Category: Hostile body language

*No Photo, Anger body language, Clenching and gripping, Dislike (nonverbal), Escape movements, Frustration or frustrated body language, Hostile body language, Masked emotions, Pacifying body language, Stubborn body language

Body Language of Feet Wrapped Around Legs Of Chair

by Chris • October 21, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Feet Wrapped Around Legs Of Chair

Cue: Feet Wrapped Around Legs Of Chair

Synonym(s): Ankles Wrapped Around Legs Of Chair, Legs Clamped Around Chair, Wrapping The Legs Around The Feet Of A Chair.

Description: The ankles are wrapped around the feet of a chair as if shackled in place.

In One Sentence: Wrapping the feet around the legs of a chair signals the desire to be locked in place and feel safe and secure.

How To Use it: Wrap the legs around the chair when you want to create the sense of security for which you currently lack. Anchoring to your surroundings can help ground you and by extension your mind. That being said, the cue indicates lack of confidence, so should generally be avoided.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m stressed and uncomfortable and I’m bracing myself for a bad outcome from which I can not escape. I’m wrapping my feet, clenching my hands against the arms rests, and trying to secure myself from being tossed.”

Variant: We habitually see this self arresting, gripping when people ride in the passenger side of a car with a bad or aggressive driver. People will hold their seat belt, the upper hand grip on the ceiling of the car or the grips in the door. We also see this in amusement park roller coaster rides where people hold their restraints.

Cue In Action: During a high intensity inquisition, he wrapped his feet around the legs of the chair.

Meaning and/or Motivation: It says, “I’m not going anywhere, not doing anything and not cooperating.” This posture is a freeze response and is normal during high stress, discomfort and concern, especially when exiting is not possible. Locking into a chair gives us a protective feeling as we try to prevent ourselves from being figuratively tossed around.

We see this when people are fastened into roller coasters where people will hug the restraints for extra safety.

When the hands grip the armrest coupled with ankles locked around the legs of the chair, not only does it give us comfort, but it provides a tactile release. It gives our hands something to do, thus preventing them from gesticulating. This is yet another way we nonverbally express our desire to keep quiet, as gesticulating could give up information we wish not to divulge.

Cue Cluster: Usually the head is pulled back or turned away, chin up, body leaning deep into the seat, eyes are forward, face is blank, lips pursed, the lip or inside of the cheek may be bitten, teeth clenched, knuckles turning white from gripping the arm rest and blanching of the skin.

Body Language Category: Anger, Clenching and gripping, Dislike (nonverbal), Escape movements, Frustrated body language, Hostile body language, Masked emotions, Pacifying, Stubborn or stubbornness.

Resources:

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*No Photo, Aggressive body language, Amplifier, Anger body language, Closed facial gestures, Dislike (nonverbal), Dominant body language, Emotional body language, Eye Language, Fearful body language, Frustration or frustrated body language, Hostile body language, Negative body language, Threat displays

Body Language of Eyebrow Lowering

by Chris • October 21, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Eyebrow Lowering

Cue: Eyebrow Lowering

Synonym(s): Lowering The Eyebrows, Anger Eyebrows.

Description: Eyebrows that are lowered.

In One Sentence: Lowering the eyebrows signals anger, aggression, or fear.

How To Use it: Lower the eyebrows to tell others that you disapprove of their conduct and wish for them to correct it. Likewise you may lower your brows to show that you are experiencing an internal struggle. Overall, the cue can be useful when trying to manipulate other people into changing their behaviour.

The anger expression has been shown to be a signal of strength and helps reinforce dominance so it is useful in creating the impression of authority. Even if one lacks the physical power to back up aggression, the anger expression can still be used to create the illusion of force. Lowering the eyebrows should be used whenever you wish to be taken seriously and want that seriousness to be backed up by visible threat.

Avoid keeping the eyebrows lowered for too long, however, as this will be perceived as being weakness and dejection.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m angry and my face is squishing all up including my eyebrows.”

Variant: N/A

Cue In Action: When she saw the girl who posted rude remarks on her online profile, she lowered her eyebrows to show her anger.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Eyebrows can squint just like eyes can and have many different meanings. Eyebrows can be lowered to indicate confrontation due to anger or aggression, fear from threats, when we feel displeasure or are annoyed.

If eyebrows are dropped low enough and kept there it indicates weakness and insecurity. This is true universally and so can even appear in children especially those who are abused. Lowered eyebrows is submissive, cowering, facial expression. Lowered eyebrows is a sign of being defeated and weak. It shows that one is unlikely to put up a fight. Bullies at school will also look for the expression to single out children as prey and so will social predators and psychopaths.

