaine ; Daniell, Jennifer ; Rountree, J. ; Fromme, Marie. Nonverbal behavior and attitudes toward touch. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 1989. 13(1): 3-14.

Flores, Luis E. ; Berenbaum, Howard. Desire for emotional closeness moderates the effectiveness of the social regulation of emotion. Personality and Individual Differences

Floyd, Kory. All Touches are not Created Equal: Effects of Form and Duration on Observers’ Interpretations of an Embrace. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 1999. 23(4): 283-299.

Guéguen, N. (2007). Courtship compliance: The effect of touch on women’s behavior. Social Influence, 2, 81-97.

Gueguen, Nicolas. The effect of a woman’s incidental tactile contact on men’s later behavior.(Report). Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal. 2010. 38(2): 257(10).

Guéguen, Nicolas. Nonverbal encouragement of participation in a course: the effect of touching Social Psychology of Education. 2004. 7: 89–98.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/a-touching-way-to-encourage/

Gurevitch, Z. D. The Embrace: On the Element of Non-Distance in Human Relations. The Sociological Quarterly. 1990. 31(2): 187-201.

Golden, Deborah. Hugging the Teacher: Reading Bodily Practice in an Israeli Kindergarten. Teachers and Teaching: Theory and Practice. 2004. 10(4): 395-407.

Gulledge, Andrew K ; Stahmann, Robert F ; Wilson, Colwick M. Seven types of nonsexual romantic physical affection among Brigham young university students
Psychological reports 2004, Vol.95(2), pp.609-14

Gulledge, Andrewk. ; Gulledge, Michelleh. ; Stahmannn, Robertf. Romantic Physical Affection Types and Relationship Satisfaction. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 2003, Vol.31(4), p.233-242

Greenbaum, Paul ; Rosenfeld, Howard. Varieties of touching in greetings: Sequential structure and sex-related differences. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 1980. 5(1): 13-25.

Gulledge, Andrewk. ; Gulledge, Michelleh. ; Stahmannn, Robertf.. Romantic Physical Affection Types and Relationship Satisfaction. The American Journal of Family Therapy. 2003. 31(4): 233-242.

Gulledge, Andrew K ; Stahmann, Robert F ; Wilson, Colwick M. Seven types of nonsexual romantic physical affection among Brigham young university students. Psychological reports. 2004. 95(2): 609-14.

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).

Hosey, Geoffrey ; Thompson, Robin. Grooming and touching behaviour in captive ring-tailed lemurs ( Lemur catta L.). Primates. 1985. 26(1): 95-98.

Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511–524.

Hansen, Jacqueline. The Truth about Teaching and Touching. Childhood Education. 2007. 83(3): 158-162.

Hadi, Rhonda ; Valenzuela, Ana. A meaningful embrace: Contingent effects of embodied cues of affection. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2014, Vol.24(4), pp.520-532

Heino, William J. Perfect Timing for Parental Hugs.(to comfort children following medical treatment)(Brief Article). Consultant. 2000. 40(13): 2173.

Hugs help protect against stress and infection, say Carnegie Mellon researchers.(Report)
Health & Medicine Week, Jan 2, p.1341

Hernandez-Reif, Maria ; Diego, Miguel ; Field, Tiffany. Preterm infants show reduced stress behaviors and activity after 5 days of massage therapy. Infant Behavior and Development. 2007. 30(4): 557-561.

Harrison, Lynda Law. The use of comforting touch and massage to reduce stress for preterm infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews. 2001. 1(4): 235-241.

Hennessy, Michael B ; T. Williams, Michael ; Miller, Deborah D ; Douglas, Chet W ; Voith, Victoria L. Influence of male and female petters on plasma cortisol and behaviour: can human interaction reduce the stress of dogs in a public animal shelter?
Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 1998. 61(1): 63-77.

Kammers, Marjolein P.M. ; de Vignemont, Frédérique ; Haggard, Patrick. Cooling the Thermal Grill Illusion through Self-Touch. Current Biology. 2010. 20(20): 1819-182.

Karagozoglu, Serife ; Kahve, Emine. Effects of back massage on chemotherapy-related fatigue and anxiety: Supportive care and therapeutic touch in cancer nursing. Applied Nursing Research. 2013. 26(4): 210-217.

Landau, Rivka. Affect and attachment: Kissing, hugging, and patting as attachment behaviors. Infant Mental Health Journal. 1989. 10(1): 59-69.

Larsen, Knuds. ; Leroux, Jeff. A study of same sex touching attitudes: Scale development and personality predictors. Journal of Sex Research. 1984. 20(3): 264-278.

