Transcript Right Thing To Do

Nonverbal Cues
R. Bruce McNellie,
Ph.D.,LCSW,LPC, LMFT,DCSW
• Cue
1. Withdrawal of chin into chest.
• Interpretation
1. 'Go away. You are
intruding.
2. 'Dogface' Expression
2. The Prisoner's
expression: wearing a
masking expression that
is apathetic,
characterless. Says: Don't
notice me
• 3. Nodding affirmatively
3. Agreement (Does it match
verbal output?)
1. Nodding negatively
2. One eyebrow lifted
1. Disagreement (Does it
match verbal output)
2. Skepticism, disbelief
3. Rub nose (or chin)
3. Puzzlement
4. Wink
4. Intimacy
5. Head signal toward another
5. 'It's your turn to talk.'
6. Head and eyelid up at the end of
statement
6. A question
1. Head and eyelid down at
the end of statement
1. A statement
2. Biting or chewing lip
3. Gritting teeth
4. Taking off glasses,
looking away
5. Direct eye contact
6. Avoidance of direct eye
contact
2. Anxiety, nervousness
3. Exasperation
4. 'I don't want to see or
know.'
5. Openness
6. Closedness
• The eyes are one of the most potent communicators
that the body has. Use the checklist below to describe
the eyes of the person you are observing:
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Steely
Knowing
Piercing
Glowing
Sleepy
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Mocking
Burning
Staring
Awkward
Bedroom eyes
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Owlish
Invading
Angry
Coquettish
Friendly
• II. GESTURES AND HAND AND FOOT MOVEMENTS
•
Cue
Interpretation
• Playing with a ring or jewelry
-Nervousness,
anxiety,
embarrassment
• Covering mouth with hands
-Feelings of
inadequacy of
distaste for subject
• Covering eyes with hands
-Withdrawal or
shame
• Touching others:
A. Firmly on arm
-To make point, emphasize
B. Friendly, arm around
- Friendliness,
shoulder
warmth
C. Invasion of territory
-Touch for control
1. Touching, fondling
inanimate objects
1. 'I am lonely' 'I am
starved for
companionship‘
2. Shoulder shrug
2. Indifference
3. Hunching of shoulders
3. Withdrawal
1.
2.
3.
4.
Tapping fingers
Slapping forehead
Stroking thighs
Rotating feet Toes or
feet turned upward
1.
2.
3.
4.
Impatience
Forgetfulness
Sexual invitation
Sensual comehither movement
• Toes or feet turned
upward
• Other Sexual Gestures:
Flirting glance, fluttering
eyelashes, putting head
to one side, rolling hips,
putting hand on hip,
exposing wrist or palm
• Sexual invitation
• Sexual invitation
1. Tightly clasped hands
1. Need for selfreassurance
2. Open hands with fingers 2. Acceptance,
openness
spread wide
3. Tapping or stirring feet
3. Annoyance,
impatience desire
to end
conversation
• Cue
Interpretation
• Arms crossed over chest
-Defensive
position
• Bodily invasion of another's -Attempt
territory (sitting too close,
to control
moving aggressively toward
another
• Moving back physically
-Feeling
threatened
• Shrinking body movements -Depression
• Bracing arms on chair
-Anxiety
• Leaning against wall or
-Need for
on table
emotional
support
• Holding body stiff and rigid
-Not
flexible,
defensive
Height:
a. making oneself tallest in
group
b. 'bowing and scraping'
body positions
c. Bowed shoulders
Dominance
Submission
Carrying a
heavy weight or burden
• Leaning forward in chair
-Interest,
involvement
• Slumped in chair
-Disinterest
• Tightly crossed legs
-Defensiveness
• Listless posture, almost no movement
-Passivity,
depression
• James Bond posture, stolid, un- -'Cool',
loving
unemotional
• Moving back, turning back on
person or group
--Disagreement
or disconnecting
• Spread hand across chest
-'I feel
pain or stress.'
• Leaning back, hands behind
head elbows extended like wings
-High status,
set apart from others
• Imitative body language
-'I support you, I
am with you
• Female: legs slanted, parallel,
slightly crossed at ankles
-Ordered mind, or
'charm-school
training'
• Excessively jerky movements
-Frustration
• Snapping forward of head and whole body
including arms and shoulders
-Forcefulness
• Head rested at angle, fingers agitated or
drumming
-Boredom
• Intense gaze, wrinkled forehead, downcast
look
-Reflection
• Sitting on edge of chair
-Ambivalence,
tension, desire to
end conversation