The Definitive Book of Body Language

The Definitive Book of Body Language

being booked in up to 50% of instances where a police car

pulls you over.

The same technique can be used to calm an irate customer

who is returning faulty goods to a retail store or wants to com-

plain about something. In this case, a store counter represents

a barrier between the store staff and the customer. Control of

an irate customer would be difficult if the staff remained on

their side of the counter, and creates a 'you-versus-me'

approach which can make the customer even angrier. If the

staff member moves around to the customer's side of the

counter with his body stooped over and palms visible and uses

the same technique we used with the police officer, it can

usually placate an angry person. Staying behind a desk or

counter can raise anger levels.

What's Love Got to Do With It?

Polish anthropologist, Dr Boguslaw Pawlowski, found that -
in an ideal relationship - trust, money and respect are less
important than the height difference ratio 1 to 1.09. His study
in 2004 found that, to ensure marital bliss, a man needs to be
1.09 times taller than his partner. This formula fits in the case
of failed romances, for instance Nicole Kidman (5 feet 11
inches, 1.8m) and Tom Cruise (5 feet 7 inches, 1.7m).
Couples who fit this success ratio include the following:

Cherie Blair and Tony Blair = 1.10

Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt =1.11

Victoria Beckham and David Beckham = 1.09

Those who technically fail the test ratio include:

Camilla Parker-Bowles and Prince Charles = 1.01

Penny Lancaster and Rod Stewart = 0.97