Sunday, May 4, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2807: Barack Obama at 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Last night the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner brought together Barack Obama's Administration many from the Television Media and Hollywood. And while most outside of these circles consider it a gigantic waste of time and money - it does provide some useful insight into the thoughts and emotions of the President if one carefully evaluates his nonverbal signals. What follows is a partial body language evaluation of the President's appearance last night.


This image is isolated from the 1:00 mark in the above video. In this moment President Obama displays an extended blink - just after he alludes to Mitt Romney and the infamous 47% comment.

What is not appreciable here is that he also "hard swallows" at the same moment. In addition his mouth is configured in a manner conveying regret.

This nonverbal "cluster" indicates that Mr. Obama significantly regrets his vocalizing this joke. It triggers anxiety in the President and he is in disbelief that he didn't omit this particular barb against Mr. Romney. He very much wants to wish this moment away.


The "Tongue Jut" (aka "Lizard Tongue") displayed by Mr. Obama at 1:11 after poking fun at his own  Healthcare.gov roll out - has several possible meanings depending on the other nonverbals and paralanguage with which it is clustered.

Here the knee-jerk interpretation most would assign it is one of self-deprecating humor - however another nonverbal directs us toward the emotional-thoughts of "I've been foolish" or "I've gotten away with something". What specifically is this nonverbal modifier?




Although it's evanescent, at 1:31 Mr. Obama displays a clear and classic sign of contempt - just after he jokes about his 2013 slogan being "ctrl-alt-delete".

What are the components of this very telling facial expression?





See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2765: Obama, Romney, Russia and Facial Asymmetry - Contempt at The Hague

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2188:  Paula Broadwell on Petraeus Relationship -  Body Language of Prolonged Blink,  Hard Swallow and More Duping Delight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2646: Does Barack Obama Want to Go to the Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics? What His Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2690: Peyton Manning Explains the Meaning of "Omaha" Call - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2547: Amanda Knox's ex-Boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, Piers Morgan Interview, Body Language Tells and Avoiding the Othello Error

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2806: Russian "Separatists" in Ukraine - Body Language of ....


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