💪
Shouldershigh reliabilityobvious

Shoulder Shrug

Brief raising of both shoulders, often with palms up.

UncertaintySubmissionDisengagement

Visual Description

Both shoulders rise briefly, often with raised eyebrows and upturned palms.

Duration: momentaryVisibility: obvious

How to Observe

  • Watch for asymmetry - possible deception tell
  • Full cluster (hands, face) is more reliable
  • Timing matters - with speech or after

Context Matters

  • •Universal gesture for "I don't know"
  • •Asymmetric shrug suggests deception
  • •Full shrug involves hands, shoulders, eyebrows
  • •Partial shrug may indicate uncertainty about statement

Common Misinterpretations

  • âš Asymmetric shrug is key tell
  • âš May indicate indifference, not ignorance
  • âš Can be dismissive

Quick Info

Primary Signal
Uncertainty
Body Region
💪Shoulders
Reliability
high
Duration

momentary

Visibility

obvious

Associated Emotions