Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2818: The Caring Hand, Palms Up and Building Rapport (PHOTO)

Besides being beautiful and very creative, this sculpture in Glarus, Switzerland is configured in a very giving and rapport building way. Known as "The Caring Hand" with only the thumb and fingers visible in a loose, palm-up orientation with the implied palm below the ground and not visible - the hand appears to be holding the roots of the tree - and brilliantly the body language of this art projects an open, caring and giving - yet still authoritative emotional-tone.

In the world of flesh and blood, people who use this loose, palms-up body language when gesturing (known as "illustrators" as when used properly, they serve to emphasize, underline and animate verbal language as well as paralanguage) will build much more rapport, make more sales, win more negations & elections, de-escalate many confrontations and convince multitudes of juries  - vs. the use of palms-down gestures. The palm-up illustrator with a loose hand, elbow and shoulder is thus very effective alpha-beta hybrid.

Palm-down hand movements are examples of alpha and hyper-alpha illustrators. Particularly rapport destroying and audience alienating (and amplified when the palm-down fingers are closed together, and when the wrist, elbow or shoulders are extended and stiff) - this will body language will destroy rapport and alienate audiences (even an audience of one).

Incredibly, the students or audience of teachers, professors, attorneys, speakers, etc. who use palms-up illustrators will have significantly higher retention-rates of the materials presented. 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2360:  Bill Clinton and the Body Language of a  "Loose Hand, Palm Up Point"

Leadership Secret # 222: Angela Merkle - Palms Down vs. Palms Up

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2816: Donald Sterling Interview - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2817: Rep. Joe Garcia Picks His Ear & Eats it - What his Body Language Really is Saying

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2300: Kim Kardashian & Kanye West in Rio at Christ the Redeemer Statue and the Body Language of Palms Up vs. Palms Down

Glancing at the image above, it looks as if Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are perhaps trying to appease a child and "fly like a bird" in what is obviously a posed photograph. When we put it in the context of posing in front of the "Christ the Redeemer" Statue in Rio de Janeiro (many are put off by what they consider sacrilege. Notice however how different it "feels" to look at the statue of Christ with his palms turned upwards - whose body language in this context connotes a very giving and supportive emotional tone.

In strong contrast, the palms down nonverbal displayed by Kardashian and West communicates a very authoritative and assertive demeanor. This alpha attitude is amplified by fingers closed and lessened when the fingers and thumbs are opened. A Palms down gesture should be used rarely and briefly - lest it destroys rapport and send signals of arrogance and dominance.

Without having any body language training whatsoever, most people of all cultures make these distinctions intuitively. Others remain oblivious.

See also:

Leadership Secret # 222: Palms Down vs. Palms Up & Angela Merkel

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 554:  Ron Paul's Palms Down Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1899:  Bill Cassidy and "Obama-care" - Letting your Body Language Detract from your Message

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1059:  Santorum's Dominant Spider

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1868: John McCain's plea before the Senate for  Direct American Involvement to Stop  Syrian Government Killing its own People

Negotiation Secret # 555:  How Facial Expressions Correlate with Palm Position - Silvio Berlusconi

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1698:  Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari &  Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria

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