1) Covering the mouth

The hand covers the mouth, as if the brain is subconsciously trying to suppress the utterance of false words. Sometimes a person covers his mouth with only a few fingers, sometimes with a clenched fist, but the meaning of the gesture does not change from this.

Covering your mouth

Some try to justify this gesture with an imitation of a cough. Actors playing gangsters or criminals often use this gesture in scenes of discussion of criminal acts or police interrogations. The audience immediately understands that their characters are hiding something or simply deceiving.

If your interlocutor uses such a gesture, you can be sure that he is deceiving you. If the interlocutor covers his mouth at the moment when you speak, then it seems to him that you are deceiving him. This is the most unpleasant gesture that a person who speaks in public can see. When you notice it, you need to stop and ask: “Does anyone want to ask a question?” or say, “I see that some people disagree with me. Ask questions, please." This will allow the listeners to openly express their doubts, and the speaker - to clarify certain points of his speech and answer questions. The same should be done when noticing that the listeners begin to cross their arms.

If your parents or caregivers often used such a gesture in your childhood, then most likely it will firmly enter your “lexicon” of body movements.

Sometimes people cover their mouth with one finger, as if calling for silence. Most likely, the parents of such a person often used this gesture when he was small. As an adult, he uses it in an attempt to hide his true feelings. Such a gesture immediately makes it clear that the interlocutor is hiding something.

2. Touching the nose

Sometimes a person touches the tip of the nose with a light, almost imperceptible movement, sometimes vigorously rubs the space between upper lip and nose. Women make this move more inconspicuously than men, probably for fear of ruining their makeup.

It is very important to remember that such a gesture should only be interpreted in relation and in context. It is possible that your interlocutor just has a runny nose.

Scientists have found that when a person lies, their body produces substances called catecholamines that act on the nasal mucosa. With the help of special equipment, scientists were able to control the blood flow in the body and came to the conclusion that deliberate lies also lead to an increase in blood pressure. That is why people blush. Also related to this is the Pinocchio effect. High blood pressure affects the nose and the nerve endings located in it. The nose begins to itch, and the person involuntarily rubs it.

It is impossible to notice an increase in the nose with the naked eye, but touching the nose is very difficult to hide. The same thing happens when a person is anxious, offended or angry.

American scientists - neuropathologist Alan Hirsch and psychiatrist Charles Wolf conducted a thorough analysis of Bill Clinton's speech before the Grand Jury during the analysis of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Scientists have found that when the president spoke the truth, he barely touched his nose. When Clinton lied, he frowned for a moment before answering and touched his nose every four minutes. Hirsch and Wolfe counted 26 touches. When Clinton answered honestly, he didn't touch his nose at all.

Studies conducted with special equipment have shown that when a man lies, his penis fills with blood and enlarges. Maybe the Grand Jury should have taken Clinton's pants off?

"I did not have sexual relations with this woman"

3. Scratching your nose

Itching in the nose usually resolves with vigorous scratching or rubbing. In this way, such a gesture differs from touching the nose, which we have just talked about. As in the case of covering the mouth, the nose can be touched by both the speaker, who is trying to hide the deceit, and the listener, who doubts what he has heard. Scratching the nose is usually an isolated repetitive gesture.

4. Eye rubbing

“I don’t see anything,” says one of the wise monkeys. When a child does not want to look at something, he closes his eyes with one or both hands. When an adult does not want to see something unpleasant, he begins to rub his eyes. Such a gesture indicates an attempt by the brain to block deception, doubt, or an unpleasant sight.

Men usually rub their eyes vigorously, as if deceit is a speck in their eye. Women rub their eyes much less frequently. Instead, they touch the lower eyelid with a slight movement, which is not surprising, since they do not want to spoil the makeup. At the same time, women also look to the side.

"I just can't see it!"

"Lies through teeth" is a fairly common expression. Under it is meant a whole chain of gestures: clenching of teeth, a fake smile and rubbing of eyes. Such a chain is often used in films to portray insincerity. It is also quite common, for example, in England, since the British almost never tell the interlocutor about their thoughts.

5. Rubbing the earlobe

"I don't want to hear it!"

Imagine that you say to a person: "This product costs only three hundred pounds", and he starts rubbing his earlobe, looking away, but at the same time says: "Sounds tempting." Human gestures betray a symbolic attempt to "hear nothing." He tries to block out what he hears by putting his hand to his ear and rubbing his earlobe. There is an adult version of a child's gesture: when a child does not want to hear adults' reproaches, he closes his ears with both hands. Some people begin to rub their neck behind the ear, pick at the ear, stretch the earlobe, or twist the ear so that the shell closes the ear canal.

Rubbing the ear shows that the person has heard enough or wants to say something himself. This gesture, like touching the nose, is used by people who experience feelings of anxiety. Prince Charles often rubs his ear and touches his nose when he enters a crowded hall or walks past a crowd. These gestures betray his anxiety. But we have never seen pictures of such gestures when Prince Charles is inside his car, that is, in relative safety.

In Italy, rubbing an ear means that a man is homosexual or simply looks too feminine.

6. Neck scratching

Manifestation of uncertainty

The index finger (usually of the hand with which the person writes) scratches the neck under the earlobe. Our observations show that the average person scratches their neck five times. Very rarely the number of scratches is less than five. Only a few scratch their necks more than five times. This gesture betrays doubt or uncertainty. It's as if the person is telling you, "I'm not sure I can agree." This gesture is especially noticeable when the person's words contradict him. If a person says: “I can understand how you feel,” but at the same time scratches his neck, then he has no idea how you feel right now.

7. Collar pull

Desmond Morris was the first to discover that lying causes tingling in the tissues of the face and neck, so a person begins to scratch and rub them. Now it becomes clear why insecure people constantly scratch their necks. When speaking untruths and fearing being caught in a lie, some pull back their collars as if they are hot. The deception leads to high blood pressure and increased sweating, especially in cases where the deceiver is afraid of being caught.

