mouth - body language
The mouth is associated with very many body language signals, which is not surprising given its functions - obviously speech, but also those connected with infant feeding, which connects psychologically through later life with feelings of security, love and sex.
The mouth can be touched or obscured by a person's own hands or fingers, and is a tremendously flexible and expressive part of the body too, performing a central role in facial expressions.
The mouth also has more visible moving parts than other sensory organs, so there's a lot more potential for variety of signalling.
Unlike the nose and ears, which are generally only brought into body language action by the hands or fingers, the mouth acts quite independently, another reason for it deserving separate detailed consideration.
Smiling is a big part of facial body language. As a general rule real smiles are symmetrical and produce creases around the eyes and mouth, whereas fake smiles, for whatever reason, tend to be mouth-only gestures.
signal pasted smile body part mouth possible meaning faked smile detailed explination A pasted smile is one which appears quickly, is fixed for longer than a natural smile, and seems not to extend to the eyes. This typically indicates suppressed displeasure or forced agreement of some sort.
signal tight-lipped smile body part mouth possible meaning secrecy or withheld feelings detailed explination Stretched across face in a straight line, teeth concealed. The smiler has a secret they are not going to share, possibly due to dislike or distrust. Can also be a rejection signal.
signal twisted smile body part mouth possible meaning mixed feelings or sarcasm
detailed explination Shows opposite emotions on each side of the face.
signal dropped-jaw smile body part mouth possible meaningfaked smile detailed explination More of a practised fake smile than an instinctive one. The jaw is dropped lower than in a natural smile, the act of which creates a smile.
signal smile - head tilted, looking up body part mouth possible meaning playfulness, teasing, coy detailed explination Head tilted sideways and downwards so as to part hide the face, from which the smile is directed via the eyes at the intended target.
signal bottom lip jutting out body part mouth possible meaning upset detailed explination Like rubbing eyes can be an adult version of crying, so jutting or pushing the bottom lip forward is a part of the crying face and impulse. Bear in mind that people cry for reasons of genuine upset, or to avert attack and seek sympathy or kind treatment.
signal laughter body part mouth possible meaning relaxation detailed explination Laughter deserves a section in its own right because its such an interesting area. In terms of body language genuine laughter is a sign of relaxation and feeling at ease. Natural laughter can extend to all the upper body or whole body. The physiology of laughter is significant. Endorphins are released. Pain and stress reduces. Also vulnerabilities show and can become more visible because people's guard drops when laughing.
signal forced laughter body part mouth possible meaning nervousness, cooperation detailed explination Unnatural laughter is often a signal of nervousness or stress, as an effort to dispel tension or change the atmosphere. Artificial laughter is a signal of cooperation and a wish to maintain empathy.
signal biting lip body part mouth possible meaning tension detailed explination One of many signals suggesting tension or stress, which can be due to high concentration, but more likely to be anxiousness.
signalteeth grinding body part mouth possible meaning tension, suppression detailed explination Inwardly-directed 'displacement' sign, due to suppression of natural reaction due to fear or other suppressant.
signal chewing gum body part mouth tension, suppression possible meaning As above - detailed explination an inwardly-directed 'displacement' sign, due to suppression of natural reaction. Otherwise however can simply be to freshen breath, or as a smoking replacement.
signal smoking body part mouth possible meaning self-comforting detailed explination Smoking obviously becomes habitual and addictive, but aside from this people put things into their mouths because it's comforting like thumb-sucking is to a child, in turn rooted in baby experiences of feeding and especially breastfeeding.
signal chewing pen or pencil body part mouth possible meaning self-comforting detailed explination Like smoking and infant thumbsucking. The pen is the teat. Remember that next time you chew the end of your pen...
signalpursing lips body part mouth possible meaning thoughtfulness, or upset detailed explination As if holding the words in the mouth until they are ready to be released. Can also indicate anxiousness or impatience at not being able to speak. Or quite differently can indicate upset, as if suppressing crying.
signal tongue poke body parts mouth / tongue possible meaning disapproval, rejection
detailed explination The tongue extends briefly and slightly at the centre of the mouth as if tasting something nasty. The gesture may be extremely subtle. An extreme version may be ac companied by a wrinkling of the nose, and a squint of the eyes.
signalhand clamped over mouth body parts mouth / hands possible meaning suppression, holding back, shock detailed explination Often an unconscious gesture of self-regulation - stopping speech for reasons of shock, embarrassment, or for more tactical reasons. The gesture is reminiscent of the 'speak no evil' wise monkey. The action can be observed very clearly in young children when they witness something 'unspeakably' naughty or shocking. Extreme versions of the same effect would involve both hands.
signal nail biting body parts mouth / hands possible meaning frustration, suppression
detailed explination Nail-biting is an inwardly-redirected aggression borne of fear, or some other suppression of behaviour. Later nail-biting becomes reinforced as a comforting habit, again typically prompted by frustration or fear. Stress in this context is an outcome. Stress doesn't cause nail-biting; nail-biting is the outward demonstration of stress. The cause of the stress can be various things (stressors).
