Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3054: Rory McIlroy laughs off "Sweet Caroline" tune (But Not Memories of Wozniacki) - Blushing, Smiling, Sincerity and Empathy (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Rory McIlroy recently spoke to a sideline reporter during the half-time interval at the Ulster vs. Connacht Rugby match on Boxing Day.

After Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" began playing over the public address system and the crowd enthusiastically joined in, we see the current World No. 1 Ranked Golfer display several sincere smiles as well as sincere laughter (although sometimes somewhat suppressed). He also looks down and blushes.

Blushing cannot be produced deliberately - it's entirely involuntary.

Of course in this context, Rory is somewhat embarrassed and many would say sheepish regarding the public referencing of his former fiancée and former World No. 1 Ranked Tennis Player, Caroline Wozniacki.

Blushing is always accompanied by a sincere smile (again, although sometimes these smiles are partially suppressed). Additionally, a person who blushes often and easily signals an overall personality that's sincere. People who blush easier also tend to have higher empathy quotients.

What other significant body language is seen here?






















See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3053: Giada De Laurentiis, Insincere Smiles and Divorce

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2827: Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy - She was the Alpha, He was the Beta

Sincerity Secret # 20: Fiero Feels Good, Caroline Wozniacki & Our Mirror Neurons

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2916: Rory McIlroy, the PGA Championship and Body Language of Self-Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2911: Beck Hammon Part II - Blushing & a High Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2969: Maggie Q, David Letterman, Empathy and Sincerity Quotients - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2922: Evacuating Yazidis from Iraq's Mount Sinjar - A Daughter's Anguish, Empathy and Mirror Neurons

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3053: Giada De Laurentiis, Insincere Smiles and Divorce (PHOTOS)


After 11 years of Marriage, Giada De Laurentiis announced yesterday her impending divorce. The chef and her husband Todd Thompson have been separated since July 2014. Giada has made statements stating that their relationship is amicable. The couple has one child (Jade, 6).








What are the components of a sincere smile? How about an insincere one?

Giada is famous for her "toothy" smile. When a person's lower teeth are visible during a smile - it's almost always insincere. Ms. De Laurentiis is well known for this appearance. Her teeth are spectacular - however her sincerity is lacking. Depending on what the rest of the face/neck is doing, such a widely opened and sometimes squared-off mouth appearance can be associated with or is confused with anger or fear - although here neither of these are present with Ms. De Laurentiis. For many people this is their default mouth configuration when they're trying to "push out" a smile which they don't really feel.

The exceptions for lower teeth exposure with sincere smiling are seen during the beginning or end of a display of true laughter (during sincere laughter the lower teeth may be visible), due to a skewed camera or eye angle (e.g., a shorter smiling person next to a taller observer) or with the fatigue associated with prolonged posing (thus after very brief duration the smile becomes insincere).




A sincere smile must also always have eyelids which are partially closed. This is an absolute requirement. The lower eyelids must also always show evanescent, concave-up furrows. This is natural for all ages - and yet plastic surgeons have popularized the removal of this dynamic and natural change seen in the normal and healthy moments of a true smile (Duchenne Smile).

When the cheeks have much less upward movement and more lateral movement (such as when the bottom teeth are exposed) the lower lid crease will not form.





Another component of a sincere smile is a forehead that is always relaxed -  Always! - thus when a forehead is contracted - there is always insincerity present. This is a common component of a subconscious, default, false smile for many people - particularly celebrities and politicians.

See also:


Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424: Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3052: Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Chief Bill Bratton - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508: Anne Frank, Sincere Smiles and Emotional Comfort

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3016: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and a Suppressed yet Sincere Smile 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2981: Wendy Davis, the Governor of Texas, Book Covers and Projecting the Wrong Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2869: Barack Obama's Executive Action on Immigration Reform, The Rose Garden 30 June 2014 - Sincere or Insincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2863: Gary Oldman's Apology on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - Sincere or Insincere? - Body Language Tells 

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Monday, December 29, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3052: Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Chief Bill Bratton - Body Language Tells (PHOTOS)





















Bill de Blasio's and Bill Bratton's relationship has been under the microscope recently with the choking death of Eric Garner by a NYC police officer and the subsequent protests it sparked. This past weekend a substantial fraction of New York City's police officers turned their backs on the Mayor during the wake/funeral services for Rafael Ramos who along with his partner Wenjian Liu, was killed in the line of duty allegedly in retaliation for Garner's death.

