Monday, June 2, 2014

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



















Jennifer Tenant of Hollywood, Maryland was in the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee last week along with many other students. There were two winners this year - Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe (the last time this occurred was 1962). In this image of Ms. Tenant from the second round there are several classic body language tells.

One obvious signal is her "Fingers Forward Arms Akimbo" (aka Thumbs Backward Arms Akimbo). This is a common alpha signal and can also indicate a confident readiness. Her elbows vectored even more forward than typical here is a nonverbal modifier which dials-up her alpha display even further. Ms. Tenant feels very confident in her ability to spell the word correctly. What does Fingers Backward Arms Akimbo indicate?

Note also her slight mouth asymmetry with her lips pushed subtly to her left (with accompanying chin dimpling). This nonverbal sign is an example of a "Lateral Lip Purse" indicating open (non-clandestine) decision making (Don't confuse this with a Forward Lip Purse).

In addition, this spelling bee participant is "Looking Up to her Right". This is a very common (~95% of right hand dominant individuals) field of gaze momentarily looked to when visually constructing something in the mind's eye. This could something in the future, events of past not witnessed - or as she is here she - constructing a word.

See also:

Confidence Secret # 14:  High and Low Confidence Drivers: Arms Akimbo and Assertive Attitudes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2396:  Ariel Castro Caught on Dash-Cam in a Traffic Stop in 2008 -  Body Language of Self-Disgust, Anxiety &  Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2449:  Jessica Korda Fires Her Caddie &  Recruits her Boyfriend  Body Language at Women's U.S. Open

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2545: Michelle Rodriguez at Comic-Con 2013, Mirroring and Dialing Up Her Alpha 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2494:  Prince William Interview on Fatherhood and Baby George Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2836: Phil Mickelson, Insider Trading Allegations and Body Language























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