How are personality traits reflected through body language?

[Salma Akter]

By Priyanka Goswami, Associate Professor (Pharma)

Body language is the language of gestures and postures.
Studies of body language analyze the emotions transmitted through movement, such as
facial expressions
movement of eyes
hands
legs
feet
the whole body

Hold eye contact: Interest or insistent curiosity
Show the palms of the hands: Inviting trust
Cover one's mouth with a hand while talking: Uncertainty
Hands on waist: Challenge
Eyes up and to the right: Imagination
Eyes down and to the left: Searching one's memory
Evading eye contact when talking:  Not wanting to show one's feeling
Strong handshake: Wanting to show dominance
Weak handshake: Insecurity or fear
Stiffness in the body: Stiff personality or difficulty in showing emotions
Drooping shoulders: Emotional burden
Head to one side when listening: Attention
Arms folded in barrier posture: Calm or reserve
Arms folded in front body: Fear or insecurity
Rocking or swaying from one foot to another when in a group: Anxiety or insecurity
Eyebrows raised: Arrogance or incredulity
Ample gestures with arms: Self-confidence or generosity
Lips closed without tension: Open, willing posture
Lips closed tight: Decision, aggression, or concentration
Head thrust forward Aggression

Extraversion: excitability, sociability, talkativeness, assertiveness and high amounts of emotional expressiveness.

Agreeableness: attributes such as trust, altruism, kindness, affection, and other prosaically behaviors.

Conscientiousness: high levels of thoughtfulness, with good impulse control and goal-directed behaviors.

Neuroticism: tend to experience emotional instability, anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and sadness.

Openness: imagination and insight, and those high in this trait also tend to have a broad range of interests.

Source: https://www.quora.com/How-are-personality-traits-reflected-through-body-language