When it comes to the legs being open, there’s a myriad of different meanings in body language. We’ll look at 8 common interpretations of this word in this post.
Standing or sitting with your legs open in body language could have different meanings depending on the context of the situation. It’s always best to get to know the environment, conversation, and set before you can read someone’s nonverbal cues as this will give you cues to what is really going on.
The vast majority of experts believe that sitting or standing with one’s legs open is often taken as an act of dominance. This is because it makes the person more at ease taking up more space and can be interpreted to mean they feel in control.
There are some people who think that spreading legs shows aggression and a sense of superiority- we will take a look at 8 reasons why a person would open their legs below.
Before we get into the 8 reasons lets take a look at what the experts say about legs open in body language communication.
Expert Body Language Quotes.
Joe Navarro
From his book The Dictionary Of Body Language “Leg Spreading Apart, Sitting- Legs that are suddenly set wider apart while sitting during an interview or conversation suggest greater comfort or confidence. This is universal territorial display: the farther aprat the are, the more territory is being claimed. This behavior is more pronounced in men.“
8 Reasons Why A Person Would Open Their Legs.
- To show confidence and security in who you are.
- To show comfortably with your body.
- To show openness to new experiences.
- To show relaxed and easy-going.
- To show your availability.
- To show you’re ready to take charge.
- To show you’re feeling flirtatious.
- You want to be more approachable.
To show confidence and security in who you are.
Most people who are secure in themselves will display open body language in public, they tend to move slowly and display their vital organs more than an insecure person.
Opening the legs is one such nonverbal cue that someone might give when they feel comfortable. They will open their legs whether they are sitting down or standing up.
To show comfort with their body.
A man or woman can show they are comfortable with their body by leaving their legs open to display their private area for a potential mate to see.
To show openness to new experiences.
When a person is introduced to a new experience, they may lack confidence. However, if a person is opening their legs, it could mean they are liking what they are seeing or doing.
To show relaxed and easy-going.
The more relaxed a person is, the more open their body language will be. You will tend to see their legs open, arms relaxed at their sides, and head up.
To show your availability.
Some experts believe that when a woman has her legs open toward a man, it means she likes him. This would depend on the context and many other nonverbal cues to determine this.
To show you’re ready to take charge.
Sometimes called the territorial stance, we use this to calm down territorial as we are ready to take charge. We usually only see this when a person is feeling confident and standing position.
To show you’re feeling flirtatious.
When two people are flirting, they will often reflexively do the same things back and forth. If one person opens their legs or bites their lip and the other does the same thing then they’re on the same wavelength.
They want to be more approachable.
Sometimes keeping the legs open a little bit will display relaxation and this will make a person seem more approachable in a bar or socially. The context will play a big part in this area so make sure you check that out further down in the post.
What Is Context Around Nonverbals
Context is all the background information that goes into our interpretation of an event. Context is the clue to figuring out what is really going on with the person we are observing.
Patterns of behavior, or a certain set of movements, will be understood in different ways depending on the context.
For example, people can react quickly and dramatically to sports events one minute and then be upset about waiting in line for something another.
Context is what is going on around a person, who they are with and what they are doing these are all the facts around the body language that we can use to better understand why someone has their legs open in the first place.
Frequently Asked Questions.
What Does It Mean When You See Someone Standing With Their Legs Spread Apart?
The legs stance or sometimes known as the territorial stance is not only a form of authoritarian stance but also a sign of dominance.
Humans’ use of legs as territorial displays can be seen by how we stand, for example, the more distance there is between our feet, the greater the territorial display.
People with different professions have differing stances which are telling of their personalities. Military personnel & police officers are confident, so they tend to have a wider stance.
Whereas accountants or engineers are more reserved so they have a less confident stance, often pulling their feet closer together when standing.
A common way to non-verbally intimidate someone is to spread your legs when the other person is in front of you.
This stance may create the impression that you are more dominant than they are, occupying more space and appearing taller than them.
The open space in between your legs may also be seen as an indication that you are open to taking action or fighting if necessary.
What Does It Mean When A Man Sit Open Legs
Sitting with the legs wide open sends the nonverbal signal of dominance, security, and power.
When you see a man with his legs open, it’s a sign that he’s comfortable and in control of his environment or at least believes that he is.
It is a sign of dominance as the genitals are on display and he is showing his vulnerable organs the crown jewels. This body language also gives them personal space so they can feel more at ease.
Some men might use the nonverbal of the leg being opened to try and raise their stature in whatever environment they are in. If this is the case it won’t last long.
For example, imagine that you notice someone in the workplace quickly changing this display when their boss walks in they were faking or trying to become something they are not.
When you start to notice these things it becomes amusing to you.
Sitting with legs apart body language Posture.
Sitting with legs apart is a body language cue that can mean a few different things. It can be a sign of confidence, as the person is taking up more space and asserting their dominance.
It can also be a sign of relaxation, as the person is comfortable and not feeling tense. In some cases, it can also be seen as rude or unprofessional, as the person is not respecting personal space boundaries.
What does sitting with legs open body language mean?
Sitting with your legs open is generally considered to be a relaxed and comfortable position. It can also be seen as a way of making yourself more accessible and approachable, which can be helpful in social situations.
However, sitting with your legs open can also be interpreted as being overly confident or even aggressive, so it’s important to be aware of the context and situation before adopting this body language.
What does standing with legs apart body language mean?
When someone stands with their legs apart, it is a form of body language that can communicate a few different things.
First, it can be a way to take up more space and appear more confident or assertive. It can also be a sign of relaxation as if the person is comfortable taking up a lot of space.
Finally, standing with legs apart can also convey sexual interest, as it makes the person’s body appear more open and inviting. No matter what the intention is, standing with legs apart is a strong form of body language that can send a clear message.
Why do guys sit with their legs open body language?
There are a few reasons why guys might sit with their legs open. One reason is that it’s a way to take up more space and appear larger.
This can be helpful in some situations, like when trying to intimidate someone. Another reason is that it can be comfortable, especially if you’re wearing loose-fitting clothes.
It also might just be a habit. Whatever the reason, it’s important to be aware of your body language and how it’s coming across to others.
Final Thoughts
So, legs’ open body language is normal behavior if someone is displaying a more comfortable or confident display of body language.
They will naturally try and take up as much space as they can in order to create a sense of territory. Depends on the context.
If you have enjoyed reading this post, you may also like to read Body Language Of The Legs (Learn Important Secrets). This should give you some more insight into what the non-verbal communication of the legs really means.
