Body Language Expert Decodes Arie and Lauren B.
Body language can reveal many truths about relationships - but only if you know how to read it. In Celebrity Couples: Decoded, an expert interprets A-listers' interactions to shed light on their IRL dynamic.
WARNING: This post contains spoilers about the season finale of The Bachelor's 22 season.
During the finale of The Bachelor's 22nd season, which aired March 5, Arie Luyendyk Jr., 36, proposed to Minnesota publicist Becca Kufrin, 27, before - SPOILER! - flip-flopping to pursue runner-up Lauren Burnham, 25, a tech salesperson from Virginia:
Arie's change of heart didn't exactly surprise Blanca Cobb, a North Carolina-based body-language expert who recently analyzed Arie and Becca's most intimate on-screen moments. "It's like there are two different Aries when you look at him with each woman," she says.
Ahead of After the Final Rose, which airs March 6 at 8 p.m. EST on ABC, Cobb explains what the bachelor's interactions with Lauren say about their relationship:
Arie mansplains bowling to Lauren.
"You do not need to put your hand on a person's hip to show them how to bowl," Cobb says of the way Arie initiates unnecessary PDA here. "You only touch this area, which I call the pleasure zone, when you're attracted to someone." Letting Arie go there suggests Lauren trusts him and feels comfortable being close to him, according to Cobb.
Arie and Lauren walk hand in hand.
Although Arie has his right hand in his pocket, which could be a sign of discomfort in some contexts, the behavior appears to be part of his baseline rather than a deviation from the norm, according to Cobb. (She's seen the bachelor walk like this before when strolling beside Becca, although he looked down or straight ahead instead of making eye contact with her.)
But here, Arie looks right at Lauren with a genuine smile - a sign he's enjoying her company and is interested in maintaining their connection, according to Cobb. She also notes the way Lauren flirtatiously brushes hair away from her face, even though it doesn't appear to be obstructing her vision. What's more, she adds, holding hands with fingers interlocked showcases their intimate bond, since the grip is a way to maximize skin contact. And see the way the couple lets their arms swing between them while walking? There's no hint of stiffness. This suggests they're super comfortable together, Cobb says.
Arie comforts Lauren.
In this scene, Arie wraps his arms around Lauren when he notices her mind wandering elsewhere. He uses his left hand to grace her left thigh and his right hand to caress her leg. The skin-to-skin contact isn't exactly sexual: "He's doing it to reassure her and bring her back to the moment," Cobb says. "It's like he's saying, 'I don't want to let go of you' - that the way she feels is important to him."
Meanwhile, Lauren drapes her right arm across Arie's lap, caressing his outer thigh. "There's no tension in her fingers or on her face, which you would see in someone who doesn't want to be touched," Cobb says. "Her body seems to be present in the moment, regardless of what's on her mind."
Lauren and Arie kiss.
Here, Arie wraps his left arm around Lauren's shoulder, bringing her closer as they kiss. Even his feet are angled in her direction, suggesting he's super into her in this moment, Cobb says. Lauren is right there with him: She reinforces his touch by using her left hand to cover his right hand on her neck. Lauren is also crossing her legs toward Arie, leaning forward, and planting her right hand just above his knee. "Their body language and the way their eyes are closed means they're in the moment and feeling a connection," Cobb says.
Lauren and Arie exchange "I love you"s.
The morning after their first sleepover, Arie tells Lauren, "I love you," and she responds, "I love you too." Although Arie would often stick a stiff, clamped hand behind Becca's head when they kissed, Cobb points out the way Arie's hands are more engaged during kisses with Lauren: He plays with her hair and caresses her cheek. "He's showing his emotions through his fingers," she says.
Even though their kisses are prolonged, Cobb can't help but notice they don't appear to use tongue, which typically signifies passion. "There could be a million reasons why they don't, like the presence of cameras, which can make people uncomfortable," she says.
Even more telling, in the context of this embrace and its timing, is the way Lauren and Arie mimic each other's body language: Although the morning after sleeping next to a new partner can be awkward, Lauren and Arie look perfectly at ease, Cobb says. They each bend one knee, and they lean toward one another. "When you have an emotional connection, your bodies tend to synchronize and subconsciously mirror each other in a sign of connectedness," Cobb says.
The Bottom Line:
"Only time will tell whether any couple will last, but Lauren and Arie look like they're off to a good start," Cobb says. "They appear to have physical chemistry, enjoy each other's company, and be playful with one another. These are good signs at the beginning of any relationship. I'm just surprised Arie proposed to Becca!"
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