The same gesture appears when a person is angry or depressed. He unconsciously pulls back his collar to cool off a bit. If you see that the interlocutor pulls back the collar, ask him to repeat or clarify what was said. This will make the deceiver think about his actions and, perhaps, tell the truth.

8. Fingers in the mouth

It is man's unconscious attempt to return to the state of safety he remembers from infancy when he suckled his mother's breast. Such a gesture occurs when a person feels under pressure. Small child replaces mother's breast with thumb or blanket. An adult sucks a finger, a cigarette, a pipe, a pen, a pair of glasses, or chews gum.

Most mouth touches are associated with deceit and lies. However, a finger in the mouth indicates that a person has an internal need for encouragement. Support the interlocutor, give him certain guarantees - and this will allow you to move in a positive direction.

These people need encouragement

Grade and pull gestures

A good speaker is one who “instinctively” feels the interest of the audience, and also knows how to finish the speech on time. A good seller feels when he succeeds in touching the buyer, and knows how to identify his true interests. Anyone who has ever given a presentation knows the unpleasant feeling when clients say almost nothing and just watch the process. Fortunately, there are many gestures that can be used to determine the relationship of the interlocutor to what was said and evaluate the progress made.

Boredom

When the listener props his head with his hand, it means that he is insanely bored. The hand helps to keep the head upright and not fall asleep. Pay attention to the force with which the cheek rests on the hand supporting it. At first, the head rests on the fingers, and as interest decreases, on the whole palm or on the fist Complete absence interest is illustrated in the figure. This posture may also be accompanied by slight snoring.

If the person’s hand does not serve as a support for him, but he simply puts it on his cheek, then this gesture means that the person is evaluating you with interest. If the result is a negative assessment, then such a gesture can easily turn into a gesture of boredom.

And we have already considered. Now about the most interesting and difficult thing - about the meaning of facial gestures. If all the previous sections were devoted to the details of the image, now we will consider dynamic processes, which, in fact, are much more complicated and interesting.

How often do we notice that our interlocutors make certain characteristic gestures. They sometimes comb their hair, grab their ears, and cover their mouths. Each such gesture has its own meaning. Facial expressions fully reflect internal state person: whether he is lying, whether he is comfortable, whether he likes what he says.

We will master the technique of gesture recognition, you will always distinguish a lie from the truth, understand the real motives of your interlocutor. Where did his eyes go? Why did he twist his mouth like that? Did the cat really eat his annual report, was there really a traffic jam on Kutuzovsky? All this can be yours secret weapon, since it will be difficult to deceive you. Moreover, it is an indispensable technique in negotiations, communication with a new partner or lover.

The very science of interpreting facial gestures is enormous in scope. So it will not be possible to fully cover all the subtleties even for several books. There are more than fifty lip gestures alone. Therefore, we tried to select the most common, basic elements.

Man covering his mouth with his hand

When a person covers any part of the face, this is a defensive reaction. On a subconscious level, he protects himself from negative consequences. When a person covers his mouth with his hand, he does not want anyone to suspect anything in his words. Perhaps he is telling a lie or is not sure of his words.

Also, this gesture means embarrassment, insecurity, tightness. Perhaps the person was in an unusual or uncomfortable environment. The same mechanism operates - protection from the consequences. Many try to cover up their laughter - this is one of the manifestations of tightness.

An interesting point. A similar mechanism is triggered when someone else lies or avoids answering. If you tell something to a person, and he covers his mouth with his hand, then most likely he does not believe you or does not trust some words.

Man scratching his nose from below

The first option is that he has a cold or runny nose. He's trying to relieve the itching from the irritation under his nose. But if a person is perfectly healthy, then with this gesture he tries to distract you from his lies or understatement on a subconscious level. He is definitely hiding something or does not want to tell you something. During the conversation, this will also become clear, since at the same time he will try to get away from the topic, change the object of discussion, or begin to make excuses.

Man holding his chin

There are several gesture meanings. About the most harmless - the habit of scratching your beard, they say it calms. Especially men who have grown a beard or stubble.

Another option is that the person is trying to hide some hitch in the head. Do you know the feeling when you can not find the answer to a fairly easy question. Such a pause lasts a few seconds, but for you it turns into an eternity. You feel in an awkward position. Indeed, sometimes you immediately gave out an answer to more challenging tasks. Such moments happen to everyone and are associated with fatigue, fatigue. Some people start scratching their beard, trying to cover this pause.

The man holds his fingers in the region of the nose

Thus, he covers the face in the area of ​​​​the nose. Usually such a gesture means that a person listens to what he would not like. Or he is afraid to hear something. This feeling is familiar to everyone when, reporting to the authorities or sitting on the exam, you are asked a question, and you are not sure that you can answer it. If your interlocutor makes such a gesture, then you groped him weakness. You can use this if you wish!

Man looks away

If during a conversation a person often looks away, then he feels some uncertainty. An animal instinct is triggered, which can be observed in cats: what I do not see is not there. Familiar?

If a person looks away before saying something, then this means that he is choosing words. At the same time, what is interesting. Looking down, he turns to memory, that is, remembers some details. At the moment when a person looks up, fantasy works. This does not necessarily mean that he is ready to lie. Perhaps you asked a question from an area that a person has not encountered or has little experience, so he analyzes his knowledge, begins to reason and turns on his imagination. Averted gaze to your left side corresponds to speech, that is, a person builds sentences. Looking away to the side is a visual picture. The person represents something.

Tight lips

If, after what has been said, a person strains his lips, they rise slightly and protrude forward, then this means that the person himself is disgusted with what he said. Such a gesture can be compared with the words "what to do?" Often such a gesture is used when it is reported bad news, or a person shares something that he does not like to say. Thus, he protects himself from negative impacts by the recipient of the information. After all, he had to say something unpleasant, which means he caused negative emotions.

Serious things with a smile

Laughter is a great defensive reaction. The person seems to be saying: "come on, it's okay." Often we smile in an unusual environment, thereby protecting ourselves on a subconscious level. We laugh when we see something unusual, not even funny. It doesn't have to be a big laugh. Perhaps a restrained smile or smirk.

