Arms And Hands

While we’re on the subject of physical movement and body language, your arms and hands allow you to express yourself. Many people use them when speaking as a way to help others visualize what they’re talking about.

Like when they say, “The fish I caught was this big,” for example, while spreading their arms out. But you may also use them in less obvious ways. When you’re feeling confident, you might open up your arms wide. And when you’re nervous, you might twist your hands together.

You might even drum your fingertips on a table or hide your hands in your pockets when impatient or bored. These signals can be easy to spot because people usually keep their hands in front of their torso, especially while sitting down.

When you meet someone, shaking their hand is expected. But what if they don’t? Are they being defensive or socially awkward? Likewise, someone who has their arms crossed could be forming a wall between you and them. Or they might just be very relaxed.

That’s why you should look for other signals to determine which one it is. Where the arms are concerned, it’s a lot to do with comfort levels and stress. The more open a person’s arms are, the more relaxed they feel.