Dr. Abbie Maroño

Body Language & Nonverbal Communication Expert

Dr. Abbie Maroño is a behavioral and social scientist based in Orlando, FL. She is acknowledged by the U.S. Department of State as a top 1% expert in her field and has delivered specialized behavioral analysis training to representatives from 29 U.S. federal agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security. Dr. Abbie is the creator of The Upper Hand, a proprietary framework for understanding human decision-making and influence. After delivering this training, the U.S. Secret Service recognized her expertise with an award for outstanding contribution to their forensic services. Dr Abbie earned her PhD in psychology from Lancaster University and became a Professor of Psychology at 23, now serving as Director of Education at Social-Engineer, LLC, specializing in behavior analysis. She contributes regularly to Forbes, Court TV, and Apple News and has been featured on BBC News, Fox News, WIRED, and Forbes Breaking News.

Education

Lancaster University, UK, PhD in Psychology

Professional Achievements

Top 1% Extraordinary Abilities in the Sciences, United States Department of State
Outstanding contribution to forensic services, United States Secret Service
Creator of The Upper Hand, a proprietary framework for understanding human decision-making and influence
Outstanding Reviewer Literati Award, Journal of Criminal Psychology
Highly sought-after expert witness, retained for high-profile cases, including lawsuits involving A-list celebrities

Favorite Piece of Advice

Every dream is achievable, but only if you’re willing to work for it and make the necessary sacrifices. Success isn’t magic, it’s math. You have to decide how much you want it compared to what you’re willing to give up for it. Once you know that, it’s about creating a plan, taking action, and being prepared for the opportunities you’re working toward.

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Forum Comments (1)

What should I say when asked "what are your salary expectations?"

Be confident but not dominant. Try to show them that you are collaborative but also stand your ground. Be patient, calm, and polite. This will ensure they are receptive to you.

Q&A Comments (1)

How do I greet someone I'm meeting for the first time?

The best way to start any first meeting is always with a smile. We actually make judgments about how trustworthy someone is in just 33 milliseconds. In less than a second of seeing someone’s face, our brain decides whether that person feels safe or not. So your smile really matters. When you give a genuine smile, it triggers oxytocin in the brain, which tells the body’s fight response, “Hey, this person’s safe, everything’s fine.” Smiling creates an instant sense of connection and trust.

Co-authored Articles (10)

What Does It Mean When Someone Puts Their Hands behind Their Back?

Breaking down the body language behind this common postureWhen someone puts their hands behind their back, it can be interpreted several different ways depending on the situation, who the person is, and how relaxed their...

How to

Read Body Language

Reading body language, or non-verbal cues, is a way to infer things about people you see around you or have interactions with. When you know how to do it, reading body language can tell you a lot about someone's feelings...

How to Improve Body Language to Send the Right Message

How open body language gets your point acrossWe all know just how important it is to choose your words wisely. But did you know that your body language, or non-verbal communication, is just as important? The mannerisms t...

How to

Roll Your Eyes

Rolling your eyes is a way to tell someone that you're annoyed or frustrated. It is a personal and sometimes provocative expression that you can use to great effect in social situations. The motion itself is simple, once...

How to Interpret Crossed Arms

Learn about the possible meanings of crossed arms in different contextsFrom crossed arms to furrowed brows, the majority of our communication is nonverbal, which means that knowing how to interpret body language is essen...

How to Interpret Someone’s Eye Expressions, Signals & Behavior

Plus, how to use your own eye "body language" to your advantage They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, hinting at our truest feelings and most private thoughts. But what do certain movements and gestures really m...

How to Hold Eye Contact and Keep a Confident Gaze

The basics of making, maintaining, and breaking eye contact Making eye contact is a lot trickier than it seems. The need for perfect timing can make eye contact a challenge. Too much eye contact can come across as aggres...

A Guide to the Different Types of Smiles & What They Really Mean

Learn which smiles convey happiness, attraction, & contemptWhile we tend to associate smiling with happiness, smiling is actually a complex gesture that can express a wide range of emotions like agreeableness, attraction...

How to

Read Others' Emotions

When it comes to communication, what you hear is only a fraction of what’s being said. Just like an iceberg, the majority of what’s being communicated lies below the surface. Reading people’s emotions is like a fin...

How to

Act Like You Are Very Social

Ever feel like people are more socially active than you? If yes, here are a few ways to act like you are very social.