The Body Language Of Guilt

Guilt body language isn’t easy to spot, and it isn’t for a number of reasons. The first is that guilt is not a basic emotion. Only the basic emotions are clearly reflected in the micro-expressions of the face and in the body posture. Guilt, on the other hand, is a more complex formation that involves the participation of reflection and can involve several emotions at the same time.

On the other hand, not always a person who is guilty admits his guilt. It is possible that, for example, someone steals feel that he has the right to do so, because, according to him, the other does not need that object from which he took it or acquired it unfairly. Therefore, you will not feel guilty and obviously will not reflect it in the body language of guilt.

Likewise, in basic emotions there are movements and postures that are impossible to voluntarily control, at least for a few seconds. On the other hand, there is a strong component of rationality in guilt, so it is also possible to exercise deliberate control over the movements that reveal this feeling. In conclusion, the body language of guilt is more difficult to detect, although not impossible. These are some of the features that characterize it.

The essential gesture in body language of guilt

A person who feels guilty, but does not want to take responsibility for what he did wrong, usually goes on to live in a state of alert. He is aware that he is hiding both the damage he did and the resulting remorse. Hence, in those cases you have relatively broad control over your body language.

However, according to the anthropologist Desmond Morris, there is an unconscious and involuntary movement that would be part of the body language of guilt. It’s about the flicker. As much as the person pretends to have everything under control, when asked or alluded to an aspect related to that feeling of guilt, a rapid intermittent blink will appear.

The increase in blink frequency is considerable and noticeable, but those who feel guilty do not notice it immediately. This gesture denotes that the person feels vulnerable and has an intense desire to regain control of the situation. It is usually accompanied by head movements in different directions.

The look and the expression

Another aspect to look at in guilt body language is the look. It is very common that when a person knows that he has acted against his convictions and his values, he has difficulty looking at the face. The most common is that he looks elsewhere, always with a downcast gaze. The chin does not necessarily tilt down, but the gaze does.

This, however, is relative. It does not always happen because some people know that this gesture gives them away. Sometimes there is also a strong conviction that what was done was bad, but necessary or convenient. Therefore, the person does not experience guilt as such, even though he knows that he inflicted harm.

In this second case, it is common for the person to show excessive control over the expression on their face. What he wants is, precisely, not to reveal anything with him, so he keeps his muscles tense and tries to gesticulate as little as possible. He does not look away from the other, because he wants to be aware of this. Seek to maintain control over the situation.

Covering and slurred speech

With the exception that this does not apply in all cases, another of the common gestures in body language of guilt is the tendency to cover the mouth or face. Sometimes the person puts a hand on the lips or part of the face. He does not want to give himself away and, without being aware, tries to cover himself.

In the same way, some noticeable difficulties in speech may appear. The guilty person clears his voice too often or stutters a little. The tension and stress of maintaining his role make his mouth dry and he drinks frequently. You may also have a hard time building coherent sentences.

On the other hand, not everyone experiences guilt in the same way. Some are tormented, while others manage not to bother them. Individual and cultural factors influence. That is why the reading of these gestures must be relativized.