Cue Cluster: Varied depending on context.

Body Language Category: Amplifier, Aggressive body language, Anger, Closed facial gestures, Dislike (nonverbal), Dominant body language, Emotional body language, Eye Language, Fearful body language, Frustration or frustrated body language, Hostile body language, Negative body language, Threat displays.

Resources:

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Amplifier, Eye Language, Hostile body language, Negative body language, Suspicious body language

Body Language of The Eyebrow Cock

by Chris • October 21, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Eyebrow Cock

Cue: Eyebrow Cock

Synonym(s): Raising One Eyebrow, Single Eyebrow Raise.

Description: A mixed eyebrow movement where one eyebrow is raised while the other is lowered.

In One Sentence: The eyebrow cock is a signal that a person is suspicious.

How To Use it: Use the eyebrow cock to tell others that you are in general disbelief with respect to an action performed, or a comment made.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m suspicious of your motives so my eyes will show surprise by raising on one side and anger by lowering on the other.”

Variant: See Eyebrow Flash, Eyebrow Hold, Eyebrow Lowering, Eyebrow Raise, Eyebrows Knit or Oblique Eyebrows Of Grief.

Cue In Action: She stood up and vehemently denied being the one who stole the doughnut despite overwhelming evidence. Her mom looked at her, turned her head to the side, raised one eyebrow and lowered the other, then compressed her lips. She was showing suspicion nonverbally.

Meaning and/or Motivation: It represents both aggression and fear at the same time due to the division of high and low, and when mixed, indicates suspicion or skepticism.

Cue Cluster: The head is often tilted to the side when representing skepticism. The eyes will squint when showing aggression and the lips will purse.

Body Language Category: Amplifier, Eye Language, Hostile body language, Negative body language, Suspicious body language or suspicion.

Resources:

Grammer, Karl ; Schiefenhövel, Wulf ; Schleidt, Margret ; Lorenz, Beatrice ; Eibl eibesfeldt, Irenäus. Patterns on the Face: The Eyebrow Flash in Crosscultural Comparison. Ethology. 1988. 77(4): 279-299.

Martin, David John. 1997. Slaughtering a sacred cow: The eyebrow flash is not a universal social greeting. Dissertation Abstracts International: Section B: The Sciences and Engineering 58(5-B): 2751.

Moore, Monicam. Human Nonverbal Courtship Behavior—A Brief Historical Review. Journal of Sex Research. 2010 47(2-3): 171-180.

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/

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

Schmidt, K. L., Bhattacharya, S., & Denlinger, R. (2009). Comparison of deliberate and spontaneous facial movement in smiles and eyebrow raises. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 33, 35–45.

Shichuan Du; Yong Tao and Aleix M. Martinez. Compound facial expressions of emotion. Published online before print on March 31, 2014. DOI10.1073/pnas.1322355111
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/in-fact-there-are-more-than-21-facial-expressions/

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/

Watt, Roger ; Craven, Ben ; Quinn, Sandra. A role for eyebrows in regulating the visibility of eye gaze direction. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. 2007. 60(9): 1169-1177.

Wheldall, Kevin ; Mittler, Peter. Eyebrow-raising, eye widening and visual search nursery school children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 1976. 17(1): 57-62.

Aggressive body language, Arrogance or arrogant body language, Distancing or moving away, Dominant body language, Escape movements, Hostile body language, Negative body language, Threat displays

Body Language of Encroaching

by Chris • October 21, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Encroaching

Cue: Encroaching

Synonym(s): Space Invader, Close Talker (The), Moving In Too Close, Invading Space.

Description: When one person approaches someone else too closely and invades their personal space.

In One Sentence: Encroaching on other people’s space is a sign that a person wishes to increase intimacy or to intimidate.

How To Use it: Encroaching on others spaces can be used in order to build intimacy or to intimidate.

In a dating context, encroaching can be a way to test tolerance to space intimacy. Men can approach women and thereby test their reaction. If a woman recoils in the face of an advance, it’s a sign that she is not interested or prepared for romantic involvement. On the other hand, if she tolerates an invasion of space, the reverse is true. Women can also encroach on a man’s space to test his interest and even test him romantically.

Invading space in dating can also be done with the use of inanimate objects. Lending a jacket to a girl is a way men can move his property into her territory. Acceptance of this intrusion is a signal that interest and trust is developing.

