The feet are often neglected in the analysis of nonverbal communication. Yet they are precisely the part of the body that can be relied on the most. They are considered the most honest part of the body, because they provide real-time information about what a person is thinking or feeling.
But why the feet? It's simple: over time, we have become accustomed to “fake” our emotions in our faces. If we encounter a person we don't like, we smile at that person anyway - out of politeness. But we don't think about what our feet are doing.
For instance, many people tend to bob their leg when they are excited or nervous.
However, leg behavior is also partly cultural. My grandfather once told me how his father came back to the Soviet Union from the war in Germany at that time and sat down in a "German" way while talking with the family. In doing so, he put his right foot over his left knee and when someone then noticed this, he was asked directly where he had learned this sitting position. "In Germany, everyone sits like that," he said.
But if we want to get insight into whether someone is comfortable or not, there are some behaviors that are universal... for the most part, anyway.
Here are a few examples to familiarize yourself with when interpreting the language of feet:
- A sign of high comfort: Crossing your legs when standing. When someone stands like this, that person feels comfortable because they are standing very unsteadily. Imagine that you see a lion walking towards you. Of course, you stand in such a way that you are ready to run immediately in case of an emergency. This means putting your legs shoulder width apart. So, on the contrary, if you stand in a rather insecure position, it means that you have no reason to run away from something you don't like. So it doesn't matter to cross your legs and stand insecurely, because you know: No one is going to attack you here - verbally or nonverbally.
- Using the tips of your feet as pointers. Imagine the following situation: Two people are talking to each other, but one has prejudices against the other (or simply doesn't like this person, the reason is not important here). The tips of this person's feet will immediately point away from their conversation partner. First one, then both, often with the foot that has the most weight on it following the other. The feet can be observed pointing in the direction of an exit or a clock. This creates a slanting of the body, which is a form of what is called "ventral denying". If you see this in one of your interlocutors, you should be alarmed that something is wrong in your relationship.
- Behavioral changes. When feet that have been in motion all along suddenly become flat and immobile on the floor, it indicates concern and insecurity. We humans tend to go into shock freeze whenever we feel threatened. A sudden motionlessness indicates just that. Rigor mortis is an evolutionary response that ensures that enemies do not notice us.
I hope this text has helped you dive a little deeper into the realm of nonverbal communication and learn something about arguably the most honest part of the body, the feet.
Have a great day!