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Did you know that the way you walk or shake a person's hand can reveal some things about you ? Did you know that you exhibit certain gestures when you're nervous or anxious ? Well, for the next couple of weeks, I'll be discussing the art and interpretation of body language. However, please bear with me as I would discuss the topic in installments.

First Installment: Walking

It seems that the way a person walks indicates certain things about his/her personality. Generally, persons who habitually walk with their arms in their pockets tend to be critical and secretive. Persons who scuffle along with their hands in their pockets and seldom looking up or looking where they are headed are probably feeling rejected. Persons who walk head down, hands clasped behind their back are preoccupied with a problem.

Persons who walk with their hands on their hips tend to look for shortcuts in doing things. Persons who walk rapidly and swing their arms, on the other hand, tend to be goal-oriented. Meanwhile, persons who walk with a deliberate pace, their chins raised and their arms swinging in an exaggerated fashion tend to be content -- even a little boastful.

Second Installment: Smiling

Researchers have observed that there are different kinds of smiles. First is the simple smile wherein the teeth are not exposed. This smile is often seen when a person is not engaging in any social activity and is simply smiling to himself/herself. Second is the upper smile in which the upper incisors are exposed. This kind of smile is usually accompanied by eye contact and is often used as a greeting. Third is the broad smile in which both upper and lower incisors are exposed. This smile is often seen when a person is laughing. Fourth is the oblong smile wherein the lips are drawn fully back from both the upper and lower sets of teeth. This kind of smile is seen when a person pretends to enjoy a joke or remark just to be polite.

Third Installment: Openness vs. Defensiveness

For the past two installments, I've focused on specific types of gestures and what they mean. For the next few installments, I'll focus on specific attitudes and the gestures that accompany them.

An open and sincere person would generally assume the open hands position wherein the arms are extended and the palms are facing upward. If he/she is wearing a coat, he/she will generally unbutton it to project friendliness toward company. A defensive person, on the other hand, will generally have his/her arms crossed.

Fourth Installment: Confidence vs. Apprehension

Compared to persons who are unsure of themselves, confident people have more frequent eye contact with others as well as exhibit less blinking. Most also assume the steepling gesture wherein the finger tips are joined and seem to form a church steeple. Furthermore, people who have a proud and erect stance are often said to be confident. Meanwhile, nervous and apprehensive people exhibit the following gestures: frequently clearing throat, frequently changing voice inflection and tone, whistling, fidgeting in chair and jingling money in pockets.

Fifth Installment: Readiness vs. Frustration

People who are ready to act and have a high enthusiasm for what they are going to do usually place their hands on their hips. A variation of this gesture is when a person is seated and is slightly leaning forward with one hand on his/her mid-thigh. Likewise, a person sitting on the edge of his/her chair or who has his/her arms spread while his/her hands grip the edge of a table is projecting readiness. Meanwhile, people who are frustrated usually kick the ground or an imaginary object. Some place their palms over their necks, some clench their hands, some wring their hands, some utter the tsk sound, and still some run their fingers through their hair to project frustration.

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I am not claiming copyright on the article above. I used several books and magazines as reference for the information I provided.

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