We are not going to discover in this article the importance of nonverbal communication, a fact that has been proven and studied in many fields and that can influence our relationships much more than we imagine. Among all the gestures that people tend to make unconsciously, crossing legs when sitting down is one of the most common. And this insignificant action can sometimes convey a lot about us, just like crossing our fingers, for example.
In this case, psychology can give us several answers about its meaning and its nuances depending on the context. These are the most relevant ones:
The meaning of crossing the legs when sitting, from the point of view of psychology
- Insecurity: First of all, we must differentiate between people who cross their legs out of habit and those who do so occasionally. In the latter case, the reason is almost always nervousness or insecurity in front of interlocutors. It is perceived as an attempt to occupy or invade as little space as possible in the room.
- Confidence: this is an interpretation that psychology offers us when we cross our legs in a familiar place or out of habit. For example, when we are at our friends’ house and they invite us to sit down, crossing our legs is a sign that we are at home, relaxed and calm.
- Need to create a physical barrier: in some cases, crossing one leg in front of the other makes us build a real physical barrier with the leg above it, in a horizontal position. This is a gesture whose meaning is interpreted in much the same way as crossing our arms while talking to someone.
- Denial: if someone crosses his legs while participating in a conversation, usually as a listener, it means that he rejects or is reluctant to accept new ideas.
- Authority or dominance: this interpretation of the gesture of crossing the legs while sitting down only occurs in very specific contexts. For example, in a meeting of several people where one of them is clearly a leader (presidents, directors, CEOs), crossing the legs is an unequivocal symptom of authority and control of the situation.
- Comfort: finally, it should not be overlooked that sometimes people need to cross their legs simply for comfort, because the seat is not comfortable, or because they have been in the same position for too long. In these cases there is no need to look for any other meaning from the psychological point of view.