Body Language Synopsis

8/7/2019 Body Language Synopsis

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CREATED BY

.GROUP NO:: 2

NO. MEMBERS ROLL.NO

1 AEMAN WAGHOO 47

2 SABISTA SHAIKH 35

3 ANITA SINGH 41

4 SARITA CHAWHAN 6

5 AAFRIN SHAIKH 32

6 ZEESHAN SHAIKH 58



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INDEX

NO. PARTICULARS PG.NO.1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4

2 INTRODUCTION 5

3 FACE 6-7

4 HEAD 8-9

5 EYES 10-11

6 NOSE 12

7 LIPS 13-15

8 SMILE 16-17

9 ARMS 18-19

10 HANDS 20-23

11 HANDSHAKES 24-25

12 LEGS AND FEET 26-28

13 DISTANCE 29

14 CONCLUSION 30

15 BIBLIOGRAPHY 31



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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Any attempt at any level cannot be satisfactorily

completed without the support & directions of learned &

experienced people. We are over helmed in all

humbleness & gratefulness to acknowledge our debt to

all those who have helped us to put these ideas well

above the level of simplicity & into something concrete.

We owe our deepest gratitude to our principal [PROF.

A.E. LAKDAWALA] for imparting us a golden

opportunity to work on the project [ BODY

LANGUAGE]. Sincere thanks to our project guide

[PROF. SANCHITA] for her motivation & constant

support at critical juncture during the entire course of

preparation that has encouraged us to come up with this

project. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to BMS

coordinator [PROF. AARSHI] for her assistance during the times of dilemma. Thanks to our library staff for

their cooperation & supply of books as & when

demanded. We are indebted to our parents & to our

colleagues for their manual support, help & for

everything .

«««««. THANK YOU



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words

tonality

body

language

I RODU IO

There is a famous saying that ´actions speak louder thanwords.´ What does that mean? It means what you do is worthmore than what you say. The study of body language is calledKinesics. According to Merriam-Webster·s dictionary, bodylanguage is defined as ´gestures, movements, and mannerisms bywhich a person or animal communicates with others.´ Gesturesand body language have been called ´the silent languageµ It isanother form to communication with people. Body language isall around us, from the day we are born until the rest of ourlives. It is recognized of being of great importance to the worldof communicating. Communication involves:

American psychologist, states that our communication consistsof 55% body language, 38% is expressed through tone and voice,and 7% is communicated with words. A communicationsexpert, Mario Pei, once estimated that humans can produce upto 700,000 different physical signs (Axtell 10). Body languagecan express many of our feelings, regardless of whether we keepour mouths shut or not. Sometimes it is easy to tell what is on a

person·s mind by the way they position their body.



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F :µFace is the mirror of the heartµ

The face has around 90 muscles in it, with about 30 of these purely for expressing emotion. It can thus be used to sendmany non-verbal signals, using its various features in concert.

1) RED:

A generally red face may indicate that the person is hot asthe blood come to the to surface to be cooled. They mayheat up either from exercise or emotional arousal, for

example when they are excited and energized.A red face is typical of a person who is angry. This is a

clear danger signal, warning the other person that theymay be harmed if they do not back down.

People blush with embarrassment in various ways. Some people's neck goes red. With others it is mostly thecheeks. Sometimes the whole face goes red.

2) WHIT

E:

White skin may be a sign of coldness as the blood goesdeep to avoid cooling further.

White skin is also an indication of fear, often extreme.This happens as the blood abandons a surface that mightbe cut, going to muscles where its power is needed more.

3) BLUE: The skin can also take on a bluish tinge. This can alsoindicate coldness or extreme fear.

B] MOIS E: Sweating is the body's natural cooling mechanism when

it gets hot, possibly from excitement and emotionalarousal.



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Sweat is also associated with fear perhaps to make theskin slipper¡ and hence prevent an opponent f rom taking afirm grasp.

C]E OTIONSHere are some of the facial signals that you might see for

different emotions. Do note that these are only possibleindicators: not all signals are needed and not all signalsindicated here necessarily indicate the associated emotion.

E OTION FACIAL SIGNALS

Anxiet y Eyes damp; eyebrows slightly pushed together;

trembling lower lip; chin possibly wrinkled; head slightly tilted down.

