The problem with trying to conceal anxiety — in any situation — is that we’ve evolved to do exactly the opposite.
According to Joe Navarro, a former FBI agent and the author of What Every BODY is saying, we’re hardwired to display anxiety and to recognize it in others as well. Back in our caveman days, this was a means of quickly recognizing danger.
Here are some of the most common universal, nonverbal expressions of nervousness that are pretty hard to control.
This article originally appeared on Business Insider
More from Business Insider:
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- The Revolution of Yulia Navalnaya
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- What's the Deal With the Bitcoin Halving?
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com