Out of a dating context, men can use encroaching to invade the territory of other men. Usually more submissive men will tolerate the advancements of alpha or dominant men. Men can also use closeness on other men in a more fleeting way to build friendships, but rarely tolerate persistent encroachment. When men wish to bond to other men, therefore, it’s best use in handshakes, pats on the back, and when deep friendships form, hugs.

When encroaching is done to the extreme however, people usually see this as overbearing and a sign of social awkwardness.

Women can use encroachment on other women, as it tends to be more mutually accepted and a way for them to create social bonds.

Context: a) General b) Dating.

Verbal Translation: a) “I’m going to move closer to you so you feel awkward and heed to my power and dominance.” a) “Because I lack social skills I’m approaching you too closely.” b) “I’m feeling your attraction so I’m being drawn into your personal space.”

Variant: See Leaning In and Leaning Out, Becoming Loud, Touching or Increase In Touching.

Cue In Action: a) In an attempt to gain affection, Dave snuggled up to Mary. She was taken aback as she thought of him more as a friend than a lover. She leaned back awkwardly. b) The boss typically pulled people in after shaking hands with them. He was a tall man and used his height advantage to intimidate others.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Encroaching involves standing too close, standing over someone by exploiting height differences, touching when un-welcomed, and even raising voices or the volume of music to violate the privacy and comfort of others.

Encroaching is any body language that takes advantage of proxemics to violate a person’s personal space and territory and create defensive body language in others. When someone encroaches it usually indicates a power play to assert dominance and authority.

Other times it is due to inappropriate socialization, such that a person doesn’t understand the social norms and requirements of other people. People from highly populated areas typically require less personal space than those who live in sparsely populated areas. When city people and country people come together there may differences in personal space requirements causing issues. The person from the city might move in close to create connectivity forcing the country person to step backwards. The person from the city feels rejected and the person from the country feels violated.

Getting close to someone else might also spell romantic interest. When women or men wish to send a strong signal, they will approach each other and enter their respective personal space zones in effort to build intimacy.

Cue Cluster: The cue clusters by which encroachment presents itself will be related to the intent of encroachment as well as the feelings surrounding it. When encroaching, a person will lean in, their head will move forward and their toes will point and extend toward. When being encroached upon, a person will lean out, their head will move back, their toes and torsos will point away and their feet will move back. The context will decide the intent of the message, be it sexual in nature or a power play.

Body Language Category: Arrogance or arrogant body language, Aggressive body language, Distancing or moving away, Dominant body language, Escape movements, Hostile body language or hostility or anger, Negative body language, Threat displays.

Resources:

Aranguren, Martin. “Nonverbal interaction patterns in the Delhi Metro: interrogative looks and play-faces in the management of interpersonal distance.” Interaction Studies. 2016. 16(1) forthcoming.

Aranguren, Martin and Stephane Tonnelat. Emotional Transactions in the Paris Subway: Combining Naturalistic Videotaping, Objective Facial Coding and Sequential Analysis in the Study of Nonverbal Emotional Behavior. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 2014. 38:495–521. DOI 10.1007/s10919-014-0193-1
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/seriously-stop-touching-use-nonverbal-signaling-manage-unwanted-touching-busy-public-areas

Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2002). Human aggression. Annual Review of Psychology, 53, 27–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901. 135231.

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Cook, M. Experiments on orientation and proxemics. Human Relations, 1970, 23, 61-67.

Coutts, Larrym. ; Ledden, Maribeth. Nonverbal Compensatory Reactions to Changes in Interpersonal Proximity. The Journal of Social Psychology. 1977 102(2): 283-290.

Céline Jacob and Nicolas Guéguen. The Effect of Physical Distance Between Patrons and Servers on Tipping. Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research 2012. 36: 25 originally published online 15 November 2010. DOI: 10.1177/1096348010388660g
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Cook, Mark. 1970. Experiments on orientation and proxemics. Human Relations 23 (1): 61-76.

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

Dolphin, Carol Zinner. Beyond hall: Variables in the use of personal space in intercultural transactions. Howard Journal of Communications. 1988. 1(1): 23-38.

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Girard, Jeffrey M.; Jeffrey F. Cohna; Mohammad H.Mahoor S.; Mohammad Mavadati;
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Holt, Daphne J ; Cassidy, Brittany S ; Yue, Xiaomin ; Rauch, Scott L ; Boeke, Emily A ; Nasr, Shahin ; Tootell, Roger B H ; Coombs, Garth. Neural correlates of personal space intrusion. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 2014. 34(12): 4123-34.

