Category: Relaxed body language

*No Photo, Amplifier, Masked emotions, Pacifying body language, Relaxed body language, Self-motivating gestures, Stressful body language

Body Language of Whistling

by Chris • October 30, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Whistling

Cue: Whistling.

Synonym(s): Singing to Oneself

Description: Blowing air over the lips and teeth to produce a high pitched sound – often producing a ‘tune’ with varying music notes.

In One Sentence: Whistling is a sign of happiness or that a person needs to self-sooth and calm themselves.

How To Use it: Use whistling to show others your positive spirit. Carrying an upbeat tune shows other people that you are content which can be contagious. Whistling can be used in any context, but should be avoided where silence is the norm such as in a library or other situations where other people require focus and concentration.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m whistling because I’m happy or because I need to calm myself down in a stressful situation.”

Variant: See Blowing Off Steam.

Cue In Action: a) He just won first prize and was whistling a happy upbeat tune. b) He was lost in the woods and had circled the same area more than once. He whistled to himself to stay motivated and calm his nerves.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Whistling indicates contentment, usually, however it can also signify the desire to be pacified making it context specific.

The type of tune, high or low, happy or sad, as well as the context will determine the hidden meaning behind whistling. One might also watch for breaks in singing that is otherwise content. This might indicate a level of momentary stress that has arisen during a difficult task. For example, one might be pleasantly working on a home car build project and struggle with the wrench. As a person applies force or concentrates, there is a break in singing. Long pauses might be present during deep concentration. The break in whistling is an indication that there has been a change in focus.

Cue Cluster: Watch for adjoining stress related cues or relaxed cues to verify the meaning. It is important to verify the baseline of an individual to decide what whistling really means as some use it to pacify and others to indicate happiness.

Body Language Category: Amplifier, Masked emotions, Pacifying body language, Relaxed body language, Self-motivating gestures, Stressful body language.

Resources:

NONE

Adaptors, Amplifier, Comfort body language, Courtship display, Indicator Of Sexual Interest (IOsI), Relaxed body language

Body Language of Symbolic Stripping or Removing Clothing

by Chris • October 28, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Symbolic Stripping or Removing Clothing

Cue: Symbolic Stripping or Removing Clothing.

Synonym(s): Removing Clothing.

Description: Includes loosening ties, removing jackets or over-shirts, rolling up the sleeves, undoing buttons and so forth.

In One Sentence: Removing clothing signals either a desire to get more comfortable, a desire to get down to business, or an attempt to seduce.

How To Use it: Remove clothing when you want others to see that you are ready for action. This is potent in business where removing a jacket signals that it’s time to get some real work done. While negotiating, the same signal is sent – that we’re getting serious about the task at hand. Removing clothing can also be used to tell others that they need to relax and settle in for the long haul. When bargaining, this tells them that they should present the most attractive offer first, or risk a long negotiation.

Removing clothing such as a jacket upon arrive at a persons house tells them that one isn’t ready to leave and that one feels welcome. Thus, removing clothing is paid as a compliment.

In dating, removing outer clothing is a similar comfort indicator. Therefore, women can tell their dates that they are “warming up” to them and feel relaxed enough to expose more of their body. The more skin that is exposed; the stronger the sexual implication. Women can boost the signal’s strength and arouse men further by removing clothing while making direct eye contact. This serves to indicate metaphorical stripping as eye contact anchors the signal to a specific person – “I’m undressing for you.”

Context: a) General b) Business c) Dating.

Verbal Translation: a) “I’m getting more comfortable because I feel at ease and relaxed so I’m removing some of my clothing” or “I’m hot so I’m removing some of my clothing.” b) “It’s time to get down to business, let’s take our coats off and rolls up our sleeves and get the job done.” c) “I’m interested in you sexually, so I’m going to take off my overcoat and expose my skin to try to get you worked up.”

Variant: See Rolled Up Sleeves.

Cue In Action: a) She made her way into her friend’s house. First she removed her shoes and jacket. By the end of the night she was minus her hooded shirt and socks. She really made herself at home. b) The boss was serious. He removed his jacket, put his hands palm down on the desk and spoke firmly, “There would be no more goofing around on company time.” c) She excused herself to the washroom. When she returned, her blouse was unbuttoned revealing cleavage. She intended to peak his sexual curiousity.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The nonverbal message that removing clothing entails is mixed and highly dependent on the context.