Fear Eyes wide, closed or pointing down; raised eyebrows; mouth open or corners turned down;chin pulled in; head down, white face.

Anger Eyes wide and staring; eyebrows pulled down(especially in middle); wrinkled forehead; flared nostrils; mouth flattened or clenched teeth bared;

jutting chin, red face. Happiness Mouth smiling (open or closed); possible

laughter; crows-feet wrinkles at sides of sparklingeyes ; slightly raised eyebrows; head level.

Sadness Eyes cast down and possibly damp or tearful;head down; lips pinched; head down or to theside.

Interest Stead y gaze of eyes at item of interest (may be

squinting); slightly raised eyebrows; lips slightly pressed together; head erect or pushed forward.

Sur prise Eyes wide open; eyebrows raised high; mouth dropped wide open with consequent lowered chin;head held back or tilted to side.



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H DThe head is very significant in body language.

The head tends to lead and determine general body direction,but it is also vital and vulnerable being where our brain is, sothe head is used a lot in directional (likes and dislikes) bodylanguage, and in defensive (self-protection) body language too.

A person's head, due to a very flexible neck structure, can turn, jut forward, withdraw, tilt sideways, forwards, backwards. Allof these movements have meanings, which given some thoughtabout other signals can be understood.

The head usually has hair, ears, eyes, nose, and a face, which

has more complex and visible muscular effects than any otherarea of the body.

The face, our eyes and our hands, are the most powerful partsof our body in sending body language signals.

The head - when our hands interact with it - is thereforedynamic and busy in communicating all sorts of messages -consciously and unconsciously.

1) H

EAD NODDING:

Head nodding can occur when invited for a response, orvoluntarily while listening. Nodding is confusingly andrather daftly also referred to as 'head shaking up anddown'. Head nodding when talking face-to-face one-to-one is easy to see, but do you always detect tiny headnods when addressing or observing a group?

2) S OW HEAD NODDING:

This can be a faked signal. As with all body language

signals you must look for clusters of signals rather thanrelying on one alone. Look at the focus of eyes to checkthe validity of slow head nodding.

3) HEAD HE D UP: High head position signifies attentive listening, usuallywith an open or undecided mind, or lack of bias.



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4) HE AD TILTED TO ONE SIDE: A signal of interest, and/or vulnerabilit y, which in turnsuggests a level of trust. Head tilting is thought by someto relate to 'sizing up' something, since tilting the head

changes the perspective offered by the eyes, and adifferent view is seen of the other person or subject. Exposing the neck is also a sign of trust.

5) HE AD FORWARD, UPRIGHT: Head forward in the direction of a person or other subject indicates interest. The rule also applies to aforward leaning upper bod y, commonly sitting, but alsostanding, where the movement can be a distinct and significant advancement into a closer personal space zoneof the other person. Head forward and upright isdifferent to head tilted downward.

6) HE AD TILTED DOWNWARD: Head tilted downwards towards a person is commonly asignal of criticism or reprimand or disapproval, usuallyf rom a position of authorit y.

7) HE AD SH AKING: Sideways shaking of the head generally indicates

disagreement, but can also signal feelings of disbelief,f rustration or exasperation. Obvious of course, but of tenignored or missed where the movement is small,especially in groups seemingly reacting in silent acceptance.

8) CHIN UP: Ver y similar to the 'head held high' signal. Holding thechin up naturally alters the angle of the head backwards,

exposing the neck, which is a signal of strength,resilience, pride, resistance, etc. A pronounced raised chin does other interesting things to the bod y too - it tends to lif t the sternum (breast-bone), which draws inair, puffing out the chest, and it widens the shoulders. These combined effects make the person stand bigger. An exposed neck is also a sign of confidence.



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«««..EYES Plato : "The eyes which are the««««.windows of the soul.

Our eyes do not only receive impressions of the world aroundus, they also transmit signals about our innermost feelings toother people.These are the basic movements of the eye, the classics of eyesbody language!

