70 WHAT EVERY BODY IS SAYING
this shows a mirroring of behaviors between two individuals (a comfort
sign known as isopraxism) and second, because leg crossing is a high-
comfort display (see figure 23). This leg-cross nonverbal can be used in
interpersonal relationships to let the other person know that things are
good between the two of you, so good, in fact, that you can afford to re-
lax totally (limbically) around that individual. Leg crossing, then, be-
comes a great way to communicate a positive sentiment.
Recently I attended a party in Coral Gables, Florida, where I was in-
troduced to two women, both of whom were in their early sixties. During
the introduction, one of the women suddenly crossed her legs so that she
When two people are talking and both have
crossed their legs, this is an indication that they
are very comfortable around each other.Fig. 23