Saturday, October 13, 2012

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2146:
Biden vs. Ryan Vice Presidential Debates -
Both Candidates Displayed Body Language of Contempt





One of the most common body language displays in Thursday night's Vice Presidential Debate by both candidates - was that of Contempt. Just past the 0:44 second mark in the above video clip, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) displays a microexpression of contempt. Microexpressions are always initiated subconsciously and are one of the most reliable signs of a person's true emotional tone. At 0:44, Ryan's left corner of his mouth very briefly (less than 0.5 seconds) contracts up and laterally with an equally evanescent rapid looking down to his right quadrant. Looking down to the right for 95% of right-handed people is indicative of highly emotional subjects (and also on occasion when discussing/thinking/re-experiencing kinesthetic experiences). These rapid nonverbal tells occur during what in his view - should have been done to provide more military protection for the U.S. Ambassador, Chris Stevens and the other three American who were killed in Benghazi, Libya last month.






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