Many gestures are not fixed by consciousness, but they fully convey the mood and thoughts of a person. If there is a desire to become attentive and interesting interlocutor, then it makes sense to understand gestures and facial expressions, to study the signals given by means of non-verbal communication.

So if:

- fingers clasped. Three options are possible: crossed fingers raised at face level, lie on the table, lie on your knees. This gesture denotes disappointment and the desire of the interlocutor to hide his negative attitude;

- mouth protection by hand(it can only be a few fingers or a fist). This gesture indicates that the listener feels that you are lying;

- ear scratching and rubbing. This gesture indicates that the person has heard enough and wants to speak out;

- neck scratching. Such a gesture testifies to the doubt and uncertainty of a person;

- pull back collar. This gesture is used when a person is angry or upset. It can also be used when a person lied and suspected that his deception had been discovered;

- fingers in mouth. This gesture speaks of an internal need for approval and support;

- cheek support. The gesture indicates that the interlocutor has become bored;

- the index finger is directed vertically to the temple, and thumb supports the chin. The gesture indicates that the interlocutor is negative or critical of what he hears;

Companion rubs his forehead, temples, chin, covers his face with his hands- this indicates that he is not in the mood to talk in this moment with anyone;

Human averts eyes- this is the most striking indicator that he is hiding something;

- arms crossed on chest the interlocutor signal that it is better to end the conversation or move on to another topic. If the interlocutor crossed his arms and clenched his palms into a fist, then this means that he is extremely hostile. You need to end the conversation as soon as possible. If the interlocutor wraps his arms around his shoulders when crossing his arms, this means that he is already ready to go hand-to-hand;

- gesture "pinching the bridge of the nose", the “thinker” posture, when they prop their cheeks with their hands - these are gestures of reflection and evaluation;

- index finger scratching right hand places under the earlobe or side of the neck, rubbing the nose with the index finger are gestures of doubt, which indicate that something is not clear to the interlocutor in the conversation;

An offended person most often takes the following pose. He raises his shoulders and lowers his head. If the interlocutor took just such a pose, then the topic of conversation should be changed;

A person trying to end a conversation lowers the eyelids. If your interlocutor wears glasses, he will take off his glasses and put them aside;

If your interlocutor bites the temples of glasses or constantly taking off and putting on glasses, which means that he is delaying the time to make a decision. In this case, you need to help your interlocutor and give him the time he needs to think;

If your interlocutor walks around the room, this means that he is interested in the conversation, but he needs to think before making a decision;

Gestures and character

A man smug and arrogant folds his hands together.

A self-confident person who wants to show his superiority over others can be recognized by the gestures of "laying hands behind the back with a grip on the wrist" and "laying hands behind the head." It is difficult to communicate with such a person. Therefore, if they want to win him over, they lean forward a little with outstretched palms and ask him to explain something. Another way is to copy the gesture.

If the interlocutor suddenly began to collect villi from his clothes, and at the same time turned away from the speaker or looked at the floor, this means that he does not agree with what was said or does not want to express his opinion.

A person who, during a conversation, holds his hands on the side edges of a chair or his hands are on his knees wants to end the conversation. In this case, the conversation is immediately terminated.

By the way the listener releases cigarette smoke, one can determine his attitude to the interlocutor and to the conversation. If he constantly blows smoke upwards, it means that he is in a positive mood and enjoys the conversation. If the smoke is directed downward, then the person, on the contrary, is negatively inclined, and the faster he releases the smoke, the more the conversation is unpleasant for him.

Gait is also an important determining factor in the momentary state of a person. If a person has his hands in his pockets or he swings them, if he looks under his feet, he is in a depressed state. A man whose hands are clasped behind his back and his head is lowered is preoccupied with something.

Lowered shoulders and a raised head mean that a person is set for success, in control of the situation. Head tilted to one side - the interlocutor is interested. Rubbing the century - the interlocutor is telling a lie. Raised shoulders mean that the interlocutor is tense and feels the danger coming from you. Raised shoulders and lowered head are a sign of isolation. The interlocutor is either insecure, or afraid of something, or dissatisfied with the conversation, or feels humiliated.

In order to achieve the desired goal in a conversation, it is not enough to be an attentive person, you yourself need to use gestures of openness during a conversation that will help win over the interlocutor, call him to a frank conversation and leave the most favorable impression about yourself. The gestures of openness include the “open hands” gesture, when they extend their hands to the interlocutor with their palms up, and the “unbuttoning the jacket” gesture.

Watch your facial expressions: lips should not be tightly compressed, while there should be a half-smile on your face (drooped corners of the mouth are unacceptable - this means that you are upset about something, and no one needs such an interlocutor). When you look at the interlocutor, then visually try to draw a triangle on his face, in which you need to look. It helps you concentrate

Fingers, if possible, always keep together. While eating, dancing, smoking, the little finger is not put to the side, it will look cutesy-mannered. It is also indecent to point a finger.

When talking with someone, look into the eyes of the interlocutor. well-mannered people they know how to control their gaze, facial expressions, giving the face a natural expression.

There are situations when during a conversation there is an irresistible desire to sneeze. You can resist this: just rub the bridge of your nose.

Handshake and character traits

An authoritative handshake promotes submission. It can actually make it impossible to establish equal relations. Such a handshake is characteristic of people who seek to lead, subordinate. At the same time, the palm is directed downward, in connection with which the partner is simply forced to turn the palm up. It is recommended to respond to an authoritative handshake like this:

make a wrist girth from above, and then shake it. This will allow for some time to unsettle a person who intends to command.

shake a person's hand with both hands. Such a handshake is possible between politicians as it symbolizes trust. This gesture, however, should not be used when meeting, because stranger it can cause rejection.

An indifferent handshake is a slight touch of the hands. Such a lifeless touch leaves the feeling that a person who is characterized by such a gesture has a weak will.

