D
Dart (the) A short burst of travel on foot. Gait
(walking style) reflects mood, attitude and personality, and the dart may
signify indecision or impatience.
Darting eyes Quick and repeated changes of gaze
direction often performed when anxious, as the eyes seek help, potential
threats or possible exists.
Decoding The process by which an observer or
receiver interprets cues and signals, and forms meaning from them.
Décor The decoration, furnishing and layout and
furnishings of an interior impacts upon those within it. The style of a room
and colours can demonstrate purpose and the aesthetic quality affects how
people are judged. For example, faces are seen more favourably if a venue is
deemed beautiful.
Defeat The defeated take up less space, with a slumped posture and head angled down (gaze averted). Energy tends to drop, seen in the hands which lower or are placed on the hips. Steps are heavy.
Defensive Most defensive actions are performed
unconsciously and are subtle in nature. These include the presentation of barriers
such as crossing limbs, placing an object in front of the ventral region, distancing and
avoiding gaze. They are actions done to protect and therefore ease anxiety.
Defiant Resistance or bold opposition, this challenge to confrontation can lead to a person standing one's ground, making themselves larger - perhaps with hands on hips - and facing up to the target. Such behaviours as a jaw thrust, hard stare, nostril flare, buttoning up a jacket, crossing arms and revealing a canine tooth are all signs of defiance which show a person as being primed for anger.
Deformed compliment signals Such as a smirk, which is
a smile evoking insolence, scorn, or offensive smugness.
Deimatic Originating from the Greek δειματόω
(deimatόo), meaning "to frighten", deimatic behaviours are threat
displays, or startle displays. Performed to ward off a threat, they relate to a
posture or expression adopted to intimidate another person.
Deindividualism A concept in social psychology
generally thought of as the loss of self-awareness, and individual
responsibility, in groups.
Dilated pupils Larger pupil size suggests an aroused
or interested state. From birth we find comfort in dilated pupils and continue
to be attracted by them. Pupils dilate when people look at such sights as naked
(and attractive) bodies, and at a mother and baby. Pupils also dilate when a
person is engaged in mental arithmetic or similar arousal.
Depressed Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Experiencing sadness can be healthy, but depression is sadness felt in an inappropriate context, and it lasts too long. The depressed may take shorter steps, almost dragging their bodies around, hands in their pockets, heads bowed. They have an inward focus, ruminating over past experiences or issues. Their behaviour and attitude can be one of withdrawal, such as feet under the chair. A lack of personal grooming and care is also likely. The antithesis is happiness.
Desire A sense of longing or hoping for a person, object, or outcome. The desire can be to escape but it often used to refer to sexual desire, with behaviours such as eye contact (and eye dance behaviour), closer proximity, mirroring, angling towards the objective/person (including foot point), and sexual displays including parted lips, and touching/stroking oneself.
Despair The loss or absence of hope. In the words of Charles Darwin, “If we expect to suffer, we are anxious, if we have no hope of relief, we despair.” Noticeable by a lack of energy signalled by a heavy look; dragging feet, slumped posture, low hands or head in hands, and sighing.
Desperation Similar to the state of despair (above) but more associated with action including rash or extreme behaviour. Pacing, frantic/jerky movements, protective/closed posture, lip biting and other self-harming actions, talking to oneself, and a racing heart can be cues for desperation if the context is suggestive
Determination The resolve not to change a firm decision or the desire to achieve something. Cues include hands on hips (fingers in front of body, thumbs displayed), wide stance or starter's position, chest out, rolling up sleeves, furrowed brow, nodding, and set jaw.
Devastation Overwhelmed or stunned, in sorrow. The devastated may be unresponsive, and small of posture. A hand over a mouth or hands on face, lengthy exhaling, shaking and rocking are among the signs.
Digital extension When the fingers are extended on one or both hands the performer may be engaged in a physical skill and or seeking greater balance. They are also likely to be fear/anxiety free as the open hand(s) and extended (potentially vulnerable) fingers signal openness.
Digital Flexion When fingers curl inwards to the palm, it can be a real-time sign of anxiety. The tighter the curl - potentially making a fist - the more anxiety at what is occurring.