1) LOOK ING S AIGHT AHEAD: When someone looks straight ahead to you, this is usually

a good sign. After all, most of us will try to catchsomeone's eyes by looking at him her to show ourinterest. But do consider that people usually also lookaway as they're processing what you're saying. So, if someone looks right at you, and doesn't look away at all,the message of what you're saying may not even comeacross. Also, people who are lying are often aware that eyemovement may give them away, so they'll look youstraight in the eye. And keep looking. I guess that's why

it·s usually a bit creepy if, that prolonged stare in the eyes.

2) LOOK ING UP AND TO THE LEFT: Looking up is an eye body language sign of thinking. If

you're looking to the left as well, you're processinginformation, and relating it to a past experience or anemotional feeling. If you're talking to this person and yousee this eye movement, I think it's a good sign. Some

people associate this with lying, but liars usually look

straight at you to conceal their lie.

3)LOOK ING TO THE LEFT: Looking to the left is the eye body language usuallyassociated with trying to remember a sound. This one iseasy to remember: it's as if she's looking at their ears! As



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always, you should keep the context of the eye movement in mind: she could also ver y well see movement in her lef t eye, or look at the door to get away f rom you!

I¢

SHORT: £

ooking at the ears, is remembering a sound. She could also see movement to the lef t, or checking howto get away f rom you.

3) LOOKING TO THE RIGHT AND UP:

You look to the right and up, if you're tr ying to remember a recent experience, or you're tr ying to assess if it's logicalwhat the other person is saying. If you're talking to this person, it's usually a good sign, you have captured her attention.

I¤

SHORT: Up and Right is about remembering recent experiences and thinking logically.

4) LOOKING UP: If someone's looking up, he or she is carefully thinkingover what you're saying... if this movement is made whilearms go up and hands are folded behind the head, that's a particular good sign. If someone glances up for a second or

so, while sighing, that could also mean they're looking at the heavens, summoning their God. That's usually not such a good sign.

I¥

SHORT: Up means careful thinking, weighing both emotion and logic... good! Or they're saying "My God!" with their eyes! (not so good!)

5) LOOKING DOWN: Looking down, especially with someone not looking theother person in the eye, is usually associated as submissiveeye bod y language. So, that person may not be ver ycomfortable in your presence, or feeling guilt y of something. Not engaging in eye contact can also meandisinterest, and a desire to leave. On the other hand, he or she may be just thinking what use your information is.



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OSE The nose, which is right in the middle of the

face, can send a certain amount of body language. 1. FL A ED:

When the nostrils are widened it allows more air to bebreathed in and out and readies the person for combat. Ina related sense, this can indicate the person isexperiencing extreme displeasure.

Flared nostrils may also indicate that the person ismaking an internal judgment about something.

2. WRINK

LED: The nose can be wrinkled by pushing up from the mouth.

This happens when a bad smell is detected. It can alsoappear with a metaphoric bad smell is thought about, forexample when somebody else suggests a distasteful idea(see: even language uses bad-taste metaphor!). Anothervariation is when the person is thinking about somethingbut is not satisfied with their own ideas.

3. SNIFFING: Aside from when a person has a cold, sniffing can indicatedispleasure or disgust. This may also happen on one side,with the mouth twitching up as well.

4. TOUCHING IT: Touching the nose can indicate that the person hasdetected a bad smell. It is also common signal from a

person who is not telling the truth.

When a person lies, blood vessels in their nose may

dilate, making the nose swell or appear redder. This alsomay lead to them touching or scratching the nose.

Rubbing the finger alongside the nose can indicatedisagreement. Pinching the bridge of the nose can showthe person is evaluating something, usually negativelyand with some frustration.



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IPS Lips can say a lot of things without words. Our musclesaround them mean we can shape them with incredibly fine

control. Lipstick is used to draw attention to the lips, thusexaggerating further the signals sent by them.

1. PARTED: Lips which are slightly parted can be a strong flirtingsignal, particularly if the lips are then licked and evenmore so if done whilst holding the gaze of another person.

Parting lips is the first stage in speaking and may thusbe a signal that the person wants to talk.

2. PURSED: Lips which are pulled inwards from all directions are anindication of tension and may indicate frustration ordisapproval.

Pursed lips are a classic sign of anger, including when itis suppressed. It is effectively holding the mouth shut to

prevent the person saying what they feel like saying.

