Repeating

Techniques > Use of body language > Core patterns > Repeating

Pattern | Found in | Discussion | See also

Pattern

Sometimes people repeat actions, such as tapping, waving, or otherwise moving one way, then the other way then back again and so forth.

Nodding or shaking the head.
Tapping the teeth.
Waggling the eyebrows.
Swinging the arms.
Clapping of hands.
Waving with hands.
Drumming of fingers.
Swinging or bouncing a leg.
Tapping of feet.
Rubbing the body in various places.
Waving the body back and forth.
Stroking various parts of the body.

Found in

Discussion

When a person is bored, they seek other things to do and a repetitive movement can provide a simple distraction. The stimulation of movement may also be seen in dancing and moving along to music. Curiously, repetition leads to a trance state which can be pleasurable, and which may explain why some people repeat actions.

When they are irritated and impatient, their start to feel tense and would perhaps like to hit someone. This often gets displaced into tapping of fingers or feet.

Moving the body in repetitive patterns may also be a part of a specific signal, such as nodding the head in agreement or clapping the hands in approval.