The position of the legs when the girl is sitting. Why you can't sit with your legs crossed

Body language. When we talk about non-verbal body language, we pay a lot of attention to facial expressions, eyes and hands, but for some reason our legs are undeservedly offended by us. But in vain!

The further away from the brain a part of the body is, the more difficult it is to control it. If a person can adapt and portray the emotion he needs on his face and more or less control his hands, then everyone forgets about the legs and they give us away with their heads.

"If you're not sure if the person sitting at the table is telling the truth, look under the table."
Allan Pease "The New Body Language"

So let's go through the basic leg poses. Immediately I want to draw your attention to the fact that women and men will have different movements.

traitorous feet

Four basic standing positions

1. Attention

This posture means that you are listening attentively and the interlocutor, most likely, is lower in rank than you. Usually, this is how students stand in front of teachers and subordinates in front of their superiors.

2. Spread legs

This posture is predominantly male. In this position, the man stands firmly on the ground and feels confident.

3. One leg forward

From this position it is very easy to determine the intentions of a person. Usually, in which direction the toe is pointed, in that direction the person intends to move. Being in the company, we will point the sock at the most pleasant interlocutor for us. And if a person feels uncomfortable, then the toe of the exposed leg will most likely be directed to the nearest exit.

4. Crossing the legs

Crossed legs and arms are almost always evidence that a person has closed himself off from everyone and has entered a protective pose. It is quite difficult to reach such a person and it is unlikely that he will easily accept your arguments.

Also, this pose is usually taken in a society of unfamiliar people. You can conduct an interesting experiment - approach a group of strangers and stand next to them in a defensive pose. Almost immediately after that, people will begin to cross their arms one by one. This posture is highly contagious and conveys a certain unease and sense of danger.

Frozen or defensive?

It is always necessary to interpret body language in context. Sometimes people justify their crossed arms and legs by saying that they are cold or want to go to the bathroom. In some cases, this is true, and in some they are just hiding behind a convenient explanation.

In fact, if a person is really cold, he will not only cross his arms, but also hide his fingers under his armpits, and not just wrap them around his elbows. We also cross our legs, but at the same time we try to straighten them and press them tightly against each other. The defensive posture is more relaxed and calm.

If a person says that it’s just convenient for him to stand, most likely he almost always feels as if there are only enemies around.

"American Four"

This posture is for men. A person sitting in such a position is perceived not only as more powerful and energetic, but also as younger. A person sitting in this position is likely to consider himself superior to you and is unlikely to immediately agree with your point of view.

If, having taken this position, a person also secures the raised leg with his hands, this means that she is determined to stand her ground and will in every possible way resist pressure from outside.

Research has shown that most people make their final decision when both feet are firmly planted on the ground. So do not rush your interlocutor to make a decision if one of his soles does not touch the floor.

Ankle crossing

Crossed ankles indicate that your interlocutor is suppressing negative emotions and disagreement and is trying to cope with them. This gesture can be equated with biting the lip.
Usually people sit like this at the reception of dentists, lawyers and tax inspectors.

short skirt syndrome

Usually girls who wear mini skirts sit like this. Despite their length, they give women an impregnable and not very friendly look, since you have to sit all the time, tightly squeezing your legs. People subconsciously interpret this gesture as negative, and treat the interlocutor with caution.

Leg interlacing

This is a purely feminine gesture. Usually modest and insecure girls twist their legs this way. It is unlikely that a strong pressure will fit here. In order to talk to such a person, you need to be open and friendly.

Parallelism

Looking at this picture, I immediately remember "Basic Instinct" and Sharon Stone sitting in a chair. This fit is considered very feminine and 86% of men found it the most attractive. This is how models are taught to sit.

Right foot forward, right foot back

Man is given legs to perform two basic actions - to catch up with prey and run away from danger. If a person is interested in you, during the conversation he will put his right foot forward (a left-hander will most likely put his left foot) in order to close the distance between you. If he is not in the mood for a conversation, then most likely he will put his right foot back, as if preparing for a retreat.

And the last! Tip for business ladies - do not cross your legs in business meetings if you are wearing a skirt that opens your hips. The sight of women's thighs can excite almost any man. As a result, he will remember your hips, but not the topic of the conversation.

And men should be more restrained and not fall apart on chairs, spreading their legs in different directions. A restrained pose with knees together would be more appropriate.

