Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2551: Marina Shifrin, Woman from "I Quit" Viral Video gets Job Offer from Queen Latifah (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

You may have heard - Marina Shifrin quit her job last week. She did it in a very creative way - an interpretive dance to Kanye West's "Gone" filmed at work in the wee hours of the morning. She posted the video on YouTube and it went viral. She's up to 15 million views (see below). Her sudden fame has caught her in a bit of a surprise though. Few go from relative obscurity to multiple national T.V. interviews overnight.

The beautiful and talented comedian and writer was offered a job recently during a guest appearance on Queen Latifah's show. A portion of this interview is shown above and some of her body language is critiqued below.

In this moment (0:53) Marina is shown displaying three very common MAPs (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) - a form of self. Her across-the-chest shoulder scratch is a truncated and transient form of a hands-folded across the chest. It connotes a higher anxiety, less-assertive, beta emotional tone. Queen Latifah has just offered her a job and Marina, in disbelief asks, "Are you doing a standup joke right now? I mean...?" At this same time she has also momentarily shifted to a lower-confidence mindset. Her second MAP is her right hand is between legs with fingers wrapped partially beneath her left thigh. This is another nervous and demure nonverbal signal.

What is her third MAP? Does it have the same significance?

Somewhat earlier in this same interview (0:37), Marina is configured in a form of a "Seated Fig Leaf". This occurs just after she jokingly asks, "Are you hiring?" More often seen in the standing position, this body language is another low confidence, beta configuration.

It is important to note that even alpha, outgoing and assertive personalities will, on occasion display beta body language indicators. Even experienced actors and musicians who are accustomed to being on camera will do so. When these and other similar signals are displayed chronically however, they are indicators of their over-all personality. 


Here is her "I Quit" Video. If you've not seen it, it's worth watching. She's got moves.




See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2522: Jake Gyllenhaal and Jimmy Kimmel, Part II,  Body Language and Anxiety in Hollywood

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2427:  Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik -  Body Language & Beta Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2484:  Projecting Weakness Where Strength is Needed  William Burns, Bernardino Leon & Egyptian Interim Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2519:  Vladimir Putin Speaks Syria, Chemical Weapons and Disarmament - Body Language just after his New York Times Op-Ed

Nonverbal Communication Test No. 2465:  Barack Obama's Comments on  Trayvon Martin & George Zimmerman Body Language & Sincerity 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2351: Mila Kunis on Graham Norton Body Language, Sitting and being "Emotionally Comfortable

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2534: Bill and Hillary are going to be Grandparents; President Clinton's Body Language is Telling Us that Chelsea is Pregnant 

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