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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/wanna-fight-nonverbal-cues-believed-indicate-violence/

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Linz, Daniel ; Blumenthal, Eva ; Donnerstein, Edward ; Kunkel, Dale ; Shafer, Bradley J. ; Lichtenstein, Allen Wiener, Richard L. (editor). Testing Legal Assumptions Regarding the Effects of Dancer Nudity and Proximity to Patron on Erotic Expression. Law and Human Behavior. 2000. 24(5): 507-533.

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http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/big-might-size-may-hardwired-dominance-study

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*No Photo, Aggressive body language, Arrogance or arrogant body language, Authoritative body language, Dominant body language, Frustration or frustrated body language, Hostile body language, Negative body language

Body Language of Counting On Fingers

by Chris • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Counting On Fingers

Cue: Counting On Fingers

Synonym(s): N/A

Description: It is done by rhythmically bringing the index finger over the opposite hand as if to anchor each point being delivered.

In One Sentence: Counting rhythmically on the fingers denotes a person who is condescending or trying to be clear about various points.

How To Use it: Use the gesture in order to appear superior to another person or that you are frustrated with having to repeat orders, steps, or points you have already made. By belittling others, you may achieve superiority if they do not supersede or dismiss your arrogance. In other words, avoid counting on the fingers, at least in a way that is not genuinely helpful.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m going to really slow things down for you and make my points deliberate by counting out each point by number.”

Variant: The Baton Gesture is similar in that each point is emphasized rhythmically, but this is more of an artifact of passion. See Baton Gestures.

Cue In Action: After going over the issues five times, his wife decided he just wasn’t going to get it. She started over with her fingers “ONE, I’m not going to pick up Jimmy, TWO, I expect you to fix the garage door, THREE…”

Meaning and/or Motivation: A cocky, arrogant and sometimes confident gesture implying that a person needs to keep up with the various points that are being made. The sender does not feel the receiver is intelligent enough to keep up. Think of counting out loud in order to give a child a fair warning to obey you.

Cue Cluster: Counting on fingers is often coupled with leaning in, a condescending voice, arms akimbo, invasion of space, palm down displays, erratic gesticulation and angry, sneering, or disgusted facial expression.

Body Language Category: Arrogance or arrogant body language, Aggressive body language, Anger, Authoritative body language, Dominant body language, Frustration or frustrated body language, Hostile body language, Negative body language.

Resources:

Austin, Elizabeth E. and Naomi Sweller. Presentation and Production: The Role of Gesture in Spatial Communication. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 2014. 122: 92-103.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/gestures-help-children-but-not-adults-in-recall-study/

Alibali, M.W., Heath, D.C., and Myers,H.J. (2001). Effects of visibility between speaker and listener on gesture production: Some gestures are meant to be seen. Journal of Memory and Language, 44, 169–188.

Beattie, G., & Shovelton,H.(1999).Mapping the range of information contained in the iconich and gestures that accompany spontaneous speech. Journal of Language and social Psychology, 18, 438–462.

Bailenson, J. N. & Yee, N. 2005. Digital Chameleons: Automatic assimilation of nonverbal gestures in immersive virtual environments. Psychological Science, 16: 814-819.

Cook, Susan Wagner; Terina KuangYi Yip and Susan Goldin-Meadow. Gesturing Makes Memories That Last. Journal of Memory and Language. 2010. 63: 465-475.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/gesturing-really-work-improve-memory

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Fischer, Julia; Peter Fischer; Birte Englich; Nilüfer Aydin and Dieter Frey. Empower My Decisions: The Effects of Power Gestures on Confirmatory Information Processing. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2011. 47: 1146-1154.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/downside-power-posing-body-language-looking-power-posing-action-study/

Goldin-Meadow, Susan; Susan Wagner Cook, and Zachary A. Mitchell. Gesturing Gives Children New Ideas About Math. Association for Psychological Science. 2009. 20 (3): 267-272.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/gesturing-helps-children-learn-math/

Gorkan Ahmetoglu, Viren Swami. Do Women Prefer “Nice Guys?” The Effect Of Male Dominance Behavior On Women’s Ratings. Social Behavior And Personality, 2012; 40(4), 667-672.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/how-to-significantly-increase-male-attractiveness-with-simple-body-language-nice-guys-finish-last-once-again/

Goldin-Meadow, S. Widening The Lens: What The Manual Modality Reveals About Language, Learning and Cognition. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2014; 369-1651. 20130295 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0295
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Holler, J., Shovelton, H.,& Beattie, G.(2009).Do iconic hand gestures really contribute to the communication of semantic information in a face-to-face context? Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 33, 73–88.