Dimorphism Occurring in or representing two distinct forms such as differences in size, weight, and colour, and they may also include behavioural and cognitive differences. These differences may be subtle or exaggerated, and may be subjected to sexual selection with the larger male preferred. Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
Digital Flexion When fingers curl inwards to the palm, it can be a real-time sign of anxiety. The tighter the curl - potentially making a fist - the more anxiety at what is occurring.
Dimorphism Occurring in or representing two distinct forms such as differences in size, weight, and colour, and they may also include behavioural and cognitive differences. These differences may be subtle or exaggerated, and may be subjected to sexual selection with the larger male preferred. Sexual dimorphism is the condition where the two sexes of the same species exhibit different characteristics beyond the differences in their sexual organs.
Disappearing lips Also known as stress mouth, the
lips purse together, thin or tuck in when anxiety or stress is experienced.
Considered a universal sign, the action is done unconsciously to protect the
tongue, mouth and teeth from possible threat.
Disappointment Both defeat and sadness are similar states so the effects of gravity are noticeable (lower chin, crouched/slumped posture etc). Disappointment occurs when expectation or hope is lost. As with sadness the expression of disappointment helps adjust the sender to their loss, slowing metabolism and keeping the body safe. Active hands such as involved in self-soothing can be expected.
Disapproval Consciously and unconsciously,
disapproval is shown in a variety of ways. From the rolling of the eyes to the
raising of the upper lip, it can be obvious or fleeting. The narrowing of the eyes
is a common sign but this could also be as a result of sunlight or concentration.
If the squinting is combined with a lowering of the head (or forehead tilt),
chin flick, nose touch or closed body posture then disapproval or dislike can
be assumed.
Disbelief The mental rejection of something as untrue, disbelief may be seen in a slow head shake, head tilt (sideways), wide eyes, eye rubbing, a palm over the mouth, scratching of the head or neck, earlobe touching, blinking, or single eyebrow raise.
Discomfort When the limbic brain is arousal the body
shows outward signs of discomfort with over 200 behaviours associated with the
state of discomfort. These include blocking and distancing movements, and
adaptors, such as a tightening jaw, shrugging shoulders, fingers in/near the
mouth, fluttering eyelids, neck palming, and asymmetrical mouth.
Discouraged Having lost confidence or enthusiasm; disheartened. Avoidance behaviours, a lack of interest and energy, a slumped body, and inward focus are all possibly signs that a person is feeling discouraged.
Discovered actions With humans having a similar
anatomical make up it makes sense that the same actions can be discovered time
and time again, such as how people fold their arms in a similar way in all
cultures.
Disengagement The action or process of withdrawing
from involvement in an activity, situation, or group. Can be a sign of
emotional detachment.
Disguised emotions Often when people are aware that
they are experiencing an emotion that that they wish to hide from others
attempts are made to disguise their body language’s message as something else.
The emotion’s disguise is an effort to convey an emotion they wish to display at
the expense of the true emotion being felt.
Disguised gestures Can either be a partial gesture
that is incomplete in order to hide or suppress its message or an action that
masks its purpose, such as checking a phone or holding a drink as a form of
ventral denial.
Disgust Accepted by many to be a universal facial
expression, disgust most commonly occurs when morally objectionable behaviour
is witnessed. The tongue may protrude, the upper lip raises, and the nose
crinkles with the nostrils lifting slightly. This facial expression is rarely faked. A person listening to personal criticism may show disgust as a microexpression. them Bodily cues include a disappearing/'turtle' neck, leaning back, turning away, covering the nose, mouth or eyes, and handwashing.
Disillusionment A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be, disillusionment may be seen in staggering, stepping backward, a sudden lowering (into a chair, or of the hands), a tightening of the stomach muscles, gripping/pinching actions, blinking, squinting, swallowing hard, and disengagement behaviours.
Disinterested signals Often signs of boredom these
signals include gaze or aversion and efforts to fight gravity such as a hand
covering the chin and jaw in support of the head. The disinterested usually
look relaxed with a glazed expression and slack mouth. Their feet may be
pointing away from the stimuli that’s failing to interest them.
Displacement activities Usually unconsciously
performed these subtle movements occur when people experience inner turmoil. Often
fleeting they shift energy and are typically self-directed and involves the
hands. These activities are often noticed at social occasions as drinking,
smoking, tidying, eating, rearranging, self-grooming are easy actions that can
be used to displace nervous energy. An example of a DA is a job candidate that
constantly clicks their pen before being called to the interview room.
