The Most Commonly Misunderstood Body Language Sign, According To Experts

You might associate this body language with being miserable or having a bad attitude, but experts say not to run with that too quickly.

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If you saw me at a work meeting, out with friends, or honestly anywhere in the wild, I almost always have my arms crossed. With that being my default stance, you would think I’m a miserable person with a bad attitude. But that is far from the truth (most of the time).

I’m crossing my arms for two reasons: 1) I’m probably cold, and 2) it feels like I’m giving myself a hug, and it feels comforting.

As it turns out, crossed arms is the most commonly misunderstood body language sign, according to experts.

“Most of the time, body language reading is quite accurate; we have to remember it’s only a part of the communication, like tone, choice of words, or, in some cases, touch,” as Stephanie Pappas, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost.

According to Pappas, our reason for judging a person for their body language is evolutionary. Body language was the prominent form of communication and a major survival skill for our ancestors thousands of years ago, she explains. “We were wired to be attuned to those in our tribe, or potential threats, by the way they moved and expressed themselves around us.”

So while we don’t have to rely as much on body language for communication, our brains might still read body language and create a story.

Turns out, crossed arms aren’t the only thing people are getting........

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