Want a little glimpse into the way someone’s memory works? Notice where the person moves her eyes. If you’re not interested in a good or bad way, your face will remain still and unanimated. “Raised eyebrows, one or both, is a true expression of piqued curiosity and interest, while lowered eyebrows can indicate negative emotions, such as confusion and fear,” says Laura Guerrero, a professor of communication at the Arizona State University Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, in Tempe. On a more literal level, you’re revealing and angling your ear to her, physically showing that you want to hear every detail.
This movement indicates that you’re interested and listening. Word to the wise: Nod only once when trying to escape Chatty Cathy.Ĭock your head to the side when hearing a friend’s sob story. If you nod in clusters of three, the speaker will sense your interest, and this can lengthen her response threefold, says Goman. Does he like me? Do I like him? Do I want him to come over here? Also, unlike a direct gaze, the back-and-forth variety is a protective measure: If he doesn’t approach you, you won’t feel rejected. This catch-your-eye game, usually played in guy-girl situations, tends to mirror your scattered thoughts. A liar often overcompensates for being perceived as shifty by focusing a bit too intently on the person he is fibbing to. Another tall-tale tell: a sustained glance. This release causes capillaries to expand, making the nose itch. “When a person fibs, it’s often accompanied by an adrenaline rush,” says psychologist Michael Cunningham, a professor of communication at the University of Louisville. If you bite, suck on, or lick your lips when under pressure or in an awkward situation, you’re attempting to comfort or soothe yourself, says psychologist Carol Kinsey Goman, the author of The Nonverbal Advantage ($22, ).ĭon’t get caught in a lie.