A strong handshake is one that can cause pain. It is usually preferred by serious people, whose main character trait is the desire for conquest.

A limiting handshake, that is, a handshake that is not bent at the elbow, helps to maintain a certain distance between people, leaves the personal zone inviolable. This type of handshake is characteristic of people who are aggressive or seeking to protect themselves from other people's pressure. If, during a limiting handshake, only fingers are put into the palm, then this indicates that the person does not feel confident in himself.

A pulling handshake, in which one of the partners pulls the hand of the other, may mean that this person is so insecure that he just needs to be only in the personal zone.

I.N. Kuznetsov

In the process of direct communication with each other, people use not only words, but also non-verbal signals. Hand gestures, facial expressions, body position in space - all this can tell about the interlocutor no less than he is ready to tell himself. We propose to analyze the meaning of gestures in communication between people and their interpretation from the point of view of specialists in the field of psychology.

What does a handshake say

The handshake is a non-verbal gesture used in many cultures as a sign of greeting. Often it also indicates the end of communication or the achievement of an agreement. This gesture is characteristic for the most part of men, although Business Etiquette allows ladies to resort to it at the beginning and end of negotiations if representatives of the opposite sex participate in them. The woman always extends her hand first.

By itself, this gesture can tell a lot about the interlocutor. strong-willed, open man greets with a firm handshake, squeezing the interlocutor's hand quite strongly. People who are not too confident show a sluggish gesture in which the hand is relaxed and the hand is located below. Such a handshake characterizes a person without initiative, lazy, not inclined to make independent decisions. Touching the interlocutor's hand, accompanied by slight squeezing, can also speak of a person's delicacy, his ability to keep his distance. If, after a short greeting, the interlocutor puts his hands behind his back, or puts them in his pockets, in this way he demonstrates superiority.

Open people stretch out their hand to their "vis-a-vee", bending it at the elbow and wrist only slightly. Secretive or deceitful, on the contrary, try to keep the limb bent. Their forearm remains pressed to the body, while the hand is directed almost vertically. If, during a handshake, such a person tries to squeeze the interlocutor's hand down, this characterizes him as cruel and rather domineering. Independent individuals try to maintain the maximum distance, with little to no bending of the hand when shaking hands.

scratching

Any small and fussy hand gestures betray excitement, uncertainty or a desire to hide the truth. If the speaker scratches his neck on the side, this may mean that he is voicing a thought in which he himself is not completely sure. Such a gesture on the part of the listener indicates his distrust or desire to comprehend what was said more deeply.

Touching the earlobe, scratching and rubbing it during a conversation, a person expresses his desire to speak out. He delicately waits for a convenient moment when he can join the conversation, but at the same time he expresses impatience in every possible way, sometimes even raising his hand, like a schoolboy in a lesson.

Arms crossed on chest

It is generally accepted that crossed arms and legs are a kind of energy protection that people resort to in various life situations. There are many gestures with which a person closes himself from the interlocutor or the world around him. We propose to consider the most common of them.

1. The first pose is crossing the arms in front of the chest. The forearms are connected together, while the hands can wrap around the shoulders or press against the body. People often take this position in unfamiliar places where they do not feel completely safe.
2. The position in which the interlocutor crosses his arms over his chest indicates negative attitude to what is happening and may mean unwillingness to discuss a topic. Sometimes distrust of what a person is hearing causes the person to cross their arms over their chest. A similar gesture is used by people who want to hide information. The position of the body, when the arms crossed on the chest are combined with the palms clenched into fists, should be considered as a state of defense, extreme tension. Flushed cheeks and constricted pupils indicate a readiness to fight back.
3. Public figures rarely openly show gestures that can betray their nervousness or desire to hide something. Meanwhile, they also tend to use a similar energy protection. Distinguishing camouflaged crosses is not difficult. Ladies usually touch their wrist, turn the bracelet on their hand, pull the clasp on the watch. A man can straighten cufflinks or cuffs. Similarly looks like a gesture in which a person holds an object at chest level with both hands. It can be a book pressed to the chest or a folder with papers, a bouquet of flowers, a glass of wine.

Clasped fingers

With the fingers clasped in the lock, the hands can lie in front of you or on your knees, or fall along the body if this is a standing position. Behind such a gesture lies disappointment and hidden hostility if a person sits with his hands placed in front of him or brought them closer to his face. At the same time, the higher the hands are raised, the stronger the negative feelings. Sometimes such a gesture is perceived as attention to the interlocutor, because the person sitting opposite can smile and even nod. But this is an erroneous impression, with feigned facial expressions, the interlocutor is just trying to hide a negative attitude towards what is happening.

What does the gesture "hands behind the back" mean?

The position of the body, when the person's arms are laid back and closed behind the back, is associated with a demonstration of superiority. Straight posture, unfolded rib cage and straightened shoulders indicate that the individual is quite satisfied with his position and is confident in himself. This gesture can also be seen as high degree confidence in the interlocutor. Most likely, the person feels quite comfortable, does not feel any threat. This gesture is characterized by the arrangement of the palms on top of each other.

If a person puts his hands behind his back, clasping his wrist or forearm with one hand, this means that he is excited and tries to control himself. Moreover, the higher the capture, the stronger the emotions experienced by the individual and the more difficult it is to restrain them. Hands held behind the back can be combined with other gestures, such as scratching the back of the head. This indicates self-doubt, a feeling of awkwardness. In this case, hiding his hands from the interlocutor, a person tries to hide the state of stress, concern or excitement.

hands in pockets

Many of us, even as children, had to hear the remark of our parents: “Take your hands out of your pockets, this is not decent.” Indeed, a person who hides his brushes deeper during a conversation can hardly be called well-mannered. But often such a gesture betrays a desire to hide something. Most likely, the interlocutor does not say much, frankly lies, or his reaction to the conversation does not correspond to the one demonstrated.

A similar reaction is also observed in shy people who simply do not know where to put their hands during a conversation and are afraid that extra gestures will betray their nervousness. This is not difficult to understand, since such a person behaves stiffly, speaks little and reluctantly, keeps his shoulders down, and his gaze is turned down.