Men will almost always remove clothing to get more comfortable, but may also remove a shirt to arouse. The reaction that removing a shirt has when a man reveals a muscular physique is no different then when a woman reveals her sexual assets by removing clothing.

Removing clothing can deliver a sexual message in a romantic situation, getting down to business at work, or comfort when done amongst friends. In a dating context, removing a heavy shirt or jacket to be more comfortable, or loosening buttons from a shirt, or even removing shoes or dangling the shoes from the toe, all show comfort at worst, and interest at best.

This cue therefore, must be read in context with adjoining cues.

Cue Cluster: a) and b) In a general and business context, removing clothing will be almost entirely dependent on the context but can also be confused with c) dating. Therefore, watch for additional sexual cues of interest to determine if the cue is sexual in nature. In women, one might watch for strong eye contact, head lowered or tilted to the side, batting eyes, wrist and neck exposure, touching, lip licking, proximity and so forth. Men might pull a shirt off around the pool and pull their shoulders back to showcase them, hold their chin up and hold strong eye contact. They may smirk.

Body Language Category: Adaptors, Amplifier, Comfort body language, Courtship display, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Relaxed body language.

Resources:

Anat Rafaeli; Jane Dutton; Celia V Harquail; Stephanie Mackie-Lewis. Navigating by attire: The use of dress by female administrative employees. Academy of management journal. 1997. 40 (1): 9-45.

Adam, Hajo and Adam D. Galinsky. Enclothed Cognition. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 2012. 48 (4): 918–925. DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2012.02.008 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103112000200
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/wearing-white-coat-boosts-performance-enclothed-cognition/

Abbey, A., Cozzarelli, K., McLaughlin, K., & Harnish, R. (1987). The effects of clothing and dyad sex composition on perceptions of sexual intent: Do women and men evaluate these cues differently? Journal of Applied Social Psychology. 17: 108-126.

Bettis, Pamela J. ; Adams, Natalie Guice. Short Skirts and Breast Juts: Cheerleading, Eroticism and Schools. Sex Education: Sexuality, Society and Learning. 2006. 6(2): 121-133.

Barber, Nigel. Women’s dress fashions as a function of reproductive strategy. Sex Roles: A Journal of Research. 1999. 40(5-6): 459(1).

Beiner, Theresa M. Sexy dressing revisited: does target dress play a part in sexual harassment cases? Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy. 2007 14(1): 125(28).

Buckley, Hilda Mayer ; Roach, Mary Ellen. Clothing as a Nonverbal Communicator of Social and Political Attitudes. Home Economics Research Journal. 1974 3(2): 94-102.

Back, Mitja D. ; Schmukle, Stefan C. ; Egloff, Boris King, Laura (editor). Why Are Narcissists so Charming at First Sight? Decoding the Narcissism–Popularity Link at Zero Acquaintance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2010. 98(1): 132-145.

Cari D. Goetz; Judith A. Easton; David M.G. Lewis; David M. Buss. Sexual Exploitability: Observable Cues And Their Link To Sexual Attraction. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2012; 33: 417-426.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/victim-blaming-or-useful-information-in-preventing-rape-and-sexual-exploitation/

Clark, A. Attracting Interest: Dynamic Displays of Proceptivity Increase the Attractiveness of Men and Women. Evolutionary Psychology. 2008., 6(4), 563-574.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/risky-versus-proceptive-nonverbal-sexual-cues/

Chowdhary, U. 1988. Instructor’s attire as a biasing factor in students’ ratings of an instructor. Clothing & Textiles Research Journal 6 (2): 17-22.

Cahoon, DD; Edmonds, EM 1989. Male-Female Estimates Of Opposite-Sex 1st Impressions Concerning Females Clothing Styles Bulletin of the psychonomic society. 27(3): 280-281.

Chowdhary, U. 1988. Instructor’s attire as a biasing factor in students’ ratings of an instructor. Clothing & Textiles Research Journal 6 (2): 17-22.