The expression on Mayor de Blasio's face here can be understood by breaking down its two major components: his eyes/periorbital region and his mouth/jaw.

First note de Blasio's mouth. His lips are configured in what is known as a "Tight Forward Lip Purse".
A forward lip purse (in distinction to a lateral lip purse) indicates that a person has either a clandestine plan or a clandestine disagreement with what is being spoken, read or observed. The mayor does not agree with what Chief Bratton is saying here. There may be some subsequent disagreement voiced, but most (or all) of this will NOT be spoken aloud - but kept to himself. Moreover the forward lip purse indicates that a person feels that at least, with the matter at hand, he holds a distinct advantage and thus perceives himself to be an alpha relative to the beta of the other person or group. In addition, when a person displays a forward lip purse, they also believe they have a good chance at success with their covert intentions.

The interpretation of Mayor de Blasio's lip purse is modified by its tightness. This tension indicates a substantial component of anger. When a forward lip purse is tightened, the surreptitious nature of it is lessened (inversely proportional to the anger level). People cannot keep their own secrets nearly as well when they are further from their emotional baseline - particularly in the context of anger.

Next scrutinize de Blasio's eyes and the tissue around them. His lower central forehead is contracted together - along with his eyebrows. His forehead and brows are also vectored downwards. His upper and lower eyelids are also partially closed with a moderate amount of tension. This nonverbal cluster of the Mayor's eyes is highly indicative of anger - which is further demonstrated and nuanced by his tight variation of the forward lip purse.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424: Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3051: Jim Harbaugh & 49ers Part Ways - Onwards to Michigan

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2480: Alex Rodriguez's Press Conference - 2 August 2013,  A-Rod's Body Language Part Deux

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2540: Rep. Darrell Issa 'Snaps' at Reporter - Was His Anger Real or Fake? Body Language and the Forward Lip Purse

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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3051: Jim Harbaugh & 49ers Part Ways - Onwards to Michigan (PHOTOS)




Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers are no more. All indications are that Harbaugh's going back to the University of Michigan to coach a college team rumored to be still be in Ann Arbor.

The 49ers finished the season with an 8-8 record while the Wolverines finished theirs 5-7 (3-5 in the Big Ten).

Here Harbaugh is pictured in a fingers-forward arms-akimbo stance. This body language is the most alpha of the three configurations exampled here.












In this moment, Harbaugh's left hand is seen with fingers forward arm-akimbo, however his right is engaged with the back of hand above his hip and although it can't be fully visualized - it's probably in a loose fist (as he is holding his play-sheet). This stance is still projecting an alpha emotional tone, but less than the example above. Note also that his elbows are pointed further backwards compared with the first photo.



Although we can't see Harbaugh's left arm & hand in this third photo, it's highly probable that they're the mirror image of his right - hands in his back pockets with his thumbs forward. This body language, while still certainly projecting some alpha qualities, is the most beta of the three moments.

There are many body language signals which are considerably alpha, and when displayed even for a bit too long (which is pretty brief), will project a hyper-alpha state. And while in the context of NFL head coaches and sideline bravado such aggressive body language is certainly more normal for context, in almost all other settings these nonverbal signals will back fire - and rather than build rapport and influence they will be diminished or even destroyed.

The second and particularly the third images are examples of what are known as "Alpha-Beta Hybrids" and thus have the advantages of significant assertiveness, confidence and leadership - while not bringing the hyper-alpha backlash. Many business, sales, legal and other professional settings need to recognize, accurately interpret and use just such nonverbal nuance, rather than being the body language equivalent of a bull in a china shop which is much more typical.

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3050: NYPD Turning Their Backs on Bill de Blasio During Wake/Funeral

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3041: Jim Harbaugh Body Language Tutorial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2877: Zac Efron and Michelle Rodriguez Dating - Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo

Negotiation Secret No. 89:  Opposite Facing Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2174:  President Obama, Hurricane Sandy,  Body Language and Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2034:  Even Physicists have Body Language -  Beta behavior at Higgs Boson Conference
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3050: NYPD Turning Their Backs on Bill de Blasio During Wake (PHOTO)




Many of the officers felt that Mayor de Blasio was too sympathetic to those protesting against police brutality regarding the choking death of Eric Garner at the hands of NYC police officer Daniel Pantaleo on 17 July 2014. Thus it's certainly no mystery why many of the police officers literally turned their backs on NYC mayor Bill de Blasio today during the service for one of their two colleagues (Rafael Ramos) who lost his life in the line of duty earlier this week. Nor is there any doubt as to the very literal and blatant body language interpretation of this gesture. Indeed, "turning your back" on a person has for centuries been a common metaphor/idiom.

