kinesics

Others rely
on the "science" of reading body language known as "kinesics." They
may tell you that whenever a woman crosses her legs she's defensive, if a
man hooks his thumbs in his belt he is making a sexually suggestive
statement, and someone who looks away while talking to you is being
dishonest and evasive.
All I can say is, "It's not that easy." I've seen every technique imaginable
attempted in the courtroom by those who want to read jurors and
witnesses. But I've never seen any form of rigid or simplistic analysis
work consistently and reliably. And no short cut to understanding peo
ple or predicting their behavior will work any better for you outside the
courtroom.
As you read on, you'll find we typically identify many possible meanings
that can be attributed to particular characteristics, not just one.
Don't get frustrated by your natural desire to want to be told that a particular
trait has a specific meaning. Instead, recognize that throughout
the balance of this book, as in life, there will seldom be one clear sign
pointing to the ultimate answer to someone's personality. Instead, each
clue may point in ten directions, and therefore be of limited value in isolation.