Know The Aggressive Body Language

Aggressive body language is way more then simply being punched in the face or punching someone. There are many types of aggressive signals that if picked up on early can save you from being a receiver of a physical attack or give you time to turn the aggression down. Aggressive body language is a signal to a possible physical threat or a verbal threat at the least. As we were taught early on, physical confrontations can never lead to any good so learning to pick up the threat signals early is extremely beneficial. If you work in a setting where there are volatile people, prison settings for example, knowing signals of aggressiveness could even save your life.

Aggressive threat body language can come from facial, attack, and exposing. Facial signals that can alert you to a possible threat are frowns, pursed lips, reddening of face, sneer look, clinched jaw, stare downs with a squint, and jerking of head towards you much like one would jerk their body towards you in an aggressive advancement.

Another common facial threat signal is a person getting right up in your face with their face. With all of these gestures, it is best you step back a couple feet to put a bit of distance between you and the aggressive person to give you a chance to possibly defuse the situation. The attack stance of body language is typically the positioning of feet for stability, and clinching of fist and muscles. Some may even get a bit 'dancey' or bouncy with there feet, much like a boxer.

However, this is the typical, there are some that really show little outward physical cues that indicate they are about to punch you. People who present with a flat affect may show very little to no indication that they are about to physically attack another. This is when body language alone can put one in a risky situation and it is important to listen to word cues as well.

Another form of aggressive body language is crossing personal space, mental or emotional boundaries. Fake friendships are an example of crossing all three of these boundaries. By pretending to be a friend to another with intent of harm, aggressive body language takes on a chameleon effect in the beginning. They will use smiles, and friendly gestures to gain closeness. Everyone has a comfort zone called his or her personal space.

When that is crossed physically (e.g. getting up in someone's face, bumping chest, physically touching another without permission etc.) that invasion of space is an aggressive body language move. People generally do this to get into close proximity of their prey so they can have power over another by making them uncomfortable and to make it easier for them to get in the first physical strike.

Physical aggressive body language gestures are another indicator that you may be at risk of becoming a victim. Hand gestures are often used to incite another into a physical confrontation, from the use of "flipping someone off" with the flagging of the middle finger, to hand gang signs, thrusting of arms to the ever popular head roll/thrust generally followed with verbal insults. Another obvious great indicator is the mock attacks such as shadow boxing, slamming fist on table (wall, door, etc.), head butting gesture, kicking, etc without actually making physical contact with you.