The Ultimate Body Language Book

posture occurs by placing one or both hands in front of the midsection and takes its ‘fig leaf’ name
from Adam and Eve’s traditionally portrayed posture in the Garden of Eden artwork. Modest men and
women who find themselves accidentally disrobed will instinctively clasp their hands over their private
areas. Naked women will split their attention from both breasts with one arm and hand, with the other
hand over their genitals. Men will exclusively protect their genitals from view with both hands.
In real life however, will rarely find ourselves nude and exposed in public, but our minds are still
hardwired to harbour feelings of insecurity from overexposure. In day to day situations women won’t
be fund covering their breasts by clasping them and men won’t grab their genitals a-la Micheal
Jackson, but they will claps both hands together either tightly by interlocking their fingers, or loosely
with hand in hand and then casually placing them over their mid-section. Standing is the most obvious
and common way that the fig leaf position shows itself, but it can also find its way in a seated position
as the hands are rested on the lap. Women can and do block their chests from view, as well, but not in
an offensive or obvious way. Rather, women cross their arms in front of their chests as a barrier or
block their breasts from view when threatened with whatever objects they have handy, a textbook, a
jacket or scarf, even bar tops.
These postures, of course, show insecurity and occur when we find ourselves in novel environments or
around people we aren’t familiar with. We will often see this from less confident speakers who find
themselves exposed to large audiences or when a presenter requires a participant (victim) to
demonstrate a concept.