The Definitive Book of Body Language

The Definitive Book of Body Language

Palm Power

One of the least noticed, but most powerful, body signals is

given by the human palm when giving someone directions or

commands and in handshaking. When used in a certain way,

Palm Power invests its user with the power of silent authority.

There are three main palm command gestures: the Palm-Up

position, the Palm-Down position and the Palm-Closed- i

Finger-Pointed position. The differences of the three positions

are shown in this example: let's say that you ask someone to

pick up something and carry it to another location. We'll

assume that you use the same tone of voice, the same words

and facial expressions in each example, and that you change

only the position of your palm.

The palm facing up is used as a submissive, non-threatening

gesture, reminiscent of the pleading gesture of a street beggar

and, from an evolutionary perspective, shows the person holds

no weapons. The person being asked to move the item will not

feel they are being pressured into it and are unlikely to feel

threatened by your request. If you want someone to talk you

can use the Palm-Up as a 'handover' gesture to let them know

you expect them to talk and that you're ready to listen.

The Palm-Up gesture became modified over the centuries

and gestures like the Single-Palm-Raised-in-the-Air, the Palm-

Over-tbe-Heart and many other variations developed.

Palm up = non threatening Palm down — authority

When the palm is turned to face downwards, you will project
immediate authority. The other person will sense that you've