The Ultimate Body Language Book

exercise except in this case the endorphin rush comes much less potently but the action still provides a
stress reducer.
When a woman suddenly becomes “cold” as a decision gets close in a meeting they might begin by
cross their arms and begin to stroke their elbows or forearms. The temperature in the room hasn’t
dropping though, what she is feeling is an emotional change creating an uneasy feeling. To sooth
herself, she strokes her body and this reminds her of childhood feelings where mom comforted her. A
nervous husband who waits outside a delivery room will pace back and forth. His movement gives him
something to do and also burns up excess energy. Generally men’s displacement actions will be easier
to spot then women’s since they will be more aggressive. Men feel that when something is good, more
is better, and take almost everything to extremes. In fact, one of the leading causes of preventable gum
disease is brushing the teeth too hard or for too long, and men are often most at fault for this. Women’s
postures, on the other hand, will melt into their regular body language and can therefore be harder to
spot.
An entire host of gestures can be used for energy displacement and they vary from person to person and
culture to culture. Any movement that has no inherent or immediate function and that is done when
faced with stress can be called energy displacement. With observation, you can catalog energy
displacement cues in family members, friends and even bosses. If you observe energy displacement
body language in friends, an appropriate response is to offer comfort, but if it is found in a boss or
employee, or during a sale, then it is usually time to back off and give them time to think things over.
Allow a stressed out individual some time to reach a conclusion on their own.