Tag Archive for Posture

Non Verbal Body Language Dictionary ::R::

by Christopher Philip • March 27, 2010 • 0 Comments

Did we forget a nonverbal term? Suggest it in the comment box or e-mail it direct, and we’ll be ecstatic to add it! With well over 500 terms, the BLP dictionary is growing to be the largest free nonverbal dictionary in the world! Brought to you exclusively by The Body Language Project! Visit our homepage for more free learning.

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Radical hair styles: A person who’s hair is far beyond ordinary. This person is usually rebellious, adventurous, trendy, a nonconformist, artistic, expressive, is trying to fit in with certain peers, has no regard for personal appearance, has a need to be different or is being affect by their culture.

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Rapid speech: A voice trait when the rate of speaking occurs at an above average rate making what is being said difficult to follow. Talking fast can be due to lying (fast talking salesman), a reaction to growing up in a house where it was hard to get a word in, a basic insecurity, poor self-esteem, efforts to gain attention, nervousness, impatience, anxiety, insecurity, excitement, fear, drugs or alcohol use, anger, desire to persuade or being caught in a lie.

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Rapport or rapport building: When bodies flow in unison while in conversation as if in a dance, they have achieved perfect rapport. Good rapport includes, proper turn taking in speech, matched pace, tonality and volume, mirroring or echoing with respect to posture, matched gesturing and agreement indicators are present and used appropriately to create a seamless and synchronous conversation between two or more people. Rapport is a nonverbal necessity in forming social bonds in friends, in sales to produce comfort and agreement. In all situations, rapport produces liking. It is good rapport that is felt when people feel relaxed and comfortable with others.

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Raspy voice: A raspy voice is a trait usually found in people who smoke, but it can also be due to a cold, bronchitis or physical ailment. Other times a raspy voice is due to overuse or misuse of the vocal cords.

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Readiness to submit postures: Cues that can eliminate, or significantly reduce the possibility of confrontation usually done by making the body smaller and lowering the eyes.

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Ready language: Postures or positions that indicate a desire to leave or take action. Putting the weight forward on the toes, extending a foot in the direction one wishes to exit and putting the hands on the knees are a few examples.

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Reading readiness: When a nonverbal reader has the foundation, understanding and awareness to predict behaviour in other people. It involves knowing the catalogue of body language cues in addition to their meaning, and then carefully observing them in others with an unbiased, objective eye to decipher hidden meaning.

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Recognition gestures: An indication that a person has identified someone familiar. The signals include a smile, eye widening, eyebrow flash, waving and so forth.

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Rectangular table seating arrangements: A table dimension that makes it possible to structure power. The head of the table gains the most power except when it puts their back to the door. Power trickles down as one moves down the table from the head. The person sitting opposite the head is in a competitive arrangement with them.

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Regal stance: A standing body position whereby the arms are placed behind the back. It signifies a desire not to be touched and a haughty attitude. Royalty and those of high rank will be seen performing this stance.

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Regulating: One of the six main categories of body language. This category of body language carries all that is aimed at controlling the pace of a message. It includes all body language used in proper turn-taking such as head nodding, mouth gapping to indicate a desire to speak, eye contact, and so forth.

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Regulators: Used to modulate and maintain the flow of the speech, or turn taking, during a conversation. They include kinesic such as head nods or nonkinesic such as eye movements as well as verbal utterances such as “mhums” and “yeses.”

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Reinforced arm crossing: A full arm cross in combination with clenched fists in a cluster. This cluster indicates hostility and defensiveness. When arm crossing is combined with a tight-lipped smile or clenched teeth is signifies that a verbal or physical confrontation is immanent.

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Rejection body language: Cues used to repel others such as turning the head away and body away, holding an expressionless face, staring blankly, bringing the hand up to stifle a false or real yawn, sneering, fidgeting or picking the fingernails, open rejection of conversation, and so forth.

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Regional style: Fashion and apparel that provides cues to a person’s heritage. They can include male bikini style bathing suits, cowboy hats, distinctive jewelry or other accessories, big hairdos and so forth.

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Register: Is the range of the voice from its highest of highs to it’s lowest of lows.

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Relaxed body language: Relaxed includes a letting down of defensive and closed body language that is typically guarded and rigid for a more open or loose form body language as a person becomes more comfortable. Examples of relaxed body language include a loose body, leg spreading, removing attire, increasing proximity and gesticulation. More extreme relaxation includes laying down or throwing a leg over the arm of a chair.

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Relaxed body postures: Found in people that feel they belong or “own” a situation. They include a loose and open body.

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Remotivating or remotivate: Nonverbal gestures used to control the reaction of others. When a women displays sexually to gain an advantage she is said to be remotivating her target. Acting submissive to dominant individuals is also a form of remotivating.

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Repeating: One of the six main categories of body language. Repeating says that body language is used to convey the same meaning as what was just iterated verbally. If one says “move that over there” then, after a moment pointing in the direction to which one wants something moved, then body language has served to repeat a thought.

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Reptilian brain (the) or the honest brain: The reptilian brain produces visceral bodily responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, respiration, digestion, and reproduction. The reptilian brain is the brain stem. It produces nonverbal body language that is deemed more truthful than that generated by the neocortex which is capable of producing conscious movements. When a person defense their territory and competes for dominance it is due to the reptilian brain.

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Resentment body language or resent: A set of signals that forms the backdrop to anger or jealousy that happens when someone has had something taken away from them of which creates envy and negative feelings toward that person. The body language of those with resentment habitually involves some form of distancing from the stimulus which has caused the emotion. Resentment body language includes crossing the arms, stiffening of the body, grimacing, pouting, avoidance, looking away and various anger signals.

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Resonance: An aspect of voice cause by vibrations in the vocal chambers such as the mouth or pharynx. An authoritative voice resonates from within the chest whereas thin and tight vocal cords produce resonance through the head creating a higher resonance. Low resonances are deep, mellow and earthy, whereas high resonance appears nasal and at times annoying.

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Restraint, restrained, restraining or restricted behaviour: Nonverbal language and movement that is more limited than a person’s baseline. It often indicates a fear response due to anxiety and sometimes predicts lying.

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Rictus: A term stemming from the Latin word meaning “open mouth.” A fixed grimace resulting from extreme shock or nervousness.

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Risorius: Muscles located at the corners of the lips which stretch the mouth toward the ears in the false smile.

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Ritual gestures: Movements that are created between two or more people to build a connection. They can include blowing kisses from mother to infant, silly dance moves, or secrete handshakes. These can extend into adulthood through sports such as end-zone celebrations and other elaborate signals. These gestures are aimed at building relationships and connectivity since they are formulated between close knit people in an exclusive setting.

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Rocking: A rhythmic motion of the torso from side to side or from front to back. Usually rocking signifies a negative thought and based on its intensity and persistence spells to what degree it is felt. High intensity rocking is found in the mentally ill, and low grade rocking can be found in infants who are bored. Rocking also indicates nervousness and can be found in people preparing for sporting events, or to take stage. In this case, rocking is a substitute for pacing.

