Reading other people's body language is a complicated affair.

For example, if someone crosses their arms, you may assume they are giving a close signal when they may simply be cold.

Having said that, when you try to understand what a person is really thinking it helps to know which gestures and facial expressions one must try to identify.

Because sometimes, a person's non-verbal manifestations don't perfectly match what he's saying in words.

Below we have put together 19 tips, the result of scientific studies, on the meaning of body language, taken from Psychology Today, published research, and some fantastic books.

➢ Shrug is a universal sign of someone who doesn't know what's going on.

According to Barbara and Allan Pease, authors of "Why do we lie with our eyes and feel ashamed with our feet? Body language: the definitive book on non-verbal communication", everyone shrugs. "It is a good example of a universal gesture that is used to show that a person does not know or understand what is being said," they write.

"It's a multiple gesture made up of three main parts," they continue. "Palms of the hands exposed to show that nothing has been hidden in the hands, shrug to protect the throat from an attack and raised eyebrows which is a universal submissive greeting."

Job interview; keep an eye on your body language. Here is what it reveals.

A famous study conducted in 1972 by Albert Mehrabian has shown how, in a normal conversation, the verbal aspect has a minimum value (7%) in making an effective message.On the other hand, facial expressions, body movements and tone of voice are the masters.Of course, this also applies to job interviews. Indeed, even more so in job interviews, given that in about 30 minutes the candidates' preparation and quality are assessed.

That's why body language is so important and it's important to know its meanings.From the handshake to the gestures (examined by Travis Bradberry in Emotional Intelligence 2.0) to the tone of voice (according to what reported in the study "The sound of intellect : speech reveals a thoughtful minds, increasing a job candidate's appeal") up to eye contact (with the survey published by researchers from Imperial College London in the journal Royal Society Open Science).

➢ Open palms are an ancient manifestation of honesty.

When someone promises to tell the truth in a courtroom, he puts one hand on a religious text and raises the other hand in the air, showing the palm of anyone who is taking the oath.

This is because, always in the history of the West, an open palm is associated with"truth, honesty, loyalty and submission".

"Just like a dog will expose his throat to show submission or surrender to the winner," they write, "humans use their palms to show that they are unarmed and therefore not a threat."

➢ The lack of wrinkles around the eyes suggests a potentially fake smile.

It is not yet clear whether one can really understand if someone is pretending to make that smile that scientists call the "Duchenne smile" (from the name of the doctor who described it first). It is the expression we take when we are experiencing really positive emotions.

At one point, the researchers believed it was almost impossible to fake a genuine smile on command. The smile, they said, is judged by the crow's feet around the eyes. When you smile with joy, they hug. When you pretend, you don't squeeze.

If someone is trying to look happy, but is actually not happy, you won't see wrinkles.

More recently, a study conducted by researchers at North-eastern University found that people are very good at faking a Duchenne smile, even when they don't feel particularly happy. We can safely say that if the expression folds are not there, the person is probably not genuinely happy. But just because there are wrinkles, that doesn't necessarily mean that the person is.

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People tend to show some tell-tale physical signs when they are dishonest. Of course, one who agitates, sweats or breathes irregularly may simply be nervous (or naturally tend to sweat and be short of breath). So, take it easy before you think someone is lying based on physical clues only. However, if you notice some of these alarm bells,consider them. They could help you unmask a liar about it.

1. They jerk their heads.

If you see someone suddenly move their head when you ask them a direct question,it may be that they are lying to you about something. "The head will be pulled back or jerked back, tilted down, or bent, or turned to one side." This will usually happen a moment before the person has to answer the question.

2. The rhythm of their breathing changes.

When someone is lying to you, they may begin to breathe heavily, it is a reflex action. When their breathing changes, their shoulders will rise and their voice may become weak, he adds. Basically, they are short of breath because their heart rate and blood flow changes. The body experiences this type of change when one is nervous and feels tense -when one lies.

3. They repeat words or phrases.

This is because they are trying to persuade, and convince themselves of something,says Glass. "They are trying to corroborate the lie in their head." For example, he or she might say, "I didn't do it ... I didn't do it ...", over and over again. Repetition is also a way of taking time, so that you can better collect your thoughts, he adds. When someone has not been honest and you ask further questions, they often try to slow down in answering.

"They try to think what to say next."

4. They instinctively cover the most vulnerable parts of the body.

This could include parts such as the throat, chest, neck, head or abdomen. "I often saw this in courtrooms when I worked as a prosecutor consultant. I can always guess when someone's deposition hits an accused's nerve when I see him or her covering his throat with one hand, "says Glass.

"I never fully appreciated the potential use of this revealing behavior until I joined the FBI as a Special Agent," he said.

5. They touch their mouths or cover it.

"A tell-tale sign of who is lying is that that person will automatically put his hands on his mouth when he doesn't want to address a question or answer a question."

