Maybe you’ve read our quick guides on how to tell if people are lying through their actions or eyes. There is no magic in these only science and psychology. Behavior analysis has been a very enriched field over the years of studies and research. It is now used not only to treat disorders but also deal with baddies. You’re wondering if there’s any truth in Criminal Minds? You bet there is.

Here’s a list of the more common behaviors and the emotions that they usually denote. Uses of this can always be constructive, like if you’re trying to interpret how people react in normal conversation or highly-contextualized situations like office meetings and interviews. All you have to do is to observe non-verbal cues.

Openness: Open hands, palms face upward, unbuttoned coat.

Defensiveness: Crossed arms, glancing sideways, palming chin, touching/rubbing nose, drawing away, closed fists.

Insecurity: Hands on arms, nailbiting or chewing fingernails/pencils

Cooperation: Leaning forward, sitting at end of chair

Confidence: Hands behind back, arms, akimbo, sitting straight-backed, hands in pockets thumbs out

Nervousness: Cold sweat, shivering, tightly-gripped arm rests, throat clearing, Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, fidgeting, playing with pen or small items, wringing hands

Frustration: Short breaths, pointing index finger, hand at the back of the neck