TORSO TIPS 93It has always been my impression that presidents often go to Camp
David to accomplish in polo shirts what they can’t seem to accomplish in
business suits forty miles away at the White House. By unveiling them-
selves ventrally (with the removal of coats) they are saying, “I am open to
you.” Presidential candidates send this same nonverbal message at rallies
when they get rid of their jackets (their shields, if you will) and roll up
their shirtsleeves in front of the “common folk.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, women tend to cover their torsos even more
so than men, especially when they feel insecure, nervous, or cautious. A
woman may cross her arms over her stomach, just under the breasts, in
an effort to shield her torso and comfort herself. She may cross one arm
across her front and grab the opposite arm at the elbow, forming a bar-
rier to her chest. Both behaviors subconsciously serve to protect and insu-
late, especially in social situations where there is some discomfort.
On campus, I often see women place their notebooks across their
chests as they walk into class, particularly for the first few days. As their
comfort level increases, they will shift to carrying their notebooks at
their sides. On test days, this chest-shielding behavior tends to increase,
even among male students. Women will also use backpacks, briefcases,
or purses to shield themselves, especially when sitting alone. Just as you
may pull a comforter on while watching television, putting something
across the ventral torso protects and soothes us. Objects we draw toward
us, especially ventrally, are usually placed there to provide the comfort
we need at that moment, whatever the situation. When you witness
people protecting their torsos in real time, you can use it as an accurate
indicator of discomfort on their parts. By carefully assessing the circum-
stances, the source of that discomfort may allow you to help them or at
least better understand them.
Men, for whatever the reason (perhaps to be less conspicuous), will
shield their torsos, but in more subtle ways. A male may reach across the
front of himself to play with his watch, or, as Prince Charles of England
often does when he is in public, reach over and adjust his shirtsleeve or
play with his cuff links. A man may also fix his tie knot, perhaps longer
than usual, as this allows for the arm to cover the ventral area of the chest