When adults put their hands on their lips, it means that they are not saying everything, and that they simply do not want to tell the truth, "he says. "They are literally closing the communication"

6. Drag your feet.

This is the body that takes over. Dragging your feet tells us that the potential liar is uncomfortable and nervous. It also shows that he or she wants to abandon that situation;they want to leave.This is one of the key ways to catch a liar. Look at their feet and you will understand a lot.

7. They give too much information.

When someone goes for long and gives you too much information - information that has not been requested and especially an excess of detail - there is a high possibility that he or she is not telling the truth. Liars often talk a lot because they hope that, with all their talking and apparent being open, others will believe him.

8. They tend to point the finger.

When a liar becomes hostile or defensive, he is trying to turn the conversation against you. The liar will become hostile because you have discovered his lies, which can lead him to often point the finger.

9. They struggle to speak.

If you have ever watched videos of interrogating a suspect who is guilty, you will have often noticed that it becomes increasingly difficult for him or her to speak. "This happens because the autonomic nervous system decreases salivation in times of stress,which obviously dries the mucous membranes of the mouth."

Other signs to look for include suddenly biting your lips or twitching them.

10. They stare at you without blinking

When people are lying, eye contact is likely to break, but the liar may try to keep eye contact in an attempt to control and manipulate you.

"[Bernie] Madoff, like most scammers, stared at people longer than normal, often without closing their eyes at regular intervals," says Glass. When people tell the truth they sometimes look around and can even look away at times. Liars, on the other hand, will use a cold, steady gaze to intimidate and control.

Also pay attention to those who open and close their eyes quickly.

11. They start to sweat.

When people lie, they tend to get nervous and feel uncomfortable. And when you are nervous and uncomfortable, you tend to sweat.

Sweat droplets may develop on the upper lip or forehead. This is because their autonomic nervous system is working harder.

12. They fidget.

Some people simply can't stand still. Others become agitated only when they become nervous. If the person you are talking to always tends to move too much or has a good reason to be worried, then pay no attention to the excitement. In any case, the agitation can also be the sign that someone is an inexperienced liar (the good ones are able to control their nerves).

In the same way that a smile makes expression lines around the eyes, according to University of Massachusetts professor Susan Krauss Whitbourne in Psychology Today,concern, surprise or fear can lead people to raise their eyebrows from embarrassment.

So, if someone compliments you on your hairstyle or how you dress with your eyebrows raised, it may not be sincere.

➢ A pointing finger with a clenched hand is an attempt to establish dominance.

If someone closes his hand into a fist and points his finger, he is trying to show himself dominant, although it does not always work.

The hand-closed-with-finger-pointing is a fist in which the pointing finger is used as a symbolic stick with which the speaker speaks figuratively to his listeners leading them into submission.

At the subconscious level it evokes negative feelings in others because it precedes a direct right, a primordial move that many primates used in a physical attack.

If others mirror your body language, the conversation is probably going well.

When two people get along, their positions and movements are mirrored. When your best friend crosses his legs, you do too. If you went out with someone and the date is going well, you will both be making the same awkward hand movements.

This is so because we mirror ourselves when we feel a connection.

But if they look you in the eye for too long, they may lie

In an attempt to avoid looking elusive, some liars will intentionally stare you in the eye a little too long, so as to make you a little uncomfortable.

They can also stay very still and not blink.

Meyer is CEO of Calibrate, a company that trains executives and government officials in analyzing deceptive behavior. During the seminar he listed a dozen behaviors to watch, but four are the basic ones of body language.

➢ The uncertain shrug.

The uncertain shrug needs no explanation. Indicates doubt while someone is trying to tell a convincing (and false) story.

➢ Failing to hold micro-expressions.

Micro-expressions are more difficult to recognize. They consist of minimal movements on a person's face that indicate passing emotions. For example, when questioned, a liar could momentarily show contempt for a person being talked about.

➢ The "pleasure of deception".

"Pleasure to deceive" is the definition when someone smiles inappropriately for the seriousness of the situation he is being questioned about. However, it is important to recognize whether people smile when they are truly happy. We already know the signs:small wrinkles around the eyes, symmetrical smile and upturned corners of the mouth.

➢ Say no while nodding your head.

Say no while you say yes with your head is another sign that someone might belying. If someone is asked if he stole something, for example, he might say, "Obviously not,"while nodding his head simultaneously. In this case, he is inadvertently telling the truth with body language.

Before employing these techniques to recognize lies, it is important to follow the guidelines: understanding what normal behavior for a person is to notice when it has an unusual attitude. For this reason, he says, make sure you are in a quiet room with visible escape routes and ask simple questions like "How are you?", and "How are the kids?".

Eye contact shows interest - both positive and negative.

When you look someone in the eye, this generates a state of excitement in the body.

