V2 — BODY AXIS (CLOSED / OPEN)
Defence layer 2. Used when retreat is impossible. It breaks down when it is observed or when it would be rude.
18 phenomena · 115 possibilities listed
18 phenomena
2.01Disguised barrier (adjusting a cufflink, a watch strap, checking the wallet, hugging a briefcase, holding a glass in both hands)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- The cufflink/watch really is loose
- Hot glass → has to be held in both hands
- Nowhere to put the hands (chair without armrests, table too high)
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- The most refined form of barrier — appears when crossing open ground or being watched
- Needing something to do with the hands while answering a hard question
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- A personal habit that repeats every few minutes regardless of content
- New / unfamiliar clothing
- A job that requires adjusting one's dress (diplomacy, front of house)
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T4: count the frequency across 5 baseline minutes. Count only what EXCEEDS baseline. T2: does it rise on any particular topic?
Once you have assigned a label: Prince Charles adjusted his cuff button every time he crossed open ground — exactly the E-no, N-yes pattern.
V2 · 2.01
2.02Single-arm barrier (one arm across the body gripping the other arm)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Mild cold on one side (air conditioning from one direction)
- Holding a bag/coat over the arm
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Mid-level insecurity — usually paired with 'I'm fine'
- Step 4 of the loosening sequence while OPENING up out of crossed arms
- Self-hug: recreating the feeling of being held as a child (pacifying)
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Women use it more — correct for sex
- Pain in one shoulder
- The standing habit of someone who always carries a bag on one side
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T5 + sequence: if it is MOVING FROM crossed arms towards open, this is progress, not new defence.
Once you have assigned a label: Read by TRAJECTORY. The same posture carries two opposite meanings depending on the direction of travel.
V2 · 2.02
2.03Both hands clasped over the groin ('the broken zipper')
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- No pockets to put the hands in
- Standing and waiting, with nowhere to put the hands
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Protecting the groin + guarding against a frontal blow — men, standing before an unfamiliar group
- Exposed to a crowd with no way to withdraw
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- The standing habit of men wearing clothes without pockets
- A trained stance (ceremonial, formation)
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T3: hand them an object to hold → if the hands then fall naturally, it is mostly E/T.
Once you have assigned a label: Almost exclusively male. Women use the single-arm barrier in the same situation.
V2 · 2.03
2.04Arms crossed over the chest (standard)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- COLD: hands tucked UNDER THE ARMPITS, legs stretched out stiff and pressed together, the whole body hugged tight
- Chair without armrests
- A draught / air conditioning blowing straight at them
- Holding a briefcase/coat
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- DEFENCE: hands tucked at the ELBOWS or gripping the upper arms, legs RELAXED, only the front shielded
- Disagreement with what has just been heard (in meetings: arm-crossing in the opposing camp rises to 90%)
- Layer 1 blocked (lift, closed room) → pushed down to layer 2
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- A resting-posture habit — 7/10 people put the left arm over the right, GENETIC, not changeable
- Thick coat / tight clothing
- Shoulder joint pain, hugging to ease it
- People carrying a weapon RARELY cross their arms → if they do, it is a departure from the occupational norm
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T5 is the main disambiguation test: the COLD vs DEFENCE table (hand position + state of the legs). T3: offer a coat / turn up the heat.
Once you have assigned a label: Causation runs BOTH WAYS: crossed arms also PRODUCE defensiveness (38% less retention). Break the posture BEFORE you persuade.
V2 · 2.04
2.05Crossed arms + thumbs pointing up
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Cold + the habit of leaving the thumbs out for air
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- A DOUBLE signal: defence + confidence/superiority
- Defensive but refusing to give ground — usually sits ASYMMETRICALLY
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- The gripping habit of someone who often carries things
- The habitual stance of someone who often hooks the thumbs into the pockets
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T6: read it with the cluster — sitting off-centre, head raised, slow voice → N. On its own it settles nothing.
Once you have assigned a label: Quite unlike 2.07 (squeezing the upper arms): one says 'I am still on top', the other says 'I am afraid'.
