Adaptors

Adaptors are unconscious behaviours or gestures that provide comfort, release tension, or respond to stress.

Here are 100 examples of adaptors with the impressions they may convey:

1. Scratching the head: Confusion or uncertainty
2. Biting nails: Nervousness or anxiety
3. Tapping fingers on a surface: Impatience or restlessness
4. Cracking knuckles: Tension release or nervousness
5. Twirling hair: Boredom, distraction, or flirtation
6. Touching the face: Insecurity, self-soothing, or contemplation
7. Rubbing the neck: Stress, discomfort, or uncertainty
8. Adjusting clothing: Discomfort, self-consciousness, or insecurity
9. Crossing arms: Defensiveness, disinterest, or self-protection
10. Crossing legs: Comfort, self-protection, or closed-off attitude
11. Jiggling a leg: Restlessness, impatience, or nervous energy
12. Picking at the skin: Anxiety, stress, or self-soothing
13. Rubbing hands together: Anticipation, nervousness, or tension
14. Yawning: Boredom, tiredness, or disinterest
15. Stroking one's beard: Contemplation, evaluation, or deep thought
16. Touching the nose: Discomfort, doubt, or potential deception
17. Rubbing the forehead: Frustration, stress, or deep thought
18. Sighing: Disappointment, exhaustion, or emotional release
19. Raising the shoulders: Unsure, uncertain, or submissive attitude
20. Placing hands on hips: Impatience, assertiveness, or readiness for action
21. Clasping hands behind the back: Contemplation, authority, or thoughtfulness
22. Rubbing the Chin: Evaluation, contemplation, or Decision-making
23. Drumming fingers on the table: Impatience, restlessness, or irritation
24. Shuffling feet: Nervousness, unease, or impatience
25. Tugging on an earlobe: Uncertainty, indecision, or self-soothing
26. Chewing on a pen or pencil: Anxiety, concentration, or deep thought
27. Licking lips: Nervousness, anticipation, or dry lips
28. Clearing throat: Nervousness, discomfort, or attention-seeking
29. Checking the time: Impatience, disinterest, or time-consciousness
30. Playing with jewelry: Nervousness, self-soothing, or flirtation
31. Fiddling with a phone: Distraction, boredom, or avoidance
32. Touching the back of the neck: Tension, stress, or discomfort
33. Adjusting glasses: Disapproval, skepticism, or nervousness
34. Snapping a rubber band: Impatience, frustration, or tension release
35. Clenching fists: Anger, frustration, or suppressed emotions
36. Wiping sweat from the brow: Anxiety, discomfort, or overheating
37. Rubbing the temples: Headache, stress, or deep thought
38. Blinking excessively: Nervousness, discomfort, or eye irritation
39. Swinging the legs: Restlessness, impatience, or nervous energy
40. Pinching the bridge of the nose: Irritation, stress, or concentration
41. Sucking on a finger: Self-soothing, insecurity, or a habitual behavior
42. Stroking one's own arm: Self-comfort, insecurity, or self-soothing
43. Rolling a pen between fingers: Nervousness, concentration, or impatience
44. Touching one's own chest: Self-assurance, self-soothing, or emphasis
45. Placing hands on the heart: Sincerity, self-assurance, or self-soothing
46. Adjusting a tie: Discomfort, self-consciousness, or formality
47. Scratching an arm: Discomfort, itchiness, or nervousness
48. Picking lint from clothing: Discomfort, self-consciousness, or perfectionism
49. Wringing hands: Anxiety, stress, or worry
50. Touching one's own face while talking: Self-soothing, concentration, or nervousness.
51. Rubbing the back of the neck: Tension, stress, or discomfort
52. Placing hands in pockets: Casualness, disinterest, or insecurity
53. Stretching the neck: Tension release, discomfort, or boredom
54. Clasping hands in front of the body: Nervousness, insecurity, or self-protection
55. Tapping feet: Restlessness, impatience, or nervous energy
56. Picking at fingernails: Nervousness, anxiety, or self-soothing
57. Rubbing one's own shoulder: Self-comfort, tension, or self-soothing
58. Fidgeting with a ring: Nervousness, self-soothing, or distraction
59. Tucking hair behind the ear: Flirtation, self-soothing, or habit
60. Playing with a watch: Nervousness, impatience, or self-soothing
61. Rubbing the knees: Discomfort, self-soothing, or tension release
62. Pressing the lips together: Suppressed emotions, disapproval, or frustration
63. Scratching the leg: Discomfort, itchiness, or nervousness
64. Covering the mouth while talking: Insecurity, deception, or self-soothing
65. Patting the stomach: Satisfaction, self-soothing, or habit
66. Tugging at shirt collar: Discomfort, nervousness, or heat
67. Swiping hands on pants: Nervousness, sweaty hands, or self-soothing
68. Rubbing the eyes: Fatigue, stress, or disbelief
69. Squeezing a stress ball: Tension release, nervousness, or self-soothing
70. Scratching the back: Discomfort, itchiness, or nervousness
71. Adjusting hair: Insecurity, self-consciousness, or habit
72. Pressing fingertips together: Thoughtfulness, concentration, or self-soothing
73. Flipping a coin: Restlessness, impatience, or decision-making
74. Tapping a pen against teeth: Nervousness, impatience, or deep thought
75. Zipping and unzipping a bag: Nervousness, impatience, or self-soothing
76. Touching one's own wrist: Self-soothing, flirtation, or insecurity
77. Rubbing the belly: Satisfaction, self-soothing, or habit
78. Fiddling with a paperclip: Nervousness, impatience, or distraction
79. Playing with a bracelet: Nervousness, self-soothing, or flirtation
80. Pacing back and forth: Nervousness, impatience, or deep thought
81. Touching one's own cheek: Self-soothing, contemplation, or flirtation
82. Rubbing the bridge of the nose: Frustration, stress, or concentration
83. Adjusting a wristwatch: Impatience, nervousness, or self-consciousness
84. Rubbing the back of the hand: Discomfort, self-soothing, or stress
85. Peeling a label off a bottle: Nervousness, anxiety, or distraction
86. Tugging at the ear: Uncertainty, indecision, or self-soothing
87. Touching the Chin: Thoughtfulness, contemplation, or insecurity
88. Tapping the side of the face: Impatience, nervousness, or deep thought
89. Fidgeting with keys: Restlessness, impatience, or anxiety
90. Squeezing a water bottle: Tension release, nervousness, or self-soothing
91. Rubbing hands on thighs: Anxiety, self-soothing, or discomfort
92. Touching the back of the head: Stress, frustration, or self-soothing
93. Clutching a purse or bag: Insecurity, self-protection, or nervousness
94. Stroking a beard or mustache: Thoughtfulness, contemplation, or self-soothing
95. Fidgeting with headphones: Nervousness, impatience, or distraction
96. Shaking a leg: Nervous energy, impatience, or restlessness
97. Pressing fingertips to the forehead: Frustration, concentration, or stress
98. Bouncing on the balls of the feet: Restlessness, impatience, or anticipation
99. Twiddling thumbs: Boredom, impatience, or nervous energy
100. Crumpling a piece of paper: Frustration, stress, or impatience

It's important to note that the meanings or impacts of adaptors can vary across individuals and cultural contexts. Personal habits and individual differences should also be considered when interpreting these nonverbal cues.