EMOTIONAL BODY LANGUAGE
Angry/Aggressive
Contracted brows, chin up, chest out, clenched teeth/fist/jaw, tight lips, frown, clasped
hands behind head, tense mouth, flaring nostrils, high pitched voice, facial/neck flush,
tense jaw, hands on hips, staring, sneering, loud voice, rapid voice, brow muscles move
inward and downward, furrowed brows, leaning forward, snarling, invasion of body
space, abusiveness, shouting, silence, throw things, slam things, bares teeth, flared
nostrils, legs apart, finger pointing
Anticipation
Rubbing hands, licking lips
Anxious
Sweating, pale face, dry mouth/lips, little/no eye contact, change in voice pitch, speech
errors, fidgeting, clearing throat, fiddling, bite lip, grind teeth, foot tapping, stutters, tense
chest, locked ankles, jiggling money/keys in pocket, tugging on ear, clutching object
tightly, pacing
Aroused
Nostril flare, fast blink, big pupils
Attentive
Forward lean
Bored
Legs crossed with foot kicking slightly, head resting on hand, eyes downcast, yawning,
hand supporting chin or side of face, hands in pockets, consistently looking around,
doodling, tapping toes, repeatedly looking at clock/watch, slouching, leaning against wall
Comfortable
Legs apart, crossed ankles with legs stretched forward, laughing
Confident
Brisk direct walk, direct eye contact, palms down, stand tall, hands clasped behind head,
legs crossed, controlled voice, head held high, chest forward, shoulders back, hands
behind back, feet apart, chin up
Confused
Cocked head, eyebrows together as one
Deceptive
massaging a hand, pursed lips, increased breathing and heart rate, self touching,
scratching, rubbing, pinching skin, gaze down, sweaty palms, sweating, hand/fingers in
front of mouth, body turned away, little/no eye contact, twitches around eyes and mouth,
forced smile, shifts in seat
Deep Thought
Finger earlobe or chin, hand to cheek, stroking chin, looking upwards, interlinked fingers,
steepled fingers, eyes seem far away, staring into space, pursed lips
Defeated
Lowered head, hands in pockets, shoulders hunched, eyes downward
Defensive
Crossed or folded arms, shoulder shrug, head tilt, palms up, elbows bent, open hand,
fingers spread, eyebrows raised, little or no direct eye contact, arm/hand gestures close to
the body, minimal facial expression, pulled back chest, ankles locked while sitting
Defiant
Hands on hips, hard stare, frown
Depressed
Silent, seek isolation, appearance, irritable, disinterested, fatigued, no control
Disagreeable
Lip purse, narrowed eyes, cut off gaze, hand behind head, rolling of eyes, arms folded
across chest, head shaking, constantly pushing glasses up nose, turns body away
Disgusted
Yuck face, curled upper lip, narrowed eyes, frown, visible tongue, lip purse
Disengaged
Hair twisting, head down, glazed eyes, fiddling, doodling, slumped in chair
Dominant
Both hands behind head, firm handshake, swagger, walks in front of others, standing
while others are sitting
Embarrassed
Facial/neck flush, bowed head, false smile, changing the topic
Excited
Rubbing hands, frequent blinks, foot tapping, shifting weight, laughing
Fearful
Broken eye contact, stiff tiny muscles stand hairs on end, grimace, sweaty palms,
involuntary movements, shift of body weight, accelerated heart beat, squirmy, freeze
reaction, trembling, fast breathing, white or red face, lip and jaw tension, varying speech
tone, speech errors, voice tremors, cold sweat, dry mouth, clenched hands, fidgeting,
lowering eyes, broken eye contact, playing with hair, foot tapping, laughing
Flirty
Looking at a person head to toe, continual glancing, running hands through hair, eye
catch and then look away, eyelash flicker, shoulder glance, moistening lips, parted lips,
flicking hair, head tilt, self-touching, leaning forward, chest out, shoulders back, stomach
in, cowboy stance (thumbs in belt loops, fingers pointed to genitals), room scanning,
mutual smiling, smiling with tilted/cocked head, foot touching, preening, leaning in
Frustrated
Twisting hair, hand behind head, pacing, eye roll, bottom lip out, hand clasping wrist
Guilty
Touching/scratching nose while speaking, eyes downcast, touching/tugging ear, lowered
head, looking to the sides, folding hands in lap
Happy
Talking with hands, dancing, clapping, laughter, crows feet eyes, weeping, brow raising,
grin, open mouth smile, relaxed muscles, jumping up and down, skipping, relaxed smile,
hums, sings, head held high
Impatient
Tapping/drumming fingers, rubbing hands, hands on hips, tapping feet, fidgeting, shifting
weight
Indecisive
Touching, tugging ear, biting lip, pacing
Insecure
Patting/fondling hair, biting nails, clearing throat, twitching, gripping own upper arms,
legs crossed while standing, failure to look into eyes, folded arms, looking down at floor,
foot tapping, shifting weight, laughing, biting nails
Interested
Head tilt, leaning forward, nodding, wide eyes
Irritated
Quick glance sideways
Loving
Visual focus on each other’s eyes and lips, increased heart and breathing rates, full face
gaze, facial flush, head tilt, hugs, kisses, touches, snuggling, smaller private distance,
tone of voice, dewy eyed, twinkle-eyed, listless, daydreaming, anxious
Negativity
Pinch bridge of nose
Nervous
Crossed arms, Adam’s apple jump, biting nails, increased blinking, forced laugh, one arm
across body clasping other arm by side (females), handbag held in front of body
(females), adjusting things, looking to sides, clenched hands, stuttering, fidgeting,
fumbling, locked ankles, jiggling money/keys in pocket, tugging on ear, clutching object
tightly, pacing
Non-Receptive
Folded arms, looking away from the person, pursed lips, clenched teeth
Reassuring
Fingertips to lips
Relaxed
Arms/legs uncrossed, good eye contact, open jacket/coat
Sad
Lip pout, cry, gaze down, slumped body, droopy shoulders, audible sigh, frowning
eyebrows, tears, tense mouth, hands in pockets, trembling lip, flat speech, hiding face
with hands, head bowed, arms crossed, trembling lips, flat/weak tone of voice, slumped
in seat, shuffles
Secretive
Tight-lipped smile
Sincere
Open palms
Skeptical/Uncertain
Touching the mouth or masking the mouth with fingers or hand, tense mouth, narrowed
or slitted eyes, lip pout, lowering eyebrows, hand behind head, throat clear, shoulder
shrug, head shake, self touching, “uh,” tense mouth, rubbing nose/eye, Rubbing bridge of
nose, twisted smile, neck scratching, locked ankles, wringing hands, pacing, throat clear,
rubbing eyes, rubbing nose
Submissive
Body shift, bowing, facial blush, gaze down, palms up, pigeon toes, angular distance,
yawning, head tilt, hunched body, arms held in, chin down, small gestures
Surprised
Flashbulb eyes, widened eyes, raised (curved up) eyebrows, open mouth, sudden
backward movement (jump), backward head tilt, head jerk, hand clasped over mouth,
dropped jaw, steps back, tense muscles, wrinkled forehead, shrieking, screaming
Sympathetic
Overly tilts head
Uncomfortable
Tense, no eye contact, hands in pockets, touching back of arms/nose/ear/mouth/neck,
crossed ankles, crossed arms