Based on the book by Barbara and Alan Pease “The New Body Language. Extended Version»

Numerous observations of human behavior: his manner of sitting, lying, walking - can tell a lot. Each movement is a source of information that characterizes a person.

Consider the various positions of the legs and their interpretation:

attention position A formal position that demonstrates neutral behavior with no intention of leaving or staying. In this position, the legs are placed together, the socks are slightly apart, the hands are at the seams. This position is constantly used in the army, when junior ranks stand in front of a senior officer, or subordinates stand in front of their superior.

"Spread legs" position - more typical for men. This is a kind of demonstration of the groin. In this position, the man confidently stands with both feet on the ground, showing with his appearance that he does not intend to run away. With all his appearance, he transmits a signal of dominance to others, the effect of this position can be enhanced by hands on the belt buckle. For women, such a position would be perceived as unnatural and masculine.

One leg forward position. In this position, the weight of the body is concentrated on one leg, and the other leg is put forward. This position of the legs immediately makes it clear the intentions of the person, because we usually point the toe where we would like to go. If you are talking enthusiastically with a person, and his toe is pointing towards, for example, a door, then he would not mind leaving now. On the other hand, if the sock is pointed at you, this is a sign that the person is just as passionate about the conversation as you are.

Cross-legged position . While legs apart show openness and dominance, crossed legs show a closed, submissive, or defensive mood. A similar position is taken when a person experiences stress or certain inconveniences, for example, is in an unfamiliar company. Most often, such a person will stand a little distant from the main group. If a person is not comfortable to the point that he cannot get out of this state, it is very likely that he will also have his arms crossed on his chest. In such an augmented position, a person is closed from communication and practically does not perceive information at all. Crossed arms are a barrier with which a person protects himself from the outside world. Such hands can be interpreted a little differently - in childhood, when it was hard for us, our mother hugged us, which was an incentive to calm down. Crossed arms are a sign that a person is trying to hug himself, and, accordingly, calm himself and pull himself together, he is completely focused on himself and perceives the outside world poorly.

Sitting cross-legged position has the same meaning as crossing the legs while standing, although in this case there is more concentration of a person, he will weigh every word that he says. This leg position is very common in Europe and Asia. True, if a person begins to “kick” the air with his foot, this means that you asked him an uncomfortable question, and he wants you to leave as soon as possible. Again, crossing the arms over the chest gives the position the same importance as standing.

The position of the "American Four" represents the position of the legs when one leg is on the floor, and the other is thrown onto the supporting leg. This is a demonstration of the groin area, which emphasizes the person's confidence. This position can be strengthened with the help of hands:

- the person leaned back in the chair and put both hands behind the head - this is a sign that the person is confident and shows dominance.

- a person clasps his leg with both hands - this is a signal that the person is determined and intends to stand his ground to the bitter end.

- the fingers of a person's hands form a spire - this means that the person is concentrated and self-confident.

Ankle-crossing position sitting means that a person is unfaithful in himself or scared - he is not comfortable. The position can be strengthened as follows:

- the ankles are retracted under a chair or armchair, in this case the body moves forward a little, as if saying to the interlocutor: "I'm scared / I'm not comfortable, can't you see that?"

- hands hold on, squeeze the arms of the chair - this means that a person, no matter what, is trying to take control of himself.

The “hooking legs” sitting position is an exclusively female gesture, which cannot be reproduced by men due to physiology. This female position means modesty and intimidation; with this position of the legs, she is unlikely to be talkative.

The “feet firmly on the floor” sitting position is a neutral position in which the legs are parallel to each other with their feet completely on the floor, it can take on an appropriate shade depending on the following factors:

Legs or both legs tapping on the floor - this means that the person is not comfortable, and he does not mind leaving the room;

The leg begins to "kick" the floor - you are not pleasant to the person, and he would be glad if you left;

The fingers form a "spire" - a person is confident in himself and his words;

The fingers are clasped - the person is nervous, he is not comfortable, or he is hiding something;

Arms crossed on chest - a person is confident in himself, but does not agree with your point of view - such a composite gesture has an exclusively negative connotation.

MENSBY

4.7

You can not only stare at a woman’s legs, but also draw appropriate conclusions in order to find out her feelings, intentions and innermost thoughts.

