Kinesics
By Tan Wei Heng, Toh Wei Chuan,
Khor Yuk Liang, Ch'ng Liyang William
Our Need for Space
Ever wonder what kind of first impression you’ve made on someone? Whether they seem to like you from the outset or, rather, if there could be difficulties brewing? One way to find out is the “shake and wait” approach.
In essence, you just lean in, give the person a hearty handshake (depending on the appropriate cultural norms in the situation), make good eye contact, and then take a step back and see what happens next
One of three responses is likely to take place:
(a) the person will remain in place, which lets you know he or she is comfortable at that distance;
(b) the individual will take a step back or turn slightly away, which lets you know he or she needs more space or wants to be elsewhere;
(c) the person will actually take a step closer to me, which means he or she feels comfortable and/or favourable toward you.
* Take no offense to the individual’s behaviour because you should simply be using this opportunity to see how he or she really feels about you.
Walking Styles
If you are dealing with a person who is socializing or cooperative with you, his or her feet should mirror your own. However, if someone’s feet are pointed away from you while his body faces toward you, you should ask yourself why.
Despite the direction of the body, this is not a genuine cooperation profile and is indicative of several things that must be explored. This particular pose reflects either the person’s need to leave or get away soon, a disinterest in what is being discussed, an unwillingness to further assist, or a lack of commitment to what is being said.
Cooperative vs. Non-Cooperative Feet
Significant Changes in Intensity of Foot/Leg Movement
Leg twitching and movement is normal; some people do it all the time, other never. It is not indicative of lying—as some erroneously believe—as both honest and dishonest people will twitch or jiggle.
The key factor is when these behaviours start to change. Anytime there is a shift from foot jiggling to foot kicking in a seated person, according to Dr. Joe Kulis, it is a very good indicator that the person has seen or heard something negative and is not happy about it.
Foot Freeze
If a person constantly wiggles or bounces his or her feet or leg(s) and suddenly stops, you need to take notice. This usually signifies that the individual is experiencing stress, an emotional change, or feels threatened in some way.
The foot freeze is another example of a limbic-controlled response, the tendency of an individual to stop activity when faced with danger.
The Foot Lock & Leave
When an individual suddenly turns his toes inward or interlocks his feet, it is a sign that he is insecure, anxious, and/or feels threatened. When interviewing suspects in crimes, I often notice that they interlock their feet and ankles when they are under stress.
Interlocking ankles is again part of the limbic response to freeze in the face of a threat... This is consistent with research indicating that people tend to restrict arm and leg movements when lying.
Having said this, I want to caution you that lack of movement is not in itself indicative of deception; it is indicative of self-restraint and caution, which both nervous and lying individuals utilize to assuage their concerns.
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These walking styles are important because changes in the way people normally walk can reflect changes in their thoughts and emotions.
A person who is normally happy and gregarious might suddenly change his or her walking style when told a loved one has been injured. Bad or tragic news may cause a person to sprint out of a room in desperation to help out or it may cause the individual to walk out phlegmatically as though the weight of the world is on his or her shoulders.
According to Desmond Morris, scientists recognize approximately 40 different styles of walking. If that seems like a lot, just recall what you know about the gait these individuals as portrayed in various films: Charlie Chaplin, John Wayne, Mae West, or Groucho Marx.
Each of these movie characters had a distinctive walking style, and their personalities were revealed, in part, through their gaits. How we walk often reflects our moods and attitudes. We can walk in many different ways. We can walk briskly and intentionally, or slowly in a bewildered state. Some other ways include stroll
- amble
- saunter
- plod
- waddle
- limp
- shuffle
- prowl
- bustle
- march
- promenade
- tip toe
- swagger