Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2909: John Kerry's Open Mic Gaffe, Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




On 20 July 2014, during a commercial break on a Fox News interview, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made an open microphone gaffe when discussing plans for the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Several times he displayed a facial nonverbal indicative of regret. Two of the better examples of this emotional display are included in the screen captures below.



This asymmetric, but not completely unilateral expression of regret is seen more prominently on John Kerry's left side of his mouth (image captured at the 0:42 mark in the video).

The U.S. Secretary of State's central forehead is mildly contracted here (CFC).







Here we see another expression of regret (captured at 0:48) - this one with better camera angle. Note also Mr. Kerry's central forehead is more prominently contracted.








Many people mistake the asymmetrical (and often nearly or entirely unilateral) expression of regret for that of contempt or an insincere smile. Do you know how to differentiate these nonverbal facial expressions?

What other highly significant body language is seen during this interview?

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2746: John Kerry and Hugh Robertson - Eye Rub, Mouth Covering - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2711: John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov - Tell Me How You Really Feel - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2368:  John Kerry & Xi Jinping in Beijing to Discuss North Korea -  Body Language of Anxiety & Assertiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2586: Harrison Ford in "Ender's Game" - Microexpression and Macroexpression of Regret - Harrison's Brand and the Stanislavski Method

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2811: Jason and David Benham are Dropped from HGTV - Body Language of Subtle Contempt, Anger & Disgust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2724: Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Twenty Years Later

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