One territorial behavior used to assert dominance and project an image of authority is known as arms akimbo. Shoulders rising toward the ears causes the “turtle effect”;weakness, insecurity, and negative emotions are the message.

The players of a losing team will do it, or the employees about to report on their accomplishments who haven’t had many accomplishments. Albeit some politicians might do it to avoid looking weaker than their speaking partners, it just makes people uncomfortable. The content could have been covered in a 30 page report that would have been more memorable had the reader been dynamic. The sudden locking of ankles around the legs of a chair is part of the freeze responseand is indicative of discomfort, anxiety, or concern.Covering of the neck dimple pacifies insecurities, emotional discomfort, fear, or concerns in real time.

As a very broad overview of possible ticks and movements, this book is fine, but the commentary for 80% of these can be summed up as "People do X when they're nervous or anxious". Joe Navarro hence advises avoiding hand gestures in a foreign culture until you learn a bit about what they mean.Shoulder shrugs: Shrugging of the shoulders is a common nonverbal way to communicate ignorance on the topic. After reading The Dictionary of Body Language, you’ll have a new ability to read other people’s true intentions, and to adjust your own body presentation so that you can convey the right messages. I also look for the white knuckles of the individual who grabs the chair armrest in a fixed manner as though in an “ejector seat. What Every Body is Saying is his best-known body language book, an international bestseller available in 27 languages. After reading the book, I realized that some of the facts mentioned I have already known but always taken for granted; Such as "positive emotions drive gravity-defying gestures", some repetitive and stroking motions have soothing effect that help a person deal with stress, etc.