Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2404: Internal Lip Roll and other Body Language associated with Suppression of Sadness

Recently (18 May 2013) U.S. Airways Express Flight 4560 made an emergency landing at Newark International Airport. The landing gear failed to deploy properly so the pilot was forced to make a flawless "belly landing" with no gear. Very fortunately there were no injuries.

Linda Demarest, one of the 31 passengers on board was interviewed in the above video. Noteworthy are several body language signals. One of these is what is known as an "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR). The inward lip roll is a sign that the mind is trying to dampen an escalation of strong emotions. Most commonly these are anger and sadness; however other emotions such as joy/happiness (partial suppression of laughter) and disgust can co-exist with an ILR.

In this partial display of an ILR, the lips are not fully rolled inward. Note the wrinkling of the chin as well.

In this more complete ILR, there is concomitant downward directing of the corners of Ms. Demarest's mouth. Also very typical for sadness display is the simultaneous contraction of her central forehead as well as her downward direction of her eyebrows and more pronounced chin wrinkling.

Other body language very common with higher emotional displays of sadness is her looking down and away as well as her significant shifting (squirming) and repositioning in her chair.

In the context of a controlled crash landing and the recall of such dramatic events, we are not surprised by Linda's emotional display. Yet very often more subtle examples of these and other nonverbals are seen in the every day and missed - by the educated, successful and by those who believe themselves observant.

What other body language was present in this video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2393:  Cleveland Kidnapper Ariel Castro's daughter Angie Gregg -  Body Language of Sincere Emotional Pain & Empathy

Negotiation Secret # 171: A Subtle Sign of Sadness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2053:  Strong Signal of Fear-Sadness Anxiety -  Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2365:  Lindsey Vonn & Tiger Woods - Body Language at the Masters

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2374:  Tom Cruise on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Body Language of Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2268:  Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kathryn Bigelow & Jessica Chastain - Body Language at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2403: Central Forehead Contraction - The Grief Muscle, Eyes Wide Open, False Mastication & Oklahoma Tornado Survivors

My deep condolences to those who lost loved-ones today in the Moore, Oklahoma Tornado.

Jennifer and Todd Tabor are two survivors of Monday's powerful storm which took a very similar path as the 1999 Tornado (which had the highest wind speed in history ever measured on Earth at 318 mph/512 kph). At the time of this post, there have been at least 51 fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

In the video above during the 1:14 - 1:21 segment, the couple displays several telling body language signals during this time of extreme stress:

Note that Todd's eye lids are opened wider than normal. This is a nonverbal signal that he is feeling fear (What other emotions are consistent with eyes that are widely opened?). He can also be seen moving his jaw in a chewing motion. This false mastication (or false chewing) is a common finding in high anxiety scenarios (sometimes seen with anger). Mr. Tabor displays this repeatedly and is very easily visualized in the dynamics of the video.

Jennifer Tabor's central forehead is contracted (CFC) and together with her frown (which is even superimposed over her speech) constitute a common expression of grief. The central forehead is actively contracted during times of physical or emotional pain - either felt directly or secondarily via empathy for other people or animals. In these contexts the CFC should always be accompanied by a congruent mouth expression (never with even a momentary trace of a smile).

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2084:  Lolo Jones's False Mastication/Jaw Clenching

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1522:  False Mastication in Court - Alicia DeBolt and  Adam Longoria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1876:  Noomi Rapace's Anxiety & False Mastication

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2238:  Sandy Hook Elementary Teacher Lauren Rousseau's  Boyfriend's Body Language - Grief & Suppression of Negative Emotions & Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229:  President Obama and a Body Language Signal of  Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions

Relationship Secret # 33:  Grief and Affection in Japan

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2274:  The Eyes & Mouth of Fear - Body Language of Ahmed Dogan during Attempted Assassination

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2402: Partial & Subtle Expressions of Fear - Young Girls Saved From Drowning by Man & his Dog (Video)

A couple months ago six year old Krymzen Sunshine and her ten year old sister Samara broken through the ice and would have drowned if it were not for the heroics of Edmonton's Adam Shaw and his dog Rocky. Adam pulled Krymzen out of the icy North Saskatchewan River and moment later when the current had taken Samara down river and further out - Rocky went in to save her as well.

