Body language: what is the meaning of folded arms?
Discovering body language can be really interesting. Often we do not even realize it, but our physicality manages to express messages of which we are not at all aware! By learning this language you will be able to better interpret who is in front of you: knowing how to read a very simple gesture like resting your elbows on a table or learning to recognize the body language of a man in love can be really rewarding!
It is precisely those small gestures that are difficult to control that communicate emotions such as desire or low self-esteem more than many words. Learn to use them to your advantage! Let's find out immediately what the meaning of folded arms is. What will those who cross their arms want to express?
Our body also communicates with non-verbal gestures, watch this video to find out more!
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Arms folded: what is the meaning of crossed arms?
Crossing your arms is such a common gesture! It is almost a reflection, an attitude of which we are no longer even aware! Yet it is a manifestation of our unconscious that can express different things, from a feeling of insecurity to a gesture of protection or self-love.
Most of the time we have our arms folded when we are in public, and this is because it represents a kind of self-hug. By embracing ourselves we protect ourselves from any external danger or affront. It is therefore linked to a sense of general insecurity and the need for protection. A way like any other to build strength alone and find a bit of well-being even among strangers.
Equally consoling can be to cross your arms and caress us with your hands. It is a calming gesture, which helps to calm us down and overcome stress. It therefore expresses more than closure, a general feeling of anxiety.
In other cases, however, it can mean a very strong fear. It is no longer a question of wanting to strengthen or console oneself, but precisely to protect one's own interiority and one's life. Generally, in these moments, the gesture of the crossed arms follows other meaningful gestures, such as touching one's throat or face.
Cross Arms: When folded arms mean safety and power
Folded arms can also take on the opposite meaning, namely that of wanting to communicate a sense of security, almost flaunting it. In these cases the shoulders will be kept low and the arms will be stretched forward.
The crossed arms also become an expression of power: they serve to ideally emphasize one's size, highlighting the size of the chest and chest.
This gesture, moreover, can mean self-control: it is a desire to "hold", literally, in order not to do something we might regret, putting a barrier between us and others.
Arms folded and the meaning of isolation
Arms folded can ultimately indicate a willingness to isolate oneself. They underline the intention to close in on themselves, to want to reflect on their own, creating a barrier between themselves and others.
And if there is snow outside, consider that it could also be simply cold and want to warm up! In that case, better let go of body language and go out and buy yourself a nice pair of winter boots:
