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The Ultimate Body Language Book

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If one person fails to open up, usually both wont, as mirroring each other is also part of the natural<br />

process. In rare occasions, one person will open up, and the other will not, showing one-way agreement<br />

or that one person is generally more open minded and easy to please than the and the other. Finally, the<br />

distance between the two might be reduced by taking a step forward, or brief touching might take place<br />

in safe zones such as the forearm or elbow.<br />

Chapter 7 - Opened Mind Opened <strong>Body</strong> Closed Mind Closed <strong>Body</strong><br />

Avoiding <strong>The</strong> Eyes<br />

Avoiding eye contact is usually bad news.<br />

<strong>The</strong> eyes can also signal that someone is closed-off. We turn our heads when we wish to avoid being<br />

singled out in a lecture hall or boardroom meeting. To represent a closed attitude we might pull our<br />

chins in and tuck our heads down. In theory this is to protect our vulnerable necks from attack so it also<br />

indicates and fearful state. When we wish to scold children we make sure they give us full eye contact<br />

in order to measures their reaction and to ensure they’ve given us their undivided attention. This trait is<br />

culturally specific however, as some parents require that children avoid eye contact precisely for the<br />

same reason other parents require it; to show respect for authority.<br />

That being said, a lack of direct eye contact during a conversation is not always to be taken as a<br />

negative cue or rejection. Research has shown that concentrating on faces takes a lot of effort so we<br />

look away in order to properly analyze what is being said. Looking away is also a signal that we are<br />

comfortable with our company because we can safely look away with no risk of being attacked. In<br />

other words, looking away shows that we trust those around us. As such, looking away is a “comfort<br />

display.” <strong>The</strong> distinction between rude eye avoidance and a comfort display should be obvious. For<br />

example, dropping the eyes in order to focus on picking the dirt from beneath the nails to “preen”,<br />

removing lint from clothing while avoiding a topic, or glazing over expressionless in boredom is not<br />

the same as looking away during a conversation to focus more deeply.

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