Communication

The man holding his eyeglasses in his right hand is the boss; in fact, this boss happens to be the late President Ronald Reagan.

• Folding the arms over the lower chest or upper abdomen with one or both hands in contact with the bicep muscles is a common resting position and indicates relaxation and/or agreement. Held less tightly against the body, such as crossed and elevated on a table with elbows projecting away from the body indicates disagreement. When arms and elbows are pulled in very tightly against the torso, it indicates acute nervousness.

• Psychologists interpreted these gestures as “he agrees with what this witness is saying” or “he disagrees with what this witness is saying”. How do you believe he crossed his arms when he thought the witness was lying?

• When former football player and actor O.J. Simpson was on trial for the murder of his ex-wife and her boyfriend, he was often seen crossing his arms loosely like the man on the left. Other times he elevated his crossed arms up on the table, with his elbows projecting away from his body.

• (By the way, he sat with his elbows crossed loosely over his torso during the testimony from his accusers about the bloody glove found on his property. What do you think?)

• Developed by

• Barbara Swarthout

• Elkhorn High