Which body language conveys arrogance?

There has been an incredible amount of research and study completed with respect to body language through psychology and forensics to understand better human behavior in diagnosing and treating criminals and personality-disordered individuals. Arrogance is conveyed flagrantly in these cases, and in many cases, people behave with the same tendencies every day. Along the continuum of body language and arrogance specifically, the body rarely lies. Even if someone can control and temper their bodily expression, as defenses fade and comfort grows, the body language shows itself over time. Being in psychology has been an experience in learning how a person’s body language can affect another’s. As a counselor, it is imperative to keep language and body language specifically neutral to not intrude on the client’s experience.

What are the signs?

Arrogance breeds a certain amount of defense, superiority, and sometimes mistrust of others, especially when someone knows more than they do. Arrogance is shown physically and verbally in an overt way. Imagine sitting across from the person who is conveying an arrogant tone. They will typically cross their arms, set their head back, sit with legs apart. Another form of more subtle physical arrogance is leaning back with shoulders back as if they are requesting that you commit to leaning in and committing to connecting. They may swagger, walk past you constantly, get easily frustrated with your physical self because it does not match theirs.  People who are constantly looking away are using their eye movements to convey arrogance and even disinterest. They may look past you, look down, at their watch, others in the room. And do this enough to communicate that they do not care what you have to say. They are hard-pressed to stay interested in something that you may find interesting or important unless they agree. Interrupting, disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing, and hearing only part of what is being discussed without thoughtful focus are all signs as well. Their tone sounds condescending and, at times, harsh. It is as if their points, thoughts, and behaviors take on a life of their own to fill the room because their goal is to be seen, heard, regarded, and considered better than they are, at whatever they are claiming. They may arrive late, be condescending, their apologies are vacant, and they have an answer for everything.

What to do?

If this person may be close in your life, creating boundaries and communicating your observations in a compassionate but direct way may not change them but will validate you and your concerns. Working with clients has also been extremely helpful to create a good set of support systems to have people to go to for various needs, so you’re not recreating frustration and disappointment with the same interactions, expecting a different response.