![How to Read a Person like a Book](readaperson_files/image001.gif)
(This is only a prelude...there is much more to
come, stay tuned!!!)
Sections
Openness, Defensiveness, Evaluation, Suspicion
- 3
pairs of attitudinal positions:
- Defensiveness
& suspicion
- Readiness
& cooperation
- Confidence
& self-control
- Insights
needed for accurate attitude/emotional prediction
- “Gesture
clusters are a group of more than 1 gesture that can be used to more
accurately determine the persons attitude/emotional feeling(s)
- Remember
if only one of these gestures is recognized, attitude can’t necessarily
be assumed. More than 1 gesture is
required to do this, i.e. “gesture cluster.
- If
verbal statements are consistent with emotions and attitudes revealed
through gestures, they’re probably telling the truth.
- Openness
- Open
hands demonstrates sincerity
- Open
hands on chest demonstrates frustration
- Shoulder-shrugging
& open hands, palms upward
- Guilt
or suspicion can be noted by hidden hands (in pockets or behind back
- Unbuttoning
coat demonstrates open or friendly behavior especially if done in your
presence
- Uncrossing
of legs
- Move
closer to the other person (sit at edge of seat, or physically move seat)
- Defensiveness
- Arms
crossed on chest
- Turn
back to opposer
- Cross
arms
- Will
most definitely affect behavior of others (1 crosses arms, all will!)
- Comfort
or defensiveness? (Check for gesture cluster, fists or relaxed fit?)
- Grip
armrests of seat
- Sitting
with leg over arm of chair (not cooperative, possibly hostile and/or
uninterested) possibly show superiority, territorial rights or dominance
- Sitting
with the chair back serving as a shield along with feet on table can
illustrate a superior/subordinate situation (boss/employee)
- Crossing
legs can be a sign of doubt or defensiveness (this position can also
denote a person that will give much competition and needs a lot of
attention)
- A
woman that crosses her legs and moves her foot in a slight kicking motion
usually means she’s bored (get to work!)
- Evaluation
- Sitting
on the edge of seat, body leaning forward, head slightly tilted supported
by 1 hand indicates interest
- If
hand-to-cheek and subject is leaning back, that indicates critical,
cynical or negative attitude
- Arms
crossed can indicate a “show me” attitude
- Sitting
back can indicate a “wait-and-see” attitude, possibly a skeptic
- Head
tilted – information-overload.
- Stoke
chin – think/evaluate
- Squinting
eyes (rather obvious) will indicate a thought process
- Gestures
with glasses can indicate a negative reaction, possibly peering over the
rims of eyeglasses. Someone/thing
is being scrutinized by the subject
- Taking
off glasses to procrastinate an answer/conversation (may also involve
putting the earpiece of the glasses into the mouth, though this may also
indicate a need for nourishment or a need for more information)
- If
glasses or object is thrown on table then understand there is much
hostility
- Tobacco
smokers use preparing the cigar/cigarette as time to think/evaluate
- Pacing
– Encountered a difficult decision, or attempting to solve a hard problem
- Pinching
the bridge of the nose – Usually accompanied with closed eyes and
communicates great thought and concern with a decision that’s a bout to
be made; self-conflict
- Suspicion
& Secretiveness
- In
sign language the right thumb extended upward means good while the left
little finger means evil
- Hand
covering the mouth, especially while speaking
- If a
person tends to avoid looking at you at all, most likely hiding something
- All
the gestures that communicate suspicion, uncertainty, rejection, and
doubt essentially have a common message:
negative
- Sideways
glance – (cold shoulder)suspicion and/or doubt
- Feet
and/or entire body pointing toward the exit indicates anxiety about a
situation