Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3771: Tom Hanks Reenacts Iconic Forrest Gump Scene - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





During his recent guest appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Tom Hanks was asked to re-enact one of his more well-remembered scenes from his Oscar Winning performance in Forrest Gump (Hanks also received another best actor Oscar in the film Philadelphia).

From a body language perspective, it's profoundly illustrative to observe such skilled actors when they're "just being themselves" - and this example is no exception.






















When Graham Norton asks him to re-enact the line from the film Forrest Gump - Tom Hanks (Sitting next to Mo Farah) immediately (and very briefly) touches his right eye with his right hand (2:21) as he squeezes his right thigh with his left hand (lasting about 2-3 seconds), an instant before he says "I would - be happy to do it, but you must show the lady with the cue card - because otherwise people will think I've actually memorized this so ...."






















Hanks then proceeds to squeeze his left thigh for a longer duration.

Real-life often has a mixing of several simultaneous emotions. When Mr. Hanks touched his right eye, this was (subconsciously) signaling his telling of a little lie ("I would - be happy to do it ...") - but also at the same time, he was feeling anxiety about the act of delivering the line - thus his thigh squeezing.

Although professional actors "pretend for a living" (lying within the social contract of acting) - they're of course only human. Therefore their true selves (true emotions) are constantly "leaking" through - and are easily seen - if you know what to look for. The same is true in the every day world (for the other 99.99% who are not nearly as skilled as Hanks) - and their deception signals also leak through and are easily spotted - if you know what to look for.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3770: Fidel Castro, Ed Sullivan and Mirroring

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3768: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3765: Conjoined twins Jadon and Anias McDonald - See each other directly for the first time

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3763: Matt Smith, Claire Foy and Where NOT to be stung by a Wasp - Body Language, Emotional Intelligence and Predicting Empathy 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3707: The Presidential Debates Part III - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton and Sniffing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3674: Drake Presents Rihanna with Vanguard Award - 2016 MTV Video Music Awards 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3563: Ariana Grande, Lip Stick, Microexpressions and Body Language 


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