People may also cross their arms when they feel low self-esteem. Essentially, by crossing their arms, they are hugging themselves.
Even if someone says, “Oh, interesting, go on,” crossed arms suggests they may not really be on board with what they’re hearing. In addition to crossing their arms, someone who is upset may also frown, get quiet, or snap at you.
What else is their body doing? Arrogance or determination might be accompanied by bright eyes or a smirk. If you want to display power or confidence, try to avoid crossing your arms, as it may make you seem more cocky than self-assured.
While body language can accompany and supersede what someone is saying, their own bodily needs—to stay warm, for instance—may outweigh their need to nonverbally express themselves.
If you’re talking to someone whose arms are crossed but who is maintaining eye contact, leaning forward, speaking with a warm tone, and nodding, it is likely their crossed arms are a sign of engagement in the interaction. If they are tapping their toes, leaning away from you, and glancing around, they may be irritated or impatient to end the conversation. Be aware of your own verbal and nonverbal cues: if the other person is mirroring your body language, this may indicate they are invested in the conversation.
If someone’s body language doesn’t seem to match their words, it may be worth it to ask for clarification.
For instance, while in English-speaking countries, the OK sign usually expresses a positive message, it is viewed as offensive in certain other countries, including Brazil and Germany.
At the end of the day, body language isn’t an exact science! Nonverbal cues can tell us a lot—but they can’t tell us everything.
That said, communicating with body language isn’t an exact science, as we’ve proved with our dissection of the many ways crossed arms could be interpreted. One person’s arched eyebrow may be another person’s toe-tapping. Our interpretations of someone’s body language may also be biased: for instance, people with lower voices tend to be perceived as more authoritative than people with higher voices. [10] X Research source
By “microexpressions,” we mean brief, subtle facial expressions—such as squinting or pursing lips. (Unlike a more overt, prolonged facial expression, it’s hard to fake a microexpression. )
Use confident body language to ace a job interview or when interacting with your crush. [12] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source Crossed arms can indicate confidence or perseverance, but because they can also suggest anger or arrogance, fold your arms with discretion. [13] X Research source During high-anxiety situations, keep your hands busy with other activities—such as notetaking, during an interview—so that you don’t fidget. [14] X Research source
Initiate the handshake: this will make you appear confident and friendly. [16] X Research source While you want your grip to be firm, don’t exceed the firmness of the other person’s grip.
But make sure your smile is genuine: fake smiles are fairly easy to identify. Real smiles engage the whole face, while fake smiles only engage the mouth.
Keep your body facing theirs. Toes pointed at your date suggest you are interested in them, while feet pointed away suggest you’re ready to take off. [19] X Research source
