Our feet can talk, says study

Eye contact, and body language, have long been considered tell-tale signs of cheating, nervousness, sexual attraction and lying.

But Prof Geoffrey Beattie, Head of School and Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester, said that many people will often have no idea about the secret messages their feet are giving out.

According the research compiled on behalf of shoemakers Jeffery West, if a woman fancies someone and is laughing, her foot will move away from her body and she will have an open leg posture.

If her feet are crossed, or tucked away under her body then she isn't attracted to you. Men on the other hand don't signal sexual attraction with their feet.

Liars keep their feet unnaturally still, to try and distract people away from their fibbing. Women do judge men on their shoes - how stylish, clean and expensive they look and whether they match an outfit.

If a man is nervous, he will show his feelings by increasing his foot movement. Women however, do the opposite, and keep their feet still if they are nervous.

Alpha males and females have a low level of leg and foot movement because they like to dominate and control the conversation and the same goes for their body.

Extroverts do likewise but for different reasons, while shy people have frequent movements.

Arrogant people also keep their bodies more in check and use less foot movement.

Prof Beattie, resident psychologist on all the Big Brother shows, said: "Whilst people might know what their facial expression or hands might be imparting, they will often have no idea whether their feet are moving or the messages their feet are sending out.

"The secret language of feet can reveal a great deal about our personality, what we think of the person we're talking to and even our emotional and psychological state, they are a fascinating channel of nonverbal communication.

"Compiling this research has been a revelation. The reason our feet may be giving us away is that they are part of the body from which we have the least internal feedback."

via Our feet can talk, says study - Telegraph.