9 Body Signs That Tell More About A Person Than Words

Our body is more honest than words: any lie can be recognized if your attention is trained and if you have a little knowledge. That doesn’t mean you need to dedicate yourself to unmasking people, since each one is unique. However, this means that behavior analysis must start with a little preparation.

At the awesome.clubwe decided to study the issue thoroughly, so we had to get some body language training ourselves before sharing the essentials with you.

The main thing we have to remember when evaluating the interlocutor’s non-verbal signals is that each one has its own basic line of conduct🇧🇷 It is essential to take into account the context of the situation🇧🇷 That is, arms crossed on the chest, which we often consider a closed posture, can mean that the person is cold. Only by studying the situation thoroughly can we draw the right conclusions and find out if a person is lying, if
is worried and in what situation she is simply tired.

The way the person shakes your hand will help you form your first impression of them. Behavior analysts distinguish 3 types of handshakes:

obedient — palm up; dominant — palm facing down; neutral — both people’s hands are in the same position.

Watch how your new acquaintance reaches out and what he does at the same time. If the interlocutor has the dominant type of handshake, he is unlikely to take his opponent’s opinion into account, but will expect tacit consent. An obedient or neutral handshake is more favorable if you have to discuss controversial issues or convince him of something.

Pay attention to the behavior of some politicians: when they want to gain an advantage in the dispute, they resort to an unexpected gesture when greeting the opponent (patting the back or suddenly pulling the hand). As a result, a person may lose the decisive attitude he had before the meeting. Keep this in mind to avoid falling victim to manipulation.

Pay attention to the smile the person returns to you. After a little practice, it will be easier to quickly distinguish a sincere smile from a fake one, as they are produced by different muscle groups:

sincere smile: the zygomatic muscles are involved in it, which tense the corners of the lips upwards, form “crow’s feet” around the eyes and the eyelids can partially cover the eye; fake smile: it is produced by the so-called laughter muscles, which extend the corners of the lips in different directions, but the upper part of the face remains practically immobile.

By recognizing a real smile, you can be sure that the person accompanying you feels comfortable with you.

From time to time we use gestures that are perfectly understood without further explanation. They are called emblems. Notice how the person uses them during communication:

gestures must correspond to what the person is saying; the lie is denounced by the emblematic errors: situations in which gestures do not correspond to the words or do not fit with the facial expressions. In that case, it’s best to believe the body language, as it’s very difficult to lie to it.

Heads up: if you see that your interlocutor raises his thumb and at the same time purses his lips, it is worth turning on the alert signal. Most likely, he’s not being completely honest. The same happens when the words are accompanied by an almost imperceptible sigh or shrug.

Closed hand positions almost always speak of anxiety and negative attitude:

hands with interlaced fingers; closed fists.

It also includes the situation where a person holds a small object with both hands. These gestures can have different variations and sometimes take the form of “camouflage”. Often this behavior is typical of public persons.

Anyway, if someone interlaces their fingers in front of you, negotiation will be difficult. In addition tension can be caused by a lack of sincerity which always requires some emotional effort. Remember: the further down your interlocutor’s hands are, the worse.

Helpful tip: If you notice that the person is feeling uncomfortable, try to help them relax. Often, to achieve this, it is enough to get rid of the gesture.

The palm of the hand holding the forearm it is a sign that the person is holding back negative feelings. On a subconscious level, this is an attempt to calm down, to stabilize the condition.

Pay attention to the thumbs: in the “closed position” they do not appear or are parallel to the floor. But if you notice that the hand is resting on the arm and at the same time the thumb is looking up, then in front of you you have a self-confident person who knows how to keep a cool mind.

Remember how safe you felt as a child when you walked hand in hand with your mother. The child grows, but the reflexes remain.

Find the output: make the environment more comfortable for your interlocutor: try to change the subject, ask if he doesn’t want to sit down if he’s standing. The most important thing is to get rid of the gesture, then the conversation will be easier.

Hands on knees, restlessness: it’s time to end the conversation.

Experts call this behavior “limbic flight”: by helping the person up a little in the chair, the person subconsciously tries to end the conversation or leave the room.

Helpful tip: try changing the theme. Once you have talked about something more pleasant, the person will be able to relax and the dialogue process will be easier.

By putting our hands behind us, we subconsciously leave the vulnerable parts of the body “unprotected”. A person may allow himself this gesture if have absolute confidence in the situation or feel superior to others. She probably has nothing to hide and is being honest with you (since even a small lie makes people
feel stress).

Try it: stay in this position if you feel uncomfortable and want to feel calmer. Such a posture will give you confidence.

Short movements, such as the tendency to straighten something without stopping, are a sign that the person is feeling anxious and nervous:

men are more likely to touch the face; the women usually touch the neck, clothing, and hair.

Such movements help to normalize the pulse and calm down.

Certainly: tapping the pencil, whistling and moving your feet are all signs of stress. Distract your interlocutor with something positive if you observe the manifestations of stress.

The movement of the feet suggests that the person is uncomfortable. But not always: these actions have their own details:

The intensity of foot movements increases: the person heard something pleasant; Suddenly stopped: the climate has changed dramatically, and it is very likely that it has changed for the worse.

Pay special attention to changes of this nature, especially when it comes to a business meeting, so you can find the key to continuing the dialogue.

Watch: if the person was sitting cross-legged and then grabbed the knees with the hands. In body language, it means your confidence in something has been shaken. Keep this detail in mind during important negotiations.

The legs are far apart, your interlocutor is trying to gain stability. Then something makes him feel uncomfortable. Also, the greater the distance between his legs, the greater the discomfort he is feeling. Crossed legs, it is the opposite, unstable position. There is little support underfoot and, in case of danger, it will be more difficult to maintain balance. Which means the person is not thinking about possible threats: they are comfortable and calm.

Also, pay attention to your feet.

If the heel is on the floor and the toe is raised, the person is clearly in a good mood. Most likely, your interlocutor heard something that he liked. He may be quiet, but his legs reveal his emotions. But the heel raised and the support on the tip of the foot they are signs that the person is preparing for some kind of action. Maybe you want to go out, change the subject, and you’re already getting ready for it. Or perhaps you are wondering whether to lie or tell the truth, and it is very likely that you are inclined to the first option (since lying always requires certain emotional efforts).

Do you know other techniques to discover the emotions that your interlocutor is experiencing? Can you use this knowledge in the dialogue process?