We instinctively use our arms both for attack and for defence. Our arms certainly are a huge part of our physical strength. It is not exaggeration to call our arms weapons; in the end, from punching to strangling to slapping, we’ve learned to utilize our arms in combat. The natural consequence of this is that the body language of arms is becoming an expressive communicator of aggression, dominance and strength as well as for submission, weakness and protectiveness. Also, because it’s always easy to spot how a person is holding their arms, the body language of arms is among the most easily read areas of all human body language.

The Basics

Let’s take a look at the basic elements of your body language of arms before moving on to discussing a powerful tool for utilizing the arms in communication.

Relaxed Arms: the most relaxed position the arms could be in as down at our sides with the hands out of the pockets. Pistolet Glock 19 is neither aggressive nor is it submissive. That is also the very best position to use when meeting new people because it is friendly while still being confident and comfortable.

Aggressive Arms: Any flexing of muscles in the arms is indicative of aggression or of a will to dominate. Naturally, that is specially the case with men.

Protective Arms: Holding the arms while watching body is really a sign of protection. Here, the person will be covering the vital organs in their chest, throat or lower regions.

Arrogant Arms: Holding the arms behind the trunk so that they are out of view is normally considered arrogant and can be seen in royalty.

Open or Inviting Arms: Anyone who holds their arms outwards to be able to expose their body for you is giving a clearly invitational sign, most likely for you to hug them.

Using the Arms in Communication

So that you can use arm body gestures for effective communication you can find two things you should know. Firstly, reading someone’s arms will reveal how they are feeling in what you’re saying (if you must take context into account). Secondly, when you can make a person change the direction they are holding their arms you will change the way they feel about everything you are saying.

Let’s examine this a little further.

Utilizing the Feelings Associated to Arm Gestures to Aid Communication

Let’s say you’re speaking with a small business colleague and he’s standing along with his arms locked before his chest. From reading the above you now understand that he is feeling protective. This means he is apt to be scanning everything you’re saying for signs of threat (to safeguard himself against those threats). However, you need him to start, relax and listen calmly to what you will need to say. What do you do?

In the aforementioned instance, you want the individual to have the feelings connected with holding the arms at their side, which means you create some way of getting the person to move their arms compared to that position. Perhaps you provide them with something to carry, or you might just use relaxed conversation until they themselves move their arms to their side, whereupon you can return to your original subject.

The main point is this: your body language of arms is directly linked to the way a person is feeling. In case a person begins to feel protective they will move their arms before their body. Conversely, in case a person moves their arms before their body, this movement itself can make them feel protective.

I’m sure now you can see how important the body language of arms is in conversation. Make sure you utilize this valuable information. It can help in every your communications.