The Ultimate Body Language Book

should see more dominant people hold more open postures and subordinate people hold more closed
postures. An employer, for example, being more comfortable in the workplace would be expected to
hold his hands to his sides, rather than have his arms crossed, use a palm down handshake showing
dominance and generally avoid holding himself up against objects or hidden behind objects like coffee
mugs or folders. His subordinate employees, on the other hand, would feel more comfortable with their
hands in their pockets, finding refuge against the back of a chair, leaning against a desk, or hiding
behind a notebook. Employees might also take up an arm cross, either in full, but usually only in part,
by grab their opposite arm or elbow, and tuck one leg behind the other in the ankle cross. Employees
will avoid a full arm cross because they don’t want to appear totally closed to the suggestions of their
employer.
Chapter 7 - Opened Mind Opened Body Closed Mind Closed Body
Summary – Chapter 7
In this chapter we looked at how open body positions indicate an open or closed mind. Specifically, we
saw that that by having arms and legs that cross the midpoint of the body we indicate a closed mind,
negative attitude or disposition, and conversely, that open postures indicate an open mind. This is
evident most often through what is called “ventral displays” where the chest and front is exposed. We
saw that the hands can convey honesty by showing that “no weapon is present”, that rubbing the hands
is figuratively a preparation to receive something (or that we’re cold), and that sudden changes in the
hands has real meaning, that pointing is rude and as if throwing a spear, but can and are blocked, by
arm crossing which works as a shield.
Next, we examined techniques to open people when they show closed body positions in an attempt to
close the “closed”, the meaning of leg crossing and how spreading means dominance, and how the
ankle cross indicates a negative, but hidden emotion. The figure-four-leg-position, we found, happens
by pulling one leg over the other knee and represents disagreement, the fig leaf is a shameful posture
since it hides the genitals from view, and parallel legs which happens by pressed one leg against the
other making the legs appear sexier and more youthful. Next we looked at pigeons toes or “tibial
torsion”, a submissive body posture indicating meekness, then how the legs tell where the mind thinks
through pointing and the four main ways a person might stand; straight up and feet together (attentive),
feet apart (a crotch display), one foot forward (shows direction of interest) and legs crossed at the ankle
(a submissive posture). We then examined the progression from closed to open as a sequence when
meeting new people or being in novel situations, how eye aversion or avoidance can indicate a lack of
receptiveness, that the fetal position can be abbreviated by simply pulling limbs to the center of the
body and finally how openness is related to status.
Chapter 8 – Dominant and Submissive Gestures
Introduction – Chapter 8
Dominant and submissive gestures are polar opposites, both by definition, and in terms of the body
language that is used to indicate it. For example, appearing larger by throwing an arm over the back of
the chair and spreading the legs opened is dominant whereas appearing smaller by pulling the limbs
inward or hunching the back is submissive. This phenomenon is a good rule of thumb so keep it in
mind while reading this chapter and the people around you.