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Rogatory posture: When the arms are completely outstretched with palms up we call it the “rogatory” posture, or prayer-like. It is a posture used to signify a desire to be believed and trusted however it also tells of a person who lacks conviction.

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Rolled up sleeves (on men): Most powerful when done in a shirt and tie, this gesture symbolizes a desire to get down to business in a less formal manner. Barack Obama can be seen doing this when speaking on change and action. Women usually perceive this body language as masculine and sexy since it puts the forearms on display.

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Room encompassing glance: Occurs when a women first casts her eyes around the room for 5 to 10 seconds. If she spots someone she is interested in, she will take a second look. This second glance is directed toward a specific man. It will be short, and she will rotate her head 25 to 40 degrees to the side then look away (usually downward) within about 3 seconds. Women usually continue this behavior until they meet their target’s eyes. At this point, the target and the woman will hold a mutual gaze lasting about 3 seconds with eye contact broken most often by the women.

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Rotation of the pelvis: While sitting or standing, a woman may subtly roll her pelvis to draw attention to her sexuality.

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Roving eyes: Eyes that wander all over the room making a person seem disinterested and superior.

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Round table seating arrangements or team style seating: A relaxed informal way to sit that promotes discussion among people and creates egalitarian relationships.

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Rituals: Habitual gestures that repeat within a culture including ceremony, idiosyncrasies or social norms.

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Rituals of nervousness: Person specific patterns that outline tension in a person. They can include stroking the arm of a chair, playing with a pen, playing with the hair, or adjusting clothing.

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Rubbing the eye: Usually signifying doubt or disbelief although sometimes indicating fatigue or to alleviate an itch.

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Rubbing the forehead: An evaluative body language gesture but also one that signals an internal struggle where slight to severe discomfort is being experienced.

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Rubbing the hands gestures: A universal signal indicating that someone is prepared to receive something and is figuratively like washing or cleaning them. In an evolutionary sense it is mean to keep the gift which is about to be received clean. We often see those closing important contracts or sales rubbing their hands.

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Rule of four: States that to get an accurate reading of people’s body language you need to find at least four congruent signals at the same time.

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Rule of mixed signals (the): This nonverbal rule says that when there is a mismatch between someone’s body language and their words, rely more heavily on the body language when trying to accurately read a person.

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Rule of negative body language (the): This nonverbal rule says that when a person mixes positive and negative body language rely more on the negative cues than the positive cues. The rule is designed to account for the fact that a person is habitually hiding negativity so as to appear more in control and less abrasive in the eyes of others.

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The Body Language Project is the result of a decade of personal research including a thorough review of over 60 primary scientific research journal articles. Learning body language forms the perfect foundation for success in ALL your communication.

If you are only picking up on what is being said, you are missing more than half of the message.

For more information on BodyLanguage be sure to check out: BodyLanguageProject.com and the Ebook – The Body Language Guide to Dating, Attraction and Sexual Body Language.

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Non Verbal Body Language Dictionary ::O::

by Christopher Philip • March 26, 2010 • 0 Comments

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Oblique eyebrows of grief: In this facial expression the eyebrows are pulled upward more so than the otter ends.

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Observation: Observation in body language reading implies that one actively watches the entire disposition of a person from their head to their toes including all their verbal and paraverbal cues. There is a big disparity between just seeing something and actively evaluating what is being seen and this is what separates an average body language reader, from an expert.

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Oddball handshake: A handshake that often includes bumps, slaps, flicks and clicks. Meant to display a relaxed casual atmosphere and has its place to forming intimate friendships and bonds.

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Offensive gestures: Culturally specific gestures that produce negative feelings in others such as the middle finger in the West and the okay signal in Europe.

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Offered (the): The hands are palm up as if giving a gift. This is a beggar’s plea where agreement is desperately sought from the audience.

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Office artifacts or office props: Office artifacts include any objects that take up space in the place of work. They can be used to display status such as the use of trophies, plaques, certificates or interests such as model cars, sports memorabilia or pictures hung on walls such a nature or fishing adventures. Lawyers are usually portrayed in front of a large library of books which is a nonverbal signal of the mountain of knowledge that “backs them.”

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“OK” gesture: Done by placing the thumb against the index finger forming an opening with the remaining fingers flared out. It is considered more thought provoking and honest when compared to finger pointing because it place emphasis onto the speech rather than the listeners. In Belgium and France however, it means that something is worthless, in Tunisia, Sicily and Southern Italy is an insult, and in Japan that they wish their change returned in coins.

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Ok personality: People that are psychologically comfortable with who they are. They usually have upright posture, with shoulders firm and square, head raised and their body is balanced.

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Olfactory processing: A secondary way of processing information like visual and auditory except the primary means involves the sense of smell. It falls out of the normal realm with which people process information they receive but is occasionally referred to as a vestige. People will use terms such as the following when they refer to their olfaction: This deal stinks. Something smells wrong here. Did you get a whiff of that? This is fresh.

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Once over (the): A sexual or competitive eye pattern that follows the body over its entire form from the toes to the top of the head stopping at the buttocks, breasts and face, typically performed by men. Women are rarely caught looking men over due to their superior peripheral vision. Men have hunter eyes and focus intently on smaller areas. When it signals competitiveness it is usually done by women onto other women looking for a “cat fight.”

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Open body language or openness: Any and all body language that shows that a person is ready to communicate and accept ideas from others. It happens when no part of the body covers the midway-point of the bisected body. The arms and legs are not crossed and the palms are up. Even clothing might be relaxed such as shirt collars being unbuttoned, the pants might hang loose and certain articles like jackets might be removed. Other signals of openness includes increased proximity, prolonged eye contact, warm and relaxed smile, intimate greetings such as hugs and cheek kissing.

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Opposite body language: A pick-up technique where men play hard-to-get by displaying teasing nonverbal cues or even outright disinterest. The object of opposite body language is to appear “chase worthy” in the eyes of women by appearing to be superior to them and avoid appearing “needy.”

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Oral displacement activities: An unconscious gesture aimed at self soothing by using parts of the body such as fingers or hair, or inanimate objects like pens by mouthing them. Scientists have speculated that it is a developmental throwback when we would suckle as infants. Oral displacement can include biting finger nails, sucking pencils, mouthing the stems of the glasses or passing hair through the mouth. Smokers can also be said to have oral displacement fixation where they habitually place objects in their mouth to sooth.

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Orbicularis oculi muscles: One of two muscles that produce smiling. These muscles serve to pull the eyes back to produce the honest smile through what is called “smiling eyes”. Smiling eyes, also called “crow’s feet”, where a classic wrinkling appears in the corner of the eyes is an indication of true happiness.

Oscar Pfungst: Psychologist who uncovered that the skills under which Hans the horse was able to perform simple math had nothing to do with his intelligence, but rather his ability to read body language. He noticed that there were differences in breathing, posture and facial expressions as Hans tapped out his answer. As Hans neared to correct answer, the handlers would increase the tension they held in their body language which would tip off Hans. Once the final tap had been made, the tension suddenly disappeared from the person and so Hans took this cue to mean it was time to stop tapping.