The fact that a person is able to transmit information non-verbally, i.e. with the help of facial expressions, gestures and posture, you will not surprise anyone. Our gestures, appearance, clothing, jewelry, gaze, the distance we keep when talking - all these are signals that give knowledgeable and able people a huge trump card and a valuable source of information about our feelings, intentions and thoughts.

By non-verbal signals, you can determine the character of a person, understand whether he is honest or not, find out what you can expect from him.

What do the posture and position of women's legs say?

If a woman stands with her legs wide apart, then she is quite stubborn and stubborn. It is characterized by a huge penetrating power, and an inability to be flexible and compromise in achieving its goals. If she decides on something, it is very difficult for her to give up her intentions.

The lady stands straight, and her legs are together - a balanced person, tolerant of human shortcomings, restrained in the manifestation of feelings, practical and economic. She is a good friend. However, there may be some coldness in her appearance, which can interfere with her contacts with people.

If a girl leans on one leg and pushes the other a little forward, then she is distinguished by a strong temperament, activity and a stable life position. She loves to be in the spotlight, doing only what she does well, while being flexible and always achieving her goals.

Cross-legged ladies are ambitious ladies who are constantly making plans and careers. Home and family are second to none. They are not afraid to take responsibility, they often play "first violin" in a pair with a man.

Those girls who sit, throwing one leg over the other, are confident in themselves and their irresistibility. They know that they make a lasting impression on those around them. They tend to enjoy life and do everything easily and with pleasure. It is they who lure men into the abyss of madness and pleasure.

Sitting straight women, connecting their legs together and slightly pushing them forward (often relying on the entire foot) are quite conservative, sincere and honest, sometimes overly straightforward. May seem cold (if the man is not interested in her).

If a girl sits and at the same time keeps her knees closed and her feet wide apart, then this is a clearly hesitant nature, striving for communication with the opposite sex and at the same time afraid of it.

Sitting, a woman clings one leg to the other - a sign of restraint, indecision and self-doubt. Although sometimes they sit down like that, wearing a too short skirt or tearing tights in the most visible place.

If a girl tends to sit cross-legged and slightly stretching her legs forward, then this is an imperious and rather tough person. She strives for supremacy, is jealous and rational, which interferes with her personal life.

Gait can tell about a woman and her condition no less than speech.

The lady, who is able to bend when achieving her goals, always focuses on the heel when walking.

Successful and successful in life, and especially in her career, the girl walks with her head held high and proudly, boldly looking into the eyes of others.

A woman who loves and is loved can be recognized by her light and beautiful gait.

A timid and insecure lady walks with her toes inside and often stumbles - this indicates her complexes.

If a woman goes deep into herself and her world, then she walks with a gait, as if tailored from several options. Others get the impression that each of her legs lives a separate life.

What are the feet talking about?

Owners of long legs are often romantic and sensitive natures. They often experience difficulties due to their inability to cope with life situations. But they are always true to their principles.

Women with short legs are purposeful and self-confident. They easily achieve their goals, although sometimes they can be a little harsh in their actions. If they need it, they will come out of the "skin", but a person will like it.

Thin and graceful ankles are a sign of aristocracy and "breed". As well as stubbornness, willfulness, amorousness and romance.

Legs with the letter "O" - as a rule, a consequence of rickets. Their owners are prone to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and their character is explosive.

Legs with the letter “X” are most often found in people who have been painful since childhood. A woman can be either very notorious and downtrodden, or combative, assertive and strong-willed (because she is used to the fact that everything in life is not easy).

Sit facing another person. It is undesirable to conduct a conversation, being in such a position in relation to the interlocutor. Often, the person directly in front of you has the impression that he was in danger, was under surveillance, and in general that he is sitting as if under interrogation. By the way, this is how it is recommended to sit down for the interrogator, because it is difficult or almost impossible for the person under investigation sitting opposite to look away . If, in addition, your interlocutor is sitting on a chair without armrests, and you are leaning forward, and the distance between you is small, then the feeling that you have invaded his personal space and threaten him will only intensify.

Sit next to another person. If you are going to start a conversation, do not sit next to the interlocutor. Sitting in this way, people are forced to constantly turn around to maintain eye contact. Such a circumstance does not add to the conversation either fascination or productivity. But in an official or working setting, on the contrary, sitting next to someone, a person, as it were, makes it clear that he shares the goals and point of view of a neighbor. Those who are in intimate relationships also sit nearby. When several people sit in a row, it can be uncomfortable to talk. For example, if three people are sitting on a sofa, then the one in the middle can freely communicate with the other two, while those sitting on the edges are forced to make some effort to talk to each other.

