The Ultimate Body Language Book

need to mouth it, and yet it, so as to avoid moving it to the back of the throat too soon leading to
gagging and vomiting. Poor mouth coordination tied with a mother who’s milk has gone dry too soon,
and you have a baby facing early death. Mouthing, therefore, has a strong selective pressure, so today
we find babies that mouth whatever they can, to get all the practice they can get. A secondary
explanation to mouthing behaviour is that is serves as a way to test and explore objects with a sense
that it more developed.
Hand to mouth actions are the most common target for auto touching. It might stem from the concern
of giving up too much information, or letting a lie slip, or due to the need for reassurance. Covering the
mouth is a natural reaction children do when they tell a secret or inadvertently say a word they know
they shouldn’t. Speaking through the hand also shows insecurity and is found when uncomfortable
people speak in public. They will hold an elbow on the table and wrap the forefinger around outside of
the mouth as they speak.
Lip play.
Hair tugging or stroking.
Sucking on a pen
Adults that are tense or anxious will play with their mouth or lip. Mouthing a pen, cigarette, piece of
their own hair, and even gum when used as a comfort device, are a substitute for the mother’s breast
and early childhood mouthing. Sucking, plucking, picking or chewing the lips, rubbing them with a
finger or thumb are all forms of auto touching. Confident individuals would never consider using this
type of security blanket, let alone be seen touching their faces out of insecurity.