If during communication the interlocutor squeezes clenched fists into his pockets, it means that he is overwhelmed by anger and rage. The gesture means that it is difficult for a person to control negative emotions. He has exhausted all verbal arguments and is ready to move on to physical action. Usually, the threat is also reflected in facial expressions: the eyes are narrowed, the cheekbones are tense, the teeth are clenched.

Hand gestures with emphasis on thumbs

If the thumbs are sticking up, such a gesture indicates a desire to dominate. With such a non-verbal signal, a man makes it clear to the lady that he is interested in her. He demonstrates his superiority and social status by putting his hands in his pants pockets or behind his belt. At the same time, the thumbs unequivocally indicate the direction where the object itself is located. male pride and dignity. Such a gesture can be regarded as a desire to please, conquer and conquer.

If we do not consider the gesture in a sexual context, then we can say that the hands in the pockets and the thumbs outside are a demonstration of the power of power and superiority. Another dominance gesture is as follows: arms crossed over the chest and thumbs pointing up. Authority and a sense of superiority simply overwhelm the individual if he adopts such a pose.

When a person tightly clasps his shoulders with his hands, raising his thumbs, lifts his chin and looks into the face of the interlocutor, this indicates that he is confident in his own rightness, does not want to hear objections. Curiously, such dominance gestures involving the thumbs are used by both men and women.

Demonstration of open hands

Open palms are associated with honesty of intentions. If research is to be believed, business people who don't use hand gestures are less likely to do so. People trust less those who keep their hands closed in front of them, believing that they are not completely honest, trying to hide something.

A person asking for something is more likely to achieve his goal if he accompanies his words with a gesture, with palms turned up. Such a gesture is more conducive, because it does not pose a threat. If the interlocutor sees the back of the hand, then the request will be perceived as an indication and may cause an antagonistic attitude.

What does the hands pressed to the chest mean

When a person declares his love or expresses sympathy, he puts his hand to his chest, as if saying that his words come from the heart. Often, those who want to convince the interlocutor of the absence of malicious intent resort to such a technique. Behind this gesture is a desire to show the sincerity of feelings, but this does not always correspond to the real intentions of the speaker.

Connecting fingers together, with divorced palms, talking man wants to show his confidence and knowledge in the matter. Perhaps he wants to emphasize significant points in his speech or wants to convince the interlocutor that he is right. If at the same time the speaker's head is slightly thrown back, this can be regarded as a feeling of superiority.

This gesture has two options; when the fingertips point up or down. The first is usually used by people who want to express their thoughts, and the second by those who are listening. In the latter case, the gesture is regarded as negative and means that the interlocutor has his own opinion about what was said. It is no longer possible to convince him, because, as in the first case, such a position of the hands indicates confidence in his decision.

Hands spread palms up

A gesture, when a person, when communicating, shows his palms turned to the interlocutor or a group of people, he seems to say: “I will be frank with you.” This is a non-verbal signal that sets you up for openness. It should be noted that such a technique is often used by dishonest people who want to inspire confidence in themselves. Therefore, it is necessary to interpret such non-verbal gestures taking into account facial expressions and behavior. If the interlocutor has nothing to hide, he holds himself naturally, his face is relaxed, his eyebrows are raised, and his arms are wide apart.

Laying hands behind the head

The habit of throwing hands behind the head is characteristic of self-confident people who love to show their superiority. This gesture annoys many on a subconscious level, because it immediately betrays a snob in the interlocutor. Laying hands behind the head during the conversation is a gesture demonstrating confidence and superiority. If at the same time a person sits in a relaxed position, crossing his legs, then you have an amateur. As a rule, such a gesture is used when communicating with subordinates or equals in status.

The origin of such a posture is unknown, but psychologists are sure that in this way a person seems to sink into an imaginary chair, while relaxing with his whole body. Such a manner of sitting does not always carry a negative meaning. Often a person, tired from work or prolonged sitting, throws his hands on the back of his head, stretching his whole body. With such a gesture, he demonstrates that he feels quite comfortable in your company.

Most people touch their face while talking. Such gestures might look like:

• chin stroking,
• rubbing of the bridge of the nose or eyelids,
• touching the mouth with a hand or various objects,
• touching temples with fingers,
• cheek support with the palm of the hand.

Most often, such movements hide a desire to hide the truth or, on the contrary, distrust of the speaker. It is best to consider such gestures in combination with human facial expressions, since the same touch can have different meanings.

For example:

1. A gesture like chin stroking talks about making a decision. If at the same time the interlocutor uses the thumb, he is sure that he controls the situation completely. Nervous rubbing of the lower part of the face with the palm of the hand indicates that the proposed version of the person is not very satisfied, but an alternative has not yet been found.
2. Touching the lower lip demonstrates interest in a conversation or interlocutor. In this case, a person can draw along the line of the mouth with one finger, actively rub this area. The most direct listeners even pull back or curl their lower lip. Ladies, in order to attract men's attention to themselves, can run their lips not only with their hands, but also with the tip of their tongue.
3. Many children enjoy on a subconscious level. For example, fingers in mouth- a gesture that looks quite cute and means that the child is in need of approval and support from others. However, similar movements are sometimes made by adults. In their case, such gestures are also meaning as in children.
4. Some gestures that express emotions and feelings involve the use of various objects. For example, you should pay attention to the fact that the interlocutor puts a pen to his mouth. If the interlocutor says something, it may be a lie. If he listens to you, then this gesture expresses distrust. However, such actions may have another reason. Some bite on a pencil or pen while thinking about a problem.
5. A fairly common posture during a conversation when hand props cheek or chin. These gestures look about the same, but they are interpreted differently. If the interlocutor listens carefully, resting his chin on his hand, it is most likely that it is more convenient for him to comprehend what he heard. But when the listener relaxes his cheek with his hand, and his eyes are distracted, most likely he is bored and looks forward to the end of the conversation.
6. An expression of disbelief looks like twisting of the earlobe, frequent touching of the eyes or corners of the lips. This is also indicated by the index finger, with which the listener props up the cheek. Raising the index finger to the temple, a person demonstrates a critical attitude. Perhaps he feels distrust, or is not satisfied with the arguments given, analyzes what he heard, suspecting a dirty trick.
7. Gestures such as rubbing of the neck or ear talk about unwillingness to listen more or that the topic is not very pleasant for the interlocutor. In the latter case, the person often assumes a closed posture, crossing their legs or arms. He may also clasp his hands in a castle, fencing himself off from communication, or stand up abruptly, thereby demonstrating that the conversation is over.

