21 Psychological Tricks to Read People Like an Open Book

21 Psychological tricks to read people like an open book

Have you ever wondered how convenient life would be if you could read other people's minds? Imagine being able to understand what others are thinking and feeling without them having to say a word. Some people rely on their intuition to navigate social interactions and gauge others' emotions. However, if you find that you’re not as perceptive or intuitive, there's another powerful option available: learning to read people's body language.

Nonverbal communication is incredibly significant in our daily interactions. Studies show that over 55% of the information we receive comes through nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and other body movements. These subtle signals can reveal a person's true feelings and intentions, even when their words might suggest otherwise.

I invite you to delve into the fascinating world of psychological tricks and body language. By paying close attention to the signals that people send unconsciously, you can gain valuable insights into their thoughts and emotions. Understanding these cues can give you a distinct advantage in various situations, from personal relationships to professional settings.

Before we get into the tricks, you can see some of the body language states in the table below:

1. The first trick of psychological tricks: Closing Their Eyes

When a person is talking to you and closes their eyes, it often signals that they are attempting to hide from the outside world. This action is not necessarily an indication of fear or discomfort directed towards you. More often than not, it suggests that the individual has mentally checked out of the conversation. By closing their eyes, they are symbolically and psychologically creating a barrier between themselves and their surroundings.

This can be a subconscious way for them to disengage from the interaction, as it allows them to momentarily escape or retreat inward. Essentially, in their mind, if they can’t see you, then you aren’t there, making it easier for them to disconnect from the conversation or the situation at hand. This gesture can be a subtle clue that the person is not fully present or is avoiding engagement.

2.The second trick of psychological tricks: Covering Their Mouth

This is a leftover habit from childhood. Remember how you would cover your mouth when you didn’t want to tell mom what happened to that broken vase? This instinctive gesture often follows us into adulthood. In moments when we feel the urge to withhold certain words or secrets, we might instinctively place a few fingers, a palm, or even a fist near our mouth.

This physical act serves as a psychological trick to help us control and restrain the words we’re reluctant to share. This behavior highlights how deeply ingrained childhood habits can be, continuing to influence our actions long into adult life.Interestingly, this habit is a classic example of how psychology tricks can manifest in everyday actions.

3. The third trick of psychological tricks: Chewing on Their Glasses

If you notice someone chewing on the earpieces of their glasses, it might be a sign that they're feeling subconsciously anxious or stressed. This behavior is often a way for them to seek comfort and security, similar to how an infant might feel soothed while breastfeeding. This chewing action serves as a form of self-soothing, helping them manage their anxiety in a way that mirrors their early experiences of being nurtured.

In addition to glasses earpieces, other objects like pencils, pens, cigarettes, or even chewing gum can serve a similar purpose. These items might become substitutes for comfort, providing a sense of reassurance when they’re feeling uneasy. Engaging in a supportive conversation with them or offering words of encouragement could help address their underlying worries and provide the emotional support they need during stressful times.

4.The fourth trick of psychological tricks "Presenting" Their Face

Generally speaking, this gesture is often used to attract people of the opposite sex. When we rest our chin on our hands, it’s as though we’re presenting our faces with an open invitation, signaling, "This is me! Enjoy as much as you want." This posture can be an unconscious way of drawing attention and expressing openness or interest.

For men looking to make a positive impression, understanding this subtle body language can be beneficial. When a woman adopts this pose, it might indicate that she is in a receptive mood or open to engagement. Recognizing this moment can provide a perfect opportunity to offer a genuine compliment or strike up a meaningful conversation. By doing so, you align with the non-verbal signals she’s sending, making your approach more timely and effective.

5.The fifth trick of psychological tricks: Rubbing Their Chin

This is what people do when they're trying to make a decision. They might be looking down, up to the side, or anywhere—they don’t even know what they’re looking at because they're deep in thought. So, if you see a friend doing this, ask them what's on their mind.

6.The sixth trick of psychological tricks: Crossed Arms

This is one of the most popular gestures, and it's no wonder many people feel really comfortable in this position because it subconsciously shuts them off from others. We often use this gesture when we're irritated by someone or something. Crossed arms are a clear sign that a person is not feeling it today. If you want to talk to someone making an X with their arms across their chest, forget about it.

7. The seventh trick of psychological tricks: Fixing Their Posture

When a woman wants a man to notice her, she tries to present herself in the best way possible. She straightens her back to emphasize her breasts, and she may also cross her legs. Hands together and hanging down are a sign of attention and huge interest in a person.

8.The eighth trick of psychological tricks: Leaning Forward

When people like someone and want to get to know them, they usually lean forward. In this position, the neck may stay put, but the body intuitively moves forward. You can really notice this body movement in a group of people. A person subconsciously leans in the direction of the man or woman they like. So next time you’re at a party, sit back or forward if you’ve got your eyes on someone and enjoy the show.