The story is reported in the video above. There is a great nonverbal example of a subtle and partial display of fear as Edmonton Fire Chief Ken Block thinks of & feels about the very close call and near-drowning of Samara and Krymzen.

Longer in duration than a microexpression, however just as reliable of a nonverbal signal - the left corner of Chief Block's mouth pulls back and slightly down as he re-lives the close call in his mind and expresses the emotion of fear. Captured in this still image, this facial expression occurs several times during the 1:55 - 2:04 segment of the video above.

A split second after the above image, Ken Block's mouth is still displaying this partial (left side only) and subtle (not fully expressed) example of a "Mouth of Fear" (1:57. Clustered along with this is a slightly prolonged blink (extended bilateral eyelid closure) which signifies that his psyche is trying to wipe the negative image of two drowned little girls from his mind's eye. Intellectually he knows this hasn't happened, but because he's seen similar disasters before, such an scenario is strong in his mind and this psychological blocking behavior helps to erase the negative emotional tone.

Three cheers for Adam Shaw and Rocky!

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2344:  Jillian Michaels Body Language - Neck of Fear & Mouth of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2338:  Why Does Keit Pentus-Rosimannus feel Fear?  Body Language of Estonia's Minister of Environment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2381:  Jessica Paré of Mad Men on Jimmy Fallon  Body Language of Mrs. Don Draper

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2297:  Rooney Mara on Conan O'Brien  Common Body Language Tell  Fear Apology Query Expression-Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2031:  Tina Fey arriving at Alec Baldwin's Wedding,  Fear-Empathy with a (partial) Sincere Smile - Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2306:  George W. Bush trapped in Room - Body Language's Microexpression of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2274:  The Eyes & Mouth of Fear -  Body Language of Ahmed Dogan during  Attempted Assassination

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2401: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Denies Crack Cocaine Allegations Is He Telling the Truth? His Body Language says ....

Although it has not yet surfaced yet, a phone video of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford allegedly smoking crack cocaine exists. Staff of the Toronto Star has purportedly viewed it and feel it is authentic. The person possessing the video reportedly wants tens of thousands of dollars in exchange for the video.

The video above shows Mayor Rob Ford denying the allegations. Regardless of whatever words the "script" or "memo" he is holding contains, no innocent man needs a script to declare his innocence. Deception needs to memorize. Truth speaks from the heart. From a nonverbal standpoint, his memo serves much the same function as a young child's blanket. It is a MAP surrogate (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) and is a strong signal of high anxiety in this context. MAP surrogates are slightly more refined forms of self-touching.

His body language also betrays the lie as evidenced by the Mayor's relative lack of eye contact. Both in extended looking at his memo and prolonged looking down at noise on the floor provide subconscious excuses for looking away - and down - from his audience. We don't need to see the video. Rob Ford is guilty of smoking crack cocaine.

What other nonverbal signals demonstrate Mr. Ford is lying? Asking for forgiveness? Frightened?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2377:  Coachella 2013 & Lie Witness News  Hilarious and a Valuable Body Language Lesson

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2328:  Senator Rand Paul's Body Language -  Pens, Lies and Filibusters -  Finger to Mouth Surrogates

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2156:  Barack Obama's Body Language at Al Smith Charity Dinner -  Comedy, White Lies and Facial Touching MAPs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2364:  Kim jong-un Tells a Lie to His Generals  North Korea, Body Language and Third Rate Vetting

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1962:  Mimi Beardsley Alford is Telling the Truth about John Kennedy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033:  Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2400: One Way Deception be Minimized in the Court Room - O.J. Simpson's in Court

In his prime, O.J. Simpson was 6'2" (188 cm), and although he's probably a bit shorter now at 65 years old, he is still considerably taller than average yet the witness stand in covers most of his body (in front and left side up to his mid-chest level and on his right side, facing the Judge, up to the level of his shoulder). The structure and exact dimensions of witness stands varies somewhat throughout the U.S. and of course in other countries. It would behoove the legal system to construct witness stands such that they afford a 360 degree unobstructed view of anyone who testifies.

