Latest news with #bodylanguage
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Scientist reveals the surprising reason why so many young men put their hands down their trousers
You've likely spotted them on the bus, boarding the train and even walking down the street. Young men with their hands down their trousers, acting as if this is a normal thing to do. The phenomenon has even made it into pop music lyrics, with Bruno Mars singing 'throw my hand down my pants' in his 2010 hit single The Lazy Song. The habit is undoubtedly offputting, so you might have wondered why it has become a national obsession. Now, a body language expert has revealed the reasons behind the trend – and it's all to do with nervous energy. 'This could be a displacement activity to process the nervous energy,' Martin Brooks, a performance coach and author of Body Language Decoder, told The Times. 'Additionally, oxytocin is the love hormone released through physical contact. Sometimes people will do things like stroke their beard to self–comfort. 'This curious public activity could be a strange combination of displacement and self–comforting behaviour.' Game Of Thrones star Kit Harrington has previously been pictured in an awkward position, with his arm down his trousers in an attempt to deal with whatever issue was aggravating him Some well–known faces to have adopted the practice include actor Tom Hardy, who has previously been pictured with his hands down his tracksuit trousers during a walk. British rapper Central Cee once posed on the red carpet at The Fashion Awards in 2022 with both hands down his pants. Game of Throne star Kit Harrington has also been photographed in an awkward pose, with much of his arm down his trousers. Mr Brooks also believes the habit could be linked to a change in 'societal norms', where young men are 'drawing attention to their masculinity in new ways'. Rebellion may also play a part, he added, saying: 'Previously people smoked and it was not necessarily because they liked it – I didn't – but it is a way of telling older people, "I'll do what I like".' Darren Stanton, a behavioural expert and former police officer, said Covid changed the goalposts on what is deemed 'acceptable' in public. Now, going to the supermarket in pyjamas is seen as normal, he explained. Dr Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent, agreed, adding: 'I believe that they do it for comfort and to show that they are at ease with their sexual stuff. 'Now there is less pressure to keep your hands out of your pants.' Other experts to have previously addressed the phenomenon include Dr Babak Ashrafi, a Superdrug online doctor specialising in sexual health. 'The act of men putting their hands down their pants can have various reasons, and it's important to note that not all instances of this behaviour are related to medical issues,' he told Cosmopolitan. These include adjusting genitalia for comfort, itching caused by fungal infections or irritation, or temperature regulation. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, boredom or habit can also lead to this behaviour, Dr Ashrafi explained. 'Some men may engage in this behaviour absentmindedly or as a coping mechanism,' he said. 'Rubbing certain parts of your body in a non–sexual way releases oxytocin, a calming hormone which reduces nerves.' Why do young men put their hands down their trousers? A 'displacement activity' to dispel nervous energy Drawing attention to masculinity Rebellion – a way of telling people 'I'll do what I like' Adjusting genitalia for comfort Boredom or habit To release the calming hormone oxytocin
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Real estate auction coach sends the internet into meltdown with his instructional video on how body language can connect with bidders
A bizarre video from a property auctioneer in which he instructs real estate agents on the best body language techniques to get higher bids has sent the internet into a spin. Brent Ilicic, a coach who has conducted more than 5,000 property auctions, this month shared the how-to clip in which he showed what appears to be series of dance moves to explain how footwork and hand position play a huge role in his job. The video caused a buzz on social media with many viewers questioning if the clip was 'for real'. Mr Ilicic this week told Daily Mail Australia he is indeed serious and that his 13 years experience as a successful auctioneer gave him unique insights. In the educational video, Mr Ilicic ran through a mock auction and how he would establish rapport with those bidding on a property. 'Body language plays a huge part in this: footwork, legs, chest, arms, eyes, smile,' he explained. Of particular import is having 'palms to the ceiling' and facing a person who bids while leaning in their direction, which he then demonstrates by fielding multiple bids from different imaginary buyers in quick succession. 'A couple of rapid fire bids coming from the right and to the left. Boom. Boom. Boom. It's like a bit of a dance. Flowing left to right and through the middle.' Mr Ilicic, who runs his own masterclass course, said the video was intended to help prospective auctioneers tackle one of the biggest hurdles they face. 