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Body Language of Couples

Have you ever gone to a social gathering, shopping mall or got on public transit and observed how some couples interact. Sometimes you can’t help notice because certain pairs may be fighting and yelling at each other. But, sometimes, you’ll see a couple and just know from the way they are sitting or the way their bodies are aligned to each other that they are either totally happy or very mismatched. Now, looks are not everything and can sometimes be deceiving but the field of body language applies to couples as much as it applies to either sex individually. And, your observations may, in fact, be a true read of unconscious body language between the couples you’ve observed.

So, if we look at couples and their body language, what are some of the characteristics of the body during couple interactions?

If we start with the face, we can do a simple analysis and ask if the couple faces each other. Do they actually look at each other? Some couples appear happy but they do not actually look at each other. And, when they do, they become serious or even scowl. This is a sure sign that there is tension in paradise. Women almost always prefer eye contact so if they look away, there must be something there.

Another facial cue is to look to see if the couples raise their chins when they look at each other. This is a sign of animosity and exists when there is something the couple can’t communicate about and feelings are pent up inside.

And, if you see forced smiles, this can be a sign of some sort of conflict between the partners. When a couple has issues and tries to keep them hidden, they will smile at others but, when they look at each other, their faces will change from a smile to disgust and then back to a smile.

Another powerful indicator in the body language of couples is how they touch - or don’t touch. Whenever you see a couple that is in love, you tend to see them touching each other. You seldom see one partner touching the other partner and the other not responding with a similar touch, or more. If one of the partners reaches out to the other and gets no touch back, there is something wrong with their relationship. Many times, you’ll see a man reach for a woman and she will accept the touch; she won’t return it, however. Or, a woman may wrap herself around a man, trying to get his affection. The man will just look as if she is an appendage. These are signs of a relationship that is not ideal, even unbalanced.

Speaking of balance, body language can sometimes show who has the power. It is said that if a woman regularly puts her arm over the man’s shoulder, she has the power in the relationship.

And, when a man has his hand wrapped around the lower part of a woman’s back, there is a close sexual bond between them. However, if a woman tries to hold a man, or his arm, and he just lets his arm dangle, his is probably not interested in her or her feelings and needs.

Another example of body language between partners is the act of preening or straightening up a partner. If you see either partner always trying to straighten the hair of the other, fix up their clothes, remove blemishes, etc., this is a sign of closeness.

They say that clothes make a person. While this may or may not be true, there is a theory that says that if a couple wears contrasting clothes, they are not compatible or are intentionally dressing to clash with the other. Red, for instance, is the color of extroverts. White is worn by people who want to stand out. Black is worn by those who want to stay in the background (or hide their expending waist).

When a couple sits down together, the way they sit can tell you a lot about the state of their relationship. If they face each other, they are in a positive state; if they face away from each other or are at an angle, there is trouble between them. Also, if they each have closed body language towards each other, this can be a sign that something is wrong. Closed body language includes crossing of arms, keeping hands close, crossing legs and looking down or away.

And, when a couple is walking, does one partner walk ahead or behind? If so, there are some power or domination issues.

And, finally, though you may not observe this about a couple, the way they make love is a key indicator about their relationship. One body language to watch for in making love is whether the eyes of your partner are open or closed. Closed eyes can signify not wanting to look at a partner; of course, it can also just mean that the partner is enjoying her/himself. However, if they are stiff and awkward, there is probably something on that partner’s mind.

Body language is not just a man or woman thing. It also is a consideration when looking at any couple or even your own relationship. By understanding how couple-based body language works, we have a new insight on how romantic partnerships are held together - or torn apart.