Cues That Make You Look Untrustworthy! l @jeffersonfisher

Key Concepts:

• Self-touch (specifically touching the face)
• Distancing behavior (leaning away)
• Crossed arms
• Mistrust cues
• Nonverbal communication
• Deception signals
• Anxiety/Nervousness

Mistrust Cues in Nonverbal Communication

This section details three specific nonverbal cues identified by Cornell researchers as indicators of potential mistrust or deception.

1. Touching the Face:

• The act of touching one's own face is strongly associated with feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and deception.
• This is presented as a cataloged cue, suggesting a systematic study or observation of this behavior.
• The specific action of self-touch on the face is the key element, not general body movement.

2. Leaning Away (Distancing Behavior):

• Leaning away, described as a "distancing behavior," is another cue that can signal discomfort, dislike, or potential deception.
• Specific examples of leaning away are provided: leaning back, tilting back, scooping back.
• The act of creating physical space between oneself and another person or topic is the core indicator.
• The speaker explicitly states that this behavior signals that "you don't like something or perhaps that was a topic that you are being deceptive about."

3. Crossed Arms:

• Crossed arms are identified as a more complex cue due to their potential for comfort and feelings of security.
• The speaker acknowledges that crossed arms can make a person feel "warm and cozy" and "protected."
• However, the speaker cites a study (unspecified) that found that observing someone with crossed arms makes them appear "closed-minded" and "sometimes deceptive."
• The context of the situation is important, as crossed arms can be a comfortable posture but also a signal of defensiveness or resistance.
• The speaker emphasizes that "in any situation with closed arms, it makes them look more closed-minded and sometimes deceptive."

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video segment highlights three nonverbal cues – touching the face, leaning away, and crossed arms – that can contribute to feelings of mistrust. While some of these cues, like crossed arms, can have alternative explanations (comfort), the research suggests that they are often associated with anxiety, discomfort, or potential deception. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being aware of these cues when interpreting others' behavior, but also acknowledges the complexity of nonverbal communication and the need to consider context.