WHAT EVERY BODY IS SAYING

JOE NAVARRO

Book Summary

- Eye blocking, eyebrow raising, squinting, hand direction.

- Lip compressed, relaxed eyes, full lips, student scratching head and biting lips with sudden change in behavior.

- Neocortex: responsible for analysing and thinking; it is the deceptive brain.

- Limbic brain: responsible for the external environment and emotions; it is the honest brain.

- Our first limbic reactions are freeze, flight, fight.

- Turtle effect: legs behind chair, trying to hide oneself (shoplifters), etc.

- Since ancient times, freezing is a reaction to danger, as being still does not get you noticed, while movement does.

- Freezing allows time to think and decide on a course of action: fight or flight.

- Fight response: last resort, fear converting to aggression. Indicators include eye locking, leaning away, legs towards exit, hands on eyes, putting bag on lap (distancing behaviour’s).

- If we are uncomfortable, the body sends pacifying behaviours to comfort us.

- Pacifying behaviour’s: touching neck, face, throat shows discomfort, anxiety, etc.

- Yawning, whistling, eating junk can be pacifying behaviours. Nerves on the neck lower heart rate and stress levels, puffed mouth.

- Crossed arms indicate discomfort.

- Legs cleansing, self-administered body hug.

- Legs crossed indicates comfort around each other.

- L-shaped legs, legs directed towards the door indicate a desire to leave.

- Legs spread apart show confidence.

- Legs bent on chair and hands on knees indicate a desire to leave.

- Foot behaviour: heels on ground, toes in the air indicate positive news.

- Happy foot: shoulder bouncing, bouncy feet indicate happiness.

- Cross ankle legs at the back.

- Stiff legs at the side of chair, jiggling legs, and suddenly kicking indicate sudden freeze or need for space. Hiding foot altogether.

- We turn our torso away from people or things we don’t like, and move towards things we like.

- Crossed arms during conversation show discomfort.

- Clothing, torso greeting, tight crossed arm, touching of ties, hand cuff, protecting torso. During dinner, an argument arises; we are in fight, flight, or freeze mode. All our blood is rushed to limbs to escape. No wonder we don’t feel like eating or want to puke.

- Dressing sense, shoulder shrug, puffed chest, taking off shirt, weak shoulder display.

- Arms protect torso; happy arms are raised; sad arms freeze; restrained arms signify something wrong.

- Pupils dilate when we see something we like.

- Eyebrow raise, flash bulb, broad eyes indicate seeing something we like.

- Neck tilts when we are happy around someone.

- Face muscles relax when we are happy.

- Hand at the back, hooding effect, arms dominance, hug (courtship behaviour).

- Nasal flaring indicates readiness to fight or argue.