Thursday, July 25, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2470:
NYC Mayoral Candidate Anthony Weiner &
His Wife Huma Abedin - Body Language Tells, Part II
(Video, Photos)





Anthony Weiner's press conference given earlier this week, in which he addressed additional "sexting" incidences which occurred after his resignation from U.S. Congress in 2011. At the 0:48 mark, the New York City Mayoral candidate begins, "...While some of the things that were posted today are true and some are not, there is no question that what I did was wrong. This behavior is behind me. I've apologized to my wife, Huma and I'm grateful he has - she has worked through these issues with me and that I have her forgiveness..."

Just after he says, "... This behavior is behind me ..." (0:57 - 0:58), Huma Abedin displays an evanescent and subtle and partial near-microexpression (slightly longer in duration) of fear. This is characterized by a very brief tightening and lateral movement of the left corner of her mouth and cheek muscles along with a brief contraction and subsequent "tenting-up" of her neck muscles (sternocleidomastoid and platysma).

Ms. Abedin clearly has real fear that, the behavior in question is not limited to her husband's past.

It is a huge mistake when any apology is made to read from a script. Regardless of whether a teleprompter or paper is used, the act of reading always engenders a tone-of-voice and nonverbal displays that are not humble or heart-felt. However if the apology is genuine, and a person speaks with no script or memorization, their vocal quality and body language will naturally take on a sincere quality. Indeed, Mr. Weiner sounds and looks at times like a schoolmarm - as if he is admonishing someone else's bad behavior. Reading a script is nearly always an anathema to sincerity. Your goal is NOT to connect to your audience's intellect. In any apology, to any group of people, if you don't appeal and connect to their emotions' - you will fundamentally fail. The Nonverbal qualities that are visible to all during a sincere apology will build bridges like no script ever could. Crisis Management 101.

















Close up of Huma Abedin at 0:58 with neck muscle tightening and contraction of her left mouth corner and adjacent muscles of her left cheek.

This must be viewed in the dynamic context of the video to be fully appreciated.






See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2469:  Anthony Weiner, Huma Abedin and the NYC Mayoral Race  Body Language & the Five Burroughs, Part I

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2269:  Travis Tygart's (Chief Executive of U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) Body Language re: Lance Armstrong Doping on  "60 Minutes Sports" Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2050:  George Zimmerman's Interview on Fox -  Microexpression of Contempt and Duping Delight

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2316:  Jennifer Lawrence's Response to Her Oscar Stumble -  Silver Linings Body Language

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