Marvin Karlins

when a woman is not touching her suitor with her foot, this type of foot dangling and shoe play is movement, and movement draws attention.

Therefore, this nonverbal behavior says, “Notice me,” which is just the opposite of the freeze response, and is part of the orienting reflex that is instinctive and draws us near to the things and people we like or desire and away from those things we don’t like, don’t trust, or of which we are not sure.

Foot and leg behavior is especially important to observe when you first meet people. It reveals a lot about how they feel about you. Personally, when I first meet someone, I typically lean in, give the person a hearty handshake (depending on the appropriate cultural norms in the situation), make good eye contact, and then take a step back and see what happens next. One of three responses is likely to take place: (a) the person will remain in place, which lets me know he or she is comfortable at that distance; (b) the individual will take a step back or turn slightly away, which lets me know he or she needs more space or wants to be elsewhere; or (c) the person will actually take a step closer to me, which means he or she feels comfortable and/or favorable toward me. I take no offense to the individual’s behavior because I am simply using this opportunity to see how he or she really feels about me.