3. P

UCKE

RED:

A light puckering of the lips into a kiss shape typicallyindicates desire. It can also indicate uncertainty,

particularly if the lips are touched with the fingers.

When you say 'oo', the lips form the kiss shape. This isone reason that romantic songs often linger on wordslike 'you' and 'too'.

4. TURNED UP: When the corners of the mouth are turned upwards, thiscan be a grimace of disgust or a smile of pleasure. In agrimace, the teeth are unlikely to be shown (althoughtoothless smiles are also common). Grimaces are oftenflatter and tenser.

A full smile engages the whole face, particularlyincluding the eyes. Smiling with lips only is often



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falsehood, where the smile wants to convey pleasure or approval but is actually feeling something else.

5. TURNED DOWN: Corners of the mouth turned down indicates sadness or displeasure.

Some people are so miserable so of ten, this is the naturalstate of rest of their mouths (which is perhaps rather sad).

6. RETRACTED: When the lips are pulled back, they expose the teeth. Thismay be in a broad smile or it may be a snarl of aggression. The eyes should tell you which is which. In a snarl, theeyes are either narrowed or staring. In a full smile, thecorners of the eyes are creased.

7. MOVING: Lips which are moving in the shape of words but without

making sounds means that the person is thinking of sayingthe words. This sub vocalization of ten happens with ver ysmall movement and is of ten completely subconscious. Stage mentalists use this when they ask their 'victims' tothink hard of a word and then lip-read as they silently

sound the word. Up and down movement may indicate chewing. Some

people chew the insides of their mouths when they arenervous.

Rolling in the lips so they roll across one another can be a preening gesture for women, evening out lipstick. It canalso be a sign of uncertaint y or disapproval (look for accompanying lowered eyebrows).

8. TWITCHING: Small, lightning-fast movements of the mouth betrayinner thoughts, for example a single twitch of the corner of the mouth that indicates c ynicism or disbelief .



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Liars in particular will of ten give themselves away with ver y brief grimaces as their conscience expressesdisapproval of the conscious lies.

9. PROTRUDING: When the top lip is over the bottom lip, this may be

linked with biting of the bottom lip, a common indicator that the person is feeling guilt y about something.

The bottom lip extended over the top lip can indicateuncertaint y, as if the person is saying 'umm'.

The bottom lip jutting out is of ten a part of a sulk y pout, where the person expresses child-like petulance at not getting their own way.

Both lips pressed together and pushed out generallyindicates doubt. If the finger touches them, it mayindicate internal thinking or may say 'I am consideringspeaking but am not quite read y to talk yet'.

10. BITING: Biting the lip, centrally or at the side, is of ten a sign of

anxiet y. Usually, this is the bottom lip (especially if the person has overhanging top teeth). This may be a habitual

action and people who do this, will of ten repeat the movein predictable situations.

This is a fairly child-like action, especially if accompanied by wide eyes and eyebrows raised in the middle and lowered at the sides, and thus may betray concern about being told off or otherwise being censured in the manner of a child.

11. RELAXED:

Finally, the lips will have a position of rest when theyare not pulled in any direction. This usually indicates that the person is also feeling relaxed.



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SMI E Smiling indicates happiness« and a friendlyattitude... Smiling indicates we want to communicate with

someone. It shows interest. But there is much more to it« Smiling is a learned phenomenon. Young babies don't smilenaturally. They mimic the expressions of those looking atthem« But by the time we reach adulthood, it has become asignal critical to making a good first impression.Smiling also has an actual impact on your physiology«We'lllook at that in a moment. First, let's look at the2 main types of smile«

1) THE GENUINE SMILE: A genuine smile involves the wholeface including the eyes«More than

just the mouth, many facial musclesare in action. The most visible is thetightening around the eyes. This action

around the eyes is extremely difficult tofake and is the main signal you want tolook at if you think somebody mightnot be telling you their real feelings..

2) THE FORCED SMILE: Usually used out of politeness... Peoplewho put on a smile only use the musclesaround the mouth. But the top half of theirface remains virtually unchanged. Their smile is also lesslikely to be showing their teeth. This smile could mean the

person is not telling the whole truth.