What gestures indicate deceit

When a person tells a lie, it can be calculated by his gestures and facial expressions. Of course, it is unlikely that anyone will become very nervous, embellishing events a little. But if we are talking about a major deceit or a desire to hide a serious misconduct, then answering direct questions, a person is unlikely to be able to hide all emotions.

A liar may be betrayed by trembling hands, an immediate desire for a sip of water, or the hastily lighting of a cigarette. To hide a lie, the interlocutor will look away or, on the contrary, look intently into your eyes, demonstrating that he is honest with you.

A person who tells a lie begins to blink frequently, make unnecessary movements, such as shifting papers. It is believed that rubbing the nose also speaks of insincerity, especially if a person does this action several times in a row. If the speaker's mouth is covered with a hand, it is also likely that he is lying. It is worth paying attention to such a gesture as rubbing the eyelids. Often he also betrays a lie, although perhaps the interlocutor himself does not trust you too much. The desire to close one's mouth, as well as the touch of fingers on the lips, are gestures that signify deceit.

Conclusion

It is worth remembering that in non-verbal communication, every gesture matters, since it is perceived by the interlocutor, often on a subconscious level. Maybe you just like to keep your hands in your pockets or sit comfortably with your hands clasped. However, interlocutors or business partners will draw their own conclusions from this.

How do you know if a person is lying? Recognition of non-verbal gestures that signal deception is one of the most important communication skills that can be learned in the process of observing human behavior.

So, what gestures can betray a person if he is lying?

These are gestures associated with touching hands to the face.

When we watch or hear others tell lies or lie ourselves, we make an effort to cover our mouth, eyes, or ears with our hands. We have already said that children quite frankly use gestures that indicate deception. If a small child is lying, he will cover his mouth with his hand in an attempt to stop the lying words coming out of his mouth. If he does not want to listen to the parents' lectures, he simply plugs his ears with his fingers or covers his ears with his hands. If he sees something he would not like to see, he covers his eyes with his hands. When a person grows up, his gestures, using hands near his face, become more refined and less noticeable, but they still take place. If this gesture is used by a person at the time of speech, this indicates that he is telling a lie. However, if he growls his mouth with his hand at the moment when you speak, and he listens, this means that he senses that you are lying!

One of the most depressing pictures for a speaker is the view of the audience, where every one of them holds their hands to their mouths during a hundred speeches. In a small audience or one-on-one communication, it would be wise to pause your message and address the audience with the question, “Would anyone like to comment on what I said?” This will allow the audience to voice their objections, and you will be given the opportunity to clarify your statements and answer questions.

when a person lies, covers up a lie, or gives false testimony. These gestures can also indicate doubt, uncertainty, lies or exaggeration of a real fact.

When a person makes a hand-to-face gesture, this does not always mean that he is lying. However, this may be the first sign of deception, and further observation of the person's behavior and gestures may confirm your suspicions. This gesture should be considered in conjunction with other gestures.

Dr. Desmond Morris conducted an experiment with nurses who, under conditions role play was instructed to tell patients lies about their condition. Those sisters who had to lie were more likely to use hand-to-face gestures than those who told the truth to their patients. This chapter discusses various hand-to-face gestures and the conditions under which they occur.

Mouth Protection

Protecting the mouth with the hand is one of the few gestures of an adult and has the same meaning as a child's gesture. The hand covers the mouth and the thumb is pressed to the cheek, while the brain at the subconscious level sends signals to hold back the spoken words. Sometimes it may be only a few fingers at the mouth or even a fist, but the meaning of the gesture remains the same.

The hand guard gesture should be distinguished from the evaluative gestures discussed later in this chapter.

Some people try to fake a cough to disguise this gesture. Humphrey Bogart, when he had to play the role of a gangster or a criminal, often used this device when discussing his criminal plans with other gangsters or during interrogation, in order to use non-verbal means to emphasize the lack of sincerity in his character.

Touching the Nose

In essence, touching the nose is a subtle, disguised version of the previous gesture. It can be expressed in a few light touches on the dimple under the nose, or it can be expressed in one quick, almost imperceptible touch. Some women do this gesture very carefully so as not to smudge the lipstick and damage the makeup.

One explanation for the nature of this gesture is that when bad thoughts enter the mind, the subconscious tells the hand to cover the mouth, but at the very last moment, out of a desire to disguise this gesture, the hand is pulled away from the mouth, and a light touch to the nose is obtained.

Another explanation could be that during a lie there are ticklish urges on the nerve endings of the nose, and one really wants to scratch the nose to get rid of them. I am often asked: “What if a person just often itches his nose?” If the nose itches, then the person will intentionally scratch or scratch it, which is different from lightly touching the nose with a hand in a situation of deception. Like touching the mouth, touching the nose can be used both by the speaker to disguise his own deceit and by the listener who doubts the sincerity of the speaker's words.

Rubbing the Age

The wise monkey says, "I see no sin," closing his eyes. This gesture is caused by the desire in the brain to hide from the deceit, suspicion, or lies it faces, or the desire to avoid looking into the eyes of the person it is telling a lie. Men usually rub their eyelids in a very vigorous manner, and if the lie is very serious, they turn their eyes away, usually to the floor. Women very delicately do this movement, swiping a finger under the eye. This can be due to two reasons: due to their upbringing, they are not familiar with rude gestures; caution movements due to the presence of makeup on the eyelids. Averting their eyes to the side, they look at the ceiling.

