LIVING OUR LIMBIC LEGACY 29often had to tell an interviewee to relax and take a deep breath during
the middle of an interview or deposition, as he was unaware of just how
shallow his breathing had become.
Consistent with the need to freeze when confronted by a threat, peo-
ple being questioned about a crime will often fix their feet in a position
of security (interlocked behind the chair legs) and hold that position for
an inordinate period of time. When I see this type of behavior, it tells me
something is wrong; this is a limbic response that needs to be further
explored. The person may or may not be lying, since deceit cannot be
directly discerned. But I can be assured from their nonverbal behavior
that something is stressing them; therefore I will pursue the source of
their discomfort through my questioning or interaction.
Another way the limbic brain uses a modification of the freeze re-
sponse is to attempt to protect us by diminishing our exposure. During
surveillance of shoplifters, one of the things that stands out is how often
thieves will try to hide their physical presence by restricting their mo-
tions or hunching over as if trying to be invisible. Ironically, this makes
them stand out even further, since it is such a deviation from normal
shopping behavior. Most people walk around a store with their arms
quite active and their posture upright rather than stooped. Psychologi-
cally, the shoplifters—or, your son and daughter as they try to surrep-
titiously swipe a cookie from the pantry—are trying to master their
environment by attempting to “hide” in the open. Another way people
try to hide in the open is by limiting their head exposure. This is done by
raising the shoulders and lowering the head—the “turtle effect.” Picture
a losing football team walking off the field after the game and you get
the idea (see figure 4).
Interestingly and sadly, abused children often manifest these freezing
limbic behaviors. In the presence of an abusive parent or adult, their
arms will go dormant at their sides and they avoid eye contact as though
that helps them not to be seen. In a way, they are hiding in the open,
which is a tool of survival for these helpless kids.