Display rules To fit in socially people elect to
display emotions they aren’t feeling. These faked expressions of emotion are
often socially expected.
Dissatisfaction The feeling of being displeased and discontent. Expressions of mild anger such as a furrowed brow can be witnessed. Hands clenched in a raised position, and displacement activities are signs of dissatisfaction, so head or neck scratching, stroking/rubbing/pinching even eating/drinking may be present.
Distance display The space between people reveals
information about their relationship and how they feel about each other.
Distancing nonverbal behs - Distance between indiv and the threat. Leaning
away/back, objects on lap, feet towards exit - all limbic brain. Negative
emotions require distance to self-regulate. The antithesis is closeness.
Dominance The appearance of dominance can wield power
and influence over others. In the animal world, a strong element of dominance
is physical size, and the increased space and territory people take up when
attempting to exert dominance is testament to this. Thumb displays, erect
posture, both feet on ground, a deep voice, square chin and frown are all
associated with dominance.
Dominance mimicry A person in a subordinate position
can mimic and deceive a dominant competitor in order to compete with or avoid
attack by them.
Dopamine One of the brain’s neurotransmitters,
dopamine is a chemical that ferries information between neurons. Helping to regulate
movement, attention, learning, and emotional responses, dopamine also enables people
to notice and move towards that which gives us the feeling of pleasure and
satisfaction. Memories that activate dopaminergic connections are more likely
to become long term ones, the dopamine acting like a mental marker. When a
person provides a positive memory for others it can provide dopamine in the
receiver’s brain that makes the sender memorable.
Double hander (the) A handshake in which the left
hand is added. The extra contact can be perceived as warm but if done by a
non-friend, it will be judged negatively, as an attempt at exerting dominance
or being patronising.
Doubt Uncertainty in which the mind remains suspended between two or more contradictory propositions, unable to assent to any of them. Doubt can be positive leading to understanding but its signals are associated with a negative state such as the hands disappearing. The presence of doubt may lead to changes, from confident gestures such as the steeple, to interlaced fingers or hand wringing. Air grasp gesture, neck scratching (below/behind ear), a sideways glance, a tilted head, eye rubbing, a one shoulder shrug, asymmetrical mouth pull, and fake smile all possible expressions of doubt. The antithesis is truth.
Downward gaze This eye direction is performed when a
person wishes not to assert themselves. It can be done when concentrating or
concerned about something, but is more commonly seen as a submissive behaviour,
perhaps due to embarrassment or a lack of confidence. This submission can be adopted
coyness, with the doer allowing their target to feel more dominant.
DQ dominance quotient The relative desire to be
dominant in a given situation, this rates how much effort a person is making to
be seen as dominant, and how comfortable they are (or naturally dominant) with
the role.
Dread
Great fear or apprehension which may be seen in slow, careful steps, fidgety/busy fingers (especially around the mouth), a closed/small posture and the presence of barriers.
Dry coughing Characteristically dry, this usually
occurs during a moment of stress or anxiety. When nervous, due an impending
situation, the cough occurs, with breath coming from the chest and not the
stomach. This may be a way to direct the feeling away from the gut where the
anxiety may be being felt.
Dry mouth When anxious or frightened the mouth dries
as mucus dehydration occurs as a result of the body moving to potential fight or
flight preparation. This results in more swallowing and licking of the lips.
Duchenne, Guillaume-Benjamin-Amand
Duchenne smile Named after the French anatomist Guillaume
Duchenne, this described a genuine or authentic smile, in which the lip corners
are pulled obliquely up, and the orbital eye muscles are activated.
Duck face This perking of the lips is a flirtatious
or playful gesture, increasingly performed by young women when taking selfies.
Dunbar’s number The British anthropologist Robin
Dunbar suggested that there is a limit to the number of people with whom one
can maintain a stable social relationship. This number was said to be 150 and
was thought to be the size of human group/tribes for much of their evolution.
Duping delight Paul Ekman coined the term “duping
delight” for the pleasure people get over having control over or manipulating someone.
Successful liars display this when they feel they have accomplished their
desired deception. It may be seen as a microexpressed smile, perhaps asymmetrical.
Dynamic cues These are components that usually change
frequently during face-to-face interactions. From smiles to physical contact
these are moving moments of expression.