Body Language

Showing anger.......................................................................................

You’ve experienced the emotion, you know the feeling, and you’ve worn the

expression. Anyone in your vicinity recognises the signs. Before the big blow

up you probably stare hard at the source of offence without flinching. Your

eyebrows pull down and inward, causing your forehead to furrow. Your lips

tighten and turn down at the corners, or open stiffly as if in a frozen shout.

You may also grit your teeth together. Some people flare their nostrils when

enraged. Finally, if you’re incandescent with rage, your face can turn white as

the blood drains from the epidermis.

If your anger is about to get the better of you, breathe deeply from your

abdomen. Inhale deeply through your nose, hold for a moment, and exhale

slowly through your mouth. Deep breathing provides oxygen to the brain and

you can think more clearly. The time it takes for you to breathe and exhale

gives you a moment to reflect and calm down.

Recognising surprise and revealing fear ...........................................

Expressions of surprise and fear are closely connected. In both expressions,

the eyes widen and the mouth is opened. The differences are subtle and

found primarily in the attitudinal shape and position of the eyebrows, eyes,

and mouth. A few other telltale differences can also be picked up.

70 Part II: Starting at the Top

Changing colours

According to British zoologist Desmond Morris,

facial colour as a part of the ‘Flight or Fight’

action system is an indicator of rage level. If

someone approaches you menacingly and his

face is pale, he’s more likely to attack than if his

face is red. If the face is red, he’s already expe-

rienced his deepest rage and has passed the

point of attack. Although people think of those

whose faces are red with rage as being the per-

ilous ones – and they may easily swing back into

a dangerous pale-faced fury – the reddened face

is a result of an internal struggle that manifests

itself alarmingly in shouts and foul language and

is no more worrying than a furiously barking dog.

If you’ve ever been bitten by a dog you may

remember that it wasn’t the one who was making

a lot of noise who sunk his teeth into you; simi-

larly, it’s less likely that the puce-faced, shouting

individual is going to do you real physical harm.