Techniques > Use of body language > Core patterns
When you look across the wide range of non-verbal signals, there are a number patterns that appear in different places and in different ways. Here's details of some of these:
• Closing : Defending, denying.
• Crossing : Protecting.
• Enacting : Acting out thoughts.
• Expanding : Growing larger.
• Moving away : Refusing, denying.
• Moving forward : Seeking, attacking.
• Opening : Offering, relaxing.
• Preening : Flirting, vanity.
• Repeating : Emphasizing, looping.
• Shaping : Creating, making.
• Striking : Displaced aggression.
• Touching : Communicating, dominating.
Closing
Techniques > Use of body language > Core patterns > Closing Pattern | Found in | Discussion | See also
Pattern
'Closing' is a pattern of defending, hiding, refusing and denying. For example:
• Lowering the head, with chin down (protecting the neck).
• Closing mouth and eyes, lowering eyebrows refusing speech and sight.
• Crossing arms or legs, pulling in shoulders, elbows and knees to protecting organs and vulnerable parts.
• Turning hands to palms facing down.
• Curling fingers into the palm, protecting them (and also making a fist).
• Turning feet to point toes inwards.
• Hunching down, with any or all of the above, making the body less threatening and a smaller target.
Found in
Closing is a classic defensive move, making the body less vulnerable to attack, and is typically seen when a person feels threatened or anxious in some way.
Arms can cross lightly, for example in holding ones hand. They can cover the abdomen or chest. They can clutch opposite elbows. Generally the further across they move and the greater the tension, the greater the close. Likewise legs may be pulled together or may be crossed or even twisted together as tension increases.
These moves also is used to show disagreement or dislike, withdrawing the body away from the other person and showing that you are not open to them and their ideas or desires.
Closing moves the body into a position where further body language is difficult. The
communication, it can thus be a request for the other person to give something or to move away for a while.
Crossing
Techniques > Use of body language > Core patterns > Crossing Pattern | Found in | Discussion | See also
Pattern
'Crossing' involves moving parts of the body across one another or the body, in a defensive act.
• Crossing arms across the body.
• Crossing just the hands or wrists.
• Holding hands.
• Inter-twining the fingers.
• Crossing legs, either above the knee or at the ankles.
Found in
• Arm body language
• Hand body language
• Leg body language
Discussion
Crossing is usually an act to cover up the torso, defending it from attack. The torso contains important organs, whilst the arms, particular on the outside, are just muscle, which can be re-grown.
Crossing also increases the tension in the body and a person who is feeling stressed may do this in echo of how they feel.
Crossing arms or legs can also just be a relaxed position. Never take crossing as indicating defensiveness unless there are other indicators of tension.
Enacting
Techniques > Use of body language > Core patterns > Enacting Pattern | Found in | Discussion | See also
Pattern
'Enacting' is a body language pattern where the person acts out, even in a small way, what they are thinking. For example:
• Thrusting the head forward in a simulated aggressive head-butt.
• Smashing one fist into the other open hands.
• Hitting one's own head or body.
• Pouting lips into a simulated kiss.
• Curling arms around the air as if hugging someone.
• Thrusting hips forward in simulated copulation.
• Stamping feet as if squashing flat someone or something.
• Moving towards or away from the other person, implying attack, desire or retreat.
Found in
• Arm body language
• Hand body language
• Hips body language
Discussion
We have many desires that we feel unable to enact fully, for example because we know that social rules forbid this or because we fear the consequences. Our body and mind however are connected and we often signal these desires by the way we move.
Enacting can also be a part of descriptive communication as we play-act the actions of others and even complete scenes. We will also enact concepts in trying to communicate the idea to others, for example hugging oneself for 'love' and waving arms wide to signal a wonderful and 'big' idea.
A common pattern in enacting is striking as, although we often feel like hitting people, this is a socially forbidden act and so we displace it into body language. Enacting can also include acting out many other emotions and ideas.
Enacting is similar to shaping. Shaping is usually smaller and shorter, whilst enacting can be a full performance.
Expanding
Techniques > Use of body language > Core patterns > Expanding Pattern | Found in | Discussion | See also
Pattern
The body is made taller, wider and generally bigger by:
• Standing upright, as tall as possible.
• Straightening the head.
• Thrusting out the chin.
• Flaring the nose.
• Push out the elbows and arms, possibly sweeping out a wide space.
• Opening the hands.
• Puffing out the chest.
• Planting feet to either side (standing wide).
Found in
• Arm body language
• Chest body language
• Leg body language
• Aggressive body language
• Romantic body language
Discussion
Making the body bigger says 'I am powerful' and is a typical male action. This warns other men not to attack and may indicate that the person is thinking of attacking. It can thus be a response to a threat. If one man expands, then others have the choice of retreating or expanding also ('If you attack, I'll fight back!'). Expansion can thus indicate anger.
With women, expansion often also says 'I will protect you', demonstrating the basic partnership requirement to protect one's family from harm.
Another expansion is 'puffing up with pride', where a person feels their sense of identity grow and they literally feel bigger. When you praise another person, you may see them expand.
A bigger person is metaphorically superior and looks down on others whilst they look up. Expansion thus indicates a feeling of 'I'm better than others'.
This shaping can also mean 'Hello! I'm here'. Making yourself bigger also makes yourself more visible. A person in a group who wants to speak may expand first.