a book about how to read people
a field guide to human behavior.
Just a reminder that everybody has their own body language and that a signal for 'yes' in one culture may mean 'no' in another; a gesture for 'good-bye' in one culture can be interpr...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
We purse them in front of smartphones to take selfies and paint them with lipstick to make them more attractive. We inject them with collagen to hide our age, and we lick them to keep them moist. Rich in nerve endings, our lips sense pressure, heat, cold, flavors, tenderness, and even the movement of air. They not only sense, they can be sensuous as well. Lips communicate moods, likes, dislikes, even fear. We adorn them, massage them, Botox them, and play with them and oh yes, we kiss with them. In a way, they are one of the things that make us uniquely human.
41. LIP FULLNESS-Our lips change size and dimensions according to our emotional state. They get small when we're stressed, larger when we're comfortable. Full, pliable lips indicate relaxation and contentment. When we're under stress, blood flows out of the lips to other parts of the body where it is needed. Lip fullness can serve as a barometer of a person's emotional state.
42. FINGERTIPS TO LIPS-Covering one's lips with one's fingers can indicate insecurity or doubt and should be considered in context. Watch for this behavior, especially as people hear a question they need to process. This behavior is also seen when people carefully ponder an issue. Keep in mind that some people do this frequently, in all sorts of situations it is a stress reliever harking back to when they sucked their thumbs, so be careful with what inference is drawn.
43. LIP PLUCKING-Pulling or plucking of the lips is usually associated with fear, doubt, concern, lack of confidence, or other difficulties. Ignore people who do this continually to pass the time-for them it is a pacifier. For those who rarely do it, it's a good indicator that something is wrong. (To be honest I do this all the time and I think it's a disorder called dermatillomania)
44. LIP BITING-Lip biting is a pacifier, usually seen when people are under stress or have concerns. We bite our lips because, after a certain age, it is no longer socially acceptable to suck our thumbs, and biting our lips stimulates the same nerves in the mouth. We might also bite our lips when we want to say something but can't or shouldn't. Note also that some people, when angry, will bite their lips as a means of self-restraint.
45. LIP LICKING-Rubbing the tongue on the lips helps to pacify us in the same way that lip biting does. This behavior is usually associated with concerns, anxiety, or negative emotions; however, it could just be that the person has dry lips, so be careful when drawing conclusions. For some people, however, this is a very reliable indicator that they are very stressed. As an educator, I see this all the time when an unprepared student sits down for a test..
46. LIP NARROWING-The narrowing of the lips is mostly associated with negative thoughts, concerns, fears, anxiety, or lack of confidence. As we process issues or experience stress, the lips tend to narrow.