There is a substantial increase in the ability of a witness (or anyone) to tell a convincing lie the more he/she is covered - as is O.J.. However if those bearing witness were even considering telling a lie, they would be much less likely to attempt to do so if the witness stand offered an unencumbered view of them. Moreover the juries (whom almost never have had any nonverbal communication training) are much more likely to detect perjury if they had such a clear view of the witness.

What if O.J. were a 5'1" (155 cm) woman? Even accounting for height adjustment on a chair, we would see even less of such a witness.

In this brief video segment, O.J. Simpson's hands are visible only once. If most of his statements were true we should see his hands making such "illustrators" more often. Moreover we miss valuable information (again, even from the untrained observer's point of view) when we cannot see what the witnesses hands are doing at other times. A complete view of the entire individual would best engender honesty in court room. This is a scientific certainty - so why then is it not standard practice?

What other signals of deception and/or anxiety do you see in this video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2310:  Oscar Pistorius' Body Language in Court - Part II  Central Forehead Contraction, Frown & Pupil Dilation ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2307:  Oscar Pistorius in Court, Body Language and the Bilateral Eye Cover 

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1522:  False Mastication in Court - Alicia DeBolt and  Adam Longoria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2320:  Estonian Skier Andrus Veerpalu  Denies Performance Enhancing Drugs - What his Body Language Tells Us

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2394:  Three Brothers from Cleveland  Onil, Pedro and Ariel Castro -  Kidnapping, Innocence, Guilt & Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2399: Matthew McConaughey on David Letterman and a Very Common Body Language Tell

Recently Matthew McConaughey appeared on David Letterman to promote his new movie "Mud". Despite the fact that he is a very talented and accomplished actor, when he is on camera in an interview - he still feels anxiety. This is demonstrated multiple times in the video clip above. Below are just some examples.

At four different times Mr. McConaughey twists his two rings. On the first two occasions these are concommittant with him discussing his children (1:11 - 1:13) or his children & his wife (2:53 - 3:03, possibly extending to 3:09). Both of these times Mr. McConaughey twists his wedding ring (left ring finger, pictured below). This is an example of a MAP surrogate (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) and is a nonverbal indicator of anxiety. In particular twisting the wedding ring displays a higher levels of anxiety compared with a ring on any other finger. A wedding ring is of course a visual metaphor for and highly congruent with wife and family.

On the other two occasions where Matthew turns his ring, it involved the ring finger of his right hand - also indicative of anxiety - but at a significantly lower level. The subjects about which he was speaking were the setting of his new movie - rural Arkansas (5:50 - 5:55) and upon seeing a tape of Matt Damon perform his impression of him (McConaughey) and then throughout more verbal description and movie trailer setup (7:45 - 8:12).

Mr. McConaughey's body language shows he places a higher value on, and has significant more anxiety for his family than the other subjects discussed.

What other significant nonverbal tells do you see in this video?

If professional actors who are used to being in front of the camera give away such information, how much of an open book are you?

See also:

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 333:  A Common False Diagnosis:  The Asymmetrical Sincere but Suppressed Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2368:  John Kerry & Xi Jinping in Beijing to Discuss North Korea - Body Language of Anxiety & Assertiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2293:  Eric Cantor, the New House GOP Agenda and  One Body Language Signal that  A Leader should NEVER display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2395:  Carey Mulligan on Jimmy Fallon  on The Great Gatsby & Acting with Leonardo DiCaprio 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2289:  Sen. Lindsey Graham grills Chuck Hagel - Body Language at Senate Confirmation Hearings

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2328:  Senator Rand Paul's Body Language -  Pens, Lies and Filibusters - Finger to Mouth Surrogate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2379:  Bill Clinton's Speech at the George W. Bush Presidential Library Opening - Body Language of Former and Current President

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2398: Self Righteous Head Wiggle, Alpha Behavior & First Drone Flight Off of an Aircraft Carrier (Video)

Yesterday the first drone (UAV) took off from the deck of an aircraft carrier (U.S.S. George H.W. Bush). This represents a dramatic evolution in warfare and air flight in general. There is a small segment of the video above wherein Rear Admiral Ted Branch speaks. He is proud of the Navy's achievement and it clearly shows in a nonverbal example - the "Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" (SRHW). This body language is a common subconscious (99.9+% of the time) display of nonverbal swagger. Conscious examples of the SRHW are dramatically exaggerated and thus are easily spotted. 

