Former FBI Agent Answers Body Language Questions From Twitter...Once Again | Tech Support | WIRED

Former FBI agent and body language expert Joe Navarro once again answers the internet's burning questions about body language. Do power poses work during job interviews? Do liars smirk? Why do we cover our mouth when we see something terrible? Does peacocking actually work? Joe answers all these questions and much more.
Check out Joe's book "Be Exceptional"
www.amazon.com/Be-Exceptional...
www.jnforensics.com/
Books By Joe Navarro: www.jnforensics.com/books
Joe Navarro Body Language Academy: jnbodylanguageacademy.com
Director: Lisandro Perez-Rey
Director of Photography: Jeff Cook
Editor: Erik Hinrichsen
Expert:
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Producer: Lisandro Perez-Rey
Associate Producer: Brandon White
Production Manager: Eric Martinez
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Camera Operator: Carlos Albores
Sound: Brian Lyle
Production Assistant: Patrick Sargent
Post Production Supervisor: Nick Ascanio
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Paul Tael
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[@anthonyluu785]

I never get bored listening to this guy, I feel like he really nailed this one.

[@ceasarsaran8573]

Yeah. he used to chase spies. Now they just chase any journalist who dares to talk bad about Biden.

[@khalilahd.]

You can just tell he loved his career, this was super interesting 😊

[@Konarcoffee]

He should be in prison

[@Brimbles2]

Yes definitely!!

[@androiduberalles]

I wish I knew what loving my career felt like.

[@Idkwhattoputhere...306]

@@danceswithdirt7197Yea pretty nice

[@pand3lofi]

maybe thats what he wants you to think o;

[@Tob1Kadach1]

The whole smirking when hearing bad news is something I do a lot, I also laugh when in trouble and when accused of something I genuinely didn't do which obviously make me look more suspicious. Done it ever since I was a kid.

[@mius.cereal]

I do this because of my autism 😭

[@ekbrandon93]

@@mius.cereal I’m also autistic and same. Pretty much anytime I feel really awkward or uncomfortable, I tend to smile and laugh. I know it pretty much always looks inappropriate in the moment and maybe rude, but I just can’t help it

[@elcisitiak172]

This is an autistic thing? I’ve always smiled/smirked/laughed when I was in trouble or afraid! Maybe one of us should go into this field and analyze ND body language. Or, perhaps we’d make good spies!

[@hah-no.]

Wait, is this an autistic thing?? I’m autistic too and have always done the same

[@maxsnell3848]

@@ekbrandon93 I tense my jaw to prevent it. No one's ever noticed. I have asked lol.

[@Durio_zibethinus]

6:26 "No, I'm not being defensive. It's cold today, and I'm freezing!"

[@kynn23]

Yes! I'm always conscious of this when I get cold while listening to someone speak. In such a case, once I realize I've crossed my arms, I'll usually rub my triceps to create friction instead (i.e. the "brr!" gesture).

[@Neenerella333]

I got teased by a a stand up comic for hugging my arms in a very cold club. He assumed I was being defensive. Just forgot my sweater.

[@luisitoputirecors1499]

Tan 🤣pendejo

[@alexithymia6288]

I'm glad to hear you bust the myth that crossing your arms indicates something negative or defensive...I do it a lot, but I've heard various things like it makes you seem unapproachable or that you're blocking yourself off. Very interesting video, thank you.

[@kellylyons1038]

To me it seems a lot simpler than a self-hug. These two gangly arms we have are uncomfortable to just leave dangling, so letting them self-support each other by crossing them is easy. When i cross my arms its not to hug myself, its just to tuck them away.

[@kennedysan1045]

Yes, it's so pathetic. The amount of people that believe in this stuff is ridiculous. Most of the time I fold my arms because I'm cold or it's comfortable.

[@Myuunium]

@@kennedysan1045 It's... pathetic for people to believe one information source over another? Especially in a society where plenty of people don't understand body language all that well, if at all (autists for example)? What makes it pathetic?

