Quotes from Joe Navarro

the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

Because we are social animals, we not only lie for our own benefit, but we lie for the benefit of each other (Vrij, 2003, 3–11).

For instance, when people press their lips together in a manner that seems to make them disappear, it is a clear and common sign that they are troubled and something is wrong.

Research tells us liars tend to gesture less, touch less, and move their arms and legs less than honest people (Vrij, 2003, 65).

Dr. Watson, "You see, but you do not observe.

Neck touching takes place when there is emotional discomfort, doubt, or insecurity.

there is no single behavior that is indicative of deception—not one (Ekman, 1991, 162–189).

If you are a parent, teacher, camp counselor, or school resource officer and you see children severely change or restrain their arm behavior around their parents or other adults, at a minimum it should arouse your interest and promote further observation. Cessation of arm movement is part of the limbic system's freeze response. To the abused child, this adaptive behavior can mean survival.

Eye blocking is a very powerful display of consternation, disbelief, or disagreement.

Violations of personal space cause us to become hypervigilant; our pulse races and we may become flushed (Knapp & Hall, 2002, 146–147).

ticket agents can often identify passengers who will become problematic by how wide they position their arms when they are at the counter.

It is estimated that humans are capable of more than ten thousand different facial expressions (Ekman, 2003, 14–15).

Because the neocortex (the thinking brain) is capable of dishonesty, it is not a good source of reliable or accurate information (Ost, 2006, 259

Just as careful listening is critical to understanding our verbal pronouncements, so careful observation is vital to comprehending our body language.

Commandment 2: Observing in context is key to understanding nonverbal behavior.

Commandment 5: When you interact with others, try to establish their baseline behaviors

Nonverbal behaviors comprise approximately 60 to 65 percent of all interpersonal communication and, during lovemaking, can constitute 100 percent of communication between partners (Burgoon, 1994, 229–285).

By examining what's normal, we begin to recognize and identify what's abnormal.

Eye-blocking" is a nonverbal behavior that can occur when we feel threatened and/or don't like what we see. Squinting (as in the case with my classmates, described above) and closing or shielding our eyes are actions that have evolved to protect the brain from "seeing" undesirable images and to communicate our disdain toward others.

Gavin de Becker was talking about in his insightful book, The Gift of Fear.

During a job interview, I expect applicants to be nervous initially and for that nervousness to dissipate. If it shows up again when I ask specific questions, then I have to wonder why these nervous behaviors have suddenly presented again.

Commandment 7: It's important to look for changes in a person's behavior that can signal changes in thoughts, emotions, interest, or intent.

back of the other person. Unfortunately, I know a lot of people who are reluctant to do this and/or feel very awkward when

Inaction is itself an action;