People-Watching as an Art for Authors – Pt.8

Part Eight: Pose and Posture

Pose. By definition, pose is a deliberately studied attitude assumed for effect. One “strikes a pose,” that is to say, adopts a certain attitude or expression in order to leave a desired impression. Thus a pose can be artful, false, and calculated to mislead; however, it frequently reflects the inner person and thus can be crucially important in the assessment of personality. The following are commonly used adjectives, chiefly qualitative, for describing a person's characteristic pose. Many of these traits are observable, although they frequently contain some amount of interpretation. The list is by no means exhaustive:

• athletic vs languid, effete

• ceremonial, formal, aristocratic vs casual, informal, off-hand

• confident, composed vs nervous, tremulous

• consistent vs inconsistent

• conspicuous vs colorless

• dainty vs clumsy

• defiant vs cringing, fawning

• eater vs abstracted, apathetic

• eccentric, peculiar vs normal, wholesome

• energetic, vigorous vs feeble

• exact, accurate vs careless

• expansive vs restrained, reclusive

• explosive vs stolid

• extravagant vs unassuming

• fluid, smooth vs erratic

• forceful, commanding vs ineffectual

• frank vs reserved

• free, flexible vs inhibited, rigid

• graceful vs awkward, uncouth

• impulsive, impetuous vs cautious, deliberately individual vs stereotyped, mechanical

• intense, decisive vs hesitant, wavering

• light vs heavy

• majestic, stately vs simple

• mature vs childish

• military vs listless

• naive, natural vs studied, stilted, affected, artificial

• neat, precise vs slovenly, sloppy, vague

• purposive vs aimless

• quick vs slow

• refined vs common

• restless vs calm, quiet, placid

• self-conscious vs unreserved

• strong, firm, emphatic vs weak, indecisive

• vivacious, lively, alert vs sleepy, indifferent, inert

Posture. Observing a man's posture is a matter of noting his use and positioning of shoulders, trunk and legs. In extreme cases, the target may have a rigidly erect posture suggesting military training, or a slumped-over posture that interferes with proper respiration and suggests, if not organic difficulties, a low energy level. Some aspects of posture are shoulders thrown back, chest out, shoulders consciously squared, shoulders drooping, regular or variable respiration. The observed person may stand squarely on both legs, lean heavily on one leg, habitually place one leg behind another, and so on.

Coming in Part Nine: Nervous or Symbolic Use of Body Parts, Gestures and Handshake