There are very few basic bodily and behavioral patterns which have been further transformed, diversified and amplified into various reflexes, facial expressions, postures, gestures, vocal tones, responses and feedback in complex and large creatures including us. If you pay close attention then you would wonder to find that all these patterns are quite logical, geometrical and universal in nature.
While reading each pattern, please keep in mind the opposite side of the pattern i. e. 'verses' (vs.) is against or possibly against to what has been described for/as the former one e. g. Closing is opposite to Distancing. Also, sequence of patterns have been arranged in descending order of length of their descriptions.
1) Forwarding vs. Withdrawing: Extending, stretching, protruding, forwarding any body part or orienting the whole body towards somebody
or something has to do with aiming, accepting, venturing, exploring, probing, searching, surrendering, drawing attention, offering, invading, warning, threatening, blocking, confronting, demanding, defending, leading, directing and willing or trying to participate,
touch, initiate exchange, connect, move closer, attach, seize or provide support.
2) Raising vs. Lowering: Standing tall, gaining height or raising any body part or the whole body upwards has to do with showing strength, departing, declaring, demanding, declining, denying, provoking,
challenging, risking, rebelling, resolving, braving, leading, opposing, uprising, unsharing, increasing visibility,
visual field, range, reach, territory, domination or superiority and providing cover, shelter, support or safety to
minors, subordinates or helpless.
3) Closing vs. Distancing:
Coming close, moving close, reducing distance or closing gap with something or somebody has
to do with harboring interest/curiosity, liking, agreeing, accepting, sharing, participating, invading, attaching, lacking fear, braving, preparing to attack, threatening, trusting, evaluating, examining, experiencing, sensing and providing refuge, shelter, affection,
intimacy, nourishment, nurturing, resources, support or safety.
4) Fixating vs. Fleeting:
Focusing attention on something or somebody has to do with aiming, liking,
showing interest, harboring curiosity about and concentrating entire
energy and attention over a considerable amount of time for learning about,
understanding, examining, measuring or analyzing to obtain, acquire, attack, invade, earn, win, control, chase,
pursue, catch, capture, hunt, seize and rule it.
5) Shrinking vs. Spreading: Shrinking, contracting, collapsing or downsizing has to do with sharing, deteriorating, weakening, decaying, controlling, averting, concealing, disliking, disagreeing, distrusting, differing, retreating, refusing,
loosing, denying, defending and protecting self in the face of danger, risk,
threat, challenge, calamity, superior, larger or dominant entity.
6) Hiding vs. Exposing: Hiding behind something or somebody or taking cover has to do with resting, ruminating, mustering energy, avoiding, isolating, waiting, stalking,
ambushing, planning, strategizing, sheltering, securing,
healing, recovering, escaping, defending and protecting self in the face of danger, risk, threat,
challenge, calamity, superior, larger or dominant entity.
7) Startling vs. Settling:
Startling, shaking or moving abruptly has to do with experiencing an shock, stir, disturbance and disruption caused due to sudden and involuntary exposure
to or confrontation with unsuspected, unexpected, unlikable,
unpleasant, undesired, untimely, unwanted, uncontrolled or
inexperienced stimulus, sensation, thought or entity.
8) Moving vs. Stalling: Moving body has to do with asserting existence, traveling, migrating, acting upon, working, playing, performing, struggling, attracting, chasing, carrying, pursuing, competing, catching, foraging, losing patience/interest, escaping and defending self in the face of danger, risk,
threat, challenge, calamity, superior, larger or dominant entity.
9) Gathering vs. Dispersing:
Gathering or bringing together to form a group has to do
with protecting each other, debating, deciding,
strategizing, exchanging, celebrating, collaborating and initiating or
attempting to achieve cooperation, agreement, unity, strength, safety,
superiority, prosperity, solidarity, peace, harmony, intimacy,
friendship and dominance.
10) Attaching vs. Detaching: Attaching, clasping, tethering, touching or tying with somebody or something has to do with accepting, bonding, confirming, enjoying, sharing, seeking, sucking, consuming, transferring, exchanging, extracting, earning and providing shelter, refuge, affection, nourishment, nurturing, resources, support or safety.
11) Tightening vs. Relaxing:
Tightening muscles of any body part or the whole body has to do with enduring,
suppressing, resolving, expressing anger or hostility and initiating or preparing to move, lift, carry, crush, drag, pull, push, punch, press, throw, strike, seize, fight, hunt, invade, penetrate,
control or defend.
12) Seizing vs. Releasing: Seizing, grabbing or clutching somebody and something has to do with seeking support/security, feeling insecure, controlling, coercing, exploiting, consuming, stealing, hurting, torturing, punishing, silencing, dominating, suppressing, subjugating and asserting ownership.
Let it be a painting, a statue, a creature, a human, a casual social interaction between two persons or a serious encounter, if you start analyzing or examining cluster of postures, gestures, expressions, giveaways, responses and feedback only in the given context on the basis of aforementioned patterns then you would easily overcome ambiguity, uncertainty, obscurity and confusion while arriving on firm conclusions.
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12 patterns are quite logical, geometrical and universal in nature. |
An entity under examination might be following two or more patterns at the same time e. g. the statue of Sagittarius is following Forwarding, Rising, Fixating and Tightening patterns so Sagittarius seems (poised) to shoot the arrow at some higher and farther target. Remaining three examples above too are following two or more patterns at the same time.
Possibly, you can plot the checklist of patterns and their counter-patters mentally, digitally or on paper to derive firm conclusions about entities and encounters under examination. Perhaps, this whole checklist can be turned into a computerized tool.
Related Articles:
1) Hand Gestures 2) Facial Expressions 3) Postures 4) Para Language 5) Micro
Expressions 6) Context 7) Proxemics 8) Congruence
9) Clusters 10) Challenges 11) Interpretation