Cahoon, DD; Edmonds, EM 1989. Male-Female Estimates Of Opposite-Sex 1st Impressions Concerning Females Clothing Styles Bulletin of the psychonomic society. 27(3): 280-281.

Cassidy, Linda ; Hurrell, Rose Marie. The influence of victim’s attire on adolescents’ judgments of date rape. Adolescence. 1995 30(118): 319(5).

Dosmukhambetova, D., and Manstead, A. Strategic Reactions to Unfaithfulness: Female Self-Presentation in the Context of Mate Attraction is Link to Uncertainty of Paternity. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2011. 32, 106-107.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/sexy-clothing-source-power-women/

Durante, Kristina M ; Li, Norman P ; Haselton, Martie G. Changes in women’s choice of dress across the ovulatory cycle: naturalistic and laboratory task-based evidence. Personality & social psychology bulletin. 2008 34(11): 1451-60.

Edmonds, Ed M.; Cahoon, Delwin D.; Hudson, Elizabeth 1992. Male-female estimates of feminine assertiveness related to females’ clothing styles. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society. 30(2): 43-144.

Forsythe, S., M. F. Drake, and C. E. Cox. 1985. Influence of applicant’s dress on interviewer’s selection decisions. Journal of Applied Psychology 70 (2): 374-378

Forsythe, S. M., M. F. Drake, and C. A. Cox Jr. 1984. Dress as an influence on the perceptions of management characteristics in women. Home Economics Research Journal 13 (2): 112-121

Forsythe, S. M. 1990. Effect of applicant’s clothing on interviewer’s decision to hire.
Journal of Applied Social Psychology 20 (19, 1): 1579-1595.

Guéguen, Nicolas. The Effect Of Women’s Suggestive Clothing On Men’s Behavior And Judgment: A Field Study. Psychological Reports. 2011. 109; 2: 635-638.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/sexy-clothing-source-power-women/

Farris, Coreen ; Viken, Richard J. ; Treat, Teresa A. Perceived association between diagnostic and non-diagnostic cues of women’s sexual interest: General Recognition Theory predictors of risk for sexual coercion. Journal of Mathematical Psychology. 2010. 54(1): 137-149.

Gurung, R. A. R. and C. J. Chrouser. 2007. Predicting objectification: do provocative clothing and observer characteristics matter? Sex Roles: A Journal of Research 57 (1-2): 91-99.

Goetz, Cari D.; Judith A. Easton; Cindy M. Meston. The Allure of Vulnerability: Advertising Cues to Exploitability as a Signal of Sexual Accessibility. Personality and Individual Differences. 2013. 62: 121-25.http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/allure-sexual-vulnerability-move/

Grammer, Karl, LeeAnn Renninger and Bettina Fischer. Disco Clothing, Female Sexual Motivation, and Relationship Status: Is She Dressed to Impress? The Journal of Sex Research. 2004. 41(1): 66-74.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/is-she-dressed-for-success-how-women-adorn-during-courtship/

Glick, Peter ; Larsen, Sadie ; Johnson, Cathryn Branstiter, Heather. Evaluations of Sexy Women in Low-And High-Status Jobs. Psychology of Women Quarterly. 2005. 29(4): 389-395.

Graff, Kaitlin ; Murnen, Sarah ; Smolak, Linda. Too Sexualized to be Taken Seriously? Perceptions of a Girl in Childlike vs. Sexualizing Clothing. Sex Roles. 2012. 66(11): 764-775.

Garot, Robert ; Katz, Jack. Provocative Looks: Gang Appearance and Dress Codes in an Inner-City Alternative School. Ethnography, 2003, Vol.4(3), pp.421-454

Greenless, Iain ; Buscombe, Richard ; Thelwell, Richard ; Holder, Tim ; Rimmer, Matthew. Impact of opponents’ clothing and body language on impression formation and outcome expectations. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology. 2005 27(1): 39-52.

