Allan_and_Barbara_Pease_-_Body_Language_The_Definitive_Book

Chapter 1 HOW THE REVEAL WHA MIND WANTS Mark sat there with his legs wide apart, str the salt shaker. He hadn't noticed that, for the been crossed away from him and pointingThe farther away from the brain a boless awareness we have of what it is dpeople are aware of their face and wtures they are displaying and weexpressions to 'put on a brave face'look', 'grin and bear it' or 'look hapyou ugly underwear again for your biare less aware of our arms and hastomach and we are least aware of ouous to our feet. This means that the legs and feet arinformation about someone's attitudeunaware of what they are doing with

10 LEGSAT THES TO DO roking his tie and massaging e past 20 minutes, her legs had g towards the nearest exit. ody part is positioned, the doing. For example, most what expressions and ges- can even practise some ' or 'give a disapproving ppy' when Grandma gives irthday. After our face, we ands, then our chest and ur legs and almost oblivi- re an important source of e because most people are h them and never consider 209

The Definitive Book of Body Lafaking gestures with themtheir face. A person can lootheir foot is repetitively tappirevealing their frustration at Jiggling the feet is l run away from whEverybody's Talking Abof WalkingThe way people swing theirinto their personality — orthey're like. When young, hwalk faster than older peoswinging higher in front anlook as if they're marching.tional speed and greater muscthis, the army march evolportray the effect that the maThis same walk has been apublic figures who want to sThat is why striding is a poWomen's arms tend to swinarms bend further out from tbabies more effectively.How Feet Tell the TrutWe conducted a series ofinstructed to lie convincinglyWe found that the managercally increased the unconsc210

anguage in the way that they would withok composed and in control while ing or making short jabs in the air,t not being able to escape. like the brain's attempt tohat is being experienced.bout a New Way arms when they walk gives insight r what they want you to believehealthy, vibrant people walk, theyople, which results in their armsnd behind, and can even make it. This is partly due to their addi-scle flexibility. As a consequence oflved as an exaggerated walk to archers are youthful and vigorous.adopted by many politicians andsend out a message of their vitality.opular gait with many politicians.ng even further back because their the elbow to enable them to carryth tests with managers, who werey in a series of staged interviews.rs, regardless of gender, dramati-cious number of foot movements

How the Legs Revealthey made when they were lying. Mfacial expressions and tried to controbut almost all were unaware of whadoing. These results were verified by pwho discovered that not only do pebody movements when they lie busuccess exposing a person's lies wheentire body. This explains why manycomfortable only when sitting behindwhere their lower body is hidden. if you're not sure whether lied to or not, look undeGlass-topped tables cause us more stour legs are in full view and so we docontrol.The Purpose of the LegsThe legs evolved in humans to serveforward to get food and to run awayhuman brain is hardwired for thesetowards what we want and move awwant - the way a person uses their lethey want to go. In other words, themitment to leaving or staying in auncrossed leg positions show an opewhile crossed positions reveal closed A woman who is not interested inon her chest and cross her legs away'no-go'body language while an intereherself to him.

What the Mind Wants to DoMost managers used fakeol their hands while lyingat their feet and legs were psychologist Paul Ekman,eople increase their lowerut observers have greateren they can see the liar's y business executives feeld a desk with a solid front,r you're beinger their desk. tress than solid tables, ason't feel as if we are in fulle two purposes: to move from danger. Because thee two objectives - to go way from what we don'tegs and feet reveals where ey show a person's com-a conversation. Open or en or dominant attitude, attitudes or uncertainty. a man will fold her arms from him giving him the ested woman would open 211

The Definitive Book of Body LaThe Four Main Stand1.At AttentionThis is a formal position thacommitment to stay or go.used more by women thantogether like a 'No Commwhen talking to a teacher, jusenior officers, people meetiit when talking to the boss.2. Legs ApartAs mentioned earlier, this isis like a standing Crotch Diboth feet firmly on the grouhe has no intention of leavinby men because it highlighDisplayer a macho-looking212

anguageding Positions at shows a neutral attitude with no . In male—female encounters, it is men as it effectively keeps the legsment' signal. Schoolchildren use it unior officers use it when talking to ing royalty do it and employees use The Attention Stances predominantly a male gesture andisplay. The Crotch Displayer plantsund, making a clear statement thatng. It is used as a dominance signalhts the genitals, giving the Crotch attitude. The Crotch Display - putting his masculinity on show

How the Legs Reveal WMale participants at sports matchesaround with each other in this positiontheir crotch a continual adjustment. Tnothing to do with itching - they allowmasculinity and show solidarity as athe same actions. The Crotch Display is macho men and toug 3.The Foot-Forward The body weight is shifted to one hi foot pointing forward. Paintings don often show high status men standing i tion as it allowed them to display the breeches.