Much more subtle variations - yet along similar themes, are overlooked every day by most everyone. We turn our feet, torso, head and eyes towards those we respect, like, believe and/or - in the setting of potential romance - to whom we are physically attracted (To thin slice these possibilities we need to interpret them in the light of the other nonverbals with which they are clustered). This is particularly and commonly demonstrated (and overlooked) by nuances of the feet and their orientation. And while, when a person shows his middle finger, rolls her eyes, or turns his back at you at a funeral - all have extremely obvious AND (of course) VERY DELIBERATE (conscious) meanings - it's in the subtle displays that 99.999% of the messages are conveyed - which are in plain sight and subconsciously initiated. The value of these nonverbal signals will give profound advantage.


























See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3049: Merry Christmas - Joseph Riquelme (joeytrombone) pays off his Parents' Mortgage - Affection Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2523:  Hillary Clinton, Body Language and the 2016 Presidency -  Rapport Builder vs. Rapport Destroyer

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2440:  Vladimir Putin Dials Up His Alpha ... Foot Position, Projecting Leadership,  Confidence & Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags

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Friday, December 26, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3049: Merry Christmas - Joseph Riquelme (joeytrombone) pays off his Parents' Mortgage - Affection Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





Joseph Riquelme gave his parents an incredibly generous Christmas gift yesterday - he paid off the mortgage on their home. The video of this gifting went viral (above). From a nonverbal perspective, one very illustrative principle seen here is the preponderance of head touching each parent has toward their son.

Head to shoulder, head to neck, head to head touching are all signals of high affection. This is particularly true when there is a flexing/bending of the neck. It is difficult for people to fake a convincing hug (In romantic contexts, hugs are rarely convincingly falsified, yet kisses are much more easily disguised). 














































See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3048: Vladimir Putin's Press Conference, 18 December 2014, Economic Instability and Low Emotional Comfort

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2928: Oscar Pistorius, Hugging, Affection and Sincerity 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2701: Cuddling, Romance, Affection and Foot-Shunning - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2975: Devon Still & Daughter Leah - A Body Language of Affection and ....

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Thursday, December 25, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3048: Vladimir Putin's Press Conference, 18 December 2014, Economic Instability and Low Emotional Comfort (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Vladimir Putin gave his annual press conference on 18 December 2014. The Russian President went on for almost 3 hours while taking unscreened questions from over 1200 members of the press. As usual, Mr. Putin displayed a huge amount of nonverbal tells. One in particular bears highlighting.



During much of his press conference Vladimir sat off-balance with his feet not firmly planted - almost as if he was a runner in a starting block.

Sitting in this configuration very much signals an emotional tone of one who has to leave - who doesn't really want to be there.








This body language very much telegraphs feelings of low emotional comfort. Depending on the other nonverbal signals with which it is clustered, it can also indicate low confidence.












This nonverbal stance can also indicate that a person feels a strong urgency to leave the meeting and thus it's often seen towards the end of a meeting - and by those who hold the tactical power of the "next move".









See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3047: Ethan's Christmas wish comes true - Emotional Processing of Joy-Happiness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2937: Vladimir Putin - “If I want to, I can take Kiev in two weeks” and Critical Evaluation

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3025: Vladimir Putin, Alpha Hand Signals and "The Claw"- Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2742: Vladimir Putin on the Crisis Ukraine - Thin Slicing Levels of Anger

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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3047: Ethan's Christmas wish comes true - Emotional Processing of Joy-Happiness (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





This video recently went viral. In it, Ethan Lee finds out from his mother Miny, that he's going to be an older brother - a wish he's made repeatedly. Here we see some excellent examples and variations of mouth-covering, face-covering and eye-covering.






Mouth covering

In these cluster-contexts, Ethan's body language is signaling to us that his emotional brain has not yet completely processed the news - although his logical brain already understands.



















Eye, mouth and partial nose covering


Often when we see examples of these MAPs (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers) - they are in the context of negative emotions, yet here Ethan is overjoyed (and in disbelief).


