There is a well-known expression "To lie through your teeth." This expression refers to a complex of gestures consisting of clenched teeth and a forced smile, rubbing the eyelid with a finger and looking away. Film actors use this complex gesture to portray the insincerity of their characters, but in ordinary life this gesture is rare.

Ear scratching and rubbing

In fact, this gesture is caused by the desire of the listener to isolate himself from words by placing his hand near or above the ear. This gesture is an adult modification of the gesture of a small child when he plugs his ears so as not to listen to the reproaches of his parents. Other options for touching the ear are rubbing the pinna, drilling into the ear (with the tip of a finger), pulling on the earlobe, or bending the ear in an attempt to cover the ear opening. This last gesture indicates that the person has heard enough and wants, perhaps, to speak out.

Neck scratching

In this case, a person scratches the place under the earlobe or the side of the neck with the index finger of the right hand. Our observations of this gesture revealed an interesting point: a person usually makes five scratching movements. Very rarely, the number of scratches will be less than five or more than five. This gesture speaks of the doubt and uncertainty of a person who says: "I'm not sure that I agree with you." It is especially striking if it is contrary to verbal language, for example, if a person says something like: "I perfectly understand how you feel."

Pull Back Collar

In a study of people's gestures accompanying their lies, Desmond Morris noticed that lying causes an itchy sensation in the delicate muscle tissues of the face and neck, and scratching is required to soothe these sensations. This seems to be an acceptable explanation for why some people pull back their collar when they lie and suspect that their deception has been discovered. It also looks like the liar has sweat on his neck when he feels that you have suspected a hoax. This gesture is also used when a person is angry or upset, while he pulls the collar from the neck to cool it with fresh air. When you see a person making this gesture, you can ask him, "Could you repeat that, sir?" or “Could you clarify this point, sir?” And this will make the deceiver refuse to continue his cunning game.

fingers in mouth

Morris gives this explanation for this gesture: a person puts his fingers in his mouth in a state of great oppression. It is man's unconscious attempt to return to that safe, unclouded time in infancy, when the child suckled its mother's breast. A small child sucks his finger, and as for an adult, in addition to his finger, he puts into his mouth such objects as cigarettes, pipes, pens, and the like. While the gestures associated with covering the mouth with the hand indicate deceit, the fingers in the mouth indicate an internal need for approval and support. Therefore, when this gesture appears, it is necessary to support the person or assure him with guarantees (Fig. 57).

Interpretation of Gestures and Interpretation Mistakes

It takes some time and a certain level observational skills in order to develop the ability, under certain circumstances, to correctly interpret gestures associated with the approach of hands to the face. We can conclude with all certainty that if such a gesture flashed through a person, then this means that something unpleasant is on his mind. The only question is, what is it? It can be doubt, deceit, uncertainty, some exaggeration of a real fact, a gloomy foreboding or an outright lie. The art of correct interpretation lies in determining which of the following negative emotions is present. This is best done by analyzing the gestures that precede the hand-to-face gesture, taking into account the context of the communication.

For example, my friend, with whom we often play chess, often rubs his ear or touches his nose when he is not sure of the correctness of his next move. Recently, I have noticed other gestures of his that I can interpret and use to my advantage. I found that as soon as I intend to move a piece by touching it, he instantly makes a series of gestures that give information about how he regards my proposed move. If he leans back and makes a spike gesture (confidence), I can assume that he anticipated such a move and may have already thought about how to respond to it. If, at the moment when I touch the chess piece, he covers his mouth with his hand and rubs his nose or ear; this means that he did not expect such a move and does not know how to proceed further. It is clear that the more often I walk after his "hand-to-face" gestures, the more chances I have to win.

Recently, I was interviewing a young man who wanted to get a job in our company. Throughout the interview, he sat with his arms crossed over his chest and crossed his legs, his gestures spoke of a critical attitude, his palms were too rarely visible, and his gaze only 1/3 of the time met my eyes. Something was clearly bothering him, but at that point in the interview I had too little information to make an accurate assessment of his negative gestures. I asked him about previous positions and places of work. When he answered, his responses were accompanied by rubbing his eyelid and touching his nose, and he continued to avoid my gaze. This went on throughout the interview, and I ultimately made the decision not to hire this person based on my "sixth sense". The thought of negative gestures haunted me, and I decided to test its characteristics. I found that he was giving me wrong information about his past. If I hadn't paid attention to his non-verbal cues, I might have made the mistake of hiring this person.

A videotape of a role-play based on a job interview was played in a management seminar. During this interview, the candidate for the position unexpectedly covered his mouth with his hand and rubbed his nose as he was asked one of the questions. Until this point in the interview, he had been sitting in an open position with his jacket unbuttoned, palms bare, and leaning forward while answering questions, so at first we thought that those gestures did not coincide with his general line of behavior. The gesture of covering his mouth lasted a few seconds before he answered, and then he returned to his open posture. At the end of the role play, we asked him about this gesture, and he said that when he was asked that question, he could give two answers, one positive, one negative. As he pondered the negative answer and what impression it might make, the gesture of "covering his mouth with his hand" involuntarily came up. When he thought of a positive answer, the hand dropped and he returned to his previous open posture. His musings on how the audience would react to a negative response prompted an unexpected "eats - covering one's mouth with one's hand.

These examples show how easy it is to misinterpret hand-to-face gestures and come to wrong conclusions. And only by constant training in Observation and study of these gestures, taking into account the context in which the gestures are made, can one learn to make correct interpretations of people's thoughts.

Palm Support Cheeks and Chin

A good lecturer is one who instinctively senses when his audience is interested in what he is saying and when they have lost interest. good agent in trading feels when he "touches the right strings", i.e. finds out whether the buyer is interested in his product or not. Every salesman knows the unpleasant feeling that arises when his potential buyer is present at the presentation of the product without saying a word, and only observes. Fortunately, his reaction can be judged by a number of gestures, among which may be propping up his cheek or chin with his palm.

