By the way she was sitting with her legs open, he knew she is available

Ever since my book Body Language was published, people have asked me what various specific gestures mean. The truth is that every gesture has meaning only in terms of the total person. For some women, open legs indicate an open personality, closed legs a social and sexual tightness.

But many other factors must be taken into consideration before judging such personality aspects.

When a woman wears pants, she can sit as she pleases.

With a short skirt, she must sit a certain way, usually with her legs together at the thighs.

Sometimes closed arms mean resistance: “I don’t want to hear you.” I saw a picture of Dr. Benjamin Spock addressing a group of police recruits. The picture showed every policeman sitting with tightly crossed arms. 

Unquestionably knowing the way both Dr. Spock and the police think, they were resisting what he had to say.

But crossed arms do not always indicate resistance. Some people simply find it more comfortable to stand that way, and they may be very receptive to what you are saying though their arms are crossed. Again, you must consider the total person and the little messages you get from the rest of his posture.

Stroking the nose with one finger is held to be the preliminary to some outrageous statement or to a lie. But when someone suffers from hay fever, the nose wipe may simply be a way of relieving an itch!

Before you interpret body language gestures, you should understand the entire context of the situation. Your college friend, sitting with open legs, may simply have an open personality or an open mind. It doesn’t necessarily follow that she’s available.