Greenlees, Iain ; Bradley, Andrew ; Holder, Tim ; Thelwell, Richard. The impact of opponents’ non-verbal behaviour on the first impressions and outcome expectations of table-tennis players. Psychology of Sport & Exercise. 2005 6(1): 103-115

Hernandez, Jillian. “Miss, you look like a Bratz Doll”: on chonga girls and sexual-aesthetic excess.(Report). NWSA Journal. 2009 21(3): 63(28).

Haselton, M. G., M. Mortezaie, E. G. Pillsworth, A. Bleske-rechek, and D. A. Frederick. 2007. Ovulatory shifts in human female ornamentation: near ovulation, women dress to impress. Hormones and Behavior. 51(1): 40-45.

Hald, G. M., & Høgh-Olesen, H. Receptivity to Sexual Invitations from Strangers of the Opposite Gender. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2010. 31, 453-458.

Johnson, Richard R. and Jasmine L. Aaron. Adults’ Beliefs Regarding Nonverbal Cues Predictive of Violence. Criminal Justice and Behavior. 2013. 40 (8): 881-894. DOI: 10.1177/0093854813475347.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/wanna-fight-nonverbal-cues-believed-indicate-violence

Karagiorgakis, Aris and Danielle Malone. The Effect of Clothing and Method of Payment on Tipping in a Bar Setting. North American Journal of Psychology. 2014. 16(3): 441-452.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/skimpy-clothing-lead-larger-tips-boost-tips-using-nonverbal-communication/

Keiierman, Joan M. and James D. Laird. The Effect of Appearance on Self Perception. Journal of Personality. 1982; 50: 3. http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/eye-glasses-body-language-brief-summary/

Koukounas, Eric ; Letch, Nicolem. Psychological Correlates of Perception of Sexual Intent in Women. The Journal of Social Psychology. 2001. 141(4): 443-456.

Karl, Katherine A. ; Hall, Leda Mcintyre ; Peluchette, Joy V. City employee perceptions of the impact of dress and appearance: you are what you wear. Public Personnel Management. 2013 42(3): 452(19).

Lõhmus, Mare, L.; Fredrik Sundström and Mats Björklund. Dress for Success: Human Facial Expressions are Important Signals of Emotions. Annales Zoologici Fennici. 2009. 46: 75-80.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/ugly-clothing-also-makes-face-ugly

Lynch, A. Expanding the Definition of Provocative Dress: An Examination of Female Flashing Behavior on a College Campus. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal. 2007. 25(2): 184-201.

Morris, T. L., J. Gorham, S. H. Cohen, and D. Huffman. 1996. Fashion in the classroom: effects of attire on student perceptions of instructors in college classes. Communication Education 45(2): 135.

Moore, M. M. and D. L. Butler. 1989. Predictive aspects of nonverbal courtship behavior in women. Semiotica 76(3/4): 205-215.

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

Moore, M. M. 1985. Nonverbal courtship patterns in women: context and consequences. Ethology and Sociobiology 64: 237-247.

Mahmuda, Yusr and Viren Swami. The Influence of the Hijab (Islamic Head-Cover) on Perceptions of Women’s Attractiveness and Intelligence. Body Image. 2010. 7: 90-93.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/hijabs-hot-nonverbal-effect-hijab-attractiveness-intelligence-ratings/

Mcginley, Ann C. Babes and beefcake: exclusive hiring arrangements and sexy dress codes. Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy. 2007 14(1): 257(27).

Markey, Patrick ; Markey, Charlotte. Changes in women’s interpersonal styles across the menstrual cycle. Journal of Research in Personality. 2011. 45(5): 493-499.

Parsons, Charles K. ; Liden, Robert C. Guion, Robert (editor). Interviewer perceptions of applicant qualifications: A multivariate field study of demographic characteristics and nonverbal cues. Journal of Applied Psychology. 1984 69(4): 557-568.

Peluchette, J. V., K. Karl, and K. Rust. 2006. Dressing to impress: beliefs and attitudes regarding workplace attire. Journal of Business and Psychology 21(1): 45-63.

Parks, Kathleen ; Scheidt, Douglas. Male Bar Drinkers’ Perspective on Female Bar Drinkers. Sex Roles, 2000, Vol.43(11), pp.927-941.