'I coach beginners and what they struggle with is how to move their body,' he told Daily Mail Australia. The clip divided viewers with many finding the unusual promotional video 'hilarious' and 'informative' while others mocked the technique. 'Cringey, but don't hate the player hate the game. I mean salespeople use all sorts of techniques … weird as it looks, it might actually work for him,' one said. 'This is a joke right? Right?' another said. One viewer declared on Instagram: 'I just started yelling bids at my phone, this is incredible stuff.' 'Who needs Raygun when we have talent like that?' one said, referring to viral Olympic break-dancer Rachael Gunn. One particularly unimpressed viewer mused that 'real estate agents must be the least self aware people alive'. Mr Ilicic said he was 'surprisingly comfortable' with the negative responses as he's also received overwhelming positive feedback from existing and prospective clients. 'I've had a lot of people follow me and inquire about the training from that video,' he said. He also broke down why the video might look a little strange to some people. 'I don't just coach, I'm doing [auctioneering] every week as well in front of a crowd and in the training video I've slowed down and amplified what I do for coaching purposes.' 'I've got a few techniques that I use to help get [my clients'] bodies moving in different ways in the training room so I can see what works for them. 'I wouldn't coach unless I knew how to coach and I wouldn't coach if I hadn't done it successfully myself.' 'The proof is in the pudding – I've conducted a lot of auctions successfully for many years.'
Entrepreneur
3 days ago
- Health
- Entrepreneur
How to Use Your Own Body Language Before It Sabotages You
When individuals begin paying attention to their nonverbal cues — not just those of others — they gain insight into what they're feeling and why. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. I've seen body language used to close deals, lead teams and command a room. There's no denying it's a powerful tool for influencing others. But its most valuable impact is internal. When individuals begin paying attention to their own nonverbal cues — not just those of others — they gain insight into what they're feeling, how they're responding, and why. I've watched this shift to self-awareness transform the way leaders and executives lead, communicate and connect. Furthermore, self-awareness doesn't just improve communication — it builds emotional intelligence. In this article, we'll explore how tuning into your own body language can sharpen your emotional intelligence from the inside out. And surprisingly, it often begins in the body, not the mind. Related: Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Key to High-Impact Leadership Self-awareness begins in the body One of the cornerstones of emotional intelligence is self-awareness. You can't be emotionally intelligent without a clear understanding of your own internal state and how it's shaping your behavior. The body holds a wealth of wisdom when it comes to understanding our emotional landscape. Most of us move through our day without consciously noticing our posture, gestures, or expressions. But those nonverbal cues are constantly broadcasting how we feel — whether we realize it or not. The more attuned you are to your own physical signals, the more insight you gain into your emotional state — and the more intentionally you can choose how to respond. Join top CEOs, founders and operators at the Level Up conference to unlock strategies for scaling your business, boosting revenue and building sustainable success. Learning to observe without judgment Learning to be self-observant — but not self-conscious — is a skill that can completely transform the way you understand yourself and communicate with others. Small, often unnoticed behaviors can reveal a lot about your internal state and the impression you're giving off at the moment. For example, how are you sitting? Are your arms crossed? Are your fists clenched? These subtle, nonverbal "tells" can offer a window into what you're feeling. Let's say I'm clenching my jaw or baring my teeth slightly while talking to someone. What message is that sending? And more importantly, why am I doing it? Am I feeling relaxed? Or is there a chance I'm frustrated, stressed, or even angry? Even something as simple as your hands can be telling. When people clench their hands, it often signals self-restraint — an effort to contain frustration or anger. On the other hand, open palms or extended fingers are more likely to reflect positive emotions like ease, confidence, or even joy. These signals matter because they often reflect emotions we haven't consciously acknowledged. We may not feel angry or stressed until we notice what our body is doing — and that awareness can be a game-changer. Personally, I find these micro-observations incredibly helpful, especially in meetings, social gatherings, or one-on-one conversations. It's in these spaces that small, unconscious behaviors often speak the loudest. From self-awareness to self-regulation Noticing is only the first step. It's regulation that turns self-awareness into emotional intelligence. For example, once you notice you're holding tension, you can take a breath and soften. You may ask yourself, "What's really going on here?" and choose your next move from a more grounded