Anger
Anger is one expression of fight or flight mode - an automatic, instinctive reaction to a threat. In many cases, there is an underlying fear of being harmed. Thanks to automatic nervous system arousal, the heart rate increases, pupils dilate and the face may flush. Other signs of anger include:
- balling of fists
- crossing the arms tightly
- clenching the fists once arms are crossed
- tight-lipped smile
- clenched teeth
-shaking a finger like a club
-stabbing a finger at someone
Attraction
- pupils dilate
- women will cross and uncross legs to draw attention to them
- mirroring (usually unconsciously), mimicking the other person's body language.
- finding excuses to touch the other person
Closed to conversation
- keeping the hands in the pockets (esp. men)
- arms and legs crossed
- sitting back
- folding the hands together on the table (creates a barrier)
- the "figure-four" leg cross (setting the ankle of one leg on the knee of the other) and then grabbing the lower half of the top leg with both hands
Distress
- men, in particular, have a tendency to stroke or rub the nape of their neck when they're upset. it acts as a self-soothing gesture to deal with a "pain in the neck".
- crossed arms - acts like a protective barrier
- self-hugging - arms are crossed, hands gripping upper arms
- one-arm cross - one arm crosses the body to hold or touch the other arm - women keep a hand on a purse or bag strap to make this look more natural
- clutching a purse, bag or briefcase with both arms
- adjusting cuffs or cuff-links (men's version of purse-strap grab)
- folding the hands together in front of the crotch (men)
Lying
Lying causes a subtle tingling in the face and neck, so the gestures below are attempts to eliminate that feeling:
- covering the mouth - can be like a shhh gesture, or they may cover the mouth completely - some people try to cover it by coughing.
- touching or rubbing the nose or just below the nose, often a quick, small gesture not a scratch.
- rubbing the eyes (esp. men)
- scratching the neck with the index finger