leg direction,
sitting – general
Generally a seated person
directs their knee or knees towards the point of interest. The converse is true
also - legs tend to point away from something or someone which is uninteresting
or threatening. The rule applies with crossed legs also, where the upper knee
indicates interest or disinterest according to where it points. The more direct
and obvious the position, the keener the attraction or repellent feeling.
parallel legs
together, sitting(mainly female)
This unusual in men,
especially if the knees point an angle other than straight ahead. The posture
was common in women due to upbringing and clothing and indicates a sense of
properness.
crossing legs,
sitting - specific change
Generally the upper crossed
leg and knee will point according to the person's interest. If the knee points
towards a person then it signifies interest in or enthusiasm for that person;
if it points away from a person it signifies disinterest in or a perceived
threat from that person. Signs are more indicative when people first sit down
and adopt initial positions in relation to others present. Signs become less
reliable when people have been sitting for half-an-hour or so, when leg
crossing can change more for comfort than body language reasons.
open legs,
sitting(mainly male)
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This is a confident
dominant posture. Happily extreme male open-crotch posing is rarely exhibited
in polite or formal situations since the signal is mainly sexual. This is a
clear exception to the leg/knee point rule since the pointing is being done by the
crotch, whose target might be a single person or a wider audience. Not a
gesture popularly used by women, especially in formal situations and not in a
skirt. Regardless of gender this posture is also combative because it requires
space and makes the person look bigger. The impression of confidence is
increased when arms are also in a wide or open position.
legs
intertwined, sitting (female)
Also called 'leg twine',
this is a tightly crossed leg, twined or wrapped around the supporting leg.
Depending on the circumstances the leg twine can either be a sign of retreat
and protection, or a sexual display of leg shapeliness, since a tight leg-cross
tends to emphasise muscle and tone. Assessing additional body language is
crucial for interpreting such signals of potentially very different meanings.
legs crossed,
standing (scissor stance)
Typically observed in
groups of standing people at parties or other gatherings, defensive signals
such as crossed legs and arms among the less confident group members is often
reinforced by a physical and audible lack of involvement and connection with
more lively sections of the group. Where legs are crossed and arms are not,
this can indicate a submissive or committed agreement to stand and engage, so
the standing leg cross relays potentially quite different things.
shoe-play (female)
A woman would usually be
relaxed to display this signal. In certain situations dangling a shoe from the
foot, and more so slipping the foot in and out of the shoe has sexual overtones.