When the listener begins to put his hand in order to lean his head on it, this sure sign that he has become bored, and he props his head up with his hand in order to stay awake.

The degree of boredom correlates with the severity of using the hand as a support. Extreme boredom and lack of interest are seen when the head is completely on the hand (Fig. 58), and the absolute signal of boredom will be if the person lies with his head on the table and snores!

The tapping of fingers on the table and the constant stomping of feet on the floor are often misinterpreted as signs of boredom in the audience, but they are in fact indicative of impatience.

If you, as a lecturer, notice these signals, you need to make a strategic move to distract the impatient person and engage him in the lecture so that he does not infect others present. If the entire audience shows signs of boredom and impatience, this tells the lecturer that it is time for him to end his speech. It is important to note in this connection that the speed of tapping fingers or stamping feet depends on the degree of impatience of the person. The faster the gestures, the more impatient the listener becomes.

Estimated Relationships

A person takes an evaluative posture if he props up his cheek with his fingers clenched into a fist, and the index finger rests on the temple (Fig. 59). If a person loses interest, but politely wants to appear interested, their posture will change slightly so that the head rests on the base of the palm, as shown in Figure 58. I have attended numerous management meetings where I have seen young rising managers use this gesture in order to feign interest out of respect for the president of the company, who at that moment was making a boring message.However, unfortunately for them, any propping up of the head with the hand means boredom and betrays them, and the president may understand that they are insincere in nature or just want to flatter him.

Real interest is shown when the hand, being under the cheek, does not serve as a support for the head. An easy way to rekindle their interest, maybe if the president says something like, "I'm glad you're taking my words so seriously, because I'll be asking you questions in a second!" This will help increase the interest of the listeners in his speech, because they are afraid that they will not be able to answer his questions.

When the index finger is pointed vertically to the temple and the thumb supports the chin, this indicates that the listener has a negative or critical attitude towards the lecturer or the subject of his message. Often the index finger may rub or pull on the eyelid as negative thoughts thicken. The longer a person retains these gestures, the longer his critical attitude will last. This gesture is a signal that the speaker needs to do something urgently, either to try to captivate the listener with the content of his message, or to round off his speech. An easy way is to give him something to support and thereby change his posture. The gesture of critical evaluation is often confused with a signal of interest, but with a critical attitude, there will definitely be a chin propped up with the thumb (Fig. 60).

Chin Stroking

The next time you have the opportunity to pitch an idea to a group of people, pay close attention to their reactions as you do so, and you'll pick up a lot of fun. Most, if not all, of your group will bring one hand up to their face and begin to make appraising gestures. When you come to the end of your presentation and ask the members of the group to give their opinion or suggestion regarding your idea, the appraisal gestures will disappear. Your listeners will move one hand to the chin and begin to stroke the chin.

This "chin stroke" gesture means that the person is trying to make a decision. When you asked the audience for their opinion, their gestures changed from evaluative to “decision-making” gestures. The following signals will tell you whether their decision will be positive or negative. The sales agent would be unreasonable if he interrupts the buyer at the moment when he

will begin to stroke his chin in response to a request to communicate his decision to purchase. His best course of action would be to carefully observe the subsequent gestures of the buyer, which will tell him what decision he came to. If, for example, after this gesture, he crosses his arms over his chest and crosses his legs, then leans back in his chair, the salesman received a non-verbal negative response. You should immediately go over the merits of the proposed product again before the buyer verbally expressed his negative answer, and this can save negotiations.

If the chin stroking is followed by a gesture of readiness (Fig. 97), the seller will only have to specify how the payment for the goods will be made, and the buyer will complete the purchase.

Decision Gesture Options

If a person wears glasses, then following the evaluation gestures to make a decision, he will do the following: he will take off his glasses and put one of the glasses in his mouth, instead of stroking his chin. The smoker will place the pipe in his mouth. If a person, after being asked to communicate his decision, puts a pen or finger in his mouth; this is a sign that he is not confident in himself, and he needs support, because the object in his mouth allows him not to pronounce the decision, to think longer. Since it is considered bad manners to speak with a full mouth, an object in the mouth is considered an excuse for a person not daring to make a hasty decision.

Combination of Various Hand-to-Face Gestures

Sometimes the boredom, critical attitude, and decision gestures can all be used at the same time, each reflecting some aspect of the person's attitude.

Figure 63 shows how the evaluative gesture is shifted to the chin, while the hand can stroke the chin at this time. When the listener begins to lose interest in the speaker, the head begins to lean towards the hand for support. Figure 64 shows a critical appraisal expressed by propping up the head with the thumb, as the listener has lost interest in the topic of conversation.

Rubbing the Back of the Head and Slapping the Forehead

An exaggerated version of the gesture, expressed by pulling back the collar, is rubbing the back of the neck with the palm of your hand, what Calero called the “neck ache” gesture. If a person makes this gesture while uttering a lie, he averts his eyes and looks at the floor. This gesture is also a sign of frustration or anger, but in this case, the hand first claps on the neck, and then begins to rub it.

Let's suppose that you asked your subordinate to carry out your assignment, and that he forgot to do it by the required time. When you ask him about the results of the assignment, he will non-verbally answer that he forgot to do it, slapping himself on the forehead or on the neck, as if figuratively beating, punishing himself for forgetfulness. Although a slap on the head usually indicates forgetfulness, the person also expresses their feelings towards you or the situation with this gesture, depending on whether

where the slap falls - on the forehead or on the neck. If he slaps his forehead (Fig. 66), he signals that he is not afraid that he showed his forgetfulness in front of you. But when he pats his neck (fig. 65), he informs you in such a non-verbal way that he is terribly unpleasant that you pointed out this mistake to him. People who have a habit of rubbing the back of their necks tend to be negative or critical of others, while those who habitually slap their foreheads in non-verbal acknowledgment of their mistake tend to be more open-minded people.