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

THE MIND’S CANVAS 185

question the validity of what they are saying. Sometimes this body sig-
nal is very quick; at other times it may be almost sarcastically exagger-
ated and last throughout an encounter. While more curious or wary
than clearly disrespectful, this nonverbal is fairly easy to spot and its
message is, “I am listening to you but I am not buying what you’re say-
ing—at least not yet.”

UNDERSTANDING NONVERBAL

BEHAVIORS OF THE MOUTH

Like the eyes, the mouth provides a number of relatively reliable and
noteworthy tells that can assist you in dealing more effectively with peo-
ple. Like the eyes, the mouth can also be manipulated by the thinking
brain to send out false signals, so caution must be exercised in interpreta-
tion. That said here are some focal points of interest with regard to the
body language of the mouth.

We look askance at people when we are

distrustful or unconvinced, as in this

photo.

Fig. 71