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Orienting reflex or orienting response (a): The phenomenon whereby people turn and move toward stimuli or people they are attracted to, or agree with, rather than away from them such as those we fear or disagree with. (b) The instinctive survival instinct whereby a person orients toward movement. As it applies to nonverbal communication, the orientation reflex controls distractions in business, to maintaining the attention of children with toys, and even to the freeze response where people stop moving in order to put themselves under the radar.

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Ownership gestures: Body language that indicates that a person is in control of something. Ownership gestures are usually performed on objects, but can also be done to people. Propping the feet up on a desk or car bumper or wrapping an arm around a lover or child, are ways to show who they belong to.

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Oxytocin: A natural chemical released by the body due to touching that helps create bonding between people especially in women. In men, sex is the primary releaser of oxytocin which surges up to fives times that of normal just before reaching orgasm. Oxytocin serves to eliminate internal tensions, reduce anxiety, creates feelings of contentment, calmness and trust, and provides reassurance. The hormone is partially responsible for pacifying behaviours that include self touching.

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If you are only picking up on what is being said, you are missing more than half of the message.

For more information on Body Language be sure to check out: BodyLanguageProject.com and the Ebook – The Body Language Guide to Dating, Attraction and Sexual Body Language.

Share and Enjoy:

Non Verbal Body Language Dictionary ::L::

by Christopher Philip • March 25, 2010 • 0 Comments

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La France, Marianne: Professor at Boston University, Dr. La France is a researcher who studies gender and power reflection within subtle communication processes one of which is nonverbal behaviours. She studies how facial expressions, like smiling, or linguistic strategies like apologizing, reveal clear gender differences. She also examines how humour plays out between the sexes.

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Laughter: Some researchers pin laughs as a modification of the fear response or as a warning that danger was near. By that same theory, we laugh because our brains are scared or frightened which is why we don’t laugh when we hear a joke for the second time and have predicted its outcome. Laughter usually comes about due to humour and helps clarify emotional context (by defining amusement) between people. Laughs follow a “ha-ha-ha” or “ho-ho-ho” pattern, but never “ha-ho-ha-ho”. We can see other variations though like “cha-ha-ha” or “ha-ha-ho.”

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Laughing cycle: Laughter is very contagious and when full blown can perpetuate itself in an open loop circuit until we are unable to breath or are in tears.

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Laissez-faire bosses: The words “laissez-faire” is French for “let be”. Literally, this boss will give an employee free reign, or seemingly so. They have confidence in the ability of others to do a good job, and check in only occasionally to measure progress. They might be friendly, but lack eye contact and expression so as not to become involved with others and take them off task. To work well with this boss, use confident and independent body language. Give off signals that you are working efficiently and are coping with any project given to you. Keep meetings short, update them of your progress every so often, then get back to work.

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Leadership body language: Leadership body language is a set of nonverbal postures and gestures that produce a desire to follow in others. It includes things like dominant postures, serious gaze, head held high, frequent use of touching, infrequent smiling or smiling when appropriate.

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Leading: A process whereby a person is artificially induced to mirror, or match actions in another. The technique involves matching body movements such as hand gestures and leg postures, facial expression, breathing, voice and blinking in another person, then suddenly moving out of sync to pull a target into following your lead.

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Leaked or involuntary body language: Leaked body language is any body language that happens accidentally. It is especially significant in people trying to prevent it from happening as it may indicate a hidden or suppressed emotion. Leaking happens because a person’s conscious mind is only successful at blocking the most obvious gestures and what usually happens is that the gestures are replaced with ones that are slightly less pronounced.

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Leaning toward or leaning away: Related to proximity, leaning is a way the body either shows agreement or liking or disagreement and disliking. When people like things, they will subtly or dramatically move toward them and when they dislike them will move away from them. Leaning can be done either when sitting or standing.

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Left side advantage (the): The distinct benefit of being on the left side when facing an audience or appearing in photographs especially when shaking hands. The person to the left always gains the upper hand in the handshake making them appear more dominant and in control.

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Leg cleansing or leg pacifying behaviour: In response to stress the hands are rubbed against the thigh. It serves three purposes, one, it wipes sweat off the palms, two, it burns off nervous energy and three it pacifies.

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Leg crossing: A form of close body posture that signifies liking when oriented toward someone rather than away, sexual interest when entwine and comfort because it disables a person from leaving.

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Leg spreading: When done by men it is a dominant crotch display, and when done by women usually construed as a sexual invitation or that they have a crass attitude or are “easy.”

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Leg twine: The leg twine is one of the most appealing sitting positions for women. The posture is done by tightly wrapping one around the other and then twining the foot under the calf. The result makes the legs appear extremely toned.

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Liar’s lilt: When a person telling a lie finishes their sentence with an tag question coupled with a high pitched voice nearing the end.

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Lie detection devices: Include thermal scanners, eye trackers, pupillometers, stress sniffers and polygraph machines. Each uses an aspect of arousal to determine variations between a regular baseline of a person, and stress, to uncover stimuli that cause it. Therefore, no such test actually measures lying directly. Pupillometers measure changes in the pupils, eye trackers look at eye patterns, thermal scanners look at heat, light and vibrations emitted from the body, stress sniffer machine measures increases in stress hormones on the breath and polygraphs use a combination of increases in sweat and heart rate to uncover liars. While tests such as these provide results at better than chance, they aren’t perfect and present very obvious limitations.

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Light social hug: One of two types of hugs. This one is used for acquaintances and friends, and happens when the shoulders come together but the hips remain separated and do not press together.

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Liking (nonverbal): Nonverbal communication that shows a person feels a connection and agreement with another person. Liking is conveyed through active eye contact, genuine smiles, nodding, ventral fronting, leaning forward and increased proximity, touching, MISSING?

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Limbically aroused: A state of mind characterized by emotional/fearful body language which is difficult or impossible to consciously remove oneself from. It occurs when stimuli are presented which create a flight or fight response.

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Limbic system or limbic brain or midbrain: The limbic system is a set of brain centers or the “reptilian brain” that includes the amygdale, hippocampus, anterior thalamic nuclei, and limbic cortex. These structures in collection handle emotion (from happiness to anger), behavior, long term memory and olfaction or the sense of smell. They are important in body language because they control nonverbal expressions that come unforced or naturally (rather than those coming from the more advanced neocortex) so are an honest representation of true underlying feelings.

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Limp fish handshake: A handshake that has far too little pressure and indicates a timid personality who feels that touching is a violation of personal space.

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Linear lying: The inability to recall a told lie when it is taken out of sequence. Liars find it easy to tell lies through a progression, but when asking to recall the events back, their imagined activities make it nearly impossible to retell precisely because they have never actually happened.

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Linguistic anthropologists: Researchers who study the development of language including body language over thousands of years.

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Linking arms: Serves a function similar to handholding by providing a touch based connection between two people. It is done by wrapping one arm into another through the inside of the elbow or by grasping the inside of the elbow with a hand. It can become more intimate by pulling the arm inward and “hugging” it usually by the more subordinate individual. Linking arms are habitual between romantic couples and so is an intimate gesture.

