Holding your hands over or near your heart, as shown in Figure 1-2, is an
expression of how much something means to you.Key Types of Gestures ...................................................................................
Humans are blessed with the ability to create a wide variety of gestures and
expressions from the top of the head to the tips of the toes. Gestures can
show intention, such as leaning forward just before rising out of a chair; as
well as showing no intention, such as crossing arms and legs. Some gestures
belong to you, because you’ve become so identifiable by them. Some gestures
are displacement gestures: you do them for no reason other than to displace
some energy. Some gestures are specific to local customs, and some are uni-
versal gestures that everyone does.Unintentional gestures.........................................................................
Unintentional gestures are behaviours that inhibit your ability to act. They’re
like the fright part in the ‘fright or flight’ syndrome.Figure 1-2:
The hands
over the
heart, the
tilted head,
and the
open smile
indicate
appre-
ciation.Chapter 1: Defining Body Language 17