What Every BODY Is Saying : An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed Reading People

TORSO TIPS 105

person is comfortable and confident with his or her actions. If you see a
person’s shoulders only partially rise or if only one shoulder rises, chances
are the individual is not limbically committed to what he or she is saying
and is probably being evasive or even deceptive (see figures 36 and 37).

Weak Shoulder Displays

Speaking of shoulders, be aware of the person who, while conversing or
in reaction to a negative event, moves his or her body so the shoulders
begin to slowly rise toward the ears in a manner that makes the neck
seem to disappear (see figure 38). The key action here is that the shoul-
ders rise slowly. The person displaying this body language is basically
trying to make his head disappear, like a turtle. Such an individual is
lacking confidence and is highly uncomfortable. I have seen this behav-
ior in business meetings when the boss comes in and says, “OK, I want
to hear what everyone has been doing.” As different people around the
room proudly talk about their accomplishments, the marginal employees

Partial shoulder shrugs indicate lack of

commitment or insecurity.

We use shoulder shrugs to indicate lack

of knowledge or doubt. Look for both

shoulders to rise; when only one side

rises, the message is dubious.

Fig. 36 Fig. 37