How this excitement is interpreted, however, depends on the parties involved and the circumstances.

Being stared at by a stranger who appears large or threatening can be seen as a threat and provoke a fearful response ... But the gaze of a potential sexual partner causes an excitement that can be interpreted positively - as a sexual invitation.

Attraction or repulsion, interest or indifference. The eyes can communicate our mood and our disposition towards other people. For this, eye contact has great power.Knowing how to manage it can come in handy when we fix the gaze of a girl on a bus or that of a potential employer during an interview.

➢ An expansive pose signals power and success.

How people pose is a great clue to how they feel.

If someone leans and lies down, they probably feel powerful and in control of the situation. In fact, research has found that even blind born people raise their arms up high forming a V when they win a race.

The attraction is not communicated by a single gesture, but by a sequence

Neuropsychologist Marsha Lucas suggests one to pay attention to: "After making eye contact, she looks down a little, picks up her hair or smoothest it and then looks up at you,still holding her chin in down".

There are many ways to easily increase your sex appeal. Take a dog for a walk;playing good music, telling a joke.

Unfortunately, there are at least as many to sabotage him, for example put a photo in which sprawled or with his arms crossed in the site for online dating.Below, we have brought together all too common behaviors and characteristics that can make it difficult to have an appointment; and only a few have to do with your physical appearance.

➢ Lack of sleep.

After sleeping little we can look much less attractive.

In 2010, Swedish and Dutch researchers took photos of people who had slept at least eight hours the previous night and people who hadn't slept for 31 hours. Those who had not slept were judged less healthy and less attractive.

Three years later, the researchers delved into the topic, and other participants judged the people portrayed in the photos with different criteria.

In general, they said that people who hadn't slept had "drooping eyelids, red eyes,dark circles and pale skin." They even seemed sadder than their more rested counterparts.

➢ Be bad.

In a 2014 Chinese study, the researchers pointed men and women to photos of other people who all had neutral expressions.

Some of the photos were accompanied by the words "dignified" and "honest"; others as "bad" and "evil"; still others were without information.

Participants ended up judging people who were described as bad and evil as less attractive.

➢ Closed body language.

Power pose is a controversial topic within the scientific community. A 2010 study found that expanding one's body can make you feel more powerful and confident in if same,but one of the authors said recently that the effects are not real.

However, a 2016 study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Berkeley, Stanford University, the University of Texas at Austin and Northwestern University suggests that taking a position like "power pose" may make you more attractive;while a contracted body language will have the opposite effect.

In an experiment in this study, the researchers had created profiles for men and women on a dating app that relied on GPS. In a set of profiles, men and women were portrayed in contracted positions, for example with their arms crossed or their shoulders curved.

In another set of profiles, the same men and women were portrayed in more expansive positions, such as raising their V-shaped arms or reaching for something.

The results showed that participants were more likely to choose people in an expansive posture rather than contracted for an appointment. And it turned out that men in contracted positions were particularly disadvantaged.

➢ Stress.

Relax - you may look better.

A 2010 study by researchers in Finland, South Africa, Britain, Latvia and Estonia found that Latvian women with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol were perceived by Latvian heterosexual men as less attractive.

Although men did not know the cortisol level of women (only researchers knew them), it seemed to influence their perceived charm. According to the researchers, it is possible that a low level of cortisol (and stress) indicates health and fertility.

➢ Appearing very happy and too proud.

While happiness is generally considered attractive in women, girls usually don't look for overly smiling guys.

On the contrary, while pride is traditionally considered attractive in men, boys do not seem to prefer girls who appear proud.

In 2011, researchers from the University of British Columbia conducted experiments on over 1,000 adults in North America, showing them pictures of members of the opposite sex and asking them how attractive people were in the photos.The results showed that men rated women more attractive when they looked happy and less attractive when they showed pride. Women, on the other hand, found men who showed pride more attractive and those who seemed happy less attractive.

It is unclear, however, whether these discoveries about charm are applicable to different cultures. In a statement, the researchers said the results likely reflect traditional Western values and gender rules; for example, the idea that a man should appear "strong and silent" while a woman "submissive and vulnerable".

➢ Do not have a sense of humor.A 2009 study by researchers at the University of California in San Diego found that not being witty - and even having an average sense of humor - is considered less attractive than having a great sense of humor.

The study also found that it was not a gender issue - little sense of humor is considered equally unattractive in men and women.

➢ Laziness.The result of a series of experiments, published by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the State University of New York in Binghamton in 2004,showed that perceived charm was connected to traits such as availability.

In one experiment, the researchers asked students on a six-week archaeology course to evaluate each other according to various personality characteristics, and according to charm, at the beginning and end of the course.

When the researchers analyzed the results, they found that even students rated as attractive at the beginning of the course were ultimately rated below average when their classmates perceived them as lazy (uncooperative and slacker).