9. The ninth trick of psychological tricks: Leaning Back

Now let's look at the opposite position. If someone sits back in their chair, they're showing they're tired of the conversation and don’t want to keep it going. They might feel uncomfortable in the presence of the other person. Next time you’re in a restaurant, see if you can spot people who are not so into the conversation they’re having at the moment.

10. The tenth trick of psychological tricks: Swinging from Their Heels to Their Toes

Not only kids do this—it shows that a person feels anxious about something. However, if a person doesn’t swing back and forward but bounces up and down on their toes, it might be a sign that they're feeling confident. If they look happy and are smiling, this guess is a safe bet.

11. The eleventh trick of psychological tricks: Rubbing Their Hands

It’s believed that the hands broadcast what the head is thinking. Rubbing the hands together generally means that a person has a positive feeling about something and they’re hopeful. We do this when we're thinking about positive outcomes in the near future—a good gesture for next time you’re in Vegas.

12. The twelfth trick of psychological tricks: The "Glove" Handshake

While you’re shaking hands with someone, if that person takes your wrist with their free hand, they’re showing that they're trustworthy, friendly, and honest. This style of shaking hands is popular among politicians, but you should remember that this handshake is often perceived as an invasion of privacy. Only people who are close to each other do it genuinely, so don't let a politician fool you.

13. The thirteenth trick of psychological tricks: A Handshake with the Palm Facing the Floor vs. Facing the Ceiling

A person holding out their hand with the palm facing downward is demonstrating their superiority and power. This knowledge can turn out useful if you want to suddenly show your boss that you respect their "dominance." It’s okay to feed the ego if it means getting on their good side. At the same time, if you're holding someone's hand from below, you’re telling them that you're ready to help.

14. The fourteenth trick of psychological tricks: Cupping Someone's Hand During a Handshake

If someone cups your hand between both of theirs, placing their free palm on the back of your hand, this lets you know that they sympathize with you. But this is true only if a person does it instantly. However, if you’ve been shaking hands already and only then does the other person put their hand on top, this may be a sign that they're telling you who's in charge here.

15.The fifteenth trick of psychological tricks: A Handshake with a Touch

People sometimes touch others with their free hands. They might touch your forearm, elbow, or back. This invasion of personal space means that someone isn’t getting enough attention or communication from others. The closer the touch to the torso, the more the person needs company. So, what's your handshaking style? If it's one of those we’ve just mentioned, press the LIKE button!

16. The sixteenth trick of psychological tricks: Fixing Their Tie

The meaning of this gesture depends on the situation. If a man does it in front of an attractive woman, this probably means that he likes her. However, this gesture may also indicate that the person isn't feeling comfortable. Maybe he has lied or just wants to get away from wherever he is right now.

17. The seventeenth trick of psychological tricks: Collecting Imaginary Lint

This is also called a replacement gesture. People often use it to express that they disagree with something but don’t want to voice their disagreement. In other words, they don’t express their opinion clearly but show it in a hidden way.

18. The eighteenth trick of psychological tricks: Putting Their Feet on the Desk

This gesture can mean a lot of things: bad manners, disrespect, trying to show who’s boss, or even concern for one's health. However, psychologists believe that even if you feel comfortable in this position, you shouldn’t sit like this anywhere but at home.

19. The nineteenth trick of psychological tricks: Mounting a Chair Like a Horse

A chair is not a horse, and even though its back sort of looks like a shield, it serves a different purpose. Many people are irritated by others sitting like this because they intuitively feel the aggression. This position is popular among dominant people. If you don’t want to seem weak, keep standing while they’re riding the imaginary horse.

20. The twentieth trick of psychological tricks: Playing with Their Shoe

Crossed legs are one of the most attractive ways that women sit, and if a woman is playing with her shoe, this indicates that she's feeling calm and relaxed. It also means that she’s trying to draw your attention to her legs. So, gentlemen, this is your green light.

Before the last psychological trick, you can see more tricks for reading people's body language in the video below:

21. The twenty-first trick of psychological tricks: Eye Contact

The eyes are the window to the soul and a great helper in communication. You can read all of a person’s thoughts and feelings in their eyes. Lovers look into each other's eyes hoping to see enlarged pupils. When someone is attracted to another, their pupils can be up to four times bigger than their normal state. If a person is angry, their eyes look beady because their pupils get really small. There are different types of eye contact, and each can tell us a lot if we know how to decode them:

• Avoiding Eye Contact:Typically, if a person won’t look into your eyes, it means they're being dishonest. It can also serve as a sign of discomfort. People often look to the side if they’re doing mental math or searching for the answer to a difficult question.
• Unbroken Staring: If a person won’t avert their eyes from yours, they may be trying to intimidate you and make you feel uncomfortable. They could also be lying and are aware that breaking eye contact equates to lying, so they try hard not to break it. If they’re overdoing it, can we really blame them?
• A Lot of Blinking: A person blinks on average from 6 to 10 times a minute, but if this number is higher, there’s a good chance they're attracted to their conversation partner. It’s a sign of subconscious flirting.

You can read more about this topic Here.