Following are the types of smile:

1) H A-H A L AUGHTER: This type of laughter is free, open & hearty. We are



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at easy in our surrounding. Ever thing isuncomplicated; we are happy with this world. It is alaughter full of joie de vivre. .

2) HE-HE LAUGHTER: This is usually gloating laughter . We laugh about somebod y, something (even if the person concerned does not understand the joke). This laughter soundscondescending; the tone of the voice may beconsidered mocking & challenging. Somebod ylaughing like this may of ten only be concerned with keeping a distance f rom others. .

3) HEE-HEE LAUGHTER: This laughter sounds like a secret giggle, a littlesnigger. People conf ronted with this usually connect it with irony; they may assume that the laughter israther spiteful. .

4) HO-HO LAUGHTER: This conveys some sur prise & is used to let thelistener know that the person laughing does not reallybelieve what he has just heard. It is loud & thereforetends to be preferred by the sort of person who enjoysshowing off . It is usually connected with tendenc y toexpress critical astonishment

¦

protest or evenchallenge. .

5) SMIRK : Smirking is a form of laughter with lips pressed tighter, expressing a certain resoluteness. Thesmirker holds himself back & is not willing to give his

unconditional affection, but negative criticisms isalso excluded. A certain degree of mischief & the joyof observing others are ingredients of the smirk. It can also express self satisfaction.



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RMS Arms act as defensive barriers when across the body, andconversely indicate feelings of openness and security when inopen positions, especially combined with open palms.

Arms are quite reliable indicators of mood and feeling,especially when interpreted with other body language.

This provides a good opportunity to illustrate how signalscombine to enable safer analysis.

For example:

y crossed arms = possibly defensive

y crossed arms + crossed legs = probably defensive

y crossed arms + crossed legs + frowning + clenched fists =definitely defensive, and probably hostile too.

While this might seem obvious written in simple language, it'snot always so clear if your attention is on other matters.

Body language is more than just knowing the theory - it's being

aware constantly of the signals people are giving.1. CROSSED ARMS (FOLDED ARMS):

Crossed arms represent a protective or separating barrier.This can be due to various causes, ranging from severeanimosity or concern to mild boredom or being too tiredto be interested and attentive. Crossed arms is acommonly exhibited signal by subordinates feelingthreatened by bosses and figures of authority. N.B. Peoplealso cross arms when they are feeling cold, so be carefulnot to misread this signal.

2. CROSSED ARMS WITH CLENCHED FISTS: Clenched fists reinforce stubbornness, aggression or thelack of empathy indicated by crossed arms.



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3. GRIPPING OWN UPPER ARMS: Gripping upper arms while folded is effectively self-hugging. Self-hugging is an attempt to reassure unhappyor unsafe feelings.

4. ARMSHELD BEHIND BODY WITH H ANDSCLASPED: As demonstrated by members of the royal family, armed forces officers, teachers, policemen, etc.

5. NERVOUSNESS:

One arm across bod y clasping other arm by side (female). Handbag held in f ront of bod y (female). holding papersacross chest (mainly male).ad justing cuff, watchstrap, tie,

etc., using an arm across the bod y arms/hands coveringgenital region (male). holding a drink in f ront of bod y with both hands. seated, holding drink on one side with hand f rom other side. touching or scratching shoulder usingarm across bod y.



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H DS Body language involving hands is extensive.

This is because hands are such expressive partsof the body, and because hands interact with other parts of the body.

Hands contain many more nerve connections (to the brain) thanmost if not all other body parts. They are extremely expressiveand flexible tools, so it is natural for hands to be used a lot insignaling consciously - as with emphasizing gestures - orunconsciously - as in a wide range of unintentional movementswhich indicate otherwise hidden feelings and thoughts.

A nose or an ear by itself can do little to signal a feeling, butwhen a hand or finger is also involved then there is probably asignal of some sort.

Hands body language is used for various purposes, notably:

y emphasis, (pointing, jabbing, and chopping actions, etc)

y illustration (drawing, shaping, mimicking actions or sizingthings in the air - this big long wide etc., phoning actions,etc)

y specific conscious signals like the American OK, the thumbs-up, the Victory-sign, and for rude gestures, etc.

y greeting people and waving goodbye (which might beincluded in the above category)

Body language experts generally agree that hands send moresignals than any part of the body except for the face. Studyinghand body language therefore yields a lot of information; hencethe hands section below is large.

