Body Language (Part-IV)

                     BODY LANGUAGE (Part-IV)

In this article i am going to discuss about the body language relating to limbs as well as face, their meanings and how they are delivered.

1. Hand to face gestures:

(i) The mouth guard-- The mouth guard involves the hand covering the mouth with the thumb pressed against the cheek, implying that the person wishes to suppress something being voiced. A person using this particular gesture while speaking is telling a lie while if he/she uses this gesture when someone else is speaking indicates that he/she feels that the other person is lying. Some people camouflage their gesture by faking a laugh.

(ii) The eye rub-- When a men lie, they rub their eyes vigorously; if the lie is a big one, they will often look away, generally towards the floor. Women, on the other hand, conscious of their looks, use a small, gentle rub just below the eye; they generally avoid eye contact with the listener, preferring to look up at the ceiling.

(iii) The ear rub-- A person wishing not to head what the other person is saying, discreetly puts the hand around or over the ear. This body language is seen mostly in young children as they shut out both ears what they don’t want to hear. When a person pulls at his earlobe or bends the entire ear forward to cover the ear hole, it indicates that he had heard enough or want to speak now.

(iv) The collar pull-- When a person realizes that his lie has been caught, he tends to pull his collar, probably to ease the stinging sensation in his neck caused by the lie. This gesture is also used when a person is angry or frustrated and by pulling at the collar away from the neck, he hopes to allow cool air to circulate around his neck to calm himself down.

(v) Fingers in the mouth-- A person under pressure invariably put his fingers in his mouth, unconsciously trying to relieve his stress. This body language is an external expression for an inner need for reassurance.

(vi) Cheek and Chin gestures-- A person supporting his head with his hand, indicates his boredom, lack of interest or attempts to not fall asleep. The continual foot tapping and finger-drumming on the table are signs of impatience and not boredom. When a person has negative or critical thoughts, his thumb supports his chin while his index finger points vertically up the cheek. While making decision, his hand will move to the chin and begin a chin-stroking gesture.

(vii) Decision making gestures-- A bespectacled person might remove his glasses from his face and put one end of the frame in his mouth, instead of using chin-stroking gesture. A person may put his pencil tip or fingertip in his mouth while making decision, any objects in his mouth suggesting that he is unsure and needs assurance in making a quick decision. When a person is making decision, his hand may be stroking his chin but as he begins to lose interest in the speaker, his head begins to rest on his chin.

2. Limb Barriers: Limbs act as a barrier to protect a person from any hostile situation or condition and has an inevitable impact in determining body language.

(i) Folded arm gestures-- Crossing of arms acts as a buffer against an imminent threat or hostile situation, signifying that he is tense, pessimistic or defensive, or he may be paying less attention to what the speaker is saying.

(ii) Standard arm-cross-- There are three common arm-cross gestures (defense against an unfavorable condition): the universal gesture (signifies defensive or negative attitude), the reinforced arm-cross (reinforced by clenched fists, indicates a defensive attitude, ready for physical assault) and the arm gripping gesture (gripping the arm shows a restrained negative attitude). Most people, who disagree with what they hear, also adopt an arms-folded position. Status can also influence arm-folding gestures. In the superior type of arm-crossing, both thumbs point vertically upwards, signifying that the user is cool and self-confident, with a folded arm giving him a protected feeling.

(iii) Partial arm-cross barrier-- A subtler arm-cross barrier is the partial one, in which one arm swings across the body and holds or touches the other arm to form the barrier. Another form is holding hand with the other.

(iv) Crossed-leg gestures-- The crossed-leg gesture indicates negative or defensive attitude. In the standard leg-cross position, one leg is crossed neatly over the other and may be used to indicate a nervous, defensive or reserved attitude. When this gesture is accompanied by crossed arms, it indicates that the person has withdrawn from the conversation. Women show their displeasure with their men by adopting this gesture.

(v) Ankle-lock-- It also suggests negative or defensive attitude. Males generally clench their fists on their knees or grip the chair's arms while their ankles are locked to suggest defensive attitude or pessimism or that they are holding back an emotion. Females may hold their knees together, feet to one side, hands resting side by side or on top of the other on the lap.

(vi) Foot-lock-- This body language is almost exclusively prominent in women who are shy or timid. When she locks one foot around the other leg, it indicates that she likes to be in her own shell.