[@1stdegreetea494]

It does make you look unapproachable. I do it all the time as an adult, and it's very soothing. I have to be intentional about not crossing my arms.

[@oxide9679]

This guy needs his own KZbin channel. I'm absolutely hooked on every Joe Navarro video

[@vijith6483]

He has one.

[@EighteenCharacters]

The man was asked about power poses. He takes off his glasses. There is a reason for this. I learned this in sales- Be relatable; Remove glasses, have nothing to figure out on your face; No Tattoos, diet if you can.... express good energy. He did this to bring down the tone of his response to a question asked by a person who is trying to utilize the "POWER STANCE". What an interesting insight he just displayed for anyone keen enough to pick up on it. Mad respect for Joe.

Maybe showing the act of removing glasses can bring attention to people to listen more, but saying that covering face with glasses makes a difference in sales is kinda a reach. In many fields, people assume higher intelligence because person is wearing glasses. Psychology studies show that glasses reinforced the notion that the person wearing them was more honest, trustworthy and even innocent.

[@CyberBeep_kenshi]

Honesty and being transparent works best. Behaviour doesn't change the facts about a product

[@Mischa21]

Good observation and analysis !

[@sharilynn3024]

I discovered Joe a few years ago and never get bored of hearing him talk! Thank you for having him on your channel!!!

[@myname-mz3lo]

as long as you know that all the body language stuff he talks about was debunked like over 10 years ago

[@theoriginaledi]

THANK YOU. I'm often accused of being closed off and distant because I cross my arms a lot. Everything described here makes sense, but in addition, I have shoulder issues and letting my arms hang down can be painful. To be fair, I am a very shy person and do struggle with interpersonal connection, but I do care about people a lot and I want to make them as comfortable as possible. It's always made me sad that arm crossing has this bad reputation because I fear that it makes people less comfortable with me.

[@Smittenhamster]

My interpretation would be that by signalling "I have to comfort myself around you" by crossing your arms, you tell the person you are not comfortable with them, hence people prefer not seeing it. It would be interesting to see how people reacted if you tell them "Oh, btw I don't mean to come off as distant but my shoulders just hurt". Would they be relieved? Because I imagine even if you're coupling crossed arms with a friendly conversation it would still send "mixed signals" to people who don't know you.

[@neroDMC14]

When he's talking about haptics and mentioned buttons, let's just say I was expecting "controller" to be the next word out of his mouth and not "jet aircraft," but do you my guy. Brilliant fella

[@Eat_Pi]

"Haptics is the study of how we touch ourselves" - Joe Navarro, 2022

[@spystar18]

@@Eat_Pi Big pause lol

[@Rebslager]

I often cross my arms when I listening. Specially if I try to give my full attention to what someone says..... If I don't I often thinking "what should I do with my arms" or something simular... and it is an attention break situation.

[@tommymack3210]

If somebody crosses their arms when we are having a conversation, I think I said something that made that person not comfortable/fearful. I think the person is not interested anymore in a conversation.

[@Vossst]

@@tommymack3210 That may be true with some people. But I cross my arms when I am especially engaged by a conversation.

[@tommymack3210]

@@Vossst interesting

[@Cazamalos]

I unconsciously smirk when people tell me bad news, it has come up many times, to the point that I have to be very conscious to keep a neutral face or make a sad expression in that moment, waiting any day now for someone to tell me that I'm faking my concern or something.

[@Tob1Kadach1]

I laugh when I'm in trouble

[@treasureobasuyi894]

I laugh when someghing bad happens even to me.

[@b4nkai]

God i felt like a terrible person when my coworker told me his baby was in the hospital, and I kept smirking and smiling as we had that whole convo. But honestly I think they can actually see the concern and sadness in our eyes.

[@letsgoballistic]

The guy with the most impeccably clean glasses on earth returns!

[@thearmyofskank]

Well now I cant stop looking at his glasses 😅

[@memez304]

@@thearmyofskank same 😅

[@WSUFan2017]

As a poker enthusiast, it was cool seeing Jennifer Tilly (a pretty good poker player herself). I would imagine she’s quite adept at recognizing body language as well.

