Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2082:
Cătălina Ponor's False "Smile" -
Silver Medal in Floor Exercise






















Cătălina Ponor is pictured here during the medal ceremony for the floor exercise at the 2012 London Olympics. In Athens, along with her Romanian teammates she won the team event - as well as in the floor exercise and the balance beam. In this image, Cătălina is displaying the body language of a "Bitter Smile" (along with Disgust). This particular variation of a "false smile" is one of the best examples of just how unaware most everyone is regarding own nonverbal signals - especially when experiencing negative emotions. When this mouth configuration is seen, people believe they are making a modest smile. Ms. Ponor feels bitterness-regret for she has tasted gold before.

In this image, Ponor is standing her next to the gold medalist, Aly Raisman. Yesterday Raismin, who initially finished fourth in the balance beam - was moved up to the bronze, displacing Ponor when a protest was lodged by the American coach.

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