Moszkowski, Robin J. ; Stack, Dale M. ; Girouard, Nadine ; Field, Tiffany M. ; Hernandez-Reif, Maria ; Diego, Miguel. Touching behaviors of infants of depressed mothers during normal and perturbed interactions. Infant Behavior and Development. 2009. 32(2): 183-194.

Maclaren, Kym. Touching matters: Embodiments of intimacy. Emotion, Space and Society. 2014. 13: 95-102.

Madden, Myron. Meaningful pastoral intimacy. Pastoral Psychology. 1976. 25(1): 34-38.

Maclaren, Kym. Touching matters: Embodiments of intimacy. Emotion, Space and Society. 2014. 13: 95-102.

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/

Moszkowski, Robin J. ; Stack, Dale M. ; Chiarella, Sabrina S. Infant touch with gaze and affective behaviors during mother–infant still-face interactions: Co-occurrence and functions of touch. Infant Behavior and Development. 2009. 32(4): 392-403.

Nelson, Holly ; Geher, Glenn. Mutual Grooming in Human Dyadic Relationships: An Ethological Perspective. Current Psychology. 2007. 26(2): 121-140.

O’sullivan, Lucia F. ; Cheng, Mariah Mantsun ; Harris, Kathleen Mullan ; Brooks-gunn, Jeanne. I Wanna Hold Your Hand: The Progression of Social, Romantic and Sexual Events in Adolescent Relationships. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 2007. 39(2): 100-107.

Paulsell, Shari ; Goldman, Morton. The Effect of Touching Different Body Areas on Prosocial Behavior. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1984. 122(2): 269-273.

Peck, J., & Shu, S. B. (2009). The effect of mere touch on perceived ownership. Journal of Consumer Research, 36(Oct), 434–447.

Rabinowitz, Fredric E. The male-to-male embrace: breaking the touch taboo in a men’s therapy group. Journal of Counseling and Development. 1991. 69(6): 574(3).

Remland, Martins. ; Jones, Tricias. ; Brinkman, Heidi. Interpersonal Distance, Body Orientation, and Touch: Effects of Culture, Gender, and Age. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1995 135(3): 281-297.

Rubin, Mark Morrison, Todd G. (editor). Social Affiliation Cues Prime Help-Seeking Intentions. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement. 2011. 43(2): 138-141.

Rempel, J., Holmes, J., & Zanna, M. (1985). Trust in close relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 49, 95–112.

Shimooka, Yukiko ; Nakagawa, Naofumi. Functions of an unreported “rocking-embrace” gesture between female Japanese Macaques ( Macaca fuscata ) in Kinkazan Island, Japan. Primates. 2014. 55(2): 327-335.

Shelton, Kathryn ; Mckenzie, Richard B. Pedophiles and the regulation of hugging: concerns about protecting children may deprive them of important physical contact.(PUBLIC SAFETY). Regulation. 2012. 35(4): 14(5).

Toronto, Ellen L.K. A clinician’s response to physical touch in the psychoanalytic setting. International Journal of Psychotherapy. 2002 7(1): 69-81.

Takeuchi, Mika ; Miyaoka, Hitoshi ; Tomoda, Atsuko ; Suzuki, Masao ; Liu, Qingbo ; Kitamura, Toshinori. The Effect of Interpersonal Touch During Childhood on Adult Attachment and Depression: A Neglected Area of Family and Developmental Psychology? Journal of Child and Family Studies. 2010. 19(1): 109-117.

Taavoni, S ; Shahali, S ; Haghani, H. Infant Vaccination Pain Management: Comparing the Effect of Mother’s Hug and Breast Feeding, Tehran, 2009-2010. Pediatric Research. 2011. 70: 738-738.

Tracy, R. L., & Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1981). Maternal affectionate behavior and infant-mother attachment patterns. Child Development, 52, 1341-1343.

Williams, Trish ; Connolly, Jennifer ; Cribbie, Robert. Light and Heavy Heterosexual Activities of Young Canadian Adolescents: Normative Patterns and Differential Predictors.(Author abstract)(Report). Journal of Research on Adolescence. 2008. 18(1): 145(28).

Willis, Frank N. , Jr. ; Dodds, Rebecca A. Age, relationship, and touch initiation. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1998. 138(1). 115(9).

Arrogance or arrogant body language, Authoritative body language, Closed body language, Comfort body language, Confident body language, Dominant body language, Nonthreatening body language

Body Language of The European Leg Cross

by Chris • October 21, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The European Leg Cross

Cue: European Leg Cross

Synonym(s): Knee-Knee Leg Cross.

