Category: Ventral displays

Body Language of Military Man or Regal Stance

Body Language of Military Man or Regal Stance

BodyLanguageProjectCom - Military Man or Regal Stance 4Cue: Military Man or Regal Stance

Synonym(s): Arms Behind The Back Posture, Regal Stance.

Description: It is a standing posture that occurs by placing the hands, palm in palm behind the back.

In One Sentence: The military man stance is a way to demonstrate high authority and confidence.

How To Use it: The military man stance is reserved for high ranking individuals so needs to be used with care. High school principles, those actually in the military, royalty, bosses, presidents, and so forth can show that they lack fear of confrontation. Use the posture to demonstrate, not that you wish to gain power, but that you have already achieved it.

The cue is risky in lower ranking people as it may be viewed as a bluff and backfire inviting attack.

Context: General.

Verbal Translation: “I’m exposing my chest and chin to attack by putting my hands behind my body where they can not serve me. However, in so doing, I warn you – don’t come near me, I’m important and I shouldn’t be touched!”

Variant: The hand gripping the wrist or upper arm in behind the back sends an emotional message of frustration and an attempt at self control, but forms no part of what is said by the military man. See Hand Gripping Upper Arm or Wrist Behind Back.

Cue In Action: The Queen of England and Prince Philip were noted to carry this body language due to their high rank and importance as they greeted large crowds.

Meaning and/or Motivation: Arms behind the back posture signifies a desire not to be touched and a haughty attitude. It is a posture normally held by dominant individuals and leaders who expect no challenge to their authority whatsoever. Royalty, those in the military, high school principals, lawyers, doctors, policemen, and those of high rank will be seen performing this stance.

Power is the main meaning delivered by the military man posture, as it exposes the full front of the body to possible attack and also says that a person is so powerful they aren’t to be touched or approached. Evolutionarily speaking, the military man is a strutting posture. By design, it preemptively avoids potentially harmful physical show-downs between rival men.

Other possible root origins stem from its concealment properties. In other words, a spear, knife or other makeshift sharp object might be cocked, ready to be sprung on unsuspecting challengers – you’d never know, so why risk it!

Cue Cluster: The military man posture is accompanied by holding the chin up and head held back. Usually the feet of the military man are splayed outward so as to take up more space and produce an aura of dominance. The opposite of which is “tibial torsion” when the toes point inward to signal submission.

Body Language Category: Authoritative body language, Confident body language, Dominant body language, High confidence body language, Open body language, Ventral displays.

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Body Language Of The Body Cutoff

Body Language Of The Body Cutoff

BodyLanguageProjectCom - Body CutoffCue: Body Cutoff

Synonym(s): N/A

Description: A body cutoff happens when someone turns their shoulders and torso away from someone in order to end a conversation.

In One Sentence: See Description.

How To Use it: Use the body cutoff by turning the shoulders away from your speaking partner to show that you are about to leave. This tells them to hurry up and finish what they have to say or conversely, work harder to maintain your attention. When used like this, the body cutoff is a power play because it shows that you are busy and have other things to do – even when you don’t. If you do this, it shows that you are in control and that you are more important. Men can use this effectively in a dating scenario to trick women into thinking that they are about to leave and that they value their time. This may make her think or feel that she needs to work harder to maintain his attention. The main aim is to threaten to leave at any moment. This signals a high social value. The signal can be used in other context such as in business or amongst friends with similar perceptions likely.

Context: General, Business.

Verbal Translation: “I’m going to go now, so I’m turning my shoulders away from you and toward the door, you should really be wrapping things up now.”

Variant: See Blading Body Language, Body Angling or Ventral Displays.

Cue In Action: Mark and Ben had been talking for a long time when Ben suddenly realized he needed to be someplace. Ben quickly checked his watch, seemed to glaze over and turn his shoulders and feet toward the door. He needed to go, and used his body language to show his intent.

Meaning and/or Motivation: When people wish to exit a situation they will cut their centerline off from the conversation as if getting ready to leave.

In the body cutoff, the body orients toward and away from stimuli it agrees with, and disagrees with, respectively. Also the greater the angle, the less interest or more dislike is present (See Blading Body Language, Body Angling or Ventral Displays).

A body cut off is an orienting reflex designed to end conversations and express an interest in leaving a situation.

Cue Cluster: The body cutoff cue is accompanied by feet pointed away, increased separation by taking a step back, reduced eye contact, eyes glazing over, fewer agreement indicators such as head nods and other cues indicating a desire to leave.

Body Language Category: Barriers, Body pointing, Blading, Escape movements, Intention movements, Orienting reflex or orienting response, Disengagement, Ventral displays.

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