[@dondrap513]

She's an absolutely awful player. Lol.

[@Hulavuta]

@@dondrap513 lol really? haha

[@may.d.a.y]

@@dondrap513 explain to me how an awful player wins and places in multiple world series events

[@Reymundodonsayo]

She was paid to comment

[@ThisHandleFeatureIsStupid]

lmfao Jennifer Tilly is an absolute *embarrassment* of a poker player. IQ lower than her shoe size...

[@yolenda_loves_to_sing]

2:20 Smirking could be a "coping mechanism" too. A lot of people smirk when they feel awkward, embarrassed,, disappointed, emotionally hurt, and upset, etc. Also you have to observe someone's baseline too. Some people just like to smirk in daily life. And it's normal for them to do so. ------ One good example I could think of is Johnny Deep. He smirks often in daily life, and he uses smirks to cover his anxiety. You might see him keep smirking even when he was in court talking about his experiences of being abused. But it doesn't mean he is absolutely lying.

[@Rae777]

I often do an awkward smile when I feel uncomfortable. Laughing/joking is a coping mechanism for me. Sometimes it can look/be inappropriate and throw people off.

[@illuminaticonfirmed1389]

when someone thinks i’m lying when i’m smirking it’s usually because i’m amused that they think i’m lying💀💀

[@alexd1]

Yea, I do this 😅

[@masonzhang1792]

Wonder if that’s what when people do “huh” then shrug a little

[@claudiamanta1943]

Thank you for mentioning Johnny Depp. Now it’s clearer to me why I find him insufferable. I’m surprised he didn’t play a Peter Pan role.

[@mkh8076]

ASL signs aren't 'letters', but actual words. There are component parts to the signs that would be analogous to phonemes in spoken languages. You can fingerspell if you need to use an English (or other foreign word) in ASL. Nice video, thanks!

[@treebles]

yes! speak up for Deaf culture! 🙌🏼

[@Mari-ow6ki]

You should do more videos with him, I don't think I could ever get bored listening to him talk lol

[@MechanicaMenace]

I think this was slightly covered by the smirking question but how much do you have to adjust your readings for someone not neurotypical?

[@Raddiebaddie]

Great question

[@graffin20]

this whole "body language" and "non-verbal communication" stuff has been debunked multiple times as a pseudoscience and its dangerous to keep promoting it as a real thing, WIRED dropped the ball on this one.

[@mius.cereal]

for me I laugh or smile when I hear bad things or get in trouble bc I’m still in masking mode my facial expressions haven’t caught up with the change in mood/tone of the conversation or I’m uncomfortable/hurt/nervous/anxious/scared and I want to appear okay or confident and fearless or I’m just in a silly goofy no empathy mood

[@PositiveWomenTV]

Your patience is your power.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

It's always great seeing Joe Navarro on Wired

[@Selinxxxxxxx]

My parents are both deaf and all of grammar in asl is in the eyebrows 😂😂 such a unique and special form of communication

[@8903noomybab]

Dude got asked a question by Jennifer Tilly and didnt even flinch. I woulda been like OMG 😱

[@JFREE360]

She’s just doing research for a poker tournament.

[@Amghannam]

By who?

[@HouseMDaddict]

I have no idea who that is

[@Marie-ny2oe]

My thoughts exactly!!

[@nightspicer]

2:20 some people smirk/smile/laugh when they get nervous as well

[@dafluffernut]

Excellent presentation! I had heard backing off showed hostility. When I was living in Japan I learned that different cultures had different “personal space” and to be respectful of it. Body language is important, but can be confusing. Context is critical.

[@ekbrandon93]

Maybe this is partly because I'm autistic, but whenever I'm in a situation where I feel nervous or uncomfortable, I have a tendency to smile and laugh. I hate that I do this, I know it pretty much always looks inappropriate in the moment, but I can't really help it. I've always jokingly said I hope I'm never a suspect in a crime, because I'd look SUPER guilty smiling and laughing in the interrogation. I wonder what this guy would have to say about that.

