Decoding the Clenched JawWhy a tight expression means it's time to pause.

From the show

Reading People Signals

Recognizing a tense jaw can help you de-escalate difficult conversations. This involuntary physical response is a key signal that someone is holding back strong emotions like stress or anger. Part of the body's fight-or-flight mechanism, this nonverbal cue often indicates that a person feels powerless or overwhelmed. Learning to spot it offers a chance to pause a tense situation before it intensifies, rather than pushing forward.