Sit at a slight angle to the interlocutor. This disposition is also called the "open triangle". This is by far the best position to carry on a conversation. When the chairs are at some distance, both interlocutors feel free and nothing threatens them from the outside. They can calmly look at each other without feeling rivalry or pressure from the other person. The space between them should be such that both can see and hear each other, but, nevertheless, that they are at some distance from each other. Consultants use this tactic when discussing a difficult problem with a client.

Sit down at the round table. The ideal place for a group discussion with several people is a round table, because, sitting at it, no one is afraid of being too close and does not feel excluded from the conversation. In addition, the circle implies some kind of equality, which has a very favorable effect on the process of collective bargaining or promotes teamwork, that is, in those types of communication in which the position in the ranking table does not play a significant role. Such a democratic alignment of forces presupposes the equal participation of those gathered in the conversation; in addition, such a circle has the ability to expand due to new people who naturally join the conversation.

Sit down with legs wide apart. This position is very vulnerable, they also say about it “sit down”. It is not particularly common and that is why it catches the eye, because usually people tend to take other postures, that is, those that allow them to hide and secure the genital area, that is, move their legs or put them one on top of the other. The fact that a person sits in this way - especially if he does not cover the genital area with his hands - gives the impression of his great self-confidence and also makes him think that this subject has power. This posture may also mean that he is among his own and feels relaxed in their company. If a woman sat down in this way, then perhaps she makes it clear to the surrounding men that she is free and without complexes. And the last important observation: having taken such a position, a person takes up a lot of space, therefore, sitting down and spreading his legs wide, he, as it were, expands the boundaries of his personal space and thereby indicates to the others that they must keep a certain distance.

Sit down with one foot on the floor and the other on the arm of the chair. This posture, of course, indicates the carelessness of a person and his complete absence of constraint or constraint. Being in this position, a person emphasizes that he feels at ease and confident. This posture also means that the one who puts his foot on the armrest is aware of his own superiority over others and demonstrates an absolutely indifferent attitude towards others.

Sit astride a chair. This is a posture more common among men. The back of the chair in this case plays the role of a kind of barrier with which a person fences himself off from the rest. Thus, he is, as it were, protected from a possible attack, and this, in turn, allows him to control the situation and feel a certain power behind him.

Sit cross-legged. This pose has many variations and, accordingly, a wide variety of interpretations. Here we will try to list the most common positions and give them an interpretation. The position in which a person spreads his legs slightly, putting the calf of one on the knee of the other, may be due to the fact that he feels superior to others, and besides, he is going to express his point of view in a categorical form. If, in addition, he keeps his hand on his knee, as if wanting to fix his leg in this position, then it is likely that this person is rather stubborn, not inclined to change his mind. It is generally accepted that such a pose is characteristic of the Americans. This manner of sitting down is more typical for men; women sit like this only if they are wearing trousers and when they are absolutely sure that they are in control of the situation.
More often, people take a different position, less defiant - they simply put their legs on their legs. In this position, the desire to secure cover and hide is noticeable. This manner of sitting is more characteristic of Europeans - they slightly throw one leg over the knee of the other leg in such a way that the knee and toe of the shoe point in a certain direction. This position is called "knee aim" and the target is usually the person of interest to the sitter. The most delicate way to put one foot on the other is the one in which a person crosses his legs at calf level. For relaxation, this pose is the only one that members of the royal family or aristocrats can afford at social events.

Sit with your legs crossed. It is women who like to sit with their legs intertwined, while one leg is wound behind the other at a slight angle. If the shoe hangs from the toe, then the conversation is conducted in a relaxed manner and the speaker is in a relaxed state. If a woman tries to cover her knees with her hands, this means her unwillingness to develop relationships with a member of the opposite sex.

Sit with your legs tightly together. This is the most modest of possible poses. According to the classical canons of secular behavior, decent people, and especially women, should sit down with their knees tightly together. This requirement also applies to military personnel and schoolchildren.

