BEHAVIOR

As in "superior," synonyms for high-caliber include admirable, exceptional, first-rate, good, preferable, remarkable, superhuman, above, capital, choice, dandy, exclusive, expert, fine, major, over, premium, primary, senior, a cut above, deluxe, distinguished, exceeding, famous, finer, first-class, first-string, five-star, good quality, grander, high-class, more advanced, more skillful, noteworthy, of higher rank, overlying, paramount, predominant, preferred, prevailing, superincumbent, surpassing, and unrivalled.

As in "inferior," synonyms for low-caliber include detestable, normal, ordinary, unremarkable, usual, bad, low-class, minor, poor, secondary, unimportant, below, humble, lower, and meek.

Open, taking up as much space as needed. They aren’t concerned about appearing threatening because they know they can handle whatever comes their way. Their body language can be summed up by one word: Relaxed. Never appearing tense or afraid, even in times of panic.

Closed, taking up as little space as possible, so as not to threaten others. Although they don’t take up this pose literally, their general body language is based on the fear-crouch reflex which involves curling up into a ball in order to protect your organs and arteries in the event you are attacked. Their natural tendency is to take on defended body positions, and to be slightly anxious, especially in times of panic.

Head straight-facing, with the chin-up, unafraid of  exposing the neck to attack because they know they can handle it.

Like the fear-crouch reflex, the head has a tendency to be tilted forward to protect the neck from attack. This can lead to stooped postures and an inclination to bow your head and look down a lot.

In conversation, the head is still and there is minimal nodding in response. They are confident enough without having to please others.

Head nodding is common during conversation as an attempt to please others and seem agreeable.

Relaxed face. They don’t have a need to smile often as they don’t need to please anyone to gain status.

Smiling often, (aka “fear face”) to please and say they are not a threat.

Longer eye contact is found amongst high status people. They do not have the checking behavior of the low status people, because they do not fear attack. Slow blink rate is standard amongst high status people. You know the staring game when the first person to look away loses? Effectively, the first person to look away has lower status.

Short eye contact, often followed by checking to see if the person is still looking at them is a low status sign. This checking behavior is an important survival instinct when you fear attack. This is why it’s so common amongst prey animals like mice and other small mammals. Blinking rapidly is also a sign of nervousness/ fear and low status.

Relaxed mouth. No face touching.

Touching your mouth or chewing a fingernail.

Straight backed with exposed neck.

May be slightly bent over/ stooped/slouching.

If sitting, rolled out shoulders result in relaxed hands on thighs with the palms up.

Fidgety, face-touching often.

Legs spread wide apart with feet flat on the floor. You take up more space.

Legs are close together, taking up little space. If sitting on the floor, legs are bent up to the chest to protect your body organs.

Feet firmly planted in ground, and straight.

Turn your toes inwards (pigeon toes)

A person who is feeling defensive and dominant will take an asymmetrical pose, so one side of the body doesn’t mirror the other.

Someone who is feeling defensive and submissive will sit in a symmetrical position. One side of their body is a perfect mirror image of the other side. They display tense muscle tone and look as if they expect to be attacked.

They tend to face people front-on, unafraid of this being seen as a threat.

They may face people side on i.e. sit or stand with the body facing one way, but the head pointing towards the person they are addressing. This is a way of appearing less confrontational and threatening.

Smooth movements. When they walk, they may take relaxed, confident strides.

Fidgety, jerky movements. When they walk, strides vary from small steps, to tense steps, to tentative steps.