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Renninger, Lee Ann; T. Joel Wade, Karl Grammer. Getting that female glance: Patterns and consequences of male nonverbal behavior in courtship contexts. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2004; 25: 416–431.
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Aggressive body language, Anger body language, Arrogance or arrogant body language, Authoritative body language, Barriers, Dominant body language, Hostile body language, Ownership gesture, Power play, Space invasion, Territorial displays, Threat displays

Body Language of Cornering and Blocking

by Chris • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Cornering and Blocking

Cue: Cornering and Blocking

Synonym(s): Door Frame Proper (The), Doorway Intimidator (The), Blocking Someone In, Hand Against The Doorway, Blocking Someone In, Preventing Someone From Leaving, Cornering Someone.

Description: The act of eliminating exits by preventing people from leaving or moving about freely. Leaning against the doorway to prevent someone from exiting or cornering someone so they can’t leave are examples. Cornering can be done with the arms, legs, tables and so forth.

In One Sentence: Blocking the exits such that people can not escape is a signal that one wishes to control and dominant a person.

How To Use it: It is generally not advised to corner and block other people as it will usually cause others to feel controlled.

One exceptions exist. Here, men can use the cornering tactic on women in a dating context to arouse. However, this should only be done under conditions where trust has been built. When done properly, cornering, such as by moving a girl into a controlled situation including for example, the corner of a room, against a countertop, table, desk, and so forth, can create sexual excitement through dominance. One should be careful to heed any verbal or nonverbal signals of disapproval, as if done against another’s wishes, will result in sexual harassment charges.

Bullies often use cornering tactics to control other people. However, I can not advise such tactics. In the right context, though, as mentioned, cornering can produce desirable sexual excitement – in fact, sexual intercourse physically requires cornering.

Blocking, on the other hand, can be used to nonverbally demarcate territory. When unwanted solicitors arrive at my door, I usually prop myself against the door jam so they understand that I am not prepared to welcome them inside. Arms and legs can be used to create boundaries and private space for which you do not want others to enter.

Context: a) Dating b) Business c) General

Verbal Translation: “I’m going to stop you from exiting the situation with my body until I’m through with you.” “I’m trying to intimidate you by blocking you in.”

Variant: See Encroaching.

Cue In Action: a) She wasn’t happy and wanted to leave but he wrapped each arm around her and pinned her against the bar so she couldn’t leave. a) In effort to seduce her, he worked her into the corner and began to make out with her. His use of force turned her on.

b) Another door-to-door salesman had just solicited him at the house. To prevent this salesman from entering, he propped himself up against the jam of the front door.

c) She was set to confront her husband about his work around the house. She cornered him while he was sitting at his desk with her arms akimbo in the doorway. She used the posture to make it clear that she was prepared to barricade his exit.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The intention of the “doorway intimidator” is to control the situation through dominance. This person will habitually corner a subject and then subject them to confrontation and intimidation.

In some cases, those who corner have sexual interests. They wish to corner in effort to seduce, but the primary motive is to prevent escape and then subject them to a high level dominance.

a) A common mistake done especially by men in dating situations whereby they cut off exit points and block women. It signals aggression, dominance and a desire to control if it’s unwanted. If it is welcomed and she finds him attractive, blocking can excite her and build intimacy through closeness and dominance.

b) In business and other general context, blocking and cornering is an exercise in control and dominance. However, when people become cornered, they become nervous or aggressive due to the fight or flight response. While dominance is achieved in the short-term, the long-term results can be toxic and produce undesirable results. This person is trying to prevent escape while they espouse their thoughts upon others. It is a high confrontation posture because it traps people.

Cue Cluster: Cornering is accompanied by an invasion of space, head lowered in a judgment posture, arms pointing, physical touching, sometimes aggressive and loud or forceful voices, encroaching on space liberally, use of the index fingers to point while speaking, and holding the arms akimbo when not propped against the exit.

Body Language Category: Arrogance or arrogant body language, Aggressive body language, Anger, Authoritative body language, Barriers, Dominant body language, Hostile body language, Ownership gestures, Power play, Space invasion, Territorial displays, Threat displays.