The Book of Tells (Peter Collett)[unlocked]

THE BOOK OF TELLS
People can detect increases in their heart rate and
sweating. They recognize, however, that while an increase
in their heart rate isn't evident to others, an increase in
their perspiration is. The way people react to their own
sweating is often very revealing, and so are the little tricks
that they use to cover it up. If you watch people who are
about to shake hands with someone important, you'll see
that they sometimes wipe their right hand discreetly before
extending it for the handshake. This is usually done on the
pretext of performing a completely different task, like
putting their hand in their pocket or straightening out their
jacket. For good measure, it's usually done when other
people's attention is elsewhere. One way to reduce the
chances of sweating is to remove some of one's clothing.
You often see male politicians take their jacket off when
they walk on to the stage to make a speech. This is partly
done to create an impression of informality and resolution
- to show the audience that the politician is prepared to
get his hands dirty - but it's also done to help the politician
keep cool, calm and collected.
Breathing Tells
When people are breathing normally they breathe about
once every five seconds, each time taking in about 600
cubic centimetres of air. Breathing is largely performed by
two sets of muscles - the muscles of the chest, and
the muscles of the abdomen. In normal breathing the
abdominal muscles do more work than the chest muscles.
The chest muscles, however, are more involved in deep
breathing, and there's a tendency for women in the west to
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