body language

THE POWER IS IN YOUR HANDS
How the palms and handshakes are used to control

The palms are intentionally used everywhere
to infer an open, honest approach.

Palms-in-Pockets:
Prince William
showing the media
that he doesn't want
to talk.

Adolf Hitler using one of history's most notable Palm-Down signals.
Palm up = non threatening
Palm down = authority

Communicating
equality and
mutual respect
The Double-Hander
a miniature hug
The Wet Fish
a weak character
The Bone-Crusher
an aggressive
personality
The Socket-Wrencher
to pull you off balance
Taking control
domination
is possible

It seems like a friendly tap on the shoulder but carries a lot of significance to the rest of the world

The Top Gun and The Wolverine! Tom Cruise and Hugh Jackman shake hands at charity event in macho grandstanding
UK Prime Minister David Cameron at the receiving end of Pope Benedict XVI’s double hander

THE MAGIC OF SMILES AND LAUGHTER
What makes this one of the world's most irresistible icons?

False smiles pull back only the mouth, real smiles pull back both the mouth and eyes
Which smile is fake ?

The Tight-Lipped Smile shows
she has a secret and won't
be sharing it with you
Tony and Cherie Blair were
'tight lipped‘ about Cherie's
last pregnancy

Drop-Jaw smile with an attempt to fake smiling eyes used to cause happy reactions
Diana's Sideways-Looking-Up
smile – juvenile,playful and secretive making men want to protect and care

ARM BARRIER
SIGNALS

Holding the hands over the crotch makes men feel more secure when they feel threatened
Humans make a point of hiding
the areas they think are their
weakest or most vulnerable

Prince Charles' Cuff-Link-Adjust
revealing his insecurities
Crossed-Arms-on-Chest
uncertainty and insecurity

CULTURAL
DIFFERENCES

If a Saudi man holds another man's hand or kisses him in public, it's a sign of mutual respect. But don't do it in Australia, Texas or Liverpool, England.

Mediterranean: Your wife is being unfaithful
Italy: Jailable offence
South America: Protection against bad luck
USA: Texas University Logo, Texas Longhorn Football Team
To some people: Sign of the devil

Europe and North America:
OK
Mediterranean region, Russia,
Brazil, Turkey:
An orifice signal; sexual insult;
gay man
Tunisia, France, Belgium:
Zero; Worthless
Japan:
Money; coins

Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malta: Up yours!
USA: Two
Germany: Victory
France: Peace
Ancient Rome:
Julius Caesar ordering five beers
Western countries: Number 5
Everywhere: Stop!
Greece and Turkey: Go to hell!

Europe: One
Australia: Sit on this! (upward jerk)
Widespread: Hitchhike; Good; OK
Greece: Up yours! (thrust forward)
Japan: Man; five
Europe: Two
Britain, Australia, New Zealand: One
USA: Waiter!
Japan: An insult

COURTSHIP
In courtship women call the tunes most of the time – men do most of the dancing.

Marilyn Monroe was the master of using female expressions and body language, and she understood, at least on a subconscious level, how it could make most men go weak at the knees.

stage 1 – eye contact
She gazes around and spots the man she likes. She waits for him to look back and waits for him again to look back for 5 seconds. He now keeps watching to see if she does it again. She repeats it three times. Hello flirtation!

stage 2 - smiling
She gives a quick half smile… but no… usually the man doesn’t get the signal.

stage 3 - preening
She sits up straight to show all her best advantages… She plays up with hair for 5 seconds. She wets her lips, straighten her clothes and jewellery… He’ll respond! He’ll stand up, pull his stomach in, adjust his clothing. They both point their feet towards each other.

stage 4 - talk
He comes and makes a small talk using cliches as “Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?” just to break the ice.

stage 5 - touch
She looks for an opportunity to initiate a light and “accidental” touch, like on the arm. They repeat so as to show it’s not so “accidental”. Slightly brushing the man’s shoulder gives him the impression that she cares about his appearance and also a sense of intimacy. A last handshake, an exchange of phone number and a start of a romance!