Facial Blocking Gestures (Mouth, Eyes, Ears)

Touching or covering the mouth (Verbal Blocking)

When a person lies or says something they are deeply uncomfortable with, the brain often sends an unconscious signal to block or suppress those words.

In children, this gesture is obvious and literal: they cover their mouths with both hands immediately after telling a lie. In adults, this innate gesture is refined and becomes much more subtle.

Instead of covering the mouth completely, the adult may gently rub the area around the mouth, hold a single finger to the lips (a "hush" gesture), or cover the mouth with a feigned cough.

These gestures, which occur just during or immediately after a stressful statement, are unconscious attempts to stop the words from coming out.

Touching or rubbing the eyes (Visual blocking).

The brain not only attempts to block outgoing lies, but also sensory feedback. A common gesture associated with deception is rubbing the eye or touching the eye area.

It is an unconscious attempt by the brain to "see no evil," blocking the vision of the person being lied to, as if to say "I don't want to see your reaction to my lie."

It can also be a sign of displeasure at something being seen, or of exasperation and embarrassment of others, as is often seen in judges or authority figures rubbing the bridge of the nose.

Touching or rubbing the ear (Auditory block).

Similar to visual blocking, there is a "hear no evil" gesture. The person may touch or rub the ear, pull on the earlobe, bend the ear to plug the hole, or even insert a finger.

This gesture is a symbolic attempt to block the sound. Sometimes, it is a signal that the listener has heard enough and wishes to speak.

However, when it is done by the speaker himself, it is an unconscious attempt not to be an auditory witnes