The Ultimate Body Language Book

Chapter 11 - Emotional Body Language
The Sequencing Of Rejection Body Language
The conversation ended a long time ago!
There are times when we are cornered or end up corning someone else through conversation, so
understanding the cues that indicate rejection (and acceptance, covered next) can be useful to avoid
unproductive conversations or as the case may be, to make the signals more poignant to others.
When people meet and rejection is present we see:
[A] The disinterested party turns their body and head away at a half turn.
[B] An expressionless face is assumed.
[C] The toes are re-oriented away from the speaker toward an exit, or other people. Distance separating
the speaker and listener may increase by taking a step away.
[D] Fidgeting increases, swaying from side to side, picking finger nails and so forth.
[E] Poor eye contact is present and the listener frequently looks away or down.
[F] No, infrequent, poor, or random regulators are given such as “mhum” and head nods.
[G] No engagement in the conversation, no addition of unique input.
[H] Opportunity to leave is actively sought despite lack of necessity.