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Lint picker: A non-verbal displacement gesture indicating a difference of opinion, disapproval and indifference which is especially salient when lint is entirely absent and eye contact avoided. In dating lint picking is a form of interest through preening to make one appear more attractive, and when done on someone else, is a form of affection.

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Lip biting or biting the lip or cheek biting: Biting the lip with the teeth or chewing on the sides of the mouth indicates hidden insecurity, embarrassment, a vulnerability and a lack of self confidence.

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Lip licking: An increase in lip licking is due to a decrease in saliva production due to high stress. Repeated licking can also serve to pacify and sooth. In this gesture the tongue can be seen darting out of the mouth, swiping the top lip on the way and curling under to swipe the bottom lip as it reenters.

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Lip nibble: When the lower lip is lightly nibbled by the upper teeth and pulled inward slightly. The teeth habitually pull at the corner of the mouth. This is a flirtatious sexual gesture usually performed by women who are using self restraint to stop themselves from acting overtly toward an attractive man. In this case it is shy, innocent and youthful in it’s origin.

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Lip pursing or puckering: When the lips form a pout or kiss. Indicates a sexual cue, or desire to kiss, when in context, or a negative thought indicator or that disagreement is present.

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Lip touching: A gesture done whenever the fingers touch the mouth. It signifies contemplation, insecurity, and flirtation depending on the context. When the finger is passed inside the mouth it is an overt sexual display or an extreme pacifying display.

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Looking askance: Is a nonverbal cue done by tilting the head slightly to the side but stopping short of facing head on where the eyes roll the rest of the way forming a scowl. This face shows disapproval, distrust and suspicion.

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Looking away: A signal of comfort when done within context as it shows that a person is lacking fear, but can also show disrespect in extreme cases as it indicate an aloof attitude.

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Looking past or looking through a person or looking away: The deliberate avoidance of eye contact by defocusing the eyes seemingly peering through people. This is an intense form of eye contact avoidance especially when done to quell the attention seeking of another person or while in an active conversation with someone. The nonverbal interpretation of such a cue includes dominance, superiority, dismissal, or outright, rudeness.

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Looking up through the forehead or the Looking up cluster: Done by tilted the head at a forty-five degree angle and looking upwards. The posture is a reflection back into early childhood as children look up at us as seeking our approval or permission.

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Loud voice: A voice that is forceful and overtakes a room or conversation. It can be booming and baritone or a high pitch shrill soprano. The aim of the speaker is to not be missed, hence the loud voice stems from a person who wishes to gain attention and control others through authority and intimidation. Often, loud voices are aimed at speak over others and show egotism and impatience. Sometimes people misread loud voices as confidence which is rarely the case (when it is used courteously), usually it comes from people fearing not being heard. Loud voices can also be used to persuade others, but only via submission, be used to compensate for a perceived personal flaw, a reaction to hearing loss or inebriation.

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Loving circle: When lovers sit on a couch together they will orient their legs toward each other forming a loop and their arms will meet over the backs for the couch. This is the loving circle and can happen within families, with close friends, associates and between and amongst the sexes. It signifies agreement.

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Low confidence body language: Nonverbal cues that indicate stress, anxiety and discomfort. They include hand hiding behaviours, cowering body postures, shoulders rolled inward, lack of eye contact, feet that are pulled inward or locked around the legs of a chair and so forth.

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Low confidence hand displays: Include hands wringing, the fig leaf, hidden thumbs (in pockets), hand rubbing, palm rubbing, hand hiding, entwined fingers while rubbing, hand wringing and sudden frozen hands. These show low comfort and low self esteem and usually have some form of pacifying element.

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Luncheon test (the): Unspoken rules dictate that a centerline exists about a table or at equidistance from two people (when side by side) and one must not cross it with hands, arms, or artifacts of any kind, including papers, folders, utensils (boardroom setting), salt, pepper and centerpieces (dinner settings). This experiment involves moving the artifacts over the centerline throughout the course of the meal. Reactions will be predictable, as they will either slowly move them back to regain territory or will lean back in their chairs so as to regain space.

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Lying or deceptive body language or dishonesty: Unfortunately for the body language reader there are no set cues that give liars away, however there are cues that signify stress and anxiety or arousal. There are times when lying can be read but it is done only by comparing relaxed body language on a baseline to discomfort body language when presented with a stimuli. The gestures most often associated with liars include increased face touching, pulling the ears, neck scratching or pulling on the collar, hand to eye, mouth or nose, closed body postures, eye avoidance, stammering eyes or shifty eyes, and paraverbal cues. Liars are also often thought to suffer from dry mouth, voice tremors, increases in sweating, jerky movements, and gasping or holding the breath, amongst others. There is no single cue that predicts lying in all circumstances. Most lie detectors are only slightly better then 50% accurate.

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If you are only picking up on what is being said, you are missing more than half of the message.

For more information on BodyLanguage be sure to check out: BodyLanguageProject.com and the Ebook – The Body Language Guide to Dating, Attraction and Sexual Body Language.

Share and Enjoy:

Non Verbal Body Language Dictionary ::H::

by Christopher Philip • March 24, 2010 • 0 Comments

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Hailing: A raise of the hand, but with no characteristic waving motion. It indicates that a person has noticed another.

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Hair length language: I term applied to the meaning of the relative length of the hair. Men with short hair are often conservative whereas those with long hair are usually carefree, artistic, or radical. Women with short hair are seen as artistic and business minded. Long hair in women is associated with youth and sexiness, but aging women with extremely long hair can harbour insecurities.

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Hair ruffling: A playful bonding gesture where the hand is run over the hair of another so as to mess it up. A father might ruffle the hair of his son.

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Hair play: Can indicate basic grooming, a sexual cue, or that pacifying is taking place depending on context.

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Hall, Edward Twitchell: Born 1914, Hall was an anthropologist. He is considered one of the founding fathers of intercultural communication. He coined the terms “high and low context culture and “proxemics” in his book “The Hidden Dimension.” Other books by Hall include “The Silent Language” and “Beyond Culture.”

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Halo effect: When people receive positive attributes such as being labeled intelligent or nice simply because they are physically attractive.

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Halting speech: A speech trait where the rate is broken and disjointed. Halting speech indicates insecurity, nervousness, confusion, lying, evasiveness, or an honest attempt to be precise.

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Hammer fist: Made by balling up the fist and repeatedly and rhythmically batoning it against the palm of the other hand or the table. It is an aggressive method of emphasizing a point of view.

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Hand gestures: Special orientations of the hands used to convey specific meaning.

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Hand holding: A nonverbal gesture signifying affection and closeness. In Islamic cultures men can be seen walking hand-in-hand and in the West courting men and women will hold hands showing intimacy.

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Hand on the chin or hands supporting the chin: Indicates evaluation or that negative thoughts are being held, that boredom has set in, or that a person is tired.

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Hand on top handshake technique (the): A handshake technique which reverses the power plays palm down dominant presentation. It is done by grasping with the right hand in the palm up orientation then putting the left hand over top of their hand and turning it vertical.

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Hand rubbing gesture: Rubbing the hands signifies the expectation of receiving something. It has roots in washing the hands to accept goods with hands free of dirt.

