The Ultimate Body Language Book

Any time a part of the body crosses over the midpoint, we consider this a closed body position.
Throughout this chapter being “open”, refers to a frame of mind that is willing to accept information, to
hear others out and to consider taking action whereas a closed mind, or being closed indicates the
opposite. As mentioned previously, having an open and receptive mind is indicated in body language
through the absence of closed postures.
It has been shown that frowning requires more muscles and effort than does smiling and so naturally
our default facial expression is the smile. Similarly, openness as it relates to body language is the
default mode because a relaxed body requires less effort than one that is tensed or closed. To take a
negative posture, we must actively close our bodies off requiring effort and to exercise effort we need
motivation. In this case, motivation can come from any fearful or unwanted stimulus that precedes a
fight or flight response. That is to say that, closed body language are the postures we while see as a
negative decision is being analyzed and so is a predictor of a bad outcome.
Taking up space is a confidence indicator and shows that we are honest and open.
Being completely open allows us take our most comfortable position, such as what we might do on a
couch or in bed in our own house. We might lay our arms out and take up space, put our hands above
our heads, spread our legs open or even lay down completely. Having open body postures is akin to
being totally exposed to the word and all the harmful things in it, but possessing no fear of harm. Of
course, we permit ourselves to hold open postures precisely because we expect nothing harmful to
happen. In other words, our bodies are permitted to relax when we are open and contract and tighten
when we are closed.
Thus, it takes muscular effort to close the body off whereas open postures occur without action at all.
When viewing open body language imagine the extremity of the postures, which as mentioned, can be
likened to being on a couch at home. An even more dramatic example is to view open body language as
that language exhibited by someone who is intoxicated. Their language is loose, their arms sway freely,
they stagger, they have no worries about being ridiculed or attacked and they don’t cross their arms or
legs. The cerebral cortex of the drunk, the part of the brain that helps in judgment, amongst other brain
centers, is disrupted producing depressed inhibition, increases talkativeness and makes people feel
more confident. Alcohol also increases pain thresholds, numbs pain, and makes people feel sluggish