The self-righteous head wiggle is comprised of a relatively rapid side-to-side movement of the head & neck. The example in the video above (during 0:38 - 0:48) however demonstrates a greater component of the torso & shoulder movement (typically a minor part of this nonverbal cluster). There is even sometimes a similar component of jaw movement (very slight here).

The SRHW is displayed in people who feel they are a relative alpha in their environment accompanied by a highly definitive verbal statement (Here, Admiral Branch says, "...it's a, a marker for a line between naval aviation as we've known it and the future of naval aviation with the launch of the X-47B ...").

Although neither is present in this example, two possible additional nonverbals include a superimposed forward vector (in addition to the side-to-side motion) - which often accompanies a reprimand/scolding scenario, whereas a backward motion overlying the SRHW adds a layer of incredulity.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2148:  Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan and the "Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" in the Vice Presidential Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2167:  Colin Powell Endorses President Obama - His Body Language Display of Anxiety, Contempt & the  Self-Righteous Head Wiggle

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1552:  The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle & The Buffett Rule

Nonverbal Communication Intelligence # 2113:  Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran, the U.S. and the  Self-Righteous Head Wiggle

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1923:  Hillary Clinton's Body Language re: Syrian Government - The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2102:  The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle and the  Conventional Steeple vs.Basketball Steeple

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2158:  Kennebunk Maine, Alexis Wright, Prostitution &  Spotting the Body Language of the Self Righteous

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2397: Angelina Jolie on Motherhood & Her Own Mom Body Language Tells .... (Video) (Pictures)

Today it was revealed through an op-ed written by Angelina Jolie in the New York Times, that she has recently undergone a bilateral mastectomy in an effort to prevent breast cancer. Jolie was told that her chances of acquiring the disease was 87% and electing to have the surgery performed has reduced her chances to 5%. This cancer association is correlated strongly with the BRCA1 & BRCA2 genes, which also carries with them a 50% chance of ovarian cancer. Jolie's mother, actress and producer Marcheline Bertrand died of ovarian cancer at the age of 56 in 2007.

In the above video, a 60 minutes interview from 2011(short and highly edited), Jolie speaks about motherhood, her own mom - and about the idea of her eventually giving up acting. Some of her body language displays are discussed below.

This expression in context is known as R2E2 which is an abbreviation for the "Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression". This nonverbal can be seen in the above video at the 0:48 - 0:49 mark. It is commonly mistaken by many body language beginners as a disgust - and indeed may look very similar or identical to it - which necessitates the context of video and/or direct experience. 

This body language-facial expression is a signal that a person is trying to rationalize or get another person to co-rationalize an idea, action, plan etc with them. Those who make this are not always completely confident of what they are saying and may very well be attempting to recruit their audience (even if it's just one person of course) to have empathy for their point of view. It can also be a subconscious signal that its user is trying to engender rapport. It often is clustered with an increase in the volume, pitch and rate of speech (paralanguage signals which she exemplifies here too). There is also very commonly a leaning forward of the the head, neck, torso as well as a reaching towards or often a touching of the person with whom they are speaking on their arm, arm, elbow or shoulder. These other verbal and paralanguage qualities serve as amplifiers of the R2E2. In this video Ms. Jolie shifts slightly in her chair with a subtle forward movement of her head, shoulder/torso.

Later, at 1:46, Angelina displays a body language cluster consistent with sincerity, vulnerability and affection - with a bilateral eye closed simultaneous with a head tilt. Here, the object of her affection is her mother. This occurs while the actress is fighting back tears. Take note also that her head tilt is towards the other person.




What would you think her nonverbal signals would indicate if her eyes did not close? What if her head & neck tilted away from the other person?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2193:  Keira Knightley interview re: "Anna Karenina" - Body Language of "R2E2" Facial Expression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2341:  Angela Bassett Interview - Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression  R2E2, Body Language & "Olympus has Fallen"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1732:  Rationalization, Rapport, Empathy Expression & How Jewel got her name

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2097:  Mitt Romney's "No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate" defense - Body Language of Rationalization, Rapport and Empathy

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 353:  Brad Pitt's Smiling Eyes - Sincere and Insincere Smiles

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2396: Ariel Castro Caught on Dash-Cam in a Traffic Stop in 2008 - Body Language of Self-Disgust, Anxiety & Emotional Dissonance (Video) (Photos)

Above is an excerpt of a video from a police officer's dash-cam taken when Ariel Castro was pulled over in June of 2008. Below are some interesting nonverbal tells.