There are many cultural body language differences in handsignals. The section below focuses on Western behaviour.Much applies elsewhere, but avoid assuming that it all does.

1) PALM(S) UP OR OPEN: Said to evolve from when open upward palms showed noweapon was held. A common gesture with various



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meanings around a main theme of openness. Can also mean"I don't have the answer," or an appeal. In some situationsthis can indicate confidence (such as to enable openness),or trust/trustworthiness. An easily faked gesture to

convey innocence. Outward open forearms or whole armsare more extreme versions of the signal. .

2) PALM(S) UP, FINGERS POINTING UP: Relaxed hands are more likely to be defensive as if offered up in protection; rigid fingers indicates a moreauthoritative instruction or request to stop whatever behaviour is promoting the reaction. .

3) PALM(S) DOWN: Where the lower arm moves across the bod y with palm

down this is generally defiance or firm disagreement.

...

4) THUMB(S) UP: In the Western world this signal is so commonly used and

recognized it has become a language term in its own right:

'thumbs up' means approved. It's a ver y positive signal.

Two hands is a bigger statement of the same meaning.

.

5) THUMB(S) UP: In the Western world this signal is so commonly used and

recognized it has become a language term in its own right:

'thumbs up' means approved. It's a ver y positive signal.

Two hands is a bigger statement of the same meaning.

.

6) PALMS DOWN MOVING UP AND DOWN,

FINGERS SPRE AD: Seen of ten in rowd y meetings the gesture is t ypically a few

inches above the table top, but is also seen standing up.

The action is one of suppressing or holding down a rising



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pressure. Teachers use this gesture when tr ying to quieted

a class. .

7) RUBBING H ANDS TOGETHER: A signal - of ten a conscious gesture - of positive

expectation, and of ten related to material or financial

reward, or an enjoyable activit y and outcome. .

8) INDEX FINGER AND THUMB TOUCHING AT

TIPS:

This is generally seen to be the 'OK' signal, similar to the

'thumbs up'. The signal may be to oneself quietly, or more

pronounced directed to others. There is also the sense of this suggesting something being 'just right' as if the finger

and thumb are making a fine ad justment with a pinch of

spice or a tiny turn of a control knob. The circle formed by

the joined finger and thumb resembles the O f rom OK.

The remaining three fingers are spread. ,

9) H ANDS CLAMPED ON E ARS:

Not sur prisingly gestures involving hands covering theears signify a reluctance to listen and/or to agree with

what is being said or to the situation as a whole. The

gesture is occasionally seen by a person doing the talking,

in which case it tends to indicate that other views and

opinions are not wanted or will be ignored. . ,

10) H AND SUPPORTING CHIN OR SIDE OF

FACE: Usually the forearm is vertical f rom the supporting elbow

on a table. People who display this signal are commonly

assessing or evaluating next actions, options, or reactions

to something or someone. If the resting is heavier and



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more prolonged, and the gaze is unfocused or averted,

then tiredness or boredom is a more likely cause. A lighter

resting contact is more likely to be evaluation, as is lightly

resting the chin on the knuckles. .

11) RUNNING H ANDS THROUGH H AIR: Take your pick - running hands through the hair is

commonly associated with flirting, and sometimes it is,

although given different supporting signals, running hands

through the hair can indicate exasperation or upset.

.

12) H AND(S) ON HIP(S):

The person is emphasizing their presence and readinessfor action. Observable in various situations, notably sport,

and less pronounced poses in social and work situations. In

social and flirting context it is said that the hands are

drawing attention to the genital area.

.

13) H ANDS IN POCK ETS : The obvious signal is one of inaction, and not being read y

for action. Those who stand with hands in pockets - in

situations where there is an expectation for people to be

enthusiastic and read y for action - demonstrate apath y and

lack of interest for the situation. .

14) REMOVING SPECTACLE :

For people who wear reading-only spectacles, this is an

example of an announcement or alerting gesture, where a person readies themselves to speak and attracts attention

to the fact. Other alerting signals include raising the hand,

taking a breath, moving upwards and forwards in their

seat, etc.



