Book SummaryThe Dictionary of Body Language, by Joe Navarro

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Dictionary of Body Language

Do you want to better understand nonverbal communication? Do you wish you could read people’s emotions using their body language? In The Dictionary of Body Language, retired FBI Special Agent Joe Navarro offers a reference guide that explains a wide breadth of body language cues, creating a foundation for studying nonverbal communication. With this knowledge, Navarro argues that you can improve your relationships and understanding of other people.

(Shortform note: In The Like Switch, Jack Schafer and Marvin Karlins expand on the benefits of understanding body language, arguing that this knowledge is essential for making friends and forging strong relationships. They note that our brains subconsciously pick up on nonverbal cues from others in every environment we enter, and these...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Tips for Understanding the Context of Body Language

Though you can use many body language cues to reliably and consistently assess someone’s emotional state, Navarro says there are some contextual factors to consider before forming conclusions based on your observations. In this section, we’ll explore two of his tips for assessing the context of body language cues.

Tip #1: Determine What’s “Abnormal” on an Individual Basis

Navarro states that when you’re observing many body language cues, it’s important to consider whether the action is ordinary or unusual for the person doing it before ascribing any particular meaning to it. A cue that indicates a strong emotion for one person may just be a habitual behavior for another.

For example, sweating can be an indicator of high stress (as we’ll discuss later), but some people also just sweat more than others. Therefore, to accurately judge what it means if someone’s sweating a lot, you’d have to know what’s normal for that person.

(Shortform note: If you sweat easily when you aren’t stressed or exerting yourself, you may suffer from “excessive sweating,” or hyperhidrosis. A dermatologist can determine if...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Stress and Anxiety: Repeated Actions

According to Navarro, many body language cues that signal stress and anxiety involve repeated actions. Repetition has a calming, settling effect on the nervous system. Therefore, if someone repeats the same behavior over and over in a short period of time, they’re likely attempting to soothe themselves.

Navarro names the following as common body language cues that involve calming, repeated actions:

Action #1: Massaging the Chest From the Shoulder and Across the Collarbone

Navarro describes how, when engaging in this calming, tactile action, people place a hand on the shoulder opposite (right hand to left shoulder or left hand to right shoulder). They then move their hand along the collarbone from their shoulder to their chest.

(Shortform note: The pressure of massage—whether self-initiated or conducted by someone else—sends signals to the brain that help you relax and reduce pain. When you exert pressure on your skin’s nerve cells, your body releases endorphins and reduces levels of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Endorphins naturally make you feel euphoric and prevent signals...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Stress and Anxiety: Cooling Actions

Navarro argues that many cues that indicate anxiousness and stress (and our desire to soothe these feelings) have a cooling effect. When we’re feeling stressed, our bodies get uncomfortably warm. Therefore, we seek to return our bodies to a cooler, more comfortable temperature.

(Shortform note: One option for manually cooling your body is icing, and thus activating, your vagus nerve—the large nerve responsible for regulating digestion, breathing, and heart rate. You can do this by placing ice or a cold compress on the back of your neck or on your chest. Doing so has the side effect of soothing anxiety. When the vagus nerve activates, it slows your heart rate, lowers your blood pressure, and tells your body that it’s okay to calm down.)

Before assessing the driving factor behind these behaviors, however, Navarro suggests considering the context of the situation. Specifically, he notes that a high ambient temperature may prompt these behaviors by making people feel warm. In this case, internal stress may or may not be involved, so use other cues to judge the person’s emotions.

**Why...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Boredom and Impatience

Boredom is another emotion you can often read through body language. Navarro names the following cues as typical indicators that someone’s bored or feeling impatient:

Action #1: Resting the Chin on the Hands, With Slack Features

According to the author, people who are bored often rest their chin on their hands (palms up) while wearing a slack expression. (Shortform note: According to some experts, how many hands you use to support your head suggests different feelings. —[If you rest your head in one hand, it may actually signal...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Disagreement and Doubt

If you see someone displaying the following body language cues, Navarro states that they likely disagree with or doubt something that’s been said:

Action #1: Pursing the Lips

When someone’s mouth pulls tightly in at the sides and pushes forward to form a rounded shape, it’s typically a signal of disagreement or disapproval. According to the author, the prominence of the forward lip-pushing typically correlates with the level of their disapproval—the more forward the mouth pushes, the more intense the emotion is.

(Shortform note: Pursing your lips may have the...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Anger and Irritation

Signs of anger and irritation in body language often involve muscles tensing and constricting. Navarro gives the following examples of anger-related cues:

Action #1: Narrowing the Eyes

Some people who are angry will narrow their eyes slightly, so the part of their eyes that you can see becomes smaller. In keeping with Tip #2, Navarro advises paying attention to the other body language cues that accompany this, as narrowed eyes can have multiple meanings—if someone’s truly angry, you’ll likely see tension in other parts of the face and the body, such as the jaw.

(Shortform note: In *[What Every BODY Is...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Discomfort and Aversion

Navarro notes that body language that displays discomfort or aversion is typically closed and defensive, indicating that someone feels the need to protect themselves or step away from the situation.

(Shortform note: According to Jack Schafer and Marvin Karlins in The Like Switch, many people adopt closed defensive body language without realizing it. When we do this, it can limit our ability to make friends and new connections—if our body language communicates “don’t approach,” others will typically follow that directive. If you have trouble making new friends, take time to observe your own body language to determine if that may be a barrier.)

Navarro offers the following cues for identifying discomfort in somebody’s body language:

Action #1: Folding the Arms Across the Torso

According to the author, people often fold their arms together and hold them against their torso as if they’re giving themselves a hug—this can be a way to soothe mild discomfort, and it may not indicate distress.

(Shortform note: According to...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Comfort and Confidence

In contrast to the tense, protective postures of people who are uncomfortable, angry, or afraid, people who feel comfortable and confident usually display body language that’s open and relaxed.

(Shortform note: Studies suggest that open, confident body language (also known as positive body language) can positively impact the way you feel about yourself and the way you’re perceived by others. First, some researchers have found that displaying positive body language decreases the stress hormone cortisol and increases the confidence-boosting hormone [restricted term]. This combination triggers confidence, increased mental clarity, and a stronger ability to work under pressure. Additionally, research suggests that people view those who display positive body language as more trustworthy and likable.)

Navarro suggests that the following actions indicate comfort and confidence:

Action #1: Relaxation of the Eye Muscles

Navarro states that comfortable people have relaxed muscles all around the face, especially near the eyes. In...

The Dictionary of Body Language Summary Excitement

Finally, Navarro describes several cues that indicate excitement. These often involve springy, energetic, upward movements. (Shortform note: The springy movement of excited body language may come from our need to prevent emotional overwhelm. The feeling of excitement usually comes from a surge of the feel-good neurochemical [restricted term], which can be pleasurable and energizing. However, it can also be intense enough to feel overwhelming, so we move around to release some of the energy that comes with it.)

The following are two examples of excited behaviors:

Action #1: Rapidly Raising and Lowering the Eyebrows

Navarro notes that when greeting...

Shortform Exercise: Practice Reading Body Language

Navarro discusses many body language cues and the emotions they convey. Practice reading the body language and deciphering the emotions of someone in your life.

Choose one person around you and observe their body language—their posture, their facial expression, how they’re using their limbs, and so on. Write down three observations about their body language. For example, maybe you’re observing your coworker, and they’re squinting at their computer, tapping their fingers, and frowning. (If there’s nobody around, observe and note down your own body language.)