Nose covering and partial mouth covering


People who routinely cover portions of their faces when good or bad news is heard or seen - have higher empathy quotients. They also tend to be much more sincere vs. those who don't exhibit these MAPs during such key moments.

Many people erroneously think that covering of the mouth, nose or eyes is due to embarrassment.


Congratulations Ethan!










See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3046: Chris Pine Dials Up His Alpha - "Into the Woods"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3040: Mourning after the Sydney Hostage Crisis - Sincerity & Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2922: Evacuating Yazidis from Iraq's Mount Sinjar - A Daughter's Anguish, Empathy and Mirror Neurons

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2969: Maggie Q, David Letterman, Empathy and Sincerity Quotients

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2720: Ireen WĂĽst - A Gold Medal, Emotional Processing and Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2800: Richard Gere Plays a Homeless Man and a Caring Parisian Gives Him Food - Body Language of Sincerity and Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3039: Selfies and Smiling at the Sydney Hostage Crisis

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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3046: Chris Pine Dials Up His Alpha - "Into the Woods" (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Chris Pine was a guest last night on "The Tonight Show" promoting his latest film, "Into The Woods". From a body language perspective, it's always very illustrative to see actors interviewed. For even though they may be very good or even excellent at their craft, they are still human - AND within the interview setting actors are not "in character" (rather they're being themselves). Thus, even though actors are used to being on-camera and in front of audiences, they still show many nonverbal signals which, if we were directors on a movie set, we should want a re-take (although a fair amount of directors often mismatch body language with the emotion they're wanting the actors to project).

There were many examples of nonverbal nuance in this video, however four great body language examples in particular show Pine "Dialing Up His Alpha". While it may seem ironic to some, the up-regulation of alpha qualities are very commonly seen in people who already have a healthy amount of assertiveness - yet these individuals get to where they're at by not shrinking with anxiety stimuli, but by hitting the ball back over the net.




Alpha Up-Regulator No. 1

When asked about Meryl Streep, "Cinderella's Prince" exhibits a shirt-cuff adjust. This alpha-regulator is seen more commonly in males from higher socioeconomic classes. 









Alpha Up-Regulator No. 2

Pine pulls up his socks. This is a very commonly seen nonverbal signal.












Alpha up-regulator No. 3

Chris tucks in his shirt - this is the least common of the three and is a good example of just how unaware most people are when they are deviating significantly from their emotional baseline.






All three of these body language examples are signs of anxiety (fitting into a subcategory of displays known as "MAP Surrogates" [Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers]) - and yet when we thin-slice these moments we see the actor is meeting his anxiety with a positive response (which is of course is not always the case in such moments). What other body language/facial indications of anxiety did you see in his interview with Jimmy Fallon?

Although there are certainly female-analogs of these behaviors, the three alpha up-regulators exampled here are much more typically seen in men. What are some equivalent nonverbal behaviors of this same emotional tone which are more prevalent in women? There was another body language alpha up-regulator (also more common with men) in the video which was not isolated in a photo or discussed - did you catch it?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3045: How Vladimir Sits - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3028: Chris Rock's (and other Comedians) Body Language Trick that Gets You Laughing Easier

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2952: Kmart's "Not a Christmas Commercial" - No Place for Arrogance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2848: Iliza Shlesinger, Hair Adjust Behind Ear, Dialing Up Your Alpha & Comedy - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2831: "Walking Contest", Anxiety, Mirroring and False Intimacy

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Monday, December 22, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3045: How Vladimir Sits - Body Language Tells (PHOTOS)























Vladimir Putin often sits with his legs widely splayed - particularly when sitting with other heads-of-state, and these recent meetings with Barack Obama and David Cameron are no exception. In body language parlance this is known as the "Seated Crotch Display".

Men will often sit in this manner for two primary reasons: sexual attraction (which of course is NOT applicable here) and to assert their dominance. Mr. Putin is very interested in projecting his alpha qualities - and the seated crotch display is one of many nonverbal modes of sending signals of such hyper-assertiveness.

Many men make the huge mistake of sitting in this configuration around women in a business context. And while the vast majority of them are unaware of it, in such a setting this body language is offensive.

