[@kerrymint5579]

So informative!!! Definitely give props to him for being so clear while explaining

[@qendresashillova]

Always a pleasure seeing Joe Navarro videos.

[@mnorbs6486]

Thank you for acknowledging the incredibly powerful influence that in-person communication has, and educating that this means the virtual world is only an approximation, and definitely not an equal method of communication.

[@zazzie8]

Very informative! Joe Navarro and Jonna Mendez are my favourites. Please WIRED, more videos with them ❤

[@waddupbro]

*points thumbs to assert dominance*

[@Tob1Kadach1]

I always enjoy when you guys do a video with Joe. He's so cool.

[@JanxakaJX]

I always wanted to be a spy but I don’t think I could get to this level of body language familiarity

[@Nausitoos]

Thanks for some great insights in a world where so many people suddenly started talking like they have a psychology masters

[@LisaMariavanHarmelen]

I love the videos of this man so much! He’s so passionate and it’s really educative ❤️

[@treebles]

speaking of merely educating, not meant to harsh… the “ ‘s “ (apostrophe s) shows ownership. so in this instance, it would just be “ videos “.

[@iRunavala]

@3:00 This worries me because some people will smile or smirk when confronted, out of embarrassment or anxiety. I do! It's not because I'm lying, it's because I'm nervous and feel very awkward about being called out on something. It's almost this feeling/thought of "Wow, I really messed this one up, didn't I? Ha, look at where this got me now..."

[@SeaWasp]

My Vancouver Island brother in Ukee getting the cover question 👍 Always love a Joe Navarro Wired!

[@Zorbak00]

i got a little mindblown when he mentions that pointing with your finger instead of your hand gives entirely different signals and i really wonder why that is

[@artemax1]

An open hand (basically exposing the palm of your hand) indicates humility and amiability, while pointing a finger is like ordering someone (treating someone condescendingly).

[@Lameonade]

i always viewed a pointed finger as a command and an open hand as a suggestion/offering

[@MartijnPennings]

@@Lameonade Yes, that's why in the service industry, for example if you want to show a guest to their table or show where the bathroom is, you point with the open hand in stead of your finger. Sometimes when the waiter wants to point at an item on the menu or has to explain a dish they point to what's on the plate with their pink or something, not with the index finger. Pointing with the index finger just seems more direct or rude.

[@13realmusic]

It doesn’t mean anything. All this is fake; science studies have shown body language reading to be less than 50% accurate. Worse than a guess, no human is good at reading nonverbal communication. None of this translates universally to other countries with different cultures where body language is naturally completely different. This is all based off of now debunked science that was sold to the US agencies post 9/11 to streamline profiling people and you can google and see it hasn’t helped the TSA prevent anything.

[@BaphomentIsAwsome666]

Look at Bill Clinton during his speeches, his hand gesture was non-threatening and soft, great for getting people to trust you.

[@apoliticallevi]

Finally one where they don’t have ridiculous questions 👏🏼

[@arkscrew]

Most of the times I think body language is subjective. What may be defensive in one culture might be interest in another.

[@marqetteliz]

This dude is awesome. Feel like he got a couple oddball questions though.

[@JediNiyte]

Joe Navarro is my celebrity crush.

[@Konarcoffee]

Fake cop science

[@JediNiyte]

@@Konarcoffee I'm sure you have tons of expertise in the relevant fields.

[@Konarcoffee]

@@JediNiyte go look it up man, criminal forensic science is notoriously terrible

[@JediNiyte]

@@Konarcoffee I don't want to. I simply don't care that much. I've got housework and a Jiu Jitsu class to manage today. Thanks, though!

[@treebles]

@@JediNiyte same! he is so intellectually appealing! i clicked immediately when i saw him!

[@KiraPlaysGuitar]

Hey Jennifer Tilly, cool! Yay poker, yay jugs. Will never get the Liar, Liar reference out of my head hehehe.

[@jay3073]

the neck grabbing reflex answers my need to clutch my pearls when I hear some crazy tea!

