‘Want to know how to recognize hostile body language when you see it? Here are all the warning signs that your bullies either want to or are about to physically attack you.
Most seasoned bullies seek to intimidate others by nonverbal means. Why? Because nonverbal bullying is subtle and least likely to be detected. This type of bullying can occur either at school, in the workplace, or even in the community.
Therefore, in this post, you will learn the subtlest of hostile body language so that you can be prepared when a bully gets ready to attack you.
Once you learn all about this life-saving information, you will be better prepared to defend yourself against any physical attack.
This post is all about how to recognize hostile body language so that you can fight back against physical bullying and ensure your safety.
Hostile Body Language
Before we get into the body language cues, let’s first talk about proxemics and zone distances. So, what is proxemics?
Proxemics is knowledge and study of personal space. In other words, it deals with the amount of space between you and other people. This amount of space between people is known as zone distance.
We practice different zone distances based on the relationship we have with the people in the room around us.
There are 4 different types of zone distances.
1. Intimate Zone
(6-18 inches) This distance between people is reserved for lovers, family, close friends, and pets. However, unwelcome bullies will move into your intimate zone when they’re feeling hostile toward you and are about to attack.
Anytime someone we don’t know, don’t trust or don’t like moves into this area, they are too close. Therefore, our minds and bodies automatically go into fight, flight or freeze mode.
Many bullies may also invade your intimate area only to toy with you and get you to react. Then, they’ll only step back and laugh at your reaction.
But do not ignore it! No matter how they do it, your bullies are still invading your space and you absolutely must set boundaries.
Call the bully out. Moreover, let them know that they are in your personal space and that what they’re doing isn’t acceptable.
If they still violate your space after you’ve told them not to, it’s time to fight. So, knock the living hell out of them and beat them so bad that they’ll think twice before doing it again.
2. Hostile body language:
Personal Zone
(18-48 inches) We stand this far apart at parties and social gatherings. If bullies stand in the personal zone, they are still too close. Don’t be afraid to tell them in no uncertain terms to back the hell up!
3. Social Zone
(4-12 feet) These distances, we stand from strangers, clerks, and delivery people. Bullies will easily be able to get away with standing at these distances from you.
Therefore, you might not want to respond if you don’t want to look unstable. However, do keep a close eye on your bully just in case they try to move closer!
4. Public Zone
(Over 12 feet) We stand at these distances when speaking publicly in front of an audience. Bullies can freely stand at these distances from you and not look conspicuous or threatening.
(Zone distances- “The Definitive Book of Body Language,” Allan and Barbara Pease – pp. 194-195; 2004)
Hostile Body Language:
Nonverbal Signals that a Bully is About to Attack You
If a bully is about to commit physical violence against you, you’ll know it by paying attention to their body language. Here is what bullies do when they are about to get physical.
1. They’ll get in your face.
Bullies are notorious for violating others’ personal space. They make it a point to get too close. Therefore, they’ll get in your face.
I want you to understand that bullies do this deliberately to intimidate and challenge you. Also, bullies may do this to dare you to hit them first.
Therefore, haul off and deck this person with every ounce of strength you have! This may sound old school or even barbaric to some people.
However, understand that there is no “nice” way to handle it when someone gets in your face. Bullies don’t respond to politeness or diplomacy. They only respond to strength and power.
Therefore, don’t be afraid to knock the hell out of anyone who gets in your face. Because you can best believe that if a bully gets in your face, their next move will be to put hands on you.
2. Hostile Body Language:
They’ll Stand too close behind you.
Bullies will walk up behind you and stand way too close. Moreover, they’ll stand so close that the front of their bodies are actually touching your back. There’s a name for this type of move. It’s called looming.
Understand that bullies purposefully crowd you to either intimidate you, challenge you or provoke you into a reaction. These violations are too blatant!
Therefore, see this for what it is, a violation of your personal space. Bullies are notorious for getting too close.
