What are some basic hand gestures?

Some basic hand gestures include rubbing the palms together, clenching the hands together and having the tips of the fingers of both hands meet to create a steeple shape. These gestures are often used to express nonverbal emotions, whether consciously or unconsciously.

Rubbing the palms together is a gesture that is often used to express positive expectation. Some researchers have concluded that when a person clenches the hands together, it is an expression of frustration or suppressing the expression of a more obvious negative emotion. Speakers who hold their hands in a steeple shape are said to be expressing confidence when they are speaking or listening.