Thursday, July 28, 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3637: President Obama's Speech at the DNC, Hillary Clinton and Anxiety - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)



Most experienced politicians rarely touch their face or any place else on their head (or neck). Last night at the Democratic National Convention however, in the midst of his endorsement of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama committed one of these fundamental body language mistakes.

Continuing at 12:54 in the above video, President Obama says, " ... Now, eight years ago ... [laughs] ... that's right .... Let me tell ya'. Eight years ago, you may remember, Hillary and I were rivals for the democratic nomination...".

During 12:55 - 12:57, as he says, "... eight years ago ...", Barack scratches in back of and below his right ear. The point of contact is very often the Mastoid Process (protuberance or "bump" behind the ear) or just in front of or below it. In nonverbal parlance, scratching or rubbing another part of the body is termed a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier) and, the vast majority of the time, it's at least in some measure, indicative of anxiety. This example is no exception. Yet to further nuance the meaning behind this nonverbal signal here - it indicates an "Honest Anxiety" - or said another way, anxiety which is NOT associated with deception.


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This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3636: Donald Trump, Hillary's Emails, Putin and Russia - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3634: Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Democratic National Convention and Emails

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3629: Donald Trump's interview regarding Melania's Speech and Plagiarism

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3615: Store Owner Abdullah Muflahi Interview regarding the Shooting of Alton Sterling

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3592: Gary Johnson, The Libertarian Party and Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3573: Angela Merkel, the G7, Destroying Rapport and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3532: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and The Graham Norton Show

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3486: Donald Trump and Chris Christie on Super Tuesday - Display the Same Telling Nonverbal Signal to Same Statement re: Trump's Wall - Body Language


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