20+ Psychological Tricks That Can Help You Read People Like Open Books

You have probably wondered how things would be if you could read other people’s minds. Some people use their intuition for this, but if you are not so perceptive, there is only one choice left: learning to read people’s body language.

It is a well-known fact that we get over 55% of information through nonverbal communication. Allan Pease, an Australian body language expert, wrote about this. Mimics, gestures, and other body movements can unmask a person and tell you what they really think or feel.

Bright Side invites you to pay attention to the signals that other people send to us without even realizing it.

1. Closing the eyes

If a person is talking to you and closing his or her eyes, you should know that they are trying to hide from the outside world. An important thing to remember: it doesn’t mean that the person is scared of you. On the contrary, they are trying to get rid of you because they might be tired of you. And if they close their eyes, you disappear!

2. Covering the mouth with a hand

This is a great reminder that we all had a childhood. Do you remember covering your mouth when you didn’t want to tell something? It happens in adult life too. A few fingers, a palm, or even a fist near the mouth helps us not to release the words we don’t want to say. Sometimes this gesture is disguised by fake coughing.

3. Biting the arms of their glasses

You see that a person is biting the arms of their glasses? Try to support them or cheer them up. They are definitely worried about something at a subconscious level. They are trying to feel safe like they were when their mom was breastfeeding them. By the way, a pencil, a pen, a cigarette, and even chewing gum in the mouth can indicate the same thing.

4. Presentation of the face

Generally, this gesture is used for attracting people of the opposite sex. When we put our chins on our hands, we present our faces as if we’re trying to say, “This is me. You can enjoy as much as you want.” Men should memorize this gesture to catch the moment and give a compliment at the right time.

5. Rubbing the chin

This is what people do when they are trying to make a decision. They might be looking down, up, to the side...or anywhere. They hardly even know what they are looking at because they are deep in thought.

6. Crossed arms

This is one of the most popular gestures. It is no wonder that many people feel very comfortable in this position — it helps them shut themselves off from other people. We often use this gesture when we are irritated by something. Crossed arms are a clear sign that a person is not feeling good about something.

7. Fixing the appearance

Do you agree that this position is more open? When a woman wants a man to like her, she tries to present herself in the best way possible. She straightens her back to highlight her breasts, and she can also cross her legs. Hands together and falling down are a signal of attention and huge interest in a person.

8. Leaning forward

When people like someone and want to make contact with them, they usually lean forward. In this position, the legs can be motionless, but the body moves forward intuitively.

9. Leaning back

If someone leans on the back of their chair, they show that they are tired of the conversation. Perhaps they feel uncomfortable in the presence of the other person.

10. Swinging from heels to toes

Yes, not only kids do it. This shows that a person feels anxious about something.

11. Rubbing hands

It is believed that the hands broadcast what the head is thinking. Rubbing their hands together generally means that a person has a positive feeling about something. They are hopeful. We do this when we are thinking about some benefits coming in the future.

12. “Glove” handshake

If a person takes your wrist with their free hand, they are showing that they can be trusted.

13. Handshake with a palm facing the ceiling

A palm on top of someone else’s hand signals that a person is feeling sympathetic. But this is true only if a person does it instantly. However, if you have held the handshake for some time already and only then does the other person put their hand on top, this may be a sign that they want to tell you who is in charge here.

14. Handshake with a palm facing the floor

If you are holding someone’s hand from below, you want to tell them that you are ready to help.

15. Handshake with a touch

People sometimes touch others with their free hands. They can touch the forearm, the elbow, or the back of the other person. Such an invasion of private space means that a person lacks communication. The closer the touch to the torso, the more the person needs company.

16. Fixing the tie

The meaning of this gesture depends on the situation. If a man does this near a good-looking woman, it probably means that he likes her. However, this gesture may also indicate that a person is not feeling comfortable. Maybe he lied or just wants to leave wherever he is right now.

17. Collecting hairs that aren’t there

This is a so-called displacement gesture. People often use it to express that they disagree about something, but they don’t want to say it. In other words, they don’t express their opinion clearly, but they definitely disagree with something.

18. Putting feet on the desk

Such a gesture may express a lot of things: bad manners, disrespect, trying to show who the boss is, or even that the person cares about their own health. Psychologists believe that if you feel comfortable in this position, you shouldn’t rest like this anywhere but home.

19. Mounting a chair like a horse

A chair is not a horse, and even though its back remotely resembles a shield, it serves a different purpose. Many people are irritated by others sitting like this because they feel the aggression intuitively. This position is popular among dominant people. If you don’t want to seem weak, remain standing while they are riding their horse.

20. Playing with a shoe

Crossed legs are one of the most attractive female positions. And if a woman is playing with her shoe, she is trying to draw your attention to her legs. This gesture indicates that a woman is calm and relaxed. This is a kind of green light for a man.

21. Eye contact

The eyes are the windows to the soul and also a great way to communicate. You can read all the feelings and emotions of a person in their eyes. Lovers look each other in the eye hoping to see the pupils become bigger. In fact, it’s very easy to notice because pupils can be up to 4 times bigger compared to their normal state. By the way, if a person is angry, their eyes look like beads because the pupils get very small.

Do you notice and analyze body language? Tell us in the comment section below!