Body Language for Emotions
Don’t know where I found this resource, but the following is a list of emotions and how our body language reveals the emotion.
Anticipation
- rub hands together
- lick lips
- unable to sit still
- grin
Awe
- slack-jawed
- unable to move
- fixed gaze
Amusement
- throw head back
- slap thighs
- clap hands
- shake with laughter
Anger or Aggression
- shake fist
- point finger
- stab finger
- slam fist on a table
- flushed face
- throbbing veins in neck
- jutting chin
- clench fist
- clench jaw
- lower eyebrows
- squint eyes
- bare teeth
- a wide stance
- tight-lipped smile
Annoyance
- press lips together
- narrow eyes
- roll eyes
- exasperated sighs
Anxiety
- fidget
- twist a ring
- chew on a pencil
- bite lip
- swallow constantly
- quickened breathing
- hold breath
- darting eyes
- sweat
- clammy palms
- high-pitched laughter
- hunched posture
- pace
- stutter
- play with hair
Attentiveness
- furrowed brow
- lean forward
- sit up
- take notes
- mimic body language
Boredom
- yawn
- avoid eye contact
- tap feet
- twirl a pen
- doodle
- fidget
- slouch
- drum fingers
Confidence
- clasp arms behind body
- lift head
- push chest out
- stand tall
- make firm and precise movements
Confusion
- tilt head
- narrow eyes
- furrowed brow
- shrug
Contempt
- lift chin
- purse lips
- sneer
- stretch or turn away
- dismissive hand-waving
Cynical
- twist lips
- half-smile
- shake head
- press lips with a slight frown
- roll eyes
Deception
- one sided shoulder shrug
- look down
- scratch nose, ear or neck
- feet kick out or shuffle involuntarily
- sudden change in demeanor
- hesitation in speech
- shifty eye contact
- long blinks
- shrug
- unwarranted smiles or laughter
- shake head ’no’ while saying ‘yes’
- lick lips
- cover or touch mouth
Defensive
- cross arms or legs
- arms out with palms foward
- hands up
- place anything in front of body
- hands in pocket
Desire
- wink
- look up through the lashes
- glance over the shoulder
- make eye contact
- touch hair or clothing
- straighten spine
- strike a ‘cowboy’ pose with thumbs in belt
- dilated pupils
- arch
- stretch
- cross and uncross legs
Disbelief
- wide-eyed (shock)
- narrow-eyed (skeptical)
- twist mouth
- crinkle nose
- crease brow
Disgust
- crinkle nose
- curled lip
- flinch
- turn away
- cover nose
- gag
- squint eyes shut
- protect body by turning shoulder (cold shoulder)
Displeasure
- fake smile
- pout
- frown
- cross arms
Distress
- stroke or rub nape of neck
- wide eyes
- shallow rapid breathing
- beat walls
- huddle in a corner
- clasp hands over head
- rock
- wring hands
- run hands through hair
- adjust cuffs
- hold hands in front of crotch
Embarrassment
- blush
- stammer
- cover face with hands
- bow head
- trouble maintaining eye contact
- look down and away
- blink back tears
Fatigue
- rub eyes
- stare into space
- yawn and/or stretch
- nod off and jerk awake
- grit teeth
- close eyes
- move slowly
- slouch
Fear
- hunch shoulders
- shrink back
- mouth open
- widen eyes
- shake
- tremble
- freeze
- rock from side to side
- wrap hands around self
- shaking hands
Frustration
- shake head
- massage temples
- clasp wrist in opposite hand or behind back
- aggressively run hands through hair
- show white knuckles
Grief
- curl into fetal position
- face contorts
- slump
- cover face or head with hands or arms or pillow
- stare
- shake with sobs
- tremble
- turn away
- difficulty swallowing
Happiness
- smile
- laugh
- hum a tune
- crinkle eyes and nose
- swing arms
- spin loosely
- dance
- jump
- hug
- giggle
Honesty
- maintain eye contact
- smile with eyes and mouth
- look up
- palms up
- open arms
Impatience
- nod quickly
- tap fingers
- sigh
- check the clock
- tap feet
- increase pitch in voice
- look away
Jealousy
- tight lips
- sour expression
- narrow eyes
- crossed arms
Overwhelmed
- palms to forehead
- splayed fingers cover eyes with one hand
- eyes wide and staring into space
- hands grip onto something
Passion or Eagerness
- lean forward
- nod
- wide eyes
- steady eye contact or raised eyebrows
- hand on heart
- double-handed handshake
- feet pointed inwards
Playfulness
- wink
- waggle eyebrows
- nudge
- smile
- tickle
Pleasure
- tilt head back
- part lips slightly
- eyes wide or closed
- languorous movements
- stretch
- arch back or neck
- flush
- quick breath or pulse
Possessiveness
- handshake with arm clasp
- place hands on or around someone’s shoulders, neck, waist
- place hands on wall near them
- stand in personal space with body positioned towards person
- run a knuckle down someone’s cheek
- stare others down if they get too close
Pride or Dominance
- chin up, chest out
- shoulders back
- hard handshake
- lean back with hands behind head and feet up
- unblinking focused eye contact
- hands on hips
- straddle chair
Reluctance
- cross arms
- make fists
- drag feet
- pinch nose
- put hands over ears
Sadness
- droopy body
- bowed
- wrap hands around self
- hesitating movements
- bottom lip jutting out
- lip quivers
- cry
- sob
- shake
- drag feet
Secretiveness
- tight-lipped smile
- hands in pockets
- looked away
- cover face
- look down
Shame
- slump shoulders
- look down and away
- bury face in hands
- bow head
- straight mouth
Shock
- hands over mouth
- mouth open
- gasp
- freeze and stare with wide eyes and raised eyebrows
- smack palm against forehead
- step back
Shyness
- blush
- avoid eye contact
- keep distance from others
- back away if others came too close
- fold arms
- bend head
- hug walls
Smugness
- slight close-lipped smile
- one raised eyebrow
- slightly tucked chin
- enigmatic smile
- raise eyebrow
- steeple fingers
Suspicion
- narrow eyes
- glance sideways
- raise eyebrow
- rub eyes
- shake head
- blow out cheeks
- frown
- tighten lips
Thoughtfulness
- steeple fingers
- pinch nose
- close eyes
- tug ear
- stroke a real or imaginary beard
- furrow brow
- narrow eyes
- tilt head and press lips together
- rest chin on hand
- lean back and look up
Triumph
- clench hands above head
- tilt head back and yell, throw head back?
- pump fist in air
- jump, roar, whoop