place. Let's say you catch yourself clenching your fists in a tough conversation. That's useful information — it tells you something is off. You can pause, uncross your arms, relax your hands, and reset your tone. Emotional intelligence isn't just about physical posture. It's about gaining the space to respond, rather than react. And for leaders, that's where true influence will begin. Related: Mastering thoughts and feelings for well-being Recognizing patterns One of the most powerful benefits of observing your own body language is that it reveals patterns. It's not just about catching a clenched jaw in a single meeting; it's about noticing that you always tense up before presenting or that you tend to cross your arms when someone challenges your opinion. These repeated signals are like emotional breadcrumbs, leading you to the beliefs, triggers, or stressors that live under the surface. This kind of pattern recognition builds emotional resilience. It helps you identify what consistently throws you off balance and gives you a clearer path to responding more skillfully in future moments. Start small. Choose one meeting, one conversation or one stressful moment this week to observe yourself more closely. How are you standing? Where are your hands? What is your breathing doing? These micro-observations, practiced regularly, create a foundation for greater clarity, confidence and emotional control. The power of tuning in As a society, we often talk about the importance of "reading the room." However, the most emotionally intelligent leaders I've worked with do something even more powerful: they read themselves first. True leaders understand that communication doesn't begin with words — it begins with emotional awareness. And by tuning into their bodies, they gain insight not only into how they're showing up, but why. Remember, emotional intelligence isn't just about understanding other people. It's about knowing yourself well enough to respond with intention and lead with lasting impact. Related: How to Build a Culture of Emotional Intelligence
The Sun
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Conor McGregor's fiancée Dee is having none of it as he tries to brush off mystery woman snog saga, expert claims
CONOR McGregor's fiancée Dee Devlin sees through his attempts to shower her with love after he was caught snogging a mystery woman, a body language expert has claimed. McGregor, 37, was captured cosying up with and kissing the unknown lady on a beach in Florida last week, ahead of his birthday on Monday. Today, The Sun revealed exclusive pictures of the MMA fighter on his luxury yacht soaking up the sun with partner Dee off the coast of Italy. The pair could be seen taking snaps and smiling as the UFC star showered Dee with affection, including one moment where he gently hit her bum. However, body language expert Judi James feels Dee sees through his attempts to brush off the beach snogging saga. In one moment, where McGregor seems to bend towards Dee to kiss her, he places one hand around her upper shoulder and moves his head close to hers. However, Judi told The Sun that her "neutral" response here indicated she was having none of his behaviour. The expert said: "Dee's response from back view looks rather neutral here. "She has her hands on her hips and her torso appears slightly angled away from his rather than closing in to create a more intimate response." The pair have been engaged since 2020 and have had four children together - since they became an item in 2008. However, rumours have been circulating after the MMA fighter was seen partying with other girls and snogging mystery women over the past few weeks. Despite trying to show affection towards Dee on their luxury yacht trip, Judi still believes her behaviour shows she is not "joining in his party mode". She said: "He [McGregor] seems to be wanting to show off the fact that he's having the best time here. "He flexes his biceps and raises his fists in a gesture of physical prowess and at one point he seems to turn to the camera to perform a wide grin and a thumbs up in a gesture that implies everything is great. "In some poses he is watched by Dee but there's no sign from her body language back view that she's joining in his party mode." Focusing in on one moment, Judi explained how McGregor pushed his head close to Dee's for a kiss, paired with what looks like his hand reaching for her bum. However, the body language expert feels Dee's facial expressions show she's not quite ready to join in the same level of enjoyment as her partner. She said: "Dee's face in profile here suggests she is laughing in response to all these performed acts of playful defiance but not quite joining in as her torso appears to be angled slightly away from his. "He looks like a guy who might use cheekiness, humour and even cockiness to charm Dee, maybe focusing on trying to make her laugh plus moving in with the PDAs to shower her with affection." 