People do not like to show their weaknesses, so in difficult times, we try to hide our insecurities and show others that we are in control of the situation and that we feel comfortable.
However, words alone are not enough for these purposes: body language can reveal a person’s real emotions and feelings.
We have created a list of gestures that will be useful for those who want to learn to read the person they are talking to like an open book and stop looking shy.
7. Slouching
Bad posture is not only detrimental to our health, but it also says a lot about a person’s character. Insecure people go out of their way to remain invisible, which is why they often start to lean when they are in a stressful situation.
A study conducted by Ohio State University showed that people who were asked to sit on their backs evaluated their own strengths and abilities better, while those who were slouching were more susceptible to negative emotions and low self-esteem.
6. Crossing Your Arms and Legs
The crossed arms are a barrier that a person uses to feel separated from the outside world, unconsciously protecting their vital organs: their lungs and their heart.
In this position, we can comfort ourselves by relieving stress through hugs and showing an active defense of our personal limits. In any case, closed poses eloquently indicate that a person is currently uncomfortable.
Crossing your legs is a more subtle way to express your insecurity because people often ignore the lower body of the person they are talking to. However, this body position can also indicate that a person is in an awkward situation.
5. Fidgeting
When a person is extremely nervous, the brain sends a signal that says, “Calm down!” And the hands immediately “respond” to this request.
Quick movements, touching different objects, clothes, jewelry, and hair are forms of calming behavior that help the person feel comfortable again.
4. Hiding Your Hands in Your Pockets
In some cultures, the hand-in-pocket gesture is considered rude. But even if we put etiquette aside, people often see this attitude as a sign of isolation, a reserved attitude, and a suggestion that a person is hiding something.
3. Covering Your Mouth with Your Hand or Finger
Covering your mouth with your hand is a gesture for children when they realize that they have said something superfluous.
As people get older, they gain better control over their body language, but hand protection may still be around, only in a more disguised way.
When a person is afraid or does not want to express their opinion, the brain sends signals to contain the spoken words at a subconscious level and the fingers reach the lips without any control.
2. Sitting on the Edge of a Chair
Nervous people feel helpless and small, and the world around them seems hostile and unfriendly.
Sitting on the edge of a chair can be seen as a manifestation of rigidity, in which the person wishes to remain invisible and occupy as little space as possible.
1. Unnatural Smile
A smile can be a protective reaction of the body that helps the person to try to hide their nervousness.
A false smile can be distinguished as being excessive when the corners of the mouth are too high or when the muscles around the eyes do not move.
Have you ever paid attention to the gestures you use in a stressful situation?
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