MemoryMentor’s Blog

As children we learn to protect ourselves by hiding behind barriers like furniture or mother’s skirt if we felt “threatened.”

Gradually instead of hiding behind objects we learn to fold our arms tightly across our chests, whenever we feel in danger, uncomfortable or nervous.

When a person folds their arms during a face-to-face encounter, it is possible to “suppose” that you may have said something with which the other person disagrees, even though the person may be “verbally” agreeing with you.

Studies have shown that when a person folds his arms not only has he negative thoughts about the other person, he is also paying less attention to what is being said.

A simple way of breaking the arm-folded position is to hand the person a book or something that forces him to unfold his arms to hold it.