7 7 Dee had shared a birthday tribute to Conor earlier this week, amidst the explosive allegations about the fighter's behaviour. Not only has the fighter come under fire for snogging the mystery brunette on a Florida beach but US rapper Azealia Banks has accused him of sending her unsolicited "d*** pics". The 212 hitmaker shared the explicit photos that allegedly show the UFC brawler on X, alongside his threat 'don't be a rat cos (sic) all rats get caught'. While Dee - who's dated Conor for 17 years - hasn't commented on Azealia's claim or the fighter's holiday snaps, she's weathered even more sensational accusations levied against him in the past. There have been alleged affairs, punch-ups outside the ring and Conor being forced to pay £206,000 in damages to a woman who accused him of 'brutally raping and battering' her. Mum-of-four Dee, 37, has stood by Conor throughout. This comes as Conor was seen at a birthday dinner with the same mystery woman he was snogging on a beach last week. The pair were cosying up to celebrate the Irishman's 37th birthday in Florida just days after their coastal kiss. Conor and the mystery woman were dining at Padrino's Cuban Restaurant on July 13 - tucked up against a wall. The fighter was snapped about to have a spoonful as the mystery woman beams at something across the room. McGregor donned a turquoise top, matching shorts and a trilby while his companion sported a navy blue top and jeans. They then left a few moments apart. Prior to his beach encounter, the MAM fighter was spotted cosying up to a mystery blonde in a nightclub birthday bash. The star was seen in a Dublin nightclub getting close to a fellow reveller. The former UFC champion was pictured smiling with his hands around a blonde woman's waist. A shocked fan snapped the pair on July 6 at Soho nightclub in the Irish capital.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Body language expert exposes easily-missed detail in photo of Anthony Albanese with Xi Jinping - and decodes the secret signs about Albo's feelings
A body language expert has suggested the posed photo of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping was a 'success' despite fake grins. The two leaders were captured smiling and shaking hands in front of Australian and Chinese flags following their in-depth discussion of political relations. Body language expert Dr Louise Mahler told Daily Mail Australia it is 'very staged and forced' but in a positive way, with the pair 'forcing happiness and connection'. 'I think they've carried it off. That's a lovely photo to put on the wall,' she said. Looking at the image, Dr Mahler's attention was first drawn to the wide grin on Albanese's face as he looked at the camera. 'It's a little bit much, the smile with fake eyes. The eyes aren't really working, they look squinted as opposed to just a lift under the eyes,' she said. 'It just looks a bit fake, doesn't it?' But the expert added this was not something to be concerned about, explaining she knew the visit is a 'very stressful situation and he's doing his best'. Standing next to Xi, Dr Mahler noted there was not much comparison when it came to statesmanship between the two leaders. 'Albanese never exudes world leadership, ever. He exudes, I don't know, the class dork, the head of the Tiddly Winks group,' she said. 'Statesman is not a word I'd ever associate with Albanese.' But Xi came across as a 'man of action', she said, suggesting the Chinese leader conveyed an image of someone who speaks little but decides much. Dr Mahler also had praise for the handshake between the pair and said Albanese positioned himself well within the frame. 'Albanese's hand hasn't left his body, so he's not reaching out to China (but) China's reaching out to him,' she said. 'Having said that, it's really a natural distance for (Xi's) hand, so he's not really reaching.' The analysis is a significant improvement on Dr Mahler's last review of the Australian prime minister after he returned from the NATO summit in the Netherlands. She described Albanese's performance during a press conference on June 27, in which he refused to budge on federal government defence spending, as 'shocking'. 'Mr Albanese sounds stressed to the limit,' she said at the time. 'Unable to string two words together with a broken breath and baulking with every word, he frowns, tightens his jaw (a 'tell' of Mr Albanese's stress level) and throws his head forward. 'This is not helped by the gentleman by his side who looks like he needs immediate emergency assistance, disheveled in his appearance with messy hair, loose tie and barely able to keep his eyes open (Browny points to Tanya Plibersek for holding a professional stance). 'The question is, do I, as general public, need to know what a disaster the trip has been? Because, in contrast to the words spoken, that's the clear message I am getting here. 'And the message to the rest of us is to have a clear spoken message and make sure both you and everyone around you has the correct brief (and training) to bring it across. Otherwise you are wasting your stilted breath and time.' Given her 'stressed to the limit' summary of Albanese a fortnight ago, she said the smiling picture with Xi was a 'good start' for projecting leadership. Albanese headed to China over the weekend to hold 'constructive' talks with Xi in Beijing to restore ties between the two nations before speaking with Premier Li and Chairman Zhao Leji. The Prime Minister visited the Great Wall of China on Wednesday before flying out to Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan. 'Australia's committed to a stable relationship with China,' the PM tweeted on Wednesday morning.