[@Buenomars]

A wild Jennifer Tilly has appeared! Legendary interviews with Craig Ferguson... Thankfully those are still on KZbin! 😁

[@ti1286]

This guy is awesome!! Keep him coming back, please!

[@UpliftThrone76]

I've studied my own body language, and how I personally react to things, and having my arms crossed is how I am when I am relaxed and feel the safest. In situations where I self-sooth I puff my chest out a bit, raise my chin a little, let my weight sit on one leg, and have my hands - usually - on my hips. I don't know why I react this way besides maybe how I learned to deal with my abusive father figure when I was a kid.

[@Adam-xs3ng]

Hands on hips is the teapot pose used to signal disappointment or frustration.

[@jneal4154]

@@Adam-xs3ng And dreaming of the number 6 means you have an Oedipus Complex. 🙄 Do you not see how incredibly asinine your belief is?

[@manaspratimnath8344]

I love this series !

[@azaleah39]

MORE JOE NAVARRO!! i love this man

[@chichesteryard9005]

I love this guy! That was so interesting 🤩 We need more of Mr Navarro 🙏

[@brucelee4996]

Great to see you back, Joe. 👋

[@nono10000]

more videos of this pls🙌🙌

[@shaatiusmani6211]

I always wait for his video thank youuuu

[@ijustwanttosleepnow]

I appreciated seeing his adapter at the beginning of this with spinning his ring on his hand.

[@veramae4098]

Proxemics. For Covid we were told to stand 6 feet apart. Photo of Finns at a bus stop before Covid, about 15 fee apart: "They want us to stand closer?" It's just a Finnish thing. (I just think it's hysterically funny. Just me.)

[@galaximemez]

I just learned something new Thank you Doc

[@Dani-ICU-RN]

Love this guy!! As an Icu Rn, I can read ppls pain, fear, a lil better because of him!

[@sandrasandymanning4354]

YAY! JOE'S BACK!🥳🎊🎉

[@C2C.]

Excellent to see Joe Navarro back. And special credit to his professionalism in answering some of the questions.

[@LadyTime11]

this is why i love the virtual world so much. only what you actually say matters.

[@randomDisinformation13]

I want this guy to go episode by episode of Lie To Me and critique it on accuracy.

[@graffin20]

both lie to me and what this guy preaches are based on the same works by the same person, both have been classified as pseudoscience and fiction.

[@randomDisinformation13]

@@graffin20 Thanks for the information I already knew, I guess. Please go bother someone else now.

[@truckinconvoy7312]

Could crossed arms also be categorised as a peacocking behaviour? A lot of guys will cross their arms, purely because it shows off the forearm/chest/back muscles. It provides comfort, but it can also project strength (at least in my opinion).

[@danyr1886]

Yeah I would agree but also, like he's sorta mentioned before, it's never about one lone behavior. So for example, it wouldn't be the same a guy just kinda chilling with his arms crossed, than a someone standing straight and tall, chest puffed, chin up... Which is what *I've* personally seen done lmao.

[@domh4739]

I just got his book at the library about body language

[@shaatiusmani6211]

Please upload more videos of him

[@Jenishka]

I love u dude ... Love these vids

[@nessyempowerment]

Yaay another one of these. 🎉💕

[@Troy-McClure81]

Body language expert ,we call those Pit Bosses in Vegas lol Great Video Very informative get this guy a beer!

[@dancesmokesmile344]

2:37 I sometimes smile etc when it’s something serious, like someone got hurt or if I tell someone about a serious trauma or sad memory. It’s just a weird coping mechanism I can’t change. 3:45 My most common fear response is freeze and fawn. It happens a lot when I have anxiety or have been in actual dangerous situations. I sometimes get the flight response to a degree, where I freeze, but still feel the need to disappear or hide under a blanket. The feeling of needing to hide, is a version of the flight response, according to all the psychiatrists I’ve had lmao.

