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The Book of Tells (Peter Collett)[unlocked]

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THE BOOK OF TELLS<br />

reflects the temperature <strong>of</strong> their political exchange. When<br />

the exchange is reassuringly polite, each tends to face the<br />

other directly while standing at their dispatch box.<br />

However, when the debate gets heated, there's a marked<br />

tendency for the Prime Minister and the Leader <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Opposition to orient their bodies away from each other.<br />

This is 'flanking', and it's found throughout the animal<br />

world. As we've seen, when dogs meet in the park for the<br />

first time, they usually approach each other side-on,<br />

presenting their vulnerable flanks to each other in order to<br />

signal that they don't intend to attack. It's exactly the same<br />

in the House <strong>of</strong> Commons. By orienting their bodies away<br />

from each other, the Prime Minister and the Leader <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Opposition may appear to be directing their remarks<br />

towards their supporters who are located behind them. In<br />

fact they are instinctively exposing the undefended sides <strong>of</strong><br />

their body in order to show that they have no intention<br />

<strong>of</strong> getting into a physical fight - just as dogs behave when<br />

they meet in the park.<br />

Baby-kissing <strong>Tells</strong><br />

Elections are a time for politicians to run around kissing<br />

babies. Sometimes it seems like 'open season' - wherever<br />

you look politicians are lifting babies up, hugging them<br />

and planting their lips on their poor unsuspecting cheeks.<br />

It's generally assumed that politicians kiss babies because<br />

they want people to think that they're healthy, nurturing,<br />

loving individuals. In fact, baby-kissing is nothing <strong>of</strong> the<br />

sort - it's merely a way for politicians to defend themselves<br />

against attack. For example, when a dominant baboon is<br />

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