Kinesic Clusters

Question 1

What are the six cluster types?

Answer 1

Dominant, Submissive, Uncomfortable, Comfortable, Interested and Uninterested

Question 2

How do you know if the behaviour is unusual?

Answer 2

You compare it against the baseline. Should they be demonstrating this behaviour cluster based on the baseline for the situation?

Question 3

What physiological response is the Dominant Cluster representing?

Answer 3

The Fight Response

Question 4

What does dominant behaviour include?

Answer 4

Gestures and postures to make them “look bigger” to intimidate smaller people into submission.

Question 5

The person is seated, their feet are planted on the floor and the legs are splayed out taking up space. What cluster is this?

Answer 5

Dominant

Question 6

The person is seated, their legs are crossed with their hands holding their ankle or lower calf. What cluster is this?

Answer 6

Dominant

Question 7

The person is standing, legs shoulder-width apart, taking up more space. What cluster is this?

Answer 7

Dominant

Question 8

The person is seated, leaning back with hands clasped behind their head. What cluster is this?

Answer 8

Dominant

Question 9

The person is standing, with their hands on their hips. What cluster is this?

Answer 9

Dominant

Question 10

The person is standing and leaning forward, attempting to look bigger. What cluster is this?

Answer 10

Dominant

Question 11

The person is standing, stretching torso and making oneself look taller. What cluster is this?

Answer 11

Dominant

Question 12

Arms are spread out on an object (table, counter), taking up more space. What cluster is this?

Answer 12

Dominant

Question 13

Hands are clasped behind back as if evaluating. What cluster is this?

Answer 13

Dominant

Question 14

Wrist and palm are facing down when shaking hands or greeting. What cluster is this?

Answer 14

Dominant

Question 15

Pointing with hands while talking or lecturing. What cluster is this?

Answer 15

Dominant

Question 16

Steeple gesture with hands. What cluster is this?

Answer 16

Dominant

Question 17

Maintaining one’s gaze for a longer period of time, or not averting one’s own gaze. What cluster is this?

Answer 17

Dominant

Question 18

If the person is closer than cultural standards would permit, what cluster is this?

Answer 18

Dominant

Question 19

If you touch someone, what cluster is this?

Answer 19

Dominant

Question 20

What is the physiological response associated with the submissive cluster?

Answer 20

The lack of a fight response (i.e. submission)

Question 21

Person is seated, feet and legs crossed at the ankle and tucked underneath the chair, making a person look smaller. What cluster is this?

Answer 21

Submission

Question 22

Person is seated, feet wrapped around legs of chair.
What cluster is this?

Answer 22

Submissive

Question 23

Why aren’t legs used as a barrier during a submissive response?

Answer 23

They could offend the dominant person or be seen as an aggressive response.

Question 24

The person is seated, leaning forward and making the body smaller. What cluster is this?

Answer 24

Submissive

Question 25

The person's arms are pulled into the body, without the ability to easily strike. What cluster is this?

Answer 25

Submissive

Question 26

Wrists and palms are facing upwards in greeting. What cluster is this?

Answer 26

Submissive

Question 27

Shoulders are lowered. What cluster is this?

Answer 27

Submissive

Question 28

Eyes are averted or failing to make eye contact. What cluster is this?

Answer 28

Submissive

Question 29

What behaviour clusters does someone display when they are feeling non-confrontational?

Answer 29

Submissive

Question 30

What biological response is the Uncomfortable cluster associated to?

Answer 30

Flight - They want to remove themselves from the situation or protect themselves.

Question 31

Feet are bouncing. What cluster is this?

Answer 31

Uncomfortable

Question 32

Feet are oriented towards a door or exit. What cluster is this?

Answer 32

Uncomfortable

Question 33

Torso is leaning away from whatever they are interacting with. What cluster is this?

Answer 33

Uncomfortable

Question 34

Torso is rotated away from person or object. What cluster is this?

Answer 34

Uncomfortable

Question 35

Arms are crossed across chest. What cluster is this?

Answer 35

Uncomfortable

Question 36

Arms/hands covering crotch/groin. What cluster is this?

