Body Language Basics
Throughout history it has been an advantage if an individual can read body language. Body language helps in everyday life from closing a business deal or trusting someone with your life, to recognising when someone is upset.
Body language is the art of making an educated guess at a person’s feelings or intentions based on their posture, movement and positioning. To understand a person’s body language you need to take into account more than one aspect of their body language. Take tears for example. Just seeing tears on a person’s face does not tell you much as they could mean a person is happy, sad or just they might just have watery eyes. It is only when you also observe a smile that you can assume a person is very happy.
Each action or stance in the following list means very little, unless there is more than one indicating the same thing. They may also vary between cultures.
Arms
|
Body Language |
Indication |
Alternative Reason |
|
Crossing of the arms |
A negative or critical viewpoint |
Person is feeling cold and is crossing their arms to keep warm or is relaxing |
|
Tapping fingers |
Bored, anxious or agitated |
Habit |
|
Fidgeting with hands |
Bored or has something to say |
Habit |
|
Fidgeting with objects such as a pen |
Bored or has something to say |
Habit |
|
Open hands or showing palms |
Showing trust and interest |
Inviting others opinions |
|
Covering one hand with the other |
Concealed feelings and insecurity |
Cold hands |
|
Clinging to objects |
Confusion or insecurity |
The object is important |
|
Clasping hands |
Defensive |
Habitual posture |
|
Making a fist |
Aggression, angry or irritated |
Holding something small or stretching hand |
|
Firm handshake |
Confidence |
Habit |
|
Weak handshake |
Nervous, Shy, Insecure or scared on interaction |
Has a sore hand |
|
Biting fingernails |
Nervous |
Habit |
|
Wringing hands |
Nervous |
Habit |
|
Looking at watch |
Boredom |
Has to keep on time |
Feet
|
Body Language |
Indication |
Alternative Reason |
|
Placing feet up on desk or chair |
Relaxation, authority or ownership |
Habit |
|
Tapping feet |
Impatient or distracted |
|
|
Twisting feet continuously |
Nervous, Concerned, Stressed or Angry |
Can never sit still |
|
Sitting with crossing legs in direction of speaker |
Relaxed, confident or listening carefully |
Habit |
|
Sitting with crossing legs in direction of door |
Would like to leave |
Habit |
|
Sitting with legs wide apart |
Feels safe, confident and can show leadership |
Disinterested |
|
Dangling loose shoe from toes |
Physically attracted |
Habit |
|
Pacing the floor |
Nervous |
Has been sitting down too long |
Head
|
Body Language |
May Indicate |
Alternative Reason |
|
Resting chin on fist or palm |
Boredom or disinterest. |
Tiredness |
|
Gently resting chin on fingers or touching fingers to lower face |
Questioning, critical or Deep Thought |
Habit |
|
Looking over the top of glasses |
Attentiveness, serious or critical thought |
Vision problems |
|
Pinching the bridge of the nose |
Deep thought |
Nasal problems or poorly fitting glasses |
|
Rubbing or touching around the nose |
Negative thought or doubt |
Habit, itchy or sore nose |
|
Ear rubbing |
Unsure or weighing up possibilities. |
Itchy or sore ears |
|
Direct eye contact |
Dominance or attentive |
Looking past the person into the distance |
|
Sustained eye contact |
Like or interest in you |
Mistaken for attentiveness |
|
No eye contact |
Disinterest or lying |
Distracted, uncomfortable or too confined |
|
Nodding head rapidly |
Eager, Impatient or want to add to conversation |
Listening to music |
|
Nodding head slowly |
Interested, Validating comments or encouraging |
Listening to music |
|
Pressed lips |
Disagreement, Disapproval or desire to end conversation |
Sore or parched lips |
|
Pressed lips with raised chin |
Aggression |
Usual posture |
|
Pursed lips |
Disapproval, Fixed views, Arrogant, Superficial character, Thinking or Deciding |
Usual posture |
|
Biting lips |
Embarrassed or lacks self-confidence |
Habit |
|
Holding hand over mouth |
Hide an expression, Talk without other people hearing or Indicate mistake |
Hide a hiccup, burp, sneeze or cough |
|
Raising eyebrows |
Surprise |
Trying to focus eyes |
|
Eyes open wider |
Astonished |
Dark environments will cause people to open their eyes more |
|
Raised forehead |
Trying to remember, or is crying |
Is looking up |
|
Looking up or into distance |
Trying to remember or think |
Is looking at something in particular |
|
Loud Sign |
Understanding or Strong emotions |
Tiredness |
|
Clearing of the throat |
Nervousness, or wants to be heard |
Has a cold |
|
Slowly taking of glasses and cleaning them |
Wants time to think before continuing |
Had dirty glasses |
|
Relaxed Brow |
Comfortable |
Has had Botox |
|
Tensed Brow |
Confusion, tension or fear |
Permanent frown marks |
|
Leaning back with hands behind head |
Comfortable |
Habit |
|
Winking |
Shared secret or moment |
Sore eye |
|
Massaging Temples |
Anxiety |
Headache |
|
Stoking chin |
Thinking |
Itchy chin |
Chest
|
Body Language |
Indication |
Alternative Reason |
|
Breathing faster |
Nervous or Angry |
Has just finished exercise |
|
Inhaling loudly and shortly |
Wants to interrupt conversation |
Hiccup |
|
Slow breathing |
Relaxed and comfortable |
Breathing problems |
|
Shoulders hunched forward |
Lacking interest or has a feeling of inferiority |
Tired |
|
Rubbing collar |
Nervous |
Trying to get a mark off |
|
Adjusting tie |
Insecure or wanting to impress |
Tie needed adjusting |
|
Shrugged shoulders |
Concerned, or wants to be left alone |
Usual body posture |
|
Shoulders at different levels |
Doubtful about following actions |
Usual body posture |
|
Rigid Body Posture |
Anxious, uptight |
Usual body posture |
Other
|
Body Language |
Indication |
Alternative Reason |
|
Mirroring you |
Likes you or wants to be friendly |
Luck |
|
Staying still |
Interested in what is going on or is being said |
Is tired |
|
Keeps everything tidy and ordered |
Thinks about everything and plans things out |
Habit |
|
Allows things stay unorganised |
Risk taker or stressed |
Too busy |
