

Pointing at someone is an aggressive gesture. That’s the reason we don’t see it so much with adults. However, it’s considered rude to point at someone. Pointing fingersĪnother sign of authority, you often see parents chastising their children when they have been naughty. On the other hand, clenched fists coupled with a thumb tucked in are an indication of discomfort. However, clenched fists can also signify resolve and determination. Most of us associate clenched fists with aggression and tension. Closed palms can be used to emphasise a point when combined with a downward movement. It suggests an unwillingness to move or give way. In contrast, closed palms show rigid-thinking and power. When combined with raised arms, open palms is a sign of acceptance, welcome and trust-worthiness. We are literally showing the world that we are not concealing anything. For instance, open palms show that we have nothing to hide. The way we use our palms is a dead giveaway to body language experts.

You can tell a lot about a person, just from their touch.īlood flows easily to our extremities when we are happy and relaxed. Hand temperatureīody language of the hands isn’t just about gestures. Hands on hips suggest readiness for action. However, athletes and hard-workers use this stance as preparation. For instance, you often see leaders adopting this position. Actually, this stance is linked to authority and power.

This is because when you cannot see another person’s hands, you could think that they are hiding something from you. Hands in pockets are associated with mystery and suspicion. For example, you wouldn’t keep your hands in your pockets at a formal interview. As a matter of fact, in certain situations, it is considered to be rude and lacking manners. Hands in pockets reveal a casual and nonchalant attitude. Therefore, it takes a person with high self-esteem to leave that part of their body so defenceless. This is because holding the hands behind the back exposes their vulnerable parts to the public. This is a sign of confidence, particularly in men. 17 Hand Gestures and What They Reveal Hands behind the back So let’s explore the body language of the hands and see what we can learn. I call them your emotional barometer.” Body-Language Expert Blanca Cobb, PsyD “Your hands tell everything about your emotions and reveal how you’re feeling at the moment. This is especially true when they have an important message to give. You only have to look at the way all strong leaders use their hands in the exact same way.

Who knew? Clearly I didn't-so I was itching to learn more.In fact, world leaders study the body language of hands because it is so revealing. But apparently I was late to the game, since my boyfriend's response to the intel was along the lines of, "I could've told you that." How, you may ask? Every time we get into an argument, he says, my hands always curl up into fists, or I wind up picking at my cuticles. Upon learning this, I started noticing all sorts of hand signals, as if the appendages have a literal mind of their own. I call them your emotional barometer." -body-language expert Blanca Cobb, PsyD "Your hands tell everything about your emotions and reveal how you're feeling at the moment. Sometimes we're making symbolic representations of what we're talking about." Your hands have other jobs, too-they help us access information from our brain, and to gesture helps our flow of thoughts. "We might think of gestures as something we control, but that's not necessarily true. "It's often a limbic brain response," says body-language expert Patti Wood. The signals that show up via your hands is a neurological response, actually.
