Friday, January 25, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2280:
Manti Te'o's interview with Katie Couric
Manti isn't telling us the whole truth -
Te'o's Body Language of Duping Delight






Manti Te'o's full interview with Katie Couric was released yesterday. While Te'o is telling some truths and displaying elements of some sincerity (depending on what he was discussing at different moments - for recall that body language is a glimpse into what the emotional-mind is feeling in real time) - he is selectively editing and thus holding back the whole truth and indeed is continuing in being deceptive. At multiple times his body language signals did not agree with the emotions he was claiming to be experiencing. When the nonverbal and the verbal communications show disparity - the nonverbal is always correct.

One particular example is what is known in the nonverbal world as "Duping Delight". Paul Ekman coined this term to describe components of a smile which leak out when we fool (or dupe) someone with a lie or partial truth. We subconscious or semi-consciously take delight in such a ruse, and portions of a smile are displayed. These are often very fleeting. And these smile-fragments occur at times when happiness, joy or delight are NOT congruent with context of the verbal message. This can be seen very well in the video segment above when (beginning at 0:43) Katie Couric asks, "Did you have any involvement in creating this scam?" and Te'o answers, "No, I, I, I did not." (Note also his stuttering with the word "I" as well as the relatively decreased volume of that same word - these paralanguage displays are also very suggestive of lying in this context). During the 0:50 - 0:51 segment Mr. Te'o exhibits clear duping delight on his left side. This is but