Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2817: Rep. Joe Garcia Picks His Ear & Eats it - What his Body Language Really is Saying (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

During a house judiciary meeting last Wednesday, Joe Garcia (D - FL) stuck a finger in his ear and then proceeded to eat the pickings. While this act is certainly repulsive to most, there is more going on here than just a lesson in hygiene gone wrong.

The body language Representative Garcia displays in this moment is an ear screw. He either does not believe the Rep. Suzan DelBene (D - WA) - (who is talking when he commits this nonverbal) - or the person(s) to whom she is addressing (primarily the chairman - Bob Goodlatte, R - VA).

Intriguingly Mr. Garcia is using his middle finger to commit the ear screw. This is one example of a class of nonverbals known as "Partial Emblematic Slips" (Ekman). These are defined as emblems (a local, regional or universal body language symbol) which is less-than-fully-displayed - and more typically but not always involves the hands - and is displayed in a non-standard position (here in ear and not fully isolated from the other digits rather than on direct display in front of one's body). Greater than ninety-nine percent of the time this nonverbal is initiated and carried out subconsciously.

This body language MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) indicates that Representative Garcia not only does NOT believe what is being said or the person to whom it's being said - but he is also flipping them the bird as well.

It is not a coincidence that Garcia simultaneously is displaying contempt with the right side of his mid-face (do you see all of these contempt components?).

Here Rep. Garcia's contempt clearly continues.

The partial emblematic slip is again displayed a few seconds later.














See also:

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 343:  Nicolas Sarkozy's Clandestine Thumbs Up - an Emblematic Slip

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 743 and 744:  Sarkozy's Shhhh!  and a Partial Emblematic Slip

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1818:  Political Correctness, a Partial Emblematic Slip  at a Falcon, Colorado Elementary School

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2144:  President Obama's Body Language Tell -  Rescuing Big Bird (with help from another bird) &  Elmo's making a run for the border in a White Suburban 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2740: Matthew McConaughey Tells Us What He REALLY THINKS about the Motion Picture Academy - Body Language, Ear Screws and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2816: Donald Sterling Interview - Body Language Tells


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