Description: A sitting position where the leg is crossed neatly over the other in a longitudinal fashion.

In One Sentence: The European leg cross is a sign that a person is in control of themselves and wishes for others to see him or her as sophisticated and proper.

How To Use it: Men should use the European leg cross when they wish to show others that they are well mannered. It falls in direct contrast to spreading the legs which is overt and dominant. Keeping the legs together shows others that you wish to be careful about being offensive. Therefore, use the leg cross during business context, in academic circles, and amongst friends and relatives. The leg cross shows others that you do not wish to be offensive or vie for power and dominance.

Women are best advised to use this sitting posture most of the time, especially when wearing dresses or skirts as it produces an element of chasteness. This posture falls in direct contrast to having the legs wide open. In recent times, women have been permitted to carry more masculine postures including legs spread, however, women of sexual maturity should cross their legs one over the other to appear more feminine, in control, and to create and protect their social sexual value by keeping it out of the public view.

Weddings, which is becoming one rare time when women dress up, is proving to be particularly troublesome for women as it related to the leg cross posture. Not being accustomed to crossing the legs and being in feminine attire including dresses and skirts, often leads to undergarment flashing. Women should be mindful of their attire with respect to their posture and how they will be perceived by others. While not all women seek to be treated lady-like, if they do, they should use lady-like comportment.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “By crossing my legs neatly together I’m showing everyone that I’m proper, controlled and cerebral.”

Variant: See Leg Crossing and Leg Crossing Direction, Loving Circle Leg Cross.

Cue In Action: At the meeting of scholars, the professor neatly crossed his legs while addressing a large crowd.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The European leg cross is the most common seating position in European, Asian and British cultures. It signifies dignity, intelligence, and desire to be proper. This is the case for both men and women. It contrasts directly with legs spread or the Figure-Four Leg Cross which is more dominant and overt since it puts the crotch on display.

Women will often be seen in the European leg cross as the absence of a penis makes it more comfortable, but men who wish to show superiority will also sit in this fashion to be more proper. Women in skirts are almost forced to sit in the European leg cross to prevent others from seeing up their skirts but will also reveal additional thigh creating a degree of sexual appeal. Men residing in the West commonly sit in the figure four postures where the ankle rests on the opposite knee. This is a more dominant and authoritative due to the crotch display.

Cue Cluster: The European leg cross is often coupled with leaning back and being slightly more detached, rather than wanting and leaning forward. This is usually controlled gesticulation, a calm demeanor, stern and less animated facial expressions.

Body Language Category: Arrogance or arrogant body language, Authoritative body language, Comfort body language, Confident, Dominant body language, Nonthreatening body language, Closed body language.

Resources:

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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/sit-big-to-eat-big-how-constrictive-postures-reduce-food-consumption/

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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/dominant-and-submissive-postures-affects-more-than-public-perception-it-also-affects-felt-pain-and-physical-strength/

Briñol, P., Petty, R. E., & Wagner, B. (2009). Body posture effects on self-evaluation: A self-validation approach. European Journal of Social Psychology, 39, 1053–1064.

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Carney, D. R., Hall, J. A., & LeBeau, L. S. (2005). Beliefs about the nonverbal expression of social power. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 29, 105–123.

Carney, Dana R.; Amy J.C. Cuddy; Andy J. Yap. Power Posing: Brief Nonverbal Displays Affect Neuroendocrine Levels and Risk Tolerance. Psychological Science, 2010; 21 (10): 1363-1368.
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Cesario, J., & McDonald, M. M. (2013). Bodies in context: Power poses as a computation of action possibility. Social Cognition, 31, 260–274.

Cuddy, Amy J.C., Caroline A. Wilmuth, and Dana R. Carney. The Benefit of Power Posing Before a High-Stakes Social Evaluation. Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 13-027, September 2012.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/benefits-power-posing-high-stakes-performance/
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*No Photo, Attentive body language, Buy signals, Comfort body language, Courtship display, Honest body language, Indicator of interest (IoI), Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Liking, Nonthreatening body language, Rapport or rapport building, Relaxed body language

Body Language Of Echoing

by Chris • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language Of Echoing

Cue: Echoing

Synonym(s): Related to Mirroring

Description: Echoing is like mirroring where similar body postures are replicated, but not right away. Instead they are copied some time later. Echoing can be so prominent that it appears fluent. Bodies seem to jive as if in an elaborate dance.

In One Sentence: Echoing is a nonverbal tactic or behaviour that happens naturally to show agreement in which a person copies or nearly copies the gestures and postures of another person, not immediately, but with a few seconds or minutes of separation.

