Palms Up vs. Palms Down

Palms Up (Honesty, Openness, Responsiveness)

Hands are a fundamental tool for communicating; studies show that people better remember the details of stories that are told using gestures.

The most basic and important gesture is the palm position. Showing the palms of the hands (facing upward) is an ancestral, subconscious signal of honesty, openness and cooperation.

Historically, this gesture demonstrated that no weapons were held. Today, it communicates that there is nothing to hide.

Using this gesture when making a request (e.g., "Can you help me with this file?") significantly increases the likelihood that the other person will agree, as it is not perceived as a threatening command.

In addition, adopting this posture tends to calm the speaker himself.

Palms Down (Authority, Dominance, Giving Orders)

The downward facing palm communicates a completely opposite message. It is a sign of power, authority and dominance.

It is the gesture used instinctively to give orders (such as "sit down" or "calm down") or to command respect and take control of a situation.

While it is effective in giving a direct instruction, if used in a request, it can generate resentment.

The interlocutor may obey the command, but will do so reluctantly because he or she feels subordinate.

The teachers' study (The measurable impact).

The difference in perception between upward and downward clapping is not trivial.

In a study by a body language expert, several speakers were asked to give exactly the same presentation to two different groups of students.

To the first group, they spoke predominantly using palm-up gestures.

To the second group, they used the same gestures, but with the palms facing downward.

The results were striking: the group exposed to "palms up" gave 84% positive reviews of the presentation.

The group exposed to "palms down" gave only 52% positive reviews. A simple chang