The Ultimate Body Language Book

Chapter 9 –Defensive And Aggressive Body Language
Summary – Chapter 9
In this chapter we covered defensive and aggressive body language. We found that double arm hug or
arm crossing, partial arm crossing, arm gripping, fists and arm clenching, stiff or curved arms, or even
cufflinks can be used to signal defensiveness. We learned that objects are used to shield the insecure by
affording fewer angles of attack which is the case when we lean against a wall or bar top, hold a drink
near our face or against our chest, or hide behind a podium whilst presenting. We discovered that
headphones can be great tools for women who don’t want to be bothered, how pens, books, or
newspapers indicate division between people and how conversations can be ended or avoided simply
by raising a book. We found that other cues such as head bows, looking up to the side or through the
forehead, avoiding eye contact, seeking escape routes with darting eyes, or reduce body size among
others, show defensiveness.
On the other hand, we cut through defensiveness to study aggression which can include the in-yourface
posture characterized by the hands on hips, feet together at attention, leaning forward with the
head and chin up or out and exposed. We also saw that an aggressive person might get red in the face,
cross or drop their arms to the side and clench their fists, finger point, become tense overall, clamp
their jaw, tighten their lips, frown and lower their eyebrows. We learned that a stare lasting ten seconds
or longer invokes anxiety and discomfort in subordinates in the ‘unblinking eyes’, and that
overstepping boundaries can lead to conflict.
Chapter 9 –Defensive And Aggressive Body Language
Summary – Chapter 9
In this chapter we covered defensive and aggressive body language. We found that double arm hug or
arm crossing, partial arm crossing, arm gripping, fists and arm clenching, stiff or curved arms, or even
cufflinks can be used to signal defensiveness. We learned that objects are used to shield the insecure by
affording fewer angles of attack which is the case when we lean against a wall or bar top, hold a drink
near our face or against our chest, or hide behind a podium whilst presenting. We discovered that
headphones can be great tools for women who don’t want to be bothered, how pens, books, or
newspapers indicate division between people and how conversations can be ended or avoided simply
by raising a book. We found that other cues such as head bows, looking up to the side or through the
forehead, avoiding eye contact, seeking escape routes with darting eyes, or reduce body size among
others, show defensiveness.
On the other hand, we cut through defensiveness to study aggression which can include the in-yourface
posture characterized by the hands on hips, feet together at attention, leaning forward with the
head and chin up or out and exposed. We also saw that an aggressive person might get red in the face,
cross or drop their arms to the side and clench their fists, finger point, become tense overall, clamp
their jaw, tighten their lips, frown and lower their eyebrows. We learned that a stare lasting ten seconds
or longer invokes anxiety and discomfort in subordinates in the ‘unblinking eyes’, and that
overstepping boundaries can lead to conflict.