Here Ariel Castro shuffles sideways towards the police officer. He doesn't want to face the officer. Castro wants to get out of there, but he can't. His feet (and his psyche) are in emotional dissonance.

This is particularly suspicious.

In this image, Castro's hands are in fingers forward (thumbs backwards) arms akimbo configuration. This is most often an alpha nonverbal, however when the head & neck are flexed forward, it is either a body language signal of fatigue (e.g. Used by athletes at end of sporting events) or as it is in this example - indicative of self-disgust.

Castro is very much scolding himself here.

Here Ariel Castro's arms are in a variation of the "Fig Leaf" formation - indicating a beta, demure, low confidence emotional tone. And while in other contexts it shows respect (e.g. funerals, ceremonies, religious events, etc.) here the grabbing of his wrist indicates a particularly heightened fear to his anxiety (as opposed to the more typical loose hand-in-hand display).

An unusual place to groom oneself, while at a gas pump, in public, at a gas pump and waiting on a police officer with a possible arrest (with three women and a little girl locked up in his house), this out-of-context self-preening is strongly consistent with heightened anxiety.

Mr. Castro shows us additional anxiety with more grooming/self-preening with a pulling up of his pants and a front & back shirt adjust in this image.










What other body language tells do you see in this interview?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2259:  Game Show Killer Rodney Alcala Gets Two More Sentences - His Body Language Warning Signs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2374:  Tom Cruise on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Body Language of Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1808: Time Magazine's  Breast Feeding, Dr. William Sears, and Attachment Parenting Controversy - Shows Emotional Dissonance at Best

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2271:  Golden Globe Awards - Best Original Song Adele & Taylor Swift - both Nominated, One Winner - One Body Language of Sincerity & Another of Contempt then a Suppressed Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2394:  Three Brothers from Cleveland  Onil, Pedro and Ariel Castro -  Kidnapping, Innocence, Guilt & Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2393:  Cleveland Kidnapper Ariel Castro's daughter Angie Gregg -  Body Language of Sincere Emotional Pain & Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2390:  Charles Ramsey Interview & Cleveland Kidnappings -  Sarcastic Disbelief, Disgust and Exclamation

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231:  A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2395: Carey Mulligan on Jimmy Fallon on The Great Gatsby & Acting with Leonardo DiCaprio

Carey Mulligan who plays Daisy Buchanan in the most recent rendition of "The Great Gatsby" is featured recently on Late Night Jimmy Fallon. She is a very talented actress, yet of course she is human. Her body language betrays her true emotions - as it also does for those of us who do not act professionally for a living (However acting transpires all around us - and constantly. How good are you at spotting it?). Her anxiety is demonstrated by a number of nonverbal tells here. One way the beautiful actress displays this is exampled in the repeated MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) of her rubbing her thighs & her knees (e.g. 0:30 - 0:42). At other times she can be seen rubbing the arm of her chair (e.g. 0:17 - 0:19). This is a type of "MAP surrogate", where an object is substituted for part of the body. Such surrogate self-touching is indeed a similar behavior and although slightly masked, it is also indicative of significant anxiety.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2289:  Sen. Lindsey Graham grills Chuck Hagel - Body Language at Senate Confirmation Hearings

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2349:  Barack Obama, The Miami Heat & Chicago Bulls -  POTUS's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1918:  Vladimir Putin - Pointing with Pen Surrogates - Sharp vs. Blunt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2313:  Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel -  What Her Body Language Tells Us ... 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2328:  Senator Rand Paul's Body Language -  Pens, Lies and Filibusters -  Finger to Mouth Surrogates

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2385:  Hillary Clinton & Henry Kissinger at  Atlantic Council's Leadership Awards  Her Body Language Betrays Anxiety at a Key Moment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2294:  Girl's Comments & Gesture Gets her Increased Punishment -  Multiple Body Language Tells in Florida Courtroom


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