How To Use it: Echoing is a great way to create nonverbal liking through subconscious means. By adopting the postures and gestures of others a few seconds after they have initiated them, it will create similar feelings. If done correctly, echoing produces strong liking and builds relationships quickly.

Echoing works equally well in business as it does in dating and friendships. To use echoing make sure that postures are not mimicked exactly in a copy-cat fashion, but instead happen similarly. Should someone catch on to your game, they may become suspicious. Therefore echoing should be done with some degree of caution.

The best kind of echoing happens when it is done naturally and this is the case when two people really seem to jive and get along with one another. Echoing is a nonverbal form of agreement.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “We’re almost on the same page, as we are copying each other but not immediately like mirroring. Since our bodies are flowing in a similar pattern our minds are flowing in a similar pattern – therefore we agree with each other and have strong rapport.”

Variant: See Mirroring.

Cue In Action: Some ways bodies echo:
[A] Shifting weight from one foot to the other foot or keeping the weight on the same foot as the person you are talking with.
[B] Leaning the same way on a bar top or up against a wall or other structure.
[C] Crossing the legs in the same direction or opposite direction when facing each other.
[D] Both keeping the legs uncrossed.
[E] Gesturing with the hands similarly.
[F] Drinking in unison or holding drinks with the same hand.
[G] Placing both hands, or just one hand, on the hips.
[H] Leaning in, or leaning out.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Echoing indicates that rapport is being built between two people and that agreement is taking place. In echoing, postures and gestures are not concurrent with what is going on with others, but instead happen after some time has elapsed.

Echoing the gestures and postures of another person, often happens within thirty seconds to a minute after another person. However, it can sometimes even happen with several minutes of separation. When gestures and postures happen simultaneously, on the other hand, we call this mirroring.

When echoing is present rapport is felt between two people. We say that these people are on the same “wavelength.”

Cue Cluster: N/A

Body Language Category: Attentive, Buy signals, Courtship displays, Comfort body language, Honest body language, Indicator of interest (IoI), Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Liking, Nonthreatening body language, Rapport or rapport building, Relaxed body language.

Resources:

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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/mirror-cold-nonverbals-influence-real-body-temperate-others/

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Comfort body language, Courtship display, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Ownership gesture, Rapport or rapport building

Body Language of The Arm Over The Shoulder

by Chris • October 17, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Arm Over The Shoulder

Cue: Arm Over The Shoulder.

Synonym(s): Shoulder Embrace.

Description: The arm is tossed over the shoulder of a friend, relative, business partner, or a date.

In One Sentence: The hand over the shoulder of another is a display of ownership.

How To Use it: Use this cue to signal dominance, control and ownership of another person. The signal can also be used to demonstrate friendship, intimacy or camaraderie. Toss your arm over another person to build friendships and trust through connectivity. Usually touching between people is reserved for high ranking people against low ranking people, or people of the same rank, so be careful how you use touching in relationships. An arm over the shoulder is particularly risky as it uses a palm down hand orientation which is dominant coupled with weight placed over the shoulders of another which is to metaphorically “push someone down.” If this is tolerated, you can assume that they are willing to “bear the weight of your friendship.” Thus, the arm over the shoulder can test friendships and desire for submission at the same time. You may experiment with this in dating (man tossing arm over the shoulder of a woman) or to test rank between friends. High ranking people will be able to use this signal with more liberty than low ranking people.

Context: a) Friendly b) Business c) Courtship

Verbal Translation: “I like you as a friend and buddy.”

Variant: A hand might be placed on the forearm, hand, or shoulder of another, to show less intimacy but still connectivity. Elderly ladies will do this when trying to connect with younger people as they work to maintain their attention.

Variant: See Hip Embrace, Full Body Hug.

Cue In Action: a) Dad and his son were joking around together. He threw his arm over his shoulder and pulled him in for a quick hug. b) An arm is tossed over the shoulder with a quick squeeze as business partners meet over beer. c) Intimate couples walk shoulder to shoulder.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The arm over the shoulder is a friendly type gesture signifying camaraderie, but also some low level of intimacy depending on the context.

The shoulder embrace might occur between adult men, or between a mother and her child, and is therefore non-sexual, non-intimate in nature.

Cue Cluster: N/A

Body Language Category: Comfort body language, Courtship display, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Ownership gesture, Rapport or rapport building.

Resources:

Argo, J. J., Dahl, D. W., & Morales, A. C. (2006). Consumer contamination: How consumers react to products touched by others. Journal of Marketing, 70(April), 81–94.