Distancing, or moving our bodies away from another person while speaking shows dislike or disagreement with the speaker at some level. What most of us miss is when this happens to us. Distancing ourselves also includes placing objects (a purse, a file, etc.) between us and the other person or even turning our feet toward an exit. 

'All of these behaviors are controlled by the limbic brain and indicate that someone wants to distance themselves from a person or situation that is uncomfortable or a perceived threat.'

 

from "What Every Body Is Saying", by Joseph Navarro