Sit on the edge of a chair. This is an undoubted sign of a tense state in which a person is located. So usually shy and constrained people sit. They settle down, as a rule, on the edge of the chair, which means they have some reason to worry. Sitting in a similar position can often be found in front of the dentist's office.
But there are situations in which one should not sit in this way, because this posture betrays a state of nervousness and impatient expectation. For example, during a job interview, you need to confidently sit on a chair, while not forgetting to straighten your back and not pinch so that calm attention and concentration can be read in your posture.

You probably noticed that, depending on the situation or place, your sitting position acquired various poses, and you hardly attached particular importance to why this happens. After all, in addition to the banal “leg is numb”, there are many more psychological factors that determine the position of our legs while sitting. This or that posture can signal your nervous tension, the level of trust in the interlocutor, openness in conversation, and even the degree of masculinity. We invite you to find out what each of these poses means and why you should not cross your legs if you consider yourself a standard.

1. Feet forward and knees together

First, consider the poses without crossing the legs. The first - when the knees are either close to each other, or scattered about 5-20 cm. This position is not the most comfortable and rather unnatural for a man, unless you share the back seat of a car with seven fellow travelers. And this unnaturalness is expressed primarily by the physiological features of the structure of the male pelvis. Unlike women, it has a smaller width, and the angle of the neck of the femur in men is greater, so this position of the legs creates additional pressure on the hips. You will feel it if you sit in this position for a long time, and you will involuntarily want to spread your legs.

2. Scattered legs and shoulders

In this position, both legs are on the floor, and the knees are moved away from each other at a distance of 25-60 cm. This position is inherent in men and is most likely the most familiar to you. Firstly, with this pose you do not constrain your little friend between your legs, and secondly, by spreading your legs, the guy unwittingly marks his own territory. You may have noticed that this position of the legs is characteristic of people with power: kings sit on large thrones; the boss's place at the negotiating table is always on the edge, where there are no neighbors. In addition, this sitting position demonstrates that he is open to communication. When the body opens, the mind also opens. And the closeness from the environment is expressed by gluing the hips as a protection of the “most important” organ.

3. Cross-leg position

The most popular cross-legged pose. It is generally accepted that this position of the legs is most often used by men in Europe. One leg is thrown over the other, and “gluing” occurs in the thighs. This posture displaces the space in front of the person sitting, which means his desire to protect himself from the environment, hiding in such a position, as if in a fortress. This explains why some consider cross-legged posture to be less masculine. You can observe this during business meetings or ordinary conversation. When a man takes this position (and in addition, he crosses his arms), he is practically excluded from the dialogue or tries to move away from the speech imposed on him. It has been observed that people who cross their legs in a conversation are more likely to disagree with the interlocutor or remember the content of the conversation worse. Therefore, when talking to a person, pay attention to how he sits. Perhaps while you are giving him your reasons, he is thinking in his head how to send you, or, even worse, remembers how he had a great time at the bar last weekend.

4. Fixed ankle position

A pose in which the knees are apart and the legs are crossed at the ankles. It is believed that this position is a sign that a person is hiding something. This posture is comparable to lip biting, because it is also a sign of holding back negative emotions: fear, excitement, misunderstanding.

A person sitting like this usually puts his hands on his knees or tightly squeezes the arms of the chair with them. By this position, you can easily determine that the interlocutor is worried. Therefore, we do not advise you to sit like this during an important conversation, whether it is an interview or a confession to your girlfriend that you worked all night, although you actually learned to unfasten the stripper's bra from a nearby bar with your teeth.

Observation of the defendants during the court session revealed that many of them cross their legs in exactly this way, while hiding their feet under the seat. Thus, they try to hide the psychological stress. Flight attendants on board the aircraft can also identify a potential criminal by the appropriate posture.

5. Ankle-on-the-knee position or “I'm the boss here”

The classic male pose, when one leg is thrown over the other, resting on the ankle on the knee. Psychologists consider this position a manifestation of an imperious nature and slight aggression. The positioning of the pelvis emphasizes the genitals, which is a biological gesture of an unconscious desire to dominate and demonstrate greater self-confidence. Some men at a business meeting take this position to emphasize their status. You see a guy who sits like this - read between the lines: "I am successful, I am strong and I value my time." If you feel the same way about yourself, you can sit in this way, but keep in mind that this position is not ideal when making important decisions. Your decision will be more balanced and confident if both feet firmly rest on the floor.