The Body Is a Language

A bad handshake is such a turnoff; we feel irked when someone rolls their eyes at us; we can't stop pacing when we're nervous-ever wondered how certain body language has the power to change how we feel instantly? We explore why.

- Adora Wong

A BAD HANDSHAKE IS SUCH A TURNOFF BECAUSE... we’re primates and that’s why we shake hands to begin with. All primates approach each other by reaching out with their fingers. However, our brains have evolved to help us retain negativity so that we don’t have to learn every morning not to touch a hot stove,” former FBI agent and body language expert Joe Navarro tells his audience for Wired. Thus, when we shake a hand that is wet or grabbing us in a strange way, it registers with us potentially for years,” he adds.

WE FEEL IRKED WHEN SOMEONE ROLLS THEIR EYES AT US BECAUSE... an eyeroll is a show of contempt and disdain, and while disdain is tolerable”, contempt isn’t because it is always hierarchical”. When someone rolls their eyes, they are] putting somebody ahead and somebody down, and that’s just not acceptable,” Navarro explains.

WE CAN’T STOP TAPPING DUE TO... a need to pacify. whether it’s finger tapping, pencil tapping or leg bouncing, these actions help us pass time” and deal with a situation where things have slowed down”. Why? These repetitive movements facilitate self-soothing. Our brains always need to be pacified, and in compressing and releasing muscle, we send signals to our brains to calm down.