These types of bullies have unlimited audacity. They do not respect boundaries! With people who are bold and audacious, you must take a stand!
Never allow this type of behavior to go on. Why? Because they will only increase the behavior if you let them get away with it.
Again, understand that when the bully gets in your face or looms you from behind, he is trying to intimidate you or challenging you, looking to fight. So, do what you have to do to teach this idiot a lesson!
3. they’ll stand over you while you’re sitting down.
If you’re sitting, the bully or bullies will often stand over you to look bigger. They do this also to intimidate, challenge, or provoke you.
This is also a violation of your personal space. Moreover, it is a precursor to a physical attack. Therefore, you must beat them to it. Be quick about jumping up and knocking the holy hell out of them.
The only way to handle this type of bullying is to make them never want to try it again!
4. Hostile Body Language:
They may grab you like an object.
For example, a bully may give you a hard slap on the back. Moreover, they may grab you by the arm and lead you where they want them to go.
A bully may also physically move you to the side or shove past you. Understand that the bully intends to show you who’s in charge. Or they might want to compete with you.
The bully may also do these things to signal ownership of you. Yes, in the bully’s mind, he owns you. Therefore, the message is, “You’re mine, I own you, and I can do what I want with you.”
Again, if a bully just reaches out and grabs you, it’s time to haul off and knock somebody’s teeth down their throat! Remember that we teach others how to treat us by what we put up with.
Therefore, teach this bully that there are consequences for anyone who puts their hands on you! Give them the business end of your fist!
5. They’ll size you up.
Bullies also show hostility by sizing you up. They do this by directly facing you, clinching their fists and puffing out their chests.
Male bullies will snarl at their victims, whereas female bullies will glare at their targets with dirty looks. Clenching a jaw where the jaw is protruding outward is another sign of hostile intentions.
Bullies often glare at their targets persistently and intensely without blinking. Their faces turn red, and they will often stretch.
Therefore, these are sure signs that a bully wants to physically attack you and they will do it soon. Again. Do not ignore this!
6. Hostile Body Language:
They’ll give you the death glare.
Bullies will give you a murderous glare. Moreover, they’ll maintain that glare. This will be an unblinking and unwavering eye contact as they bore their eyes into you like a dagger. Also, they will do this without moving their heads.
That stare will make the hairs stand on the back of your neck. That creepy, bone-chilling look will make you stop whatever you are doing or clam up if you’re talking.
Moreover, they will look at you so intensely, making you feel as if you’re under a microscope. The person doing the staring will be eerily calm.
This is not to say that all staring is necessarily bad. For instance, if a person likes you and has feelings for you, they may also stare. Moreover, their pupils will dilate and crinkles will form around the eyes every time they look at you.
However, the look bullies give you is much different. Their pupils only constrict, becoming tiny black holes in the irises of their eyes.
Moreover, the stare is a cold, prolonged “I’m going to kill you” look which stops you cold. This is the best way I can describe it.
However, the trick is to not let this glare intimidate you. You must realize that bullies pull this number to either challenge or intimidate you.
Therefore, return the stare and the bully will likely go away.
7. They will flare their nostrils at you.
You’ve seen the nostrils of a bull flair when the animal is about to charge a matador. It’s the same with bullies.
The nostrils flair to take in extra oxygen needed for a possible physical attack. When a bully does this, he’s hostile. Therefore, when a person’s nostrils flair at you, look out!
Why? Because it is a sign the bully is about to physically attack you. Keep your eyes peeled and be prepared to throw up your dukes and defend yourself.
8. Hostile Body Language:
The bully’s toes will point toward you.
This is known as the toe-point. Again, you must pay attention to the whole body to get an accurate reading.
The toes always point to where the person wants to go. If a person likes you and enjoys your company, their toes will always point in your direction.
If the person doesn’t like you or is afraid of you, they will want to get away from you. Therefore, their toes will always point away from you.
However, if a bully wants to attack you, their toes will also point in your direction. You’ll know the difference by the other cues their body will give you. It pays to observe and be prepared.