V2 · 2.05
2.06Crossed arms + clenched fists
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Very cold, clenching to hold heat (with shivering, pale skin)
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Hostility + defence. With LIP COMPRESSION / JAW CLENCHING / FACIAL FLUSHING → risk of physical conflict
- Past the limit of tolerance — Zone 8 spikes just before it
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- A muscle-spasticity condition
- The clenching habit of someone who trains with weights
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T6 is mandatory: never read this one alone. Look for lip compression / flushing / jaw clenching.
Once you have assigned a label: This is a STOP signal. De-escalate at once, do not push any further.
V2 · 2.06
2.07Crossed arms gripping both upper arms (squeezing until the knuckles whiten)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Hard cold — but then the hands will be UNDER THE ARMPITS, not squeezing the upper arms
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- HIGH insecurity. Typical setting: a medical waiting room, an airport
- In court: the DEFENDANT uses this form; the PLAINTIFF uses form 2.04
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Muscle pain, self-massage
- A long-standing self-hugging habit (check it at baseline)
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T5: white knuckles = gripping force, not heat retention. T4: present from the first minute? → T.
Once you have assigned a label: The Othello error sits right here: an INNOCENT person afraid of not being believed squeezes the upper arms too.
V2 · 2.07
2.08The European seated leg cross (one leg laid over the other)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Chair too high/low, crossing to ease the strain
- Cramped space, the legs have to be drawn in
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Closed. With CROSSED ARMS → no wish to talk; persuasion is useless (Cell D)
- Shifting INTO the cross exactly as a topic comes up
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- 70% of people cross left over right — a population distribution, not a signal
- Short skirt → a practical reason
- Obesity / joint pain → CANNOT cross even when they disagree
- Holding one posture numbs the leg → changing legs is mechanical
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T1: the moment of the SHIFT is the data, not the static state. T3: change the chair.
Once you have assigned a label: Never ask anyone for a decision while their legs are crossed — both feet must be on the floor.
V2 · 2.08
2.09The American figure-four leg cross (ankle resting on the opposite knee)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Plenty of room, a low chair → the most natural posture
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Argument / competition. Displaying the groin = no fear
- Shifting into this form the moment they are contradicted
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- The sitting habit of Western men
- OFFENSIVE in the Middle East and much of Asia (it shows the sole of the shoe) → nobody uses it, so its absence means NOTHING
- Stiff hip joints → cannot do it
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T4 + cultural trap #7: check origin before reading. Its absence in East Asians is baseline, not a signal.
Once you have assigned a label: In Pease's research, some managers did NOT shift into this form even when they disagreed — for health reasons.
V2 · 2.09
2.10Figure-four leg cross + one or both hands clamped on the leg
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
— no significant cause in this group, which makes this behaviour easier to read than the rest.
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- The strongest CLOSED signal of the lower body: rigid, entrenched, will NOT change their mind
- The hand locking the leg = blocking oneself from leaving
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Holding the leg so it does not slip on a slick chair
- Back pain, needs the support
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T6: this cluster almost always comes with a clipped voice and compressed lips. If it stands alone, check the chair.
Once you have assigned a label: Do not persuade against this posture. Break it first (hand over an object, offer a drink).
V2 · 2.10
2.11Ankle lock (the two ankles twisted/locked together, usually under the chair)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Cold at floor level / air conditioning under the table
- High chair, feet not reaching the floor → locked for stability
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Suppressing negative emotion / fear / WITHHOLDING INFORMATION
- In negotiation: the side with locked ankles is usually holding back a concession
- Data: defendants 3× plaintiffs; dental patients 88% (examination only 68%, with an injection 98%)
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Short skirt → a practical reason, but many keep the habit for life
- Women: a posture taught from childhood
- Ankle joint pain
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T3 has a measure: a POSITIVE question releases this posture 42% of the time; REMOVING THE TABLE and sitting alongside works better still.
Once you have assigned a label: Pease puts it plainly: 'it may be FEAR rather than feeling guilty' — the textbook case of the Othello error.
V2 · 2.11
2.12Leg twine (one leg wound around the other)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Very cramped space
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Shyness, withdrawing into a shell — a high degree of lower-body retraction
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Almost exclusively female — correct for sex
- Hypermobility → easy to do, so done often
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T4: present at baseline? Many people twine their legs as their default resting posture.