Regan A. R. Gurung & Carly J. Chrouser. Predicting Objectification: Do Provocative Clothing and Observer Characteristics Matter? Sex Roles, 2007; 57: 91–99.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/dont-want-to-be-objectified-then-dont-wear-sexy-clothing-says-research/

Richards, Lynne ; Mcalister, Laurie. Female Submissiveness, Nonverbal Behavior, and Body Boundary Definition. The Journal of Psychology. 1994 128(4): 419-424.

Rehman, Shakaib U. ; Nietert, Paul J. ; Cope, Dennis W. ; Kilpatrick, Anne Osborne. What to wear today? Effect of doctor’s attire on the trust and confidence of patients
The American Journal of Medicine. 2005 118(11): 1279-1286.

Starr, Christine ; Ferguson, Gail. Sexy Dolls, Sexy Grade-Schoolers? Media & Maternal Influences on Young Girls’ Self-Sexualization. Sex Roles. 2012. 67(7): 463-476.

Synovitz, Lindab. ; Byrne, T. Jean. Antecedents of Sexual Victimization: Factors Discriminating Victims From Nonvictims. Journal of American College Health. 1998. 46(4): 151-158.

Sandlund, Chris. Put Some Clothes On! (employee dress rules). Entrepreneur. 2001 29(8): 70.

Vazire, Simine; Laura P. Naumann; Peter J. Rentfrow and Samuel D. Gosling. Portrait of a Narcissist: Manifestations of Narcissism in Physical Appearance. Journal of Research in Personality. 2008. 42: 1439-1447.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/narcissist-written-read-body-language-narcissist/

Comfort body language, Confused body language, Open facial gestures, Relaxed body language

Body Language of Relaxed Face

by Chris • October 27, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Relaxed Face

Cue: Relaxed Face.

Synonym(s): Calm Face.

Description: A face that is not compressed, where muscles are not flexed, the eyebrows are not clenched together, the forehead is smooth rather than wrinkled, the eyes are open and not tensed and the lips are full.

In One Sentence: A relaxed face shows high comfort and lack of negative thoughts.

How To Use it: Use a relaxed face when you want to show others that you are in control over your life and the results in it. In business, having a relaxed face should be the default condition. Having a relaxed faces tells others that you can be counted upon for rational decisions in resolving problems. While an angry face can be used to show others that they should take you seriously, a relaxed face shows others that you are in control of your emotions. This is viewed as a positive attribute. When facing high stress, a relaxed face is most potent to onlookers and produces the highest amount of respect and admiration. A relaxed face in these situations signals leadership.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m free of stress, I’m comfortable and hold no negative thoughts. As a result, there is no tension in my face, none of its muscles are flexed.”

Variant: See Tense Face for the opposite cue. Also see Eyebrows Knit or Oblique Eyebrows Of Grief, Compressed Lips.

Cue In Action: Sitting at home reading a book put him at ease. His face was relaxed and the furrow between his eyes finally faded along with the stress of the day.

Meaning and/or Motivation: A relaxed face is one that shows comfort and comfort is a cue that delineates honesty, and that the body is free of concern or negative thoughts.

Comfortable people will hold their bodies loose rather than rigid, and their body will move with fluidity. They will gesture with their speech instead of freezing instantly or awkwardly, called “flash frozen.” Comfortable people mirror others around them instead of avoiding synchrony. Their breath rate will be similar and they will adopt like postures instead of showing differences.

A relaxed face is the normal resting face or the “default face” for people. When no negative stimuli are present, it’s the face, free of wrinkle, or contortion that takes over. Conversely, when bad thoughts, stress, anxiety presents itself, the face tenses up and muscles around the forehead, between the eyes and mouth (lip pursing) begin to flex and pulls the face in all sorts of different directions.

Cue Cluster: The eyes are big, the body may splay open, the arms and legs will uncross, smiling occurs readily, people will loosen clothing or remove them to make themselves more comfortable, they will speak easily and casually, a leg can be tucked under and sat on, the body might sag to one side or lay out flat exposing the ventral side, breathing is steady.

Body Language Category: Confused, Comfort body language, Open facial gestures, Relaxed body language.