See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3044: Barack Obama regarding "The Interview", North Korea and His Choice in Films

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3014: Vladimir Putin - Odd Man Out Down Under at the G20 Summit

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3009: Vladimir Putin, Chivalry and China's first lady Peng Liyuan

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2982: Politicians Should Never Do This If They Want To Be Elected - Hillary Clinton's Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2837: Of Spelling Bees, Alpha Posture, Decision Making and Visualizing - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2749: President Obama, Ukraine's Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and an Alpha-Beta Hybrid

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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3044: Barack Obama regarding "The Interview", North Korea and His Choice in Films (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





A couple days ago the FBI and President Obama announced that it was in fact North Korea behind the Sony Pictures email hack and subsequent public leaks of those emails. In the video above, Barack Obama was asked if he was going to be watching "The Interview".

"I've got a long list of movies I'm going to be watching. Ummm ..[partial smile microexpression].. ahhhh .... you know I never release my, my .... full movie list ...".




During the 5:31 the President displays a partial smile in the form of a microexpression (shown here and coincident with red print). Mr. Obama surely has seen at the very least key scenes of the movie and his very evanescent & partial smile betrays this fact (Thus this is an example of "Duping Delight" [Dr. Paul Ekman]).





Here (5:54 and fully notated by above lavender print) Mr. Obama is displaying a much longer - and barely discernible partially (mostly) suppressed smile (still only about a couple seconds in duration).

Later in the video, his smile suppression is less well-hidden and indeed he even wants to display it when he speaks of the North Korean Regime - but at this moment Barack's trying to not let us know that he has seen Rogen's & Franco's latest film.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3043: Ray Rice & Janay Rice (Palmer) - New Video after Assault

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3042: Kevin & Molly's Photo Booth Proposal - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2855: Hillary Clinton, 2016 Presidential Race and Duping Delight - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3016: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and a Suppressed yet Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2898: Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman, a Suppressed Smile and ....  

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3043: Ray Rice & Janay Rice (Palmer) - New Video after Assault (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





A new video has surface regarding Ray Rice's 27 March 2014 third-degree aggravated assault against his then fiancée Janay Palmer (Janay Rice) at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.




0:13

Janay Palmer (Rice), (near center of photo) - Displays a Hair-Adjust-Behind-Ear, signaling she is dialing up her alpha emotions and is attempting to be more assertive.
.









0:17

Ms. Palmer's (Rice) forehead is contracted centrally and upwards. Her inner eyebrows are directed up as well. Palmer's mouth is configuration consistent with fear-sadness.









 0:33

Ray Rice (center, background) arm-elbow directed sharply laterally-upwards in a high-alpha, narcissistic body language stance.











0:37

Although it is difficult to fully detect in this small image with partially occlusion, it is discernible in the dynamics of the video - Rice's right arm, holding his phone, assumes a armpit exposed elbow held-high body language, which is seen in high-alpha or narcissistic scenarios. 








1:26 - 1:28

Ray Rice mildly bangs his head against the wall of the elevator.














1:41 - 1:44

After they kissed (each hand-cuffed behind their backs') Ray and Janay show us a mutual head/face-in neck body language configuration - which is indicative of sincere and significant affection.










1:46 - 1:47

One last kiss before being led away by law enforcement.











It is highly significant that Ray Rice exhibits high-alpha and narcissistic nonverbal signals just after assaulting his fiancée. He does so while just a few feet away from Janay who is crying and distraught. When he once again is in close contact with her in the elevator - they kiss and nuzzle each other. In a very real way, narcissists do not have fully formed object-permanence when it comes to other people and their feelings (similar to young children). While lower and moderate narcissists (to a varying degree) do have some levels of empathy for people who are in close proximity, the further they are from them physically - the less real/less significant their feelings seem. For healthy people who have higher empathy levels, distance or even time has much less influence on their feelings for other peoples' suffering - or any emotion.

This video also exhibits the Rice's affection toward each other - and Janay has these feelings despite being recently knocked unconscious by her future husband. This of course is but one manifestation of the blinding denial and lack of objectivity that many people feel in the midst of abuse.