Once you have assigned a label: Easily over-read. Count it only if it is NEWLY APPEARING.
V2 · 2.12
2.13Both legs placed parallel, angled slightly the same way
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Cramped space, the legs have to be tucked in
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Controlled closure — neither defensive nor open
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Women, a taught posture; 86% of men vote it the most attractive way to sit → it may be IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT
- Skirt / clothing
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- File it under Cell C (deliberate openness) if an open cluster in the upper body comes with legs not yet open.
Once you have assigned a label: Remember: THE LEGS OPEN BEFORE THE ARMS. If the arms open before the legs → deliberate openness, not real openness.
V2 · 2.13
2.14The scissors leg cross while STANDING
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Cramped standing room
- Sloping floor / long standing forces a shift of weight
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- 'Not up for discussion' BUT staying put — closed, submissive, no approach allowed
- Common in a stranger who has just joined a group
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Tired legs from standing a long time → the weight shift is mechanical
- The standing habit of people who stand for long periods (teachers, receptionists)
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T1: time how long it is held. Fatigue alternates legs every 1–3 minutes; a signal HOLDS as long as the topic stays hot.
Once you have assigned a label: The core disambiguation for this entry: alternating = T (fatigue); held fixed = N.
V2 · 2.14
2.15Legs spread wide while standing (crotch display)
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Slippery floor / standing in a moving vehicle → a wide stance is needed for balance
- Carrying a heavy load
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Dominance, masculinity, NO intention of leaving
- Spreading wider when standing near someone they regard as beneath them
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- The standing habit of men
- Obesity / hip joints → a forced posture
- In the Philippines and Malaysia, hands on hips + legs spread carries a far stronger meaning
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T2: compare the width of the stance when they speak to different people in the same room → if it varies by WHO they face, it is N.
Once you have assigned a label: Women answer this posture with crossed arms + crossed legs. The thighs close in the meeting.
V2 · 2.15
2.16Standing at attention, feet together
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Very tight space (lift, queue)
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Neutral, 'not up for discussion'. The pattern of a pupil before a teacher, a subordinate before a superior
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- More in women than in men
- A trained stance (military, ceremonial)
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T4: if it is their default stance, it scores nothing.
Once you have assigned a label: Standing neutral is not the same as signalling nothing: it is a refusal to engage, so read the feet as well.
V2 · 2.16
2.17Leaning back / sinking deep into the chair
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- A chair already reclined / a steeply angled back
- A light shining into the eyes
- Long-sightedness
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Withdrawal, creating distance when leaving is not possible
- If it comes AFTER a chin stroke + crossed arms → it announces a 'NO' decision
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- Back pain
- The sitting habit of tall people
- A chair too deep for a short person
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T6 + sequence: leaning back IMMEDIATELY AFTER the chin stroke is a strong prediction. Leaning back from the start of the session is T.
Once you have assigned a label: Golden rule: ONCE YOU SEE THE CHIN STROKE, STAY SILENT AND READ THE NEXT SIGNAL.
V2 · 2.17
2.18Leaning the body forward
E Environment
The cause is in the room, not in the person. Fix the environment, then measure again.
- Cannot hear clearly
- Looking at a document
- A chair with no backrest
N Neurological
The ONLY column that is scored and enters a cluster. Record the topic being discussed with it.
- Interest / acceptance (Cell A) if it comes with open hands and the feet pointing at you
- After a chin stroke + the hands opening wide → it announces 'YES'
- The READY posture (hands on the knees): more than half the time they will agree
T Inert
Belongs to the body or to a lifelong habit. Fold it into the baseline; from then on only its acceleration counts.
- The habit of someone hard of hearing
- A low table forces the lean
P Disambiguation test
Run the tests in gate order — rule out environment and inert causes first; what remains is neurological.
- T5: separate 'leaning in to hear' (head tilted, ear turned towards you) from 'leaning in ready' (hands on the knees, feet set).
Once you have assigned a label: Separate it further from the STARTER'S POSTURE (both hands gripping the chair, as if about to run) = WANTS TO END.
V2 · 2.18