Resources:

Browning, E. ; Huynh, C. ; Peissig, J. Show Me Your Poker Face: Are Poker Players Better at Recognizing Emotional Expressions? Journal of Vision. 2013. 13(9): 599-599.

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.

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.

Heisel, Marnin ; Mongrain, Myriam. Facial Expressions and Ambivalence: Looking for Conflict in All the Right Faces. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior. 2004. 28(1): 35-52.

Giuseppe Blasi; Ahmad R. Hariri; Guilna Alce; Paolo Taurisano; Fabio Sambataro; Saumitra Das; Alessandro Bertolino; Daniel R. Weinberger and Venkata S. Mattay. Preferential Amygdala Reactivity to the Negative Assessment of Neutral Faces. 2009. 6(9): 847-853.

King, Laura A. Ambivalence over emotional expression and reading emotions in situations and faces. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1998 74(3): 753(10)

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

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.

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

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

Sturman, Edward D. Invluntary Subordination and Its Relation to Personality, Mood,
and Submissive Behavior. Psychological Assessment. 2011. 23(1): 262-276 DOI: 10.1037/a0021499
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/nonverbal-submission-men-women-depression-critical-examination-use-disuse-submission/

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, 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.

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.

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.

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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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Authoritative body language, Crotch display, Dominant body language, Leadership body language, Relaxed body language

Body Language of The Dominant Stance

by Chris • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of The Dominant Stance

Cue: Dominant Stance (The)

Synonym(s): N/A

Description: A stance where the feet lie flat on the ground, weight is across both feet, the arms are placed to the side rather than in pockets and hands do not prop up against a wall or table. The hips are forced forward slight, with the legs just wider than shoulder width.

In One Sentence: Standing with the feet even and stable shows others that one is in control of one’s body and prepared to stand one’s ground.

How To Use it: Use the dominant stance to show other that you are ready for action and also ready to stand your ground. A wide base shows others that you are confident. The cue is useful in many situations so as when pitching ideas in business, or for men, in dating, when trying to seduce. Those in charge of groups of people including various leaders should use a dominant stance nearly all of the time. This will help them gain and hold authority.

Context: General

Verbal Translation: “I’m right here, proud and confident. I don’t need to lean against anything and I can stand alone. I’ve got my feet firmly planted on the ground and my legs are wide enough to ‘show off my junk’ (genitals) and form a wide base.”

Variant: Related to Arms Akimbo, Cowboy Pose Stance, Broadside Display or Chest Protrusion.

Cue In Action: While presenting to the audience, Dave commanded respect by taking up lots of room and using his arms freely. When he wasn’t on the stage, he often stood at ease with his legs apart, flat and even across his feet. He appeared to be confident and in control.

Meaning and/or Motivation: The dominant stance is one that depicts confidence and authority.

Cue Cluster: The dominant stance can be coupled with expansive movements such as arms gesticulating, arms over the back of a chair, or out and relaxed, shoulders up and back, head held high, arms out and relaxed, legs apart. The greater the area the body takes up, the more dominant the body language.

Body Language Category: Authoritative body language, Crotch display, Dominant body language, Leadership body language, Relaxed body language.

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Yap, Andy J. Abbie S. Wazlawek, Brian J. Lucas, Amy J. C. Cuddy, Dana R. Carney. The Ergonomics of Dishonesty: The Effect of Incidental Posture on Stealing, Cheating, and Traffic Violations, 24(11); 2281-2289.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/body-posture-physical-environment-determine-feelings-and-behaviour-study/

*No Photo, Autonomic signal, Relaxed body language

Body Language of Deep Breathing

by Chris • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Deep Breathing

Cue: Deep Breathing.

Synonym(s): Relaxed Breathing, Breathing Slowly, Calm Breathing.

Description: The breath rate slows with fewer less frequent breaths but with air moving much deeper into the chest.

In One Sentence: Deep breathing is a sign that one is in a relaxed state of mind.

How To Use it: Use deep breathing to embody a relaxed state of mind. Deep breathing can help one fall asleep faster and help oxygenate the blood. As deep breathing is associated with deep sleep it can bring the mind to a place of peace and calm. When done fully awake, deep breathing is a form of meditation. A big deep breath may alert others to your suffering, so it should be used only when you want to let others be aware of your discomfort.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m relaxing so I’m breathing more smoothly and deeply.”