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H DSH ES Firmness of handshake is not the reliable indicatorof firmness of character that many believe it to be.

Firm handshakes tend to be those of confident people,especially those who have spent some time in business,and who realize that most people in business consider a firmhandshake to be a good thing. Handshakes that areuncomfortably firm show a lack of respect or awareness,especially if used in cultures (Eastern especially) where firmhandshaking is not normal.

Handshaking evolved from ancient times as an initial gesture of trust, to show that no weapon was being held. Naturally alsothe handshake offers the most obvious way to connect

physically as a way to signal trust or friendship. In more recenttimes, especially from the 1800s onwards, a handshake becamethe way to confirm a commercial transaction. Handshaking bywomen became common practice much later, reflecting thechange of social attitudes and the increasing equality of women, for whom a hundred years back such physical contactwas considered improper. Women have throughout timegenerally been subservient to men, hence the very subservientfemale curtsey gesture (also spelled curtsy), which survives nowonly in traditional situations such as meeting royalty, or endinga stage performance.

1) H ANDSH AKE - PALM DOWN: Usually a firm handshake, the 'upper hand' tends toimpose and or create a dominant impression. .

2) H ANDSH AKE - PALM UP: Usually not a strong handshake, the lower hand hassubmitted to the upper hand dominance. How all thisultimately translates into the subsequent relationship andoutcomes can depend on more significant factors than thehandshake. .



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3) H ANDSH AK E - BOTH H ANDS: Whether genuine or not, this handshake is unduly ph ysicaland (of ten) uncomfortably domineering.

.

4) PUMPINGH ANDSH AK E: A vigorous pumping handshake tends to indicate energyand enthusiasm of the shaker towards the other person,the meeting, situation or project, etc). There is a sense of attempting to transfer energy and enthusiasm, literally,f rom the vigorous hand shaker to the shaken person,hence the behaviour is popular in motivational folk and evangelists, etc. .

5) WE AK H ANDSH AK E: Avoid the common view that a weak handshake is the signof a weak or submissive person. It is not. Weak handshakes can be due to various aspects of personalit y,mood, etc. People who use their hands in their profession,for example, musicians, artists, surgeons, etc., can havequite gentle sensitive handshakes. Strong but passive people can have gentle handshakes. Old people can haveweak handshakes. A weak handshake might be due toarthritis. Young people unaccustomed to handshaking canhave weak handshakes. It's potentially a ver y a ver ymisleading signal. .

6) FIRM H ANDSH AK E: Avoid the common view that a firm handshake is the signof a strong solid person. It is not. Firm handshakes are asign of outward confidence, which could mask deceit or aweak bullying nature, or indicate a strong solid person. Strength of a handshake is not by itself an indicator of

positive 'good' mood or personalit y, and caution isrequired in reading this signal. It is widely misinter preted.



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EGS D FEET Legs and feet body language is more difficult tocontrol consciously or fake than some body languageof arms and hands and face. Legs and feet can therefore providegood clues to feelings and moods, if you know the signs.

Men and women sit differently, which needs to be consideredwhen reading leg body language. Partly due to clothing and

partly due to sexual differences, men naturally exhibit moreopen leg positions than women, which should be allowed forwhen interpreting signals. Certain open-leg male positions arenot especially significant in men, but would be notable in

women, especially combined with a short skirt.Older women tend to adopt more modest closed leg positionsthan younger women, due to upbringing, social trends, equalityand clothing. Again take account of these influences whenevaluating signals.

Also consider that when people sit for half-an-hour or morethey tend to change their leg positions, which can include legcrossing purely for comfort reasons. Again allow for this wheninterpreting signals.

Leg signals tend to be supported by corresponding armssignals, for example crossed arms and crossed legs, which asidefrom comfort reasons generally indicate detachment,disinterest, rejection or insecurity, etc.

1) LEG DIRECTION, SITTING GENER AL: Generally a seated person directs their knee or kneestowards the point of interest. The converse is true also -legs tend to point away from something or someone which

is uninteresting or threatening. The rule applies withcrossed legs also, where the upper knee indicates interestor disinterest according to where it points. The moredirect and obvious the position, the keener the attractionor repellent feeling. .

