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