How interpreting body language

Body language is a form of nonverbal communication that involves gestures, postures, and physiological signs. Understanding body language can help you know what a person is feeling or thinking.

The eyes
**Long blinks—losing interest quickly
**Fast blinking—possibly under stress or not communicating honestly with you
**Covering the mouth or part of the face while talking—possibly uncomfortable with the **conversation or possibly lying
**Pursed lips—showing worry or disapproval
**Lip biting—nervous or angry

The hair and head
**Twirling hair around finger—nervousness
**Touching hair, but not twirling—feeling relaxed or thinking that your opinion of them matters
**Level head—confidence and assertiveness
**Tilted head—listening intently to you or trying to think of the most acceptable answer
**Tilted head pushed forward—trying to see something in a new way
**Lowered head—possibly feeling threatened by you

The neck
**Scratching the back of the neck—possibly meaning that they have questions and/or concerns **about what you are saying
**Pulling the chin down and/or raising the shoulders—protecting their neck, literally, and feeling **threatened by you
**Touching the front of the neck while speaking—lying or feeling uncomfortable with what they are saying or thinking of saying

The hands
**Hiding the hands—not wanting to communicate with you and/or are keeping secrets
**Hands in pockets with thumbs out—feeling very confident and probably superior to you

The feet
**Turned toward you—having interest in what you are saying (includes crossing the legs so that foot is pointed toward you)
**Turned toward the door—ready to go and not interested in continuing the conversation with you

Other Situations
**Ear scratching—low confidence or a sign of deceit, especially if the ears get redder
**Chin resting in hand—pretending to have interest in what you are saying or making a decision
**Rubbing chin with finger—possibly not believing what you are saying
**Moving Adam’s apple—feeling anxiety or embarrassment (usually)
**Touching nose when talking—possibly trying to hide something, or, conversely, thinking that you are deceiving them
**Putting up a barrier—feeling threatened by you or not wishing to speak to you (as simple as a woman setting her purse on her lap)
**Curving the shoulders forward with arms at side—feeling defensive or threatened
**Circling shoulders while you are speaking—subtly giving the signal that they do not care about what you are saying or that they think what you are is saying is “unimportant”