Language of the body

"Here's something really special, really important, I think you ought to know" she said. "Tell me" he replied, as he leaned far back into his chair, and folded his arms across his chest. 

Right you are. She changed her mind. Crossed her legs, shifted in her chair and asked him what he wanted to order for dinner.

The language of the body, it appears, is almost as important as the words that accompany it. Had he leaned forward, had his eyes widened expectantly, he would have struck the pose she was hoping for. 

Alas, not.

Abstract Thoughts? The Body Takes Them Literally  does not necessarily only relate to the language of love, but to a myriad of other postures indicating what we are thinking, if not outwardly verbalizing.

Want a more weighty, thoughtful answer to a question, have your respondent hold a heavy object. Want to evaluate a reaction to a moral transgression? Is the box of antiseptic wipes within reach? And more importantly, does the transgressor reach for one?

If this subtle body language stuff is really indicative of what you, or the person you are sitting with, is thinking, here are a couple of sure fire tests to determine how you're doing.

The job interview is winding down. "I am looking forward to meeting more of your team" you say. They shift in their chair, imperceptible as it seems, did they shift their body forward, a sure sign of thinking positively about the future, or not? 

Ditto for the blind date maneuver. Ten minutes into the coffee, the universal signal for 'check, please' occurs. Open for interpretation? Only if that gesture was in consort with playing footsie.