Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is seen here scratching her lower neck. This self-touching is yet another body language example of a Manipulator, Adaptor or
Pacifier (aka MAP). The vast majority, but not all self-touching
indicatives the presence of negative emotions, most notably anxiety. The Neck and tissue overlying the sternum & manubrium region are much like the face - loaded with blood vessels and nerves. Negative emotions lead to dilation of this vasculature and irritation of the adjacent nerves - thus we touch/scratch/rub our neck, face, etc. The "itch", "irritation", etc. is very real - but the root cause of it originates in the emotional brain.
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