2) PAR ALLEL LEGS TOGETHER, SITTING: This unusual in men, especially if the knees point an angle



27

other than straight ahead. The posture was common inwomen due to upbringing and clothing and indicates asense of properness. .

3) CROSSED LEGS, SITTING - GENERAL: Crossed legs tend to indicate a degree of caution or

disinterest, which can be due to various reasons, ranging

f rom feeling threatened, to mildly insecure.

.

4) CROSSING LEGS, SITTING - SPECIFIC

CH ANGE:

Generally the upper crossed leg and knee will point according to the person's interest. If the knee points

towards a person then it signifies interest in or enthusiasm

for that person; if it points away f rom a person it signifies

disinterest in or a perceived threat f rom that person. Signs

are more indicative when people first sit down and adopt

initial positions in relation to others present. Signs become

less reliable when people have been sitting for half-an-hour

or so, when leg crossing can change more for comfort thanbod y language reasons.

.

5) STANDING 'AT ATTENTION: Standing upright, legs straight, together and parallel,

bod y quite upright, shoulders back, arms by sides - this is

like the militar y 'at attention' posture and is of ten a signal

of respect or subservience adopted when addressed by

someone in authorit y. .

6) OPEN LEGS, SITTING: This is a confident dominant posture. This is a clear

exception to the leg/knee point rule since the pointing is

being done by the crotch, whose target might be a single



28

person or a wider audience. Not a gesture popularly used

by women, especially in formal situations. Regardless of

gender this posture is also combative because it requires

space and makes the person look bigger. The impression of

confidence is increased when arms are also in a wide or open position. .

7) LEGS CROSSED, STANDING (SCISSOR

STANCE): Typically observed in groups of standing people at parties

or other gatherings, defensive signals such as crossed legs

and arms among the less confident group members is of ten

reinforced by a ph ysical and audible lack of involvement and connection with more lively sections of the group.

Where legs are crossed and arms are not, this can indicate

a submissive or committed agreement to stand and engage,

so the standing leg cross relays potentially quite different

things.

8) FEET OR FOOT DIRECTION OR POINTING: Like knees, feet tend to point towards the focus of interest

- or away f rom something or someone if it is not of

interest. Foot direction or pointing in this context is a

subtle aspect of posture - this is not using the foot to point

at something; it is merely the direction of the feet when

sitting or standing in relation to people close by.



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DISTANCE

It is important for people to have their ´own

space .́ When you talk to someone, you are in a certain distance

from that person. When you love someone, you get closer to

him or her than you would a stranger. So there is an invisible

line that surrounds a person. If a stranger crosses the line, you

would feel uncomfortable; they get too close for comfort. In

David Lewis· book, The Secret Language of Success, he points

out the preferred distances for different encounters. Distance

also plays a role in signaling the beginning and the end of a

conversation. When you are talking to someone, and he or sheis starting to move away from you it means that she needs to

go, or she wants to leave. It also signals something about how

intimate, and how personal the relationship is between two

people. The intimate space is reserved for making love,

embracing, comforting, and protecting This distance is stay

within 0-15inch. There is the far zone for the intimate distance

called as personal distance and that is between 15inch-2ft.This

is for the relatives, spouse, children, lovers, and friends. Thenthere in the personal distance which is 18 to 36 inches. This is

reserved for close friends. The third is social distance, and it is

5-12feet. This is for small groups like meetings or interviews.

And finally is the farthest one which is public distance, and it is

12-25 feet, and this zone is for strangers.



30

CONCLUSION

We can say that bod y language is an important tool to know

what a person is? & how a person is? Bod y language is inborn,however it can be refined through learning & practice. Thus one

should make ever y possible effort to improve his or her bod y

language.

THANK YOU!!!



BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. www.about.com

2. www.ask.com

3. www.wikipedia.com

WIBLIOGRAPHY

1. THE SECRET OF BODY LANGUAGE-

JULIES FAST

2. THE DEFINITIVE OF BODY

LANGUAGE-ALLAN & BARBARA

PEASE

Documents

Body Language Synopsis