BODY LANGUAGE: GESTURES, POSTURE, AND SPACEbut it nevertheless made the jury and the press covering the trial
aware of what Kunstler felt was the judge's prejudiced attitude.
Social subtexts are often reflected quite simply in posture. If,
in talking to someone, you lean forward, the unspoken subtext is
"I like you." If you lean back while sitting, or turn slightly away
while standing, the subtext is "I don't like you." Are you threatened
by the other person? You will tend to sit up straight, almost as
if you were on the defensive, ready to jump into action.
There are differences in the social subtexts sent by the sexes.
A man will sit up, on the alert, if he feels threatened by another
man, but he will not do this with a woman. Instead, he is likely
to lounge back. However, it is rare for a woman to sit at attention
if she feels threatened. She is more likely to move away from
the threat, to move back. As more and more women are integrated
into the world of business, however, these signals tend to change.
Women are beginning to use the same signals as men in jockeying
for power and position.ATTENTION, AGGRESSION,
AND DEFENSE
Traditionally, someone who sits with arms and legs in an open
posture sends a subtext of being receptive to new ideas and sugges-
tions. Closed arms and legs indicate disagreement (though a woman
wearing a skirt will of course choose to close her legs regardless
of her attitude). How the head is held, a smile or the lack of a
smile, the slant of the shoulders, all amplify the subtext.
Watch the posture of people at office gatherings or meetings.
Those outside the action hold different postures from those involved
with what is going on. Outsiders stand with their weight on one
foot rather than both. Someone more closely involved stands with