Body Language Meaning of Arm Cross With Clenched Fists
Cue: Arm Cross With Clenched Fists.
Synonym(s): Clenched Fist Arm Cross.
Description: The arms fold over the chest coupled with balled up fists.
In One Sentence: Balled fists display desire for power and when coupled with arms crossed shows that one is steadfast in disagreement.
How To Use it: Use the arm cross with balled fists to show restrained anger. This is useful in a confrontation when words are not permitted to display a high level of frustration and anger. Couple the posture with an angry facial expression to show others that you should be taken seriously and that you are working hard to contain your deeply felt aggression. The posture is useful in situations where you wish to show that aggression is immanent and that people should back off and give you some space and time to relax.
Context: General.
Verbal Translation: “I’m shielding myself from outside negative stimuli by crossing my arms. My fists are balled due to anger and aggression.”
Variant: See Arm Crossing, Arms Crossed With Gripped Arm or Reinforced Arm Cross, Arms Crossed With Thumbs Up.
Cue In Action: Upon hearing bad news, Mary folder her arms across her chest, but when she found out there was an accident she gripped her arms tightly. The more she listened, the more obvious it was that the culprit had done it on purpose. She released her arms and instead balled up her fists.
Meaning and/or Motivation: Arms crossed with clenched fist shows defensiveness or even hostility nearing anger or aggression. It is a sign of authority and control that is commonly seen in police officers.
The meaning and motivation of arm crossing is varied, complex and universal (see variants).
Arms, as they relate to non-verbal meaning, are like shields. They can block and shank ideas from entering just as well as a shield can protect against swords and arrows. Using the arms across the body in a fold is like cutting off access to our core where our heart and lungs are present. The arm crossing usually shows defensiveness and protectiveness, but can also show aggression and anger depending on its variant. Arm crossing simultaneously holds our feelings inside and prevents other people’s feelings from entering. Alternatively, arms crossed indicate that a person is cold. To determine if someone is cold just watch for hands tucked under the armpits, shivering, with legs tightly pressed together.
Cue Cluster: Arm crossing is usually coupled with head up, down or turned away, shoulders oriented away or toward, legs crossed and various negative facial expressions. When arm crossing is combined with a tight-lipped smile or clenched teeth it signifies that a verbal or physical confrontation is immanent.
Body Language Category: Defensive, Hostility, Anger, Closed, Dislike (nonverbal), Indicators of disinterest (IOD), Protective reflexes, Stubborn or stubbornness, Body cross, Clenching and gripping.
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