Variant: See Shallow Breathing.

Cue In Action: As he began meditating, his breath rate decreased with few deeper breaths.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Deep breathing indicates relaxation such as when sleeping or meditating.

During a state of elation, people will often take deep breaths. They might gesture outwardly and expand their arms. The winning sports team will often be seen with their arms extended, their heads thrown back, and their mouths and eyes opened wide in a state of ecstasy.

Deep breathing can also be an indication of anger as air is drawn into the lungs in order to prepare for fight or flight.

Cue Cluster: The head, arms, and legs will be lose, eyes and face relaxed with no tension. When deep breathing is due to anger, tension will come across the face. The mouth might turn down, the eyes squint and the nose sneer or flair.

Body Language Category: Autonomic signal, Relaxed body language.

Resources:

Allen, Ben ; Friedman, Bruce H. Positive emotion reduces dyspnea during slow paced breathing. Psychophysiology. 2012 49(5): 690-696.

Beidel, D. C., Turner, S. M., & Dancu, C. V. (1985). Physiological, cognitive and behavioral aspects of social anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 23, 109–117.

Brown, Richard P ; Gerbarg, Patricia L. Sudarshan Kriya yogic breathing in the treatment of stress, anxiety, and depression: part I-neurophysiologic model. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine . 2005. 11(1): 189-201.

Boiten, Frans A. The effects of emotional behaviour on components of the respiratory cycle. Biological Psychology. 1998. 49(1): 29-51.

Drummond, P. D., & Quah, S. H. (2001). The effect of expressing anger on cardiovascular reactivity and facial blood flow in Chinese and Caucasians. Psychophysiology, 38, 190–196.

Ekerholt, Kirsten Bergland. Breathing: a sign of life and a unique area for reflection and action. Astrid Physical therapy. 2008 88(7): 832-40.

Geronemus, Hillary. Breathe Through It. Women’s Health. 2010. 7(3): 068

Hunter, Virginia. Clinical clues in the breathing behaviors of patient and therapist. Clinical Social Work Journal. Summer. 1993 21(2):161-118

Kossowsky, Joe ; Wilhelm, Frank H. ; Schneider, Silvia. Responses to voluntary hyperventilation in children with separation anxiety disorder: Implications for the link to panic disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 2013. 27(7): 627-634.

Sand-Jecklin, Kari. Patient Anxiety Levels Related to Gynecologic Examinations: Use of the Color Breathwork Relaxation Method. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing. 2008. 22(4): 240-242.

Tainsky, Al. Calm, cool, collected: a meditation primer. Inside MS, Wntr. 2002. 20(1): 24(4).

Van Der Zee, Sophie; Ronald Poppe; Paul J. Taylor; and Ross Anderson. To Freeze or Not to Freeze A Motion-Capture Approach to Detecting Deceit.
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/detect-lies-whole-body-nonverbals-new-lie-detector-successful-using-body-language-70

Zvolensky, M. J., & Eifert, G. H. (2001). A review of psychological factors/processes affecting anxious responding during voluntary hyperventilation and inhalations of carbon dioxide-enriched air. Clinical Psychology Review, 21, 375–400.

*No Photo, Adornments, Amplifier, Courtship display, Elective nonverbal traits, Masked body language, Power play, Relaxed body language

Body Language of Clothing

by Chris • October 20, 2014 • 0 Comments

Body Language of Clothing

Cue: Clothing.

Synonym(s): Dress, Fashion, Overdressing, Underdressing, Practical Dressing, Casual Dress, Dressing Casually, Dressing Practically, Attire, Uniform.

Description: The body language associated with ones attire.

In One Sentence: Clothing represents an elective form of nonverbal expression which indicate how a person wishes to be perceived by others.