[@maryrichardson6029]

Always interesting and informative. Thank you Peace 💕🇺🇲

[@policlinikpoliclinik9755]

Great information! How do we “read” the aging face/body? Does any connection exist between hoy we read aging signs and social aging consents and anti-aging boom

[@christianlagasca207]

One of the best profilers!

[@julianhaha9693]

Yep. I'm buying your book asap

[@ashw113]

I love Joe! He has some good books out too.

[@dancesmokesmile344]

I appreciate the way you talk about it here, because it does annoy me a bit when people talk very matter of factly about what behaviors you use if you’re guilty of something etc, because those same behaviors are used when you’re anxious, and being anxious, nervous or having an anxiety reaction doesn’t necessarily mean you’re hiding something or that you’re guilty if something. If I was in an interrogation I’d act a lot like the KZbin body language people say are signs of being guilty when they cover interrogation footage etc, but I just have severe anxiety.

[@ez_is_bloo]

What a treat to end the year

[@gaurichaturvedi9153]

Love your learnings

[@lleexxii]

Yes! I love this guy

[@RanmaSyaoranSaotome]

That is a beautiful watch!

[@diannerussell9653]

Great advice😊

[@dfinite4089]

Good one! (Far superior to the other faux body language videos across KZbin !) Navarro is the real thing, and it’s apparent with each sentence he utters!

[@buyisiwetshabalala7261]

Uh you guys always have the coolest people😭❤

[@islandcactus1508]

Jennifer Tilly! I’d like to read her body language but 30 years ago..

[@tqmog]

Love listening to this guy

[@MentaIcare]

Lmao, I put my thumbs in my pants because I'm waiting for someone usually or at a door. Nothing to be nervous about, I just don't like not doing anything with my hands and keeps me busy while I look around so I can get on with my day.

[@1stdegreetea494]

8:42 The body language pro is doing the hand steeple❤❤

[@ahkturan]

shout out to Jennifer Tilly

[@Bea54694]

It’s like seeing your favorite uncle at Christmas 👏

[@spazerella84]

More Joe!! Fantastic guest, I could watch him all day.

[@itsjeninMass]

People with chronic pain will also sometimes cross our arms, because it actually helps, particularly with arm and sometimes back pain. 😉

[@newvalue]

Joe is amazing ❤

[@MichaelOKC]

I smirk when I find something interesting because either it challenges me mentally Or because I have noticed something grammatically that reminds me of Douglas Adadms and Monty Python! Lol

[@YJo1223]

In teaching setting, our mentors kinda discourage us to cross our arms in front of the students because its a sign that you are mad- it promotes negative feelings towards them. (where in fact you are not😅) But I agree with what Mr. Joe said because I love crossing my arms everytime I feel like I need to sooth myself for a short while. I remember some of people give feedback about me crossing my arms asking me if I feel irritated or what. And I always need to explain. They have no idea how relaxing it was for my psyche.

[@facundomoralesdiorio3802]

I remember when my parents accused me of doing something, they would say "if you laugh, you're guilty" and that would inmediatly trigger my laughter, never understood why.

[@jneal4154]

Because it's absurd and stupid, like nearly all body language analysis. The best thing about body language pseudoscience is that its adherents are inexplicably determined advertise their own shallowness to everyone around them. The Venn diagram of believers in the Meyers-Briggs test and body language pseudoscience is practically a circle.

[@briankelly1240]

6:22 for the title card question on crossing arms.

[@himynamelscolin]

7:11 jfc! Save some for the rest of us 😂

[@Eva-eo5rn]

I want this man to be my teacher though I'm not studying to be an FBI agent

[@cb3502]

I really love this kind of videos, I find them very interesting; does anyone know what you need to study to learn this things? Is it a part of psychology?

[@Sun-God2]

I think he's a FBI agent

[@Eat_Pi]

"Haptics is the study of how we touch ourselves" 🤗 - Joe Navarro, 2022

[@chatita9527]

I ❤️ his videos, all so interesting ... 🤗👍

[@kyloki3512]

Can he have his own series

[@arianagonza8]

This man is absolutely amazing and intelligent