In this YouTube viral, video a pastor recounts a time when he allegedly hit a minor. In his own words ".... And I walked over to him and I went BAMB! ... I punched in the chest as hard as I... I crumpled the kid ... I just crumpled him". There are many body language tells here - the following is a partial nonverbal analysis of some key moments of his own telling of this event.
0:31 Inward Lip Roll (ILR).
An inward lip roll is seen during moments when there is an attempt to suppress an emotion that is far from emotional baseline. Many times it's anger, although it can be sadness, etc. or even joy-happiness.
This is a close up of the above frame. The ILR can also be seen during moments of physical activity which require an increase focusing of thought. Here the pastor is reenacting his alleged physical assault on another person. Just prior to this moment he described the individual as "... and we were outside one day, a youth group - and ah he was just, just trying [repeated closed fist punching gesture 0:22-0:24] to push my buttons - just kinda not taking the Lord serious" [deep inhaling breath at 0:28]. In this context his nonverbal behavior (inward lip roll) in his re-telling indicates he is re-living his anger experienced during the original event. He is holding onto his anger.
0:33 Both contempt and disgust expressions are present here (contempt > disgust)
Tie Adjust (an alpha up-regulator) and in this moment it's a signal of his anxiety and rationalizing his behavior
0:33.5 Contempt-Disgust persists
Those who easily and/or chronically display contempt portend what other behaviors?
0:37
Tongue Jut
Signaling "I've been bad", "I've been caught" and a self-deprecating emotional tone
0:41 second Tie Adjust
Once again, Dialing up his alpha, a repeated signal of anxiety and rationalizing his behavior
There certainly may be times when a pastor or anyone may fabricate a story to dramatically illustrate a message - and while this is a possibility here, this cluster of nonverbal signals strongly suggests the events occurred as he described them. His need to tell this event is very similar psychologically to a criminal returning to the scene of a crime.
See also:
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3063: Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Sentenced to Two Years for Corruption
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2312: Bruce Willis' Body Language - Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs. Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2350: Contempt - both dramatic and subtle - Backpedaling and Body Language - Dr. Ben Carson
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2443: Kristen Wiig's Disgust & Fear Face - Graham Norton, Chris O'Dowd and Fly Eating
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2390: Charles Ramsey Interview & Cleveland Kidnappings - Sarcastic Disbelief, Disgust and Exclamation
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2725: Ted Nugent: Calls Barack Obama, "a Subhuman Mongrel"
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2776: James Franco's Mea Culpa
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2591: Chris Christie on Romney's Campaign Vetting Leak, Body Language Tells
___________________________________________________________________________________