How To Use it: Using clothing to create a desired impression. When you apply clothing, remember that regardless of your desire, certain character traits will be ascribed to you regardless of your desires. These will be either correct or incorrect. If one wishes to be viewed in one way or another, one should be conscious of how one presents oneself. For example, revealing clothing will result in others believing that you are sexually easy or promiscuous. Wearing heavy clothing during hot weather will lead others to assume that you are prudish. Use clothing to create the impression you wish is complicated and person specific, but one simply needs to understand that one has a high degree of control over the perceptions of others and these can be manipulated with nonverbal displays including fashion. Some experimentation may be required to produce the results you desire.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “My clothing is a reflection of my inner thoughts, feelings and values.”

Variant: See Unkept or Dowdiness, Dressing Sexy.

Cue In Action: a) The teenager usually let his underwear show above his loose pants. He didn’t care what the adults thought about him. b) The teacher sent the girls to the principle if their skirts were too short. c) She was always well put together with expensive gowns and jewelry. d) He didn’t care what people thought of him, he felt that jogging pants were the most comfortable daily attire. e) She made waves with her low cut blouse and ample cleavage.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Clothing is a very potent nonverbal cue as it gives off all sorts of vital information about its wearer. It is a nonverbal language all onto itself. Before we even speak with one another, our clothing creates an image about us, it also tells of our sex, age, occupation, origins, social class, personality and beliefs. Clothing can also tell others where we are going as well as what we are about to do. A business suit for example, indicates that one is conducting business or a summer dress indicates that one is on vacation. In other words, clothing provides context.

As a language, clothing can be conventional or eccentric, clothing can give off signals about whom one wants to be or become. Teenagers place importance on designer clothing so they can impress their friends and fit in, but as we grow older, our shift takes on a more specific role as we tailor our attire to the functions we attend and to the status we want to hold.

Clothing also sets us apart from others in terms of values. The eccentric often have flamboyant clothing to differentiate themselves from others showing that their ideas about life are different than the rest of those around them.

How one ‘wears’ what they wear also gives off indicators of their disposition. For example, the uptight employee that does his collar up to the top, or the laid back employee who fails to properly tighten his neck tie or avoids wearing one at all. Having buttons done up tight as opposed to having an open suite jacket also has meaning. Having un-pressed pants, dirty shoes or even no shoes, at all, provide details of other people’s disposition. Using inappropriately loose or tight clothing can also give us clues as to the nature of the person. Removing a tie midday under a strict dress code indicates that the person is rebellious and defiant. Unbuttoning a blouse to show more cleavage could lead to being labeled easy or a seductress.

Dress plays a big part in first and daily impressions and also provides excellent cues to be read in others.

Over dressing: Someone who is low in confidence but and tries to make up for it by using fashion as a crutch. These people may also be striving for extra attention from others to make up for their insecurities.

Under dressing: A person who feels that outward appearances are of no value or who lacks the desire to conform to social norms.

Practical dresser or practical fashion: A style that is more focused on functionality and utility instead of extravagance. People who wear practical attire are at ease with themselves. Typically they are not self-centered, are willing to go against the grain so as to feel comfortable in their clothing, or are frugal.

Dressing sexy: Someone who wishes to gain attention and power through sex appeal.

Cue Cluster: Watch for congruence between how one dresses and the body language they carry. While someone might overdress, you might find other clues to insecurity. If someone dresses sexy, they may also give off flirtatious cues. Some women might act catty toward, or challenge other women if they are looking for sexual attention from men. Someone who under-dresses, might have a lax attitude or lack the desire to conform. Watch for awkward body language and speech patterns as well as blushing or a desire to exit social gatherings. The practical dresser might have a more casual approach and seem at ease in every situation. When the attire doesn’t match the body language, you have likely spotted a rouse. This person may be trying to fake others through dress.

Body Language Category: Adornments, Amplifier, Courtship display, Elective nonverbal traits, Masked body language, Relaxed body language, Power play.

Resources:

Angela Book, Kimberly Costello and Joseph A. Camilleri Psychopathy and Victim Selection: The Use of Gait as a Cue to Vulnerability. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2013. 28(11): 2368-2383. DOI: 10.1177/0886260512475315jiv.sagepub.com
http://bodylanguageproject.com/articles/dont-walk-like-youre-watched-avoid-victimization-nonverbal-behavior/