A Kid in a Candy Store--Excitement Defies Gravity

Our species has very little difficulty figuring out when people are excited. We see overt signs of happiness and excitement all the time, especially in sports. Soccer players who make a goal on TV would immediately follow the point with the signature arm-raise and run towards the team, often embracing in the air. Even the steps they take seem lighter, as if the players can't help bouncing up and down.

Behaviors that physically elevate an individual are limbic reactions to excitement, and are called gravity defying behaviors. Obvious signs of excitement, such as the ones made by the soccer players from above, can also be easily observed in children. When you visit a mall, keep a look out for children who go into a toy store or ice cream shop--you know they're excited when their heels are bouncing off the ground.

Similar behaviors can be observed if you happen to reconnect with a good friend. If they raise their arms above their heads and stand on their toes for a hug, you know for sure he/she is excited to see you (provided that your friend isn't trying to compensate for height).

Gravity naturally keeps you comfortably on the ground. If your body makes an effort to elevate yourself over this comfort zone, you can bet it's a sign of excitement.

You've probably already seen these nonverbal behaviors, so what else is there to talk about?

Gravity defying behaviors come many sizes, and they are not limited to arms and legs (though they are the easiest to observe).

One example of a subtle gravity defying behavior is a tiny raise of the eyelids in response to a new stimulus. Let's say you walk into a room and you run into a familiar professor. If you happen to see that the professor's eyelids rise a little bit when you came in, you can assume that the professor feels positively about seeing you! Here, the limbic brain is telling the eyes to take in more of the pleasing visual information (you!).

Conversely, if you see the eyelids closing just a little bit, you know you should be careful of how you interact with the person.

Lets go back to poker.

Poker is a great subject when talking about subtle hints. I already talked about pacifying behaviors and detecting stress, but excitement always plays a huge role in calling a bluff. Look for any actions that involve going against gravity. These actions could include:

• sitting up in the chair
• rising eyelids (like from before), as well as raised eyebrows
• knees bouncing up and down
• toes raised and held in place (could be hard to see under a table)

Of course, these actions must follow a stimulus. If you observe a player who suddenly starts bouncing his knees right after his hand was dealt, you can certainly assume he was dealt good cards. If this particular player stops bouncing his knees, such as when a bet was raised too high for him, you can also assume this player is no longer excited or happy. It's just as  important to note when a behavior stops because this indicates a shift in mood.

Terms to remember:

Gravity defying behavior


Navarro, J. (2008). What Every BODY Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People. New York: Harper Collins.