It is also very bizarre that two people arrested in the context of assaulting each other - are transported in the same elevator - and in particular allowed to stand next to each other and have close contact.  And of course Janay should not have been arrested.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3042: Kevin & Molly's Photo Booth Proposal - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2902: How Sincere was Ray Rice's Apology?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3027: Janay Rice interview on "Today" regarding Ray Rice's Assault

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2945: Roger Goodell's Interview regarding Ray Rice - Denies NFL saw Video before Monday - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2932: Fred Couch ("Affluenza" Father) Arrested and a Body Language Signal of .... 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2242:  Rihanna & Chris Brown at Lakers Game  Body Language of Dominance, "Ownership",  Narcissism and Submission


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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3042: Kevin & Molly's Photo Booth Proposal - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





Kevin Moran can be seen proposing to his then girlfriend, soon to be fiancée, Molly McGinnis in the above viral video. By popping the question in a photo booth, he captured a beautiful nonverbal moment of surprise on Molly's face (0:32) - yet there are also some very telling expressions of his own.

The image below (0:28 seconds) shows Moran's central forehead contracted and elevated (along with his inner eyebrows) - indicative of the high level of emotion accompanying such a moment. In addition his jaw thrusts laterally (0:28 - 0:29) in a body language dynamic known as a "Jaw Confessional". There may also be lip and other facial components accompanying this facial tell.

A jaw confessional is a very brief duration & lateral movement of the jaw - indicating an anticipated embarrassment or risk of embarrassment and emotional vulnerability (There often is a verbal apology or similar statement immediately afterwards and if displayed in this setting it would be indicative of high sincerity. If you don't hear a verbal message of this type when a jaw confessional is seen, you can be sure that these emotions are being felt - just not expressed. In such a context, this verbal-nonverbal disparity should set off alarm bells). In the above scenario, Mr. Moran runs the risk of Molly saying "no" - thus he's risking significant embarrassment.

Be warned though - for when the jaw moves slowly to one side and lasts for a significantly greater duration - this body language indicates a completely different emotion.

Congratulations Kevin & Molly!






















See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3041: Jim Harbaugh Body Language Tutorial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2929: Jessica Alba, Sin City 2, Action Figures and the Jaw Confessional

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2776: James Franco's Mea Culpa - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2314:  Naomi Watts Pre-Oscar Interview and her  Body Language of the "Jaw Confessional" and the Sincerity Quotient

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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3041: Jim Harbaugh Body Language Tutorial (PHOTOS)

Rumor has it that the University of Michigan will reportedly offer San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh a 6-year, $49 million paycheck to become their next head coach.

A former quarterback for the Wolverines under Bo Schembechler, Coach Harbaugh is known for not having a very good poker face. The following images display just the tip of his emotional iceberg and allow a fantastic body language tutorial (Thanks coach). In image above, Harbaugh displays significant Anger - (bordering on Rage) - with Frustration (Specifically what signals the frustration?)

Of particular note is his extreme Jaw Jut, Squared-off mouth opening, baring of his bottom teeth, with both tense eyelids along with significant mid-face tension.




Apprehension















Contempt (here coupled with the F-bomb - which of course is a very common combination)











Extreme Disgust

















Dominant Spider hand configuration

A high alpha gesture (at this moment somewhat less so, since it is directed away from to whomever he is speaking)









Fear

- Eyelids tense and wide
  (here mild to moderately
   opened)
- Mouth corners pulled laterally
   and down
- Mid-face tension
- Tightened neck muscles







Inward Lip Roll (ILR):

Seen suppressing emotions when they are far from baseline

Can be positive or negative emotions

What emotion is the Coach suppressing here?









Puffer Fish

Seen just before or just more commonly immediately after a significantly stressful event (It can lower the heart rate, blood pressure and respiration and thus has a calming effect)











Rage (sever anger) with
widely open Eyelids (with a mild-moderate jaw jut)
















Critical evaluation with significant worry and some empathy















Sincere smile:

- Relaxed forehead
- Only upper Teeth Showing
- Cheeks vectored primarily
   upwards
- Eyelids partially closed
- Dynamic Concave-up Furrow in
   lower eyelids





See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3040: Mourning after the Sydney Hostage Crisis - Sincerity & Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2647: Vladimir Putin regarding Edward Snowden, What Does the Russian Leader Think?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3030: Rashida Jones, Jimmy Fallon, Twin Peaks, Toy Story 4 ... and a Rarely Recognized Meaning of the Inward Lip Roll

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3032: Reaction to Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision to Not Indict Daniel Pantaleo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2228:  Jay Carney's Body Language -  Contempt disguised as a Sniff ....  for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2941: Barack Obama at NATO Summit - Split Finger Fastball & the Dominant Spider

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508: Anne Frank, Sincere Smiles and Emotional Comfort


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