The Ultimate Body Language Book

someone is touching their nose for the purpose of alleviating an itch instead of alleviating a lie (or
negative thought). Scratching is directed, specific, deep and vigorous, showing that some amount of
waiting was done before the gesture was performed. Thus more relief is present when the itch is real.
Itching due to negative emotions is general, shallow or glancing. This type of itch is done by bringing
the index finger up, by example and lightly touching the side of the nose where the nail is not used at
all. That is no real scratching is taking place.
An anti-politician gesture – you’d never see this type of uncertainty in any contender.
When we touch our face, we indicate indecision and insecurity.
Have you ever noticed how infrequently politicians touch their faces while in public and when they
absolutely have to, they make it look deliberate and minimal? They raise just one finger and scratch a
specific area, than they bring their hand back to their sides or use their hands to liven their speech.
When trying to appear honest, we should follow their example. Keep face touching to a minimum, use
it specifically, use the nail of the finger to show purposeful itching, and when finished resume normal
open and honest gesturing.
When ready people for honesty, be careful not only to watch for cues, but also be watchful of cues that
should be present, but aren’t. For example, if someone is describing emotional stress, they should
exhibit classic nonverbal behaviours. A woman claiming to have swerved to miss an animal sending her
automobile into the ditch should be agitate and on edge, perhaps covering her suprasternal notch as she
recounts the details. Failing to exhibit the appropriate cues tells us that she might be trying to pull a fast
one on us, perhaps trying to claim insurance so as to benefit from a payout. Looking for cues that
should be there, but aren’t, are sometimes cues in and of themselves.