On 4 October 2017, Sgt. La David Johnson, along with three other US soldiers - Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson, Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright - as well as five Nigerien soldiers, were killed in an ambush in Tongo Tongo, Niger. Two American and eight Nigerien soldiers were also wounded in the attack.
Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson was interviewed on Good Morning America today. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Ms. Johnson's conversation with George Stephanopoulos.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you confident you're going to get the answers you need?
MYESHIA JOHNSON: If I keep pushin' for 'em I will.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And they just say they don't know?
As George Stephanopoulos, says, "And they just say they don't know?" (during 2:57), and for about a second afterward, Myeshia Johnson displays a "Lateral Jaw Thrust" to her right. This is vectored away from the camera, which makes it a bit difficult to see.
A lateral jaw thrust is indicative of High Sincerity and Strong Determination.
MYESHIA JOHNSON: Yes, the President said he knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyways.
As she says, "... anyways" (during 3:57), Ms. Johnson displays Anger with the evanescent depression of her eyebrows, especially her medial eyebrows.
During 4:05, as Ms. Johnson said, "And I was - it made me cry, because - I was very angry at the w-, the tone in his voice ...", she displayed Contempt.
Then, during 4:06 as she said, "and how he said - I, he, he c-, he couldn't remember my husband's name ...", Myeshia Johnson felt and displayed Disgust.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (5:04): What did you say to the President?
MYESHIA JOHNSON: I, I didn't s-, I didn't say anything.
During her answer, Ms. Johnson first projects her lower lip forward. She then shakes her head side-to-side, leans to her right, stutters, focuses her eyes at the mid-distance, and displays a Regret expression (pictured above during 5:08). This combination of nonverbal signals are indicative of Anxiety, Hesitation, and Regret and are best viewed in the dynamic context of the video.
During 5:13, just after she says, "I just listened", Myeshia Johnson displays an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). An inward lip roll is a subconsciously initiated attempt to suppress both the inward crescendo and the outward display of strong emotions.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But you were upset when you got off the phone?
MYESHIA JOHNSON: Oh, very, very upset and hurt - very. It made me cry even worse.
From 5:18 through 5:22, Ms. Johnson's eyelids lower in another display of Anger (image immediately above).
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: The President said that the Congresswoman was lying about the phone call.
MYESHIA JOHNSON: Whatever Ms. Wilson said was not fabricated. What she said was a hundred percent correct. It was Master Sargent Neil, me, my Aunt, my Uncle, and the drive, and Ms. Wilson in the car. The phone was on speakerphone. [Tongue in Cheek Display during 6:19] Why would we fabricate something like that?
A Tongue in Cheek display indicates the high confidence thought-emotions of "I just won"/"I gotcha".
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Is there anything you'd like to say to the President now?
MYESHIA JOHNSON: [Lip Smack] No [lateral head shake, low amplitude, moderate frequency] I don't - Nah - I don't have nothin' to say to him.
During 6:29, as she says, "... Nah ...", Ms. Johnson displays a classic Contempt expression.
After Ms. Johnson's interview on Monday morning, President Trump responded via Twitter (immediately above).
Summary: Ms. Myeshia Johnson displayed a myriad of emotions during this interview including determination, anger, contempt, disgust, anxiety, and high confidence. And although she did not express so verbally, Myeshia Johnson's nonverbal signals show that she regrets not responding to President Trump during the phone call.
Myeshia Johnson's sincerity and honesty quotients are high - and specifically, at no time during this interview did she display any nonverbal signals of deception.
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See also:
Body Language Analysis No. 4100: Bryan Cranston and The Eyelid Pull
Body Language Analysis No. 4098: President Trump and Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rosselló - A Candid Moment in the Oval Office
Body Language Analysis No. 4096: President Trump Refutes Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson's Account Of Call To Soldier’s Widow
Body Language Analysis No. 4094: Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and Calling the Families of Fallen Soldiers
Body Language Analysis No. 4087: Harrison Ford Accidentally Punches Ryan Gosling in the Face - Blade Runner 2049
Body Language Analysis No. 4081: Catalonia's Referendum vs. Spain's Control
Body Language Analysis No. 4071: Fans' Reaction to Trauma - Young Girl Hit By Foul Ball at Yankee Stadium
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3860: Ian McKellen, The Oscars and a spot-on Maggie Smith Impression
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3771: Tom Hanks Reenacts Iconic Forrest Gump Scene
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