9. They will invade your privacy.
Bullies will very carefully observe you. Also, they’ll eavesdrop on your conversations and listen for intimate details. Why?
So they can take the private info and spread it to make you look bad. They may also read your diary to find out your deepest, darkest secrets.
Again, they want to use the info to damage your reputation. Moreover, bullies may even follow you to see where you go and who you associate with.
If you are a victim of bullying, understand that bullies do this on purpose. They invade your privacy to intimidate or dominate you.
Therefore, you must protect not only your physical and mental health from bullies but also your personal space and territory.
Never be afraid to call the bully out if they violate either one!
9. Hostile Body Language:
Bullies will deliberately knock stuff out of your arms or off your desk as they walk by.
This is a clear provocation to fight. Why? Because they’re daring you to do something about it. Therefore, do what you must do to impose consequences. Call them out on their bad behavior even if you must raise your voice and say, “Cut it out!” or “You stop that right now!”
10. They will pinch their chin.
Bullies may look at you while pinching their chin. They pinch their chin to release the hostile thoughts without acting on them.
In other words, it is a way to hold back the urge to physically attack you.
Therefore, understand that when a bully looks at you and pinches any part of the face, this signals the bully’s secret wish to harm you.
11. Bullies will clinch their jaw.
When they look at you and clinch the jaws, the bully is gritting their teeth and hiding it. Therefore, when this happens, you’ll notice the jaws protruding outward.
The bully either pulls this move to intimidate or in preparation for a fight. Again, this is a sign of a possible physical attack. Don’t ignore. Stay vigilant.
12. Hostile Body Language:
They’ll look at you and pound their fist into something.
Another sign of hostility as when a bully looks at you, then pounds a fist into a tabletop, wall or the palm of his/her opposite hand.
You must realize that any object the bully pounds is only a substitute for your physical body.
Moreover, girls and women will often bite their lip, suck on the inside of their jaw or chew the inside of the mouth while looking at you.
Again, be prepared.
13. Bullies will clinch their fists.
Clinching their fists is another sign that they want to physically attack you. Therefore, always be ready just in case they do.
14. They will do what is known as Mock Fighting.
When a bully mock fights, they will look at you while, throwing punches in the air. The bully will also dance around like a boxer as he does this.
You must realize that he is doing these things to show you what he wants to do to you. I can’t stress this enough. Be on the lookout.
15. Hostile Body Language:
Snarling and Baring teeth.
This is a no-brainer. It’s a clear sign of a coming physical attack. Also, bullies do this to intimidate you. Therefore, don’t let it scare you.
Instead, just stand there and glare at them when they do this. And don’t look away. Keep glaring until the bully breaks eye contact.
Never be the one to break eye contact first. Stare the bully down and maintain that stare until the bully gives up.
The point is to show the bully that they don’t scare you. Also, it pays to be prepared and alert.
The bully may also look at you while frowning and pursing their lips. Therefore, mirror the same expression back to them. Again, don’t be the first to look away. Maintain eye contact until they give up.
16. The bully will step back with their dominant foot.
This is when the bully faces you and steps back with their dominant leg. Boxers in the ring do this just before putting up their dukes!
Therefore, knock the hell out of them before they do it to you. Because stepping back on the dominate leg always, ALWAYS, signals coming physical violence. So, deliver an earth-shattering punch to destabilize the bully.
Then keep punching them until they’re on the floor.
17. Hostile Body Language:
They will accidentally (on purpose) run into you or trip you.
You’ll automatically know when this is no accident. Therefore, deck the bully in the nose and there won’t be a next time.
This post was all about hostile body language so that you will know it when you see it and either prepare yourself or address it accordingly.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. Non Verbal Bullying: Hostile Body Language Head to Toe
2. Examples of Non Verbal Bullying
4. Physical Bullying: Should You Hit Back?
5. Setting Boundaries: 3 Powerful Practices to Hold Your Ground