The mouth is associated with very many body language signals, which is not surprising given its functions - obviously speech, but also those connected with infant feeding, which connects psychologically through later life with feelings of security, love and sex.
The mouth can be touched or obscured by a person's own hands or fingers, and is a tremendously flexible and expressive part of the body too, performing a central role in facial expressions.
The mouth also has more visible moving parts than other sensory organs, so there's a lot more potential for variety of signalling.
Unlike the nose and ears, which are generally only brought into body language action by the hands or fingers, the mouth acts quite independently, another reason for it deserving separate detailed consideration.
Smiling is a big part of facial body language. As a general rule real smiles are symmetrical and produce creases around the eyes and mouth, whereas fake smiles, for whatever reason, tend to be mouth-only gestures.
signal pasted smile body part mouth possible meaning faked smile detailed explination A pasted smile is one which appears quickly, is fixed for longer than a natural smile, and seems not to extend to the eyes. This typically indicates suppressed displeasure or forced agreement of some sort.
signal tight-lipped smile body part mouth possible meaning secrecy or withheld feelings detailed explination Stretched across face in a straight line, teeth concealed. The smiler has a secret they are not going to share, possibly due to dislike or distrust. Can also be a rejection signal.
signal twisted smile body part mouth possible meaning mixed feelings or sarcasm
detailed explination Shows opposite emotions on each side of the face.
signal dropped-jaw smile body part mouth possible meaningfaked smile detailed explination More of a practised fake smile than an instinctive one. The jaw is dropped lower than in a natural smile, the act of which creates a smile.
signal smile - head tilted, looking up body part mouth possible meaning playfulness, teasing, coy detailed explination Head tilted sideways and downwards so as to part hide the face, from which the smile is directed via the eyes at the intended target.
signal bottom lip jutting out body part mouth possible meaning upset detailed explination Like rubbing eyes can be an adult version of crying, so jutting or pushing the bottom lip forward is a part of the crying face and impulse. Bear in mind that people cry for reasons of genuine upset, or to avert attack and seek sympathy or kind treatment.
signal laughter body part mouth possible meaning relaxation detailed explination Laughter deserves a section in its own right because its such an interesting area. In terms of body language genuine laughter is a sign of relaxation and feeling at ease. Natural laughter can extend to all the upper body or whole body. The physiology of laughter is significant. Endorphins are released. Pain and stress reduces. Also vulnerabilities show and can become more visible because people's guard drops when laughing.
signal forced laughter body part mouth possible meaning nervousness, cooperation detailed explination Unnatural laughter is often a signal of nervousness or stress, as an effort to dispel tension or change the atmosphere. Artificial laughter is a signal of cooperation and a wish to maintain empathy.
signal biting lip body part mouth possible meaning tension detailed explination One of many signals suggesting tension or stress, which can be due to high concentration, but more likely to be anxiousness.
signalteeth grinding body part mouth possible meaning tension, suppression detailed explination Inwardly-directed 'displacement' sign, due to suppression of natural reaction due to fear or other suppressant.
signal chewing gum body part mouth tension, suppression possible meaning As above - detailed explination an inwardly-directed 'displacement' sign, due to suppression of natural reaction. Otherwise however can simply be to freshen breath, or as a smoking replacement.
signal smoking body part mouth possible meaning self-comforting detailed explination Smoking obviously becomes habitual and addictive, but aside from this people put things into their mouths because it's comforting like thumb-sucking is to a child, in turn rooted in baby experiences of feeding and especially breastfeeding.
signal chewing pen or pencil body part mouth possible meaning self-comforting detailed explination Like smoking and infant thumbsucking. The pen is the teat. Remember that next time you chew the end of your pen...
signalpursing lips body part mouth possible meaning thoughtfulness, or upset detailed explination As if holding the words in the mouth until they are ready to be released. Can also indicate anxiousness or impatience at not being able to speak. Or quite differently can indicate upset, as if suppressing crying.
signal tongue poke body parts mouth / tongue possible meaning disapproval, rejection
detailed explination The tongue extends briefly and slightly at the centre of the mouth as if tasting something nasty. The gesture may be extremely subtle. An extreme version may be ac companied by a wrinkling of the nose, and a squint of the eyes.
signalhand clamped over mouth body parts mouth / hands possible meaning suppression, holding back, shock detailed explination Often an unconscious gesture of self-regulation - stopping speech for reasons of shock, embarrassment, or for more tactical reasons. The gesture is reminiscent of the 'speak no evil' wise monkey. The action can be observed very clearly in young children when they witness something 'unspeakably' naughty or shocking. Extreme versions of the same effect would involve both hands.
signal nail biting body parts mouth / hands possible meaning frustration, suppression
detailed explination Nail-biting is an inwardly-redirected aggression borne of fear, or some other suppression of behaviour. Later nail-biting becomes reinforced as a comforting habit, again typically prompted by frustration or fear. Stress in this context is an outcome. Stress doesn't cause nail-biting; nail-biting is the outward demonstration of stress. The cause of the stress can be various things (stressors).
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