KNOWLEDGE WITHIN REACH 115because of their value or their illegality—tended to hold on to the bag
tighter, especially as she neared the customs desk. Not only do important
items tend to be better protected with the arms, but also those things we
do not want noticed.
USING ARM CUES TO ASSESS FOR
MOOD OR FEELINGSIf you establish an adequate baseline by observing a specific individual’s
arm behaviors over a period of time, you can detect how he is feeling by his
arm movements. For instance, arm movements can let you know how
someone is feeling upon returning home from work. After a tough day or
when feeling dejected or sad, the arms will be low at the person’s side,
shoulders drooping. Armed with this understanding, you can comfort the
person and help him or her recover from a hard day. In contrast, watch
BOX 29: SHOPLIFTERS’ TELLOne of my earliest experiences with restrained arm behavior occurred
more than thirty-five years ago at a bookstore where I was employed to
spot shoplifters. From a lofty perch above the sales floor, I soon learned
that these lawbreakers were relatively easy to spot. Once I understood
the typical body language of shoplifters, I could identify them daily—sur-
prisingly, even as they walked in the door. First, these individuals tended
to look around a lot. Second, they tended to use fewer arm movements
than regular shoppers. It was as though they were trying to make them-
selves smaller targets as they moved about the store. However, their lack
of arm movements actually made them stand out more prominently—and
essentially allowed me to better focus on them as they went about their
larcenous ways.