Answer 36

Uncomfortable

Question 37

Shoulders raised. What cluster is this?

Answer 37

Uncomfortable

Question 38

Increased use of pacifying behaviour. What cluster is this?

Answer 38

Uncomfortable

Question 39

Eyes glancing around the room, looking for an escape. What cluster is this?

Answer 39

Uncomfortable

Question 40

What is a pacifying behaviour?

Answer 40

Any act or gesture used to calm or comfort oneself with experiencing autonomic stress responses.

Question 41

Clenching a fist. What is this an example of?

Answer 41

Pacifying behaviour.

Question 42

Rubbing hands on thighs. What is this an example of?

Answer 42

Pacifying Behaviour

Question 43

Rubbing Bridge of Nose. What is this an example of?

Answer 43

Pacifying Behaviour

Question 44

Long, drawn-out exhalation. What is this an example of?

Answer 44

Pacifying behaviour.

Question 45

What biological response is created by the comfortable cluster?

Answer 45

None. No flight or fight response at all.

Question 46

Feet motionless and relaxed. What cluster is this?

Answer 46

Comfortable

Question 47

Legs uncrossed, or legs crossed with thigh open to another person. What cluster is this?

Answer 47

Comfortable

Question 48

Standing with legs crossed (all weight on one leg). What cluster is this?

Answer 48

Comfortable

Question 49

Torso upright or leaning in. What cluster is this?

Answer 49

Comfortable

Question 50

Torso leaning away or splayed out. What cluster is this?

Answer 50

Comfortable

Question 51

Arms open - at sides of the body, gesturing openly, or behind back. What cluster is this?

Answer 51

Comfortable

Question 52

Shoulders lowered. What cluster is this?

Answer 52

Comfortable

Question 53

Absence of pacifying behaviours. What cluster is this?

Answer 53

Comfortable

Question 54

Can you be displaying both comfortable and dominant clusters at the same time?

Answer 54

No, only one of the first four clusters (submissive vs. dominant, comfortable vs. uncomfortable) can be displayed at once.

Question 55

Can you be displaying both comfortable and interested clusters at the same time? What about comfortable and uninterested?

Answer 55

Yes, the interested cluster (in context of their apparent focus) can take place while the person is displaying any of the other four clusters.

Question 56

Feet are pointing at people in conversation. What cluster is this?

Answer 56

Interested

Question 57

Feet remaining still, not bouncing. What cluster is this?

Answer 57

Interested

Question 58

There are no leg barriers. What cluster is this?

Answer 58

Interested

Question 59

Torso leaning forward. What cluster is this?

Answer 59

Interested

Question 60

Open Body Language. What cluster is this?

Answer 60

Interested

Question 61

Head nods. What cluster is this?

Answer 61

Interested

Question 62

Gaze directed at speaker. What cluster is this?

Answer 62

Interested

Question 63

Mirror/mimcking emotions displayed by others in group. What cluster is this?

Answer 63

Interested

Question 64

Feet are bouncing. What cluster is this?

Answer 64

Uninterested

Question 65

Feet oriented away from person or object. What cluster is this?

Answer 65

Uninterested

Question 66

Legs crossed. What cluster is this?

Answer 66

Uninterested

Question 67

Shifty behaviour, moving or rocking back and forth. What cluster is this?

Answer 67

Uninterested

Question 68

Arm barriers up. What cluster is this?

Answer 68

Uninterested

Question 69

Torso leaning away from person or object. What cluster is this?

Answer 69

Uninterested

Question 70

"Stopping" gestures with hands. What cluster is this?

Answer 70

Uninterested

Question 71

Increased use of pacifying behaviours. What cluster is this?

Answer 71

Uninterested

Question 72

Why should you observe someone's hands?

Answer 72

Checking their hands confirms they're not holding a weapon and preparing to strike. It can also demonstrate their attention (by patting a concealed object on their person)

Question 73

What is does repeated patting of a specific part(s) on the body indicate?

Answer 73

Concealed item that they're concerned with.

Question 74

If someone is consistently looking over their shoulder, what does it mean?

Answer 74

It means they are aware of their surroundings, and should be observed further.