What the Mind Wants to Do can be seen standingn at half time and giving These adjustments have males to highlight their team by all performing used bygh guys ip, which leaves the frontne during the Middle Ages in the Foot-Forward Posi- eir fine hosiery, shoes and 213

The Definitive Book of BodyThis a valuable clue tobecause we point our lewould like to go and this sning to walk. In a groupthe most interesting or attleave, we point our feet at4. Leg CrossThe next time you attend awill notice some groupsand legs crossed. Look mthey are standing at a grethe customary social distaIf they are wearing coatstoned. This is how most214

Language The Foot-Forward Position - pointing at where the mind wants to go a person's immediate intentions,ead foot in the direction our mindstance looks as if the person is begin- situation, we point our lead foot attractive person but when we want to t the nearest exit. a meeting with men and women you of people standing with their armsmore closely and you'll also see that eater distance from each other thanance. The Standing-Leg-Cross or jackets, they are likely to be but- people stand when they are among

How the Legs Reveapeople whom they don't know well.you would find that one or all ofothers in the group. While open legs can show opennelegs shows a closed, submissive orsymbolically deny any access to the The Sc but heFor a woman, positions like the Scissosend two messages: one, that she intetwo, that access is denied. When a mastay but wants to be sure you don'tOpen legs display masculinity; closedhe's with men he feels are inferior to hiright; if he's with superior males, hohim look competitive and he feels vulpeople who lack confidence also take Open legs show male c dosed legs show maleImagine now that you notice anotherwith arms unfolded, palms visible, cappearance and leaning back on oneing towards others in the group. Alhands and moving in and out of eacCloser investigation would reveal thaor are known personally to each o

al What the Mind Wants to Do If you interact with them them are unfamiliar withess or dominance, crossed defensive attitude as they genitals. cissors - 'No comment'e's not leavingors and the Single-Leg-Crossends to stay, not leave; andan does it, it also shows he'll 'kick him where it hurts'. legs protect masculinity. If im, the Crotch Display feelsowever, this gesture makes lnerable. Studies show that Leg Cross positions. confidence;e reticence.r group of people standing coats unbuttoned, relaxede leg with the other point- ll are gesturing with theirch other's Personal Space. at these people are friendsother. The first group of 215

The Definitive Book of Body Lapeople with the closed armexpressions and conversatiofolded arms and legs tell usfident with each other as th Try this: join a group wheyour arms and legs tightly csion. One by one the other gand legs and remain in thaleave. Walk away and watchthe group assume their origi Crossing the legs not onlytions, it makes a person apreact accordingly.Defensive, Cold or 'JuSome people will claim thainsecure when they cross ththey're cold. When someonthrust them under his armpthe elbows, as is the case wwhen a person feels cold hewhen the legs are crossed tpressed hard against eachrelaxed leg posture of the d Sh ju216

anguagems and legs may have relaxed facialon that sounds free and easy, but the that they are not as relaxed or con-hey are trying to appear. ere you know no one and stand with crossed and wear a serious expres- group members will cross their arms at position until you, the stranger, h how, one by one, the members of inal open poses once again. y reveals negative or defensive emo-ppear insecure and causes others to ust Comfortable'? at they are not defensive or feelingheir arms or legs, but do it because ne wants to warm his hands he'llpits rather than tucking them underwith a defensive arm-cross. Second, e may use a type of body hug and they are usually straight, stiff andh other as opposed to the moredefensive stance or position. he's more likely to be cold or ust looking for the rest room

How the Legs RevealPeople who habitually cross their athat they are cold rather than adnervous, anxious or defensive. Othersfortable'. That's probably true — wheor insecure, crossed arms and legs fematches their emotional state.How We Move from ClosedAs people begin to feel more comfortknow others, they move through a sethem from the defensive crossed armrelaxed open position. This standingfollows the same sequence everywher1. Uncertain about each other 2. OpeIt begins with the closed position, armtration 1). As they begin to feel comand rapport builds, their legs uncroPlaced together in the Attention Positon top in the arm-cross comes out aally flashed when speaking but is ebarrier. Instead, it may hold the outs

l What the Mind Wants to Doarms or legs prefer to say dmit that they could be s simply say they're 'com- en someone feels defensive eel comfortable because it to Open table in a group and get to eries of movements takingms and legs position to the g 'opening-up' procedure re. enness and acceptance ms and legs crossed (illus- mfortable with each other oss first and their feet are tion. Next, the arm folded and the palm is occasion- eventually not used as a side of the other arm in a 217

The Definitive Book of Body LaSingle-Arm-Barrier. Both atures or may be placed on thperson takes the Foot-Forwof the other person (illustraThe European Leg CrOne leg is crossed neatly ocrossing left over right. Thisused by European, Asian anWhen a person crosses bothally withdrawn from the cotry to be convincing when th218