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Handshaking or handshake: A handshake is a type of gesture that is used in greeting where two hands meet palm to palm and a pumping action takes place. There are three main orientations that can occur during a handshakes. They are palm down (superiority), palm up (submissive) and palm even (equality). Palm down handshakes emphasizes that a person wishes to control and dominant us, the palm up means someone feels subordinate and an even palm seeks an equal relationship.

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Hand steepling: A posture where the hands are propped by the fingers of each hand to form a bridge – like a church steeple. In this posture fingers are not interlocked and the palms do not touch. The steepler is someone that is confident, sometime overconfident, genuine, authoritative, and particularly evaluative of others around him. Confidence, in this case, is held in the power and control they possess and also in knowing things that other people do not, so steepling says “I have access to hidden information (and life experience) and this is the source of my power and control over you.”

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Hand to face or hand to mouth: A gestural pattern that indicates timidity, shyness or lack of self confidence. Hands that cover the mouth while speaking or wrap around the lips or play with the side of the face or cheek are examples of nonverbal language that spells poor self confidence. Hand-to-face and hand-to-mouth are also sometimes attributed to lying body language although this is only sometimes the case.

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Hand wringing: When the hands are clasp one inside the other and tightly clamped and twisted on each other. It signifies high anxiety, stress or low confidence and is a pacifying behaviour. It can be done so aggressively that the fingers or knuckles turn white.

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Hands in pockets: A comfort position, but also one that reveals insecurity and a lack of confidence and in more extreme cases even secretiveness as if a person has something to hide.

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Hands on hips or hands akimbo or fists on haunches or the pot with two handles: Having the hands on the hips has roots in evolution as it acts like the display of a peacock. It makes the body take up more space and hence appear larger which can be attractive to other men who seek leadership from them or to women seeking a healthy mate.

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Happiness: Characterized by an upward movement of the corners of the lips and the formation of wrinkles in the corner of the eyes.

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Haptics or touch or bodily contact: The study of touching and how it is used in communication. Handshakes, holding hands, kissing, back slapping, pushing, stroking, hugging, high fives, brushing up against someone or pats all deliver meaning and are included in haptics.

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Happy feet: Happy feet are those that bounce up and down with joy or seem to have a spring in their step. This is gravity defying body language and is an honest indication of joy.

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Hard swallow or swallowing hard: Stress indicator due to low saliva production as the fear response of a person is activated. It is usually involuntary. Signifies anxiety and embarrassment.

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Hat raise: A greeting gesture done by removing the hat quickly and replacing it.

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Hat tip: A greeting gesture done by briefly touching or tilting the brim of the hat and lowering the head.

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Head back: Head back indicates confidence sometimes overconfidence and an authoritarian outlook.

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Head bobble: A side to side motion across an arc. It means different things to different cultures. For example, in East Slavic it means disapproval and in India it means “okay.”

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Head drop: A male pick-up cues that is done by first establishing eye contact, then lowering the head followed by quickly and deliberately snapping it backward as if to say “Hey you, come over here.” It is a replacement signal to the finger beckoning and is more subtle.

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Head lowered or head down or head lowering or bowing the head: The head down shows a judgment or negative internal emotion, submission (defeat).

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Head on: Indicates passive listening.

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Head nods: A gesture done by moving the head up and down along the sagittal plane. Nodding has a widespread meaning used to convey acceptance or agreement but in other cultures it means disagreement.

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Head shake or head negation: Occurs as a side to side motion and is normally perceived as maybe, but in reality this is a negative thought indicator. It is done when a person can’t get past a thought.

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Head tilt or head cock: This is a submissive gesture and normally performed by women. The head tilt happens by tilting the head at forty-five degrees and delivering eye contact in a come hither type look. It makes women appear more childlike and evokes protective feelings in men.

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Height: Used as a way of establishing superior-subordinate relationships. These can be real differences as with short and tall people or circumstantial as in happens by modifying ones environment or posture.

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Hesitant movements: Gestures that are filled with fits and starts of which lack direction and certainty. They are not smooth, nor steady. Hesitant movements indicate a lack of clear thought, timidity, fear, nervousness, shyness, lack of commitment and poor self esteem.

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Hess, Edward, H.: A pioneer in the study of pupil dilation who found that viewing attractive stimuli produced larger pupil sizes.

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Hidden mouth or concealed mouth or mouth conceal: Done by placing the hand over the mouth, in part, or whole and “talking through it.” It shows timidity, low self esteem and appears dishonest.

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Hiding in plain sight: A nonverbal technique that usually involves a visceral response from the fright or flight system. This fear causes a person to freeze, either in whole, in extreme cases, or more minutely such as arm or leg freezes for the purpose of going unnoticed. Breath rate can be reduced, eyes may cease looking about the room, and the body may take up a less expansive profile. When children wish to avoid being called on in school, they will “hide in plain sight.”

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Highbrow: When the eyebrows are stiffly arched. It signifies arrogance.

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High confidence body language: Nonverbal cues that are relaxed and show contentment lacking in stress and anxiety. They include hand steepling, splayed legs, erect chest and shoulders, strong, yet relaxed eye contact and so forth.

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High confidence hand displays: Signals that include steepling, palm down displays, and thumbs up (interlaced fingers), out or visible (through jacket pockets). These show high comfort and high self esteem.

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High-five or high ten: A congratulatory gesture done by slapping the hand (or both hands) of another person either above the head or at waist height.

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High/low context culture: In a high context culture the rules for conduct do not have to be specifically outlined or verbalized because everyone already knows them. The cultural demographics are set and the countries demographics doesn’t vary widely from person to person. High and low context affects rules governing aspects of body language such as touching norms. High context cultures have a long standing history and practically everyone in the country understands the rules governing touching for example.

Americans come from a low context culture and those from the middle-east come from high context culture.

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Hip tilt: Hip tilt is pervasive in fashion and advertising because it is one feature that women have that men lack. Women can be seen slouching to one side forcing their hips out to emphasize their curves, or walk in an exaggerated way, bouncing their hips up and down as if on a pendulum – the cat-walk. Because the hips move about a center pivot, the eye is drawn front and center to the woman’s genitals which act as a beacon.

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Hip rolling or hip jut or hip sway:HipHHHfdsfd While walking the hips move in an exaggerated fashion from side to side so as to draw moving attention to the genital region.

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Hip-to-waist-ratio or hip waist ratio or waist to hip ratio: A comparison of measurements that signify attractive qualities in men and women. Studies universally show that men universally prefer a hip-to-waist ratio of about seventy percent (7:10) in women, whereas women prefer men to have a hip-to-waist ratio to be about ninety percent (9:10). This ratio is independent of overall body size or body mass.

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Hip embrace: Happens when young lovers walk with arms around the hips of the other forcing their bodies snugly side-by-side. It is a display of intimacy.

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Hippocampus: A region of the brain that primarily functions in memory, especially long term memory, but it also plays a part in producing pleasure, rage, distaste, annoyance and uncontrolled loud laughter. The hippocampus is responsible for various nonverbal signals due to the root emotions it creates.

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Hobble (the): A type of gait where the legs can not perform a full stride due to injury.

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Honest feet: This is a term used to describe the fact that the feet are a more honest indicator of true feelings and hence body language than the rest of the body. Millions of years ago, we gave up quadrupedalism to walk upright leaving our feet to the dirt and while the hands were focused on higher order tasks through the neocortex, the limbic mind controlled the feet relegated to locomotion and fear response – the fight or flight response. When people are fearful, the feet respond the fastest by being pulled inward, when we are aggressive they kick or stomp and so forth.

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Honest body language or honesty: Body language that is characteristics of people who are telling the truth. Honest people are generally more relaxed and lack discomfort, they will hold open postures, will meet and hold gaze, will use touch and gesticulation in conversation and will not opposite proximity.

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Hostile body language or hostility or anger: Gestures that are designed to intimidate through replacing a person with an action or object with which the action is intended. For examples, hostility can be displayed by pulling or pinching at one’s own ears, cheeks, hair, or face. Figuratively these are actions that the hostile persons wish’s to inflict against their agitator. The gestures are displacement signals meaning they allow for the release of hostile thoughts through peaceful means that avoid (for the time being) direct physical conflict. We might see foot jabs against the leg of a chair, against the floor or other object, a fist might be repetitively pound against the table with emphasis, or the classic fist to palm punch with some verbally threatening language such as “I’m going to smash your face in.” Other cues indicating hostility include redness in the face, arms legs or ankles crossed, hands on the hips, short or rapid breath, frequent repetition of aggressive behaviours, pointing with the fingers, rapid or loud speech, rapid body movements, tension, locked jaw, tightly closed lips, frozen expression or scowling, stiff or rigid posture, shaking, fist clenching, uncontrolled arm movements and false laughter.

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Honest brain (the) or reptilian brain (the): The reptilian brain produces visceral bodily responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, respiration, digestion, and reproduction. The reptilian brain is the brain stem. It produces nonverbal body language that is deemed more truthful than that generated by the neocortex which is capable of producing conscious movements. When a person defense their territory and competes for dominance it is due to the reptilian brain.

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Hug-ender cue or tap out (the): Is a pat done toward the end of a hug when one party wishes to terminate.

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Hugger (the): A gesture used while speaking to an audience where the arms are made

into a circle in front of the body with the palms facing inward toward the speaker. The speaker wishes for the audience to accept his way of thinking or is trying to wrap his mind around his own hypothesis.

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Human lie detector (the): A person who is able to read and decode nonverbal cues in other people so as to uncover when lying is being perpetrated.

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Humility (nonverbal): Body language that indicates that a person desires others to be included regardless of status or intellect. Humility implies that a person is secure with themselves and lack competitiveness. They are also forgiving, understanding and compassionate. Signals given off by those with humility include good listening, self-deprecating humour, quiet demeanor, giving up a chair for someone else, holding proper eye contact and using open body postures.

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Humour: The word humour comes from the Greek humoral referring to medicine (humours) that was thought to control human health and emotion whereas a sense of humour is the ability to experience humour. Humour is a social bonding tool. Humour also has many variations such as slapstick thought to be a rudimentary form, and satire which was thought to be a more educated version.

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Hybrid expression: A term Charles Darwin first referred to in his book “The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals” first published in 1872. It describes a facial expression that combines two opposing meanings such as laughing to conceal a state other than happiness such as anger, shame or shyness. According to Darwin expressions such as smiles either real or pretend are often “blended with the expression proper to contempt, and this may pass into angry contempt or scorn.” Hybrid expressions tell readers to be careful to watch for cues in context rather than by themselves and to look for congruency between what is said and what is seen, as well as body language that happens in unison to uncover true meaning.

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Hygiene: One of the most significant bodily traits. Bad hygiene includes unkept greasy hair, dirty hands or face, dirty fingernails, dirty or stained teeth, bad breath, body odor and dirty smelly clothing. Bad hygiene can say that a person lacks intelligence, organization, is lazy, careless, rebellious, lacking in courtesy or a desire to please, and lacks a desire to be socially accepted. People with poor hygiene sometimes lack the knowledge of its affect on others, are insensitive to others, are mentally ill or have medical problems, or are very poor.

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Hyperhydrosis: A medical condition characterized by an abnormal increase of perspiration independent of any requirement for regulating body temperature. As it relates to nonverbal language, it can be confused with negative connotations when no such connotations occur.

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Hyperventilating: A fear driven emotional limbic response whereby the lungs draw inordinate amount of air in rapid succession without breaks. Hyperventilation is a sign of deep trauma and stress.

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Hypothalamus: Coupled with the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus controls the adrenal glands. These in turn release stress hormones when stimulated by fearful situations. These hormones flood the body helping to release energy needed to fight or flee. The hypothalamus also releases other hormones in response to stress contributing to anger and depression. The hypothalamus is responsible for various nonverbal signals due to the root emotions it creates.

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If you are only picking up on what is being said, you are missing more than half of the message.

For more information on BodyLanguage be sure to check out: BodyLanguageProject.com and the Ebook – The Body Language Guide to Dating, Attraction and Sexual Body Language.

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Non Verbal Body Language Dictionary ::A::

by Christopher Philip • March 19, 2010 • 1 Comment

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Absorbed actions: Body language that is passed from one person to another through culture and hence observation. It is a form of mirroring and happens unconsciously. These sets of nonverbal movements vary from culture to culture and group to group. Take the “gangster” walk by example where an exaggerated bounce is added to the step – this is absorbed from others.

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Abrazo: A term originating in Latin America that describes a brief hug between men. It says “I like you.” It is done by pressing the chests together and engulfing the back of the other with the arms.

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Accenting/Moderating body language: One of the six main categories of body language. This type of body language is aimed at enhancing, amplifying or emphasizing a specific verbal message. In other cases it can be used to soften a point and make it less salient. Gestures include pointing, using the hands to show how big something or an idea is, using a fist chopping action in unison with an important point, fist pounding to display anger, or a honest smile and a bounce in the step to display happiness while speaking of a loved one. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Accidental touching: Touching that happens without meaning between random people usually in busy or crowded environments, or alternatively, done out of conscious awareness but of which is laden with meaning such as a woman might do on a man she finds attractive by brushing up against him.

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Active listening: The opposite of passive listening where a person reflects on what is being said through nonverbal indications. An active listener holds good eye contact, orients toward the speaker with their head or torso and nods their head appropriately demonstrating undivided attention. When listening is done to the extreme it is called emphatic listening. Active listening also usually has so form of light touching to build a connection.

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Achiever (the): One of three types in business. They arrive on time and won’t want to waste a minute. They keep time, don’t stray off topic and leave as soon as the meeting is over.

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Acting (a): A poker term whereby players act weak when they have a strong hand, and act strong when dealt a weak hand. It is a beginners strategy and unsophisticated.

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Acting (b): A nonverbal term that describes a person who is playing a role that misrepresents their true honest selves. We say that politicians are “acting” when they display honest body language when they are in fact lying, or when a person who is shy and timid acts confidently during a job interview. Acting does not always involve polar opposites, and can be done by a person in more minute and specific situations. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Active attraction: A man or women who oozes attraction signals without effort. Men who have active attraction will seem to have high confidence and physical attractiveness such as ideal build and height, have style, personality and especially good body language such as excellent eye patterns, will walk with confidence, be relaxed and hold their ground. Women who have active attraction will exude sexual cues, they will have above average looks such as hour-glass figures, large breasts, will dress provocatively and have social personalities, they will also emit flirty nonverbal sexual signals regardless of a attempt to attract. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Adaptational mirroring: Mirroring that is done intentionally and with consciousness to either put someone at ease or to create discomfort. The goal of adaptational mirroring is to manipulate someone else’s emotions for their own benefit.

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Adaptors: Include variations such as postural changes or other movements that occur at such a low level they often happen without awareness. They are frequently made to adjust ones body and to make someone more comfortable by relieving physical stress. Plenty of unwarranted emphasis was placed on adaptors as hidden meaning but today we see them as merely movements which serve a purpose. An example includes scratching the nose to satisfy and itch which is a movement of purpose, it doesn’t have any hidden meaning. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Adornments: Decorations of the body including tattoos, jewelry, make-up, elaborate clothing and so forth. Adornments are designed by the individual in order to portray a specific quality and character.

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Adrenal glands: Also called suprarenal glands, the adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys. This endocrine gland is responsible for producing the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine). These hormones are linked to the flight or fight response and so are connected to visceral body language.

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Affect displays: Occur in synchrony and within the rhythm of speech and emphases certain words or phrases and are integrally connected to our speech and thought. They are used to reveal our emotional state and can show enthusiasm if we are happy, or if relaying somber information sadness. Examples of affect displays include facial expressions such as smiling, laughing, crying or frowning.

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Affection (nonverbal) or affectionate or loving: Nonverbal signals that display liking such as hugs, kisses, back rubbing, adoring eye contact, handshaking, blowing kisses, increased proximity and submissive body language such as head tilting and neck exposure. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Affiliator (the): One of three types in business. The affiliator is generally a woman or sociable man who is focused on group cohesion and building relationships. They arrive early and make a point of checking in with everyone and making sure everyone is happy and taken care of. They will set up meetings to foster cooperation and will often stay behind to answer any questions. They make lots of eye contact, smile often and will show tension if signals of conflict arises. Their voice will often be calming and hand movements will be used to appease everyone.

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Aggressive body language: Aggressive body language includes nonverbal language that prepares the body for a real or figurative attack. It includes making the body loose or tenses and making the body appear larger and more threatening. Aggressive body language can happen by clenching the fists, finger pointing or flared nostrils and so forth.

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Agreement indicators: Nonverbal communication serving to show that a likeness of mind is present. Agreement is shown through open body language such as arms uncrossed, leaning inward and ankles unlocked. Not all times do nods, “mhums” and smiles, show agreement however, sometimes they merely indicate that a person is being heard.

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Alerting or announcement gestures: Those nonverbal signals that tell others they wish to speak such as raising a hand or motioning, taking in air or making eye contact.

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Alpha female: Similar to the alpha male, other females in their community or sub-community look up to her, she makes decisions for the group and other women look up to her. In humans, the alpha female will be the most listened and obeyed socially as dominant body language for women is much less potent although some dominant body language will still appear.

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Alpha male: Found in all social animals. The alpha male is the individual in the community or sub-community whom others defer to and follow, he makes the decisions for the group and other’s look up to him. In animals, the alpha is sometimes the only one who secures breeding rights. In humans, the alpha male is that which holds dominant body positions. He is normally relaxed, with open postures, he may form a steeple with his hands or rest his arms at the back of his head to display his superiority.

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Alpha you (the): The conscious manipulation of the self to produce the best possible person in the view of others. It includes various nonverbal, people and sales skills to yield above average results in personal relationships, business and life in general.

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Amygdala: A region of the brain that in accompaniment with the hippocampus and thalamus influences fear, rage and aggression along with friendship and love. It has been shown to be a key player in the creation of emotion and closely tied to our bodies. Fear responses are carried to the thalamus which then produces anxiety and alertness within the freeze response. The amygdala decodes the information received from our senses and initiates adaptive behaviours through connections to the motor system (our body). Research shows how this area of the brain is particularly adept at reading facial emotions and decoding them. The amygdala is responsible for various nonverbal signals due to the root emotions it creates.

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Androstadienone: A chemical signal released by men and found in their perspiration said to affect women and homosexual men in a sexual manner. Researchers have found that androstadienone is able to change mood, sexual arousal, and even brain activation. It also commonly added to male perfumes and fragrances. While the chemical itself lacks a direct link to overt behaviour it does affect underlying physiology include hormones and psychological patterns providing root causes for behaviour. Thus, the chemical itself is the nonverbal message.

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Anger: Characterized by a downward pull of the eyebrows and narrowing of the eyelids. Lips may tighten or press together and the nostrils may flare.

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Ankle lock or foot lock (the): Happens when the top of one foot locks around the leg of the other while seated or standing or when the legs are wrapped around the legs of a chair. It indicates a negative and defensive attitude.

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Ankle lock (standing): Done by raising and locking the ankle behind the calf of the supporting leg. This is a mainly female posture and one that spells defensiveness.

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Ankle cross or scissor cross or ankle-ankle cross: Indicates that the person is holding a negative emotion, uncertainty, fear or is generally uncomfortable or timid. Adding to this, the feet might be pulled in under the chair withdrawing emotionally even further. In other context it is modest and formal.

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Annoying alpha (the): A man/woman who is overly concerned about coming across as the main alpha, yet instead of appearing confident, really comes off as cocky. They might take up too much space, become boisterous, and order people around.

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Anthropology: The study of humans in all respects, from socially, evolutionarily, behaviourially and especially culturally. Anthropology is a source of study for body language as it provides context and origins of movements as it relate to purpose.

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Apocrine glands: Located in the groin, armpits, mouth, eyelids, back of the knees, wrists, and palms. These glands release a chemical called androsterone in men, which is chemically related to testosterone, the male sex hormone. Androsterone is (weakly – not strongly proven) linked to sexual attraction and is unperceivable consciously, when it is effective it works without awareness.

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Apologetic smile or lopsided smile: When there is unevenness across the face and the context is appropriate it says “Wish I hadn’t made that mistake.”

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Appease: Refers to the desire to concede to an aggressor through submissive or compliant body language such as shoulders turned inward and head down. Smiles are often referred to as appeasement expressions.

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Argyle, Michael: Born 1925, he was recognized as a social psychologist. His interests compelled him to study gaze and other nonverbal communication, social skills, happiness and social class and his book “The Psychology of Interpersonal Behaviour” became a best-seller.

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Arm crossing: Arms as they relate to non-verbal meaning are like shields. They can block and shank ideas from entering just as well as they 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.

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Arm crossing with clenched fists: Happens by crossing the arms and clenching the fists underneath them. This posture indicates defensive hostility and anger nearing outright aggression.

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Arm freezing behaviour: A fear driven response that reduces or eliminates movements by the arms. In children, it can indicate the presence of abusive parents or relatives, and in adults indicates that a stressful or emotional stimuli is present.

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Arm gripping or gripped crossed arms: Happens as the person grabs each arm with the opposite hand as they cross their arms. It symbolizes tension and is common for people waiting for bad news or waiting for a dentist appointment. It is similar to other forms of self-hugging as it protects the body from exposure and provides comfort. This posture shows both negativity and restraint, meaning that a person is ready and expecting to face a negative outcome and isn’t going to relax until that news comes.

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Arm over the shoulder: A type of hug gesture done by tossing the arm over the back of another. It is a friendly type gesture signifying camaraderie.

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Arms forward: A signal that contains a context specific message. Having the arms forward can mean that a person wishes to hug, to fight if fists are clenched, to repel if the palms are facing vertical toward an opponent or begging if palms are turned upward.

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Arms up posture: A gravity defying nonverbal cue done in triumph or victory such as winning a match or scoring a goal. It is done usually quickly and short in duration where the arms are thrust stiffly upward into the sky so as to draw as much attention to the victor as possible.

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Arm twister handshake: Part way through an ordinary handshake the hand is twisted underneath into the submissive palm up position. Someone who does this is absolutely committed to being on top and dominating.

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Arm withdrawal: When the arms are pulled inward toward the body rather than away. It indicates a lack of agreement or a difference of opinion.

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Arousal: Defines changes in the autonomic nervous system including changes in heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, temperature, breathing, flushing and blanching. Arousal can be due to negative and positive stimuli.

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Arrector pili muscles: Microscopic band of muscle tissue that connects hair follicles to the skin that when stimulated by cold air or fear, stand on end. When we have feelings that send shivers down the spin, the arrector pili muscles are being stimulated.

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Arrogance or arrogant body language: Body language that indicates that a person feels superior to others and that one wishes to separate themselves from the crowd. An arrogant person wears expensive clothing or dress more formally, will act aloof, bored or pretentious. Arrogant people often preen, glance in mirrors to check their appearance, trying to be the center of attention, make grand gestures, keep greater distance from others, stop listening to the conversation of others, make sexually suggestive movements, boast of accomplishments, avoiding eye contact on purpose and holding the head high with the nose pointed upwards. Arrogance indicates that a person is insecure with themselves and is often over-competitive with others.

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Artificial smile or pretend smile: A fake smile where the muscles surrounding the eyes play no part.

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Asymmetry: Gestures such as shoulder shrugs, or facial expressions such as smiles, that are not equal on both sides indicating incongruency or dishonesty.

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Asynchrony: A barrier to good communication. It is a lack of synchrony, or the relative similarity, in the bodies of two people. It shows a difference of opinion.

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Attraction triggers: Cues in men and women that produce feelings of attraction within the opposite sex. These cues stem from fertility in women and resource acquisition in men and are tied to social value. They are evolution in origin brought about through sexual selection. Attraction triggers include physical looks including fertility, personality, social alliances, and nonverbal signals of confidence, charisma, and overall worth to the opposite sex. The value placed on these triggers is relatively person specific and highly sex specific.

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Attentive body language or attentiveness or pensiveness: Cues that indicate that a person is actively paying attention, is interested and engaged. They include such factors as head tilted at forty-five degrees, leaning inward, proper eye contact, greater stillness, chewing a lip or pencil, furrowing the brow, stair into space in concentration, looking upward and scratching the head.

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Audience eye contact: Eye contact that is directed toward a large group of people to create interest in them and liking as well as to create a more authoritarian and effective presentation.

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Auditory learners or auditory communicators: Account for about 25% of the population. This group of people prefer to hear the information through oral presentation, lectures and speeches. Oral learners can be identified because as they learn, they will play music, listen to a television or radio or if that is distracting to them in particular they will play sounds containing white noise by running a fan or listening to soothing sounds of the ocean. Auditory communicators use phrases such as: Maybe we should tone thing down. Here me out, okay? That sounds right. Listen to the plan I have in mind. We can’t whisper a word to anyone about this. This has a ring to it. Can you speak to this? We should announce this to everyone. Are you listening? We should all voice our opinions. It’s like music to my hears. It’s clear as a bell. That strikes a cord with me.

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Authoritative body language or authoritative posture: Nonverbal communication that says “I am in charge.” It can include hand positions like palm down (rather than palm up), hand steepling where the fingers touch to form a bridge, head back and looking down on others, a lowered voice, raising height by taking a taller chair, sitting at the head of the table, or using compliance testing to see if someone will do as you indicate by taking the path of least resistance.

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Auto contact or self touching: A term used to describe gestures such as stroking the beard, rubbing the hands, tugging the ear, massaging the throat, pulling the fingers, rubbing the back of the neck and so forth, which is meant to sooth the body and create comfort. Women habitually use self touch far more often than men.

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Autoerotic touching: Touching that is done to the self driven by sexual thoughts. It is a term used to describe when women are seen stroking their own lips rubbing their upper arms, cheeks, thighs, hips and waist. Autoerotic touching is usually to satiate an internal desire by performing what one wishes to experience on ones self instead rather than having it done by someone else which is risky. It also creates interest through teasing and prepares the body for eventual touching by drawing blood to the surface creating sensitivity.

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Autocratic bosses: We can tell if our boss autocratic if they are attached to the status artifacts around them. Their desk will be used as a barrier protecting them from intruders, they will have cleaver title markings on their desk or door, and usually have trophies or accolades on their walls, their dress will be formal and expensive and their posture will be rigid and straight. Friendliness is the foe of the autocratic boss so he will keep you at arms length, keep conversations on task and hold expressionless faces. If you get out of line, he will use his body language to put you back in your place with harsh voice tones and eye contact. Often autocratic bosses are seen as unloving, unfriendly or inhumane.

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Automatic gestures: Motions of the hand that happen without conscious awareness, usually during speech to add emphasis and colour. Hands might motion when trying to explain something complex or when talking about something excitedly to add emotion. Automatic gestures can happen by down-stroking the mouth when uncomfortable, or wiping the nose with the index finger when stretching the truth. Often gestures that happen out of conscious awareness tend to be more reliable and honest.

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Autonomic nervous system: The ANS is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as the control center for various operations in the body below the level of consciousness. It controls visceral operations such as heart rate, digestion, rate of respiration, salivation, perspiration, pupil diameter and sexual arousal. The ANS is extremely important to the nonverbal body language reader specifically because the operations occur without the permission of the conscious mind making them very honest and reliable cues. While the ANS controls inner functioning, the consequences are seen externally and can be read.

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Autonomic signals or automatic signals: Involuntary stress-induced physiological behaviours that includes shaking, increased heart rate, pupil constriction, vomiting, fainting, blushing and breath rate. These are nonverbal cues that are impossible to consciously control under normal circumstances with the exception of heart rate which some individuals have conscious control, and breath rate, which almost everyone does despite a propensity for breath holding under high stress or hyperventilating.

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If you are only picking up on what is being said, you are missing more than half of the message.

For more information on BodyLanguage be sure to check out: BodyLanguageProject.com and the Ebook – The Body Language Guide to Dating, Attraction and Sexual Body Language.

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