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The Book of Tells (Peter Collett)[unlocked]

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THE BOOK OF TELLS<br />

THE STRADDLE STANCE. Again the legs are straight, but<br />

this time the feet are spread apart. As we saw earlier, the<br />

straddle stance is typically a posture <strong>of</strong> dominance<br />

because it widens the body, takes up more space and<br />

surreptitiously presents the genitals. But because the feet<br />

are set apart, the straddle stance is also a posture <strong>of</strong><br />

immovability - it shows that the person does not intend<br />

to go. If you watch a group <strong>of</strong> young men standing in a<br />

circle - say, in a sports club after a match - you'll <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

find them adopting the straddle stance. This posture is an<br />

expression <strong>of</strong> their solidarity. By standing with their legs<br />

apart they're showing that they're macho and that they<br />

have no intention <strong>of</strong> leaving.<br />

• THE SCISSORS STANCE. In the scissors stance the legs<br />

are crossed, just as if they were the blades <strong>of</strong> a pair <strong>of</strong><br />

scissors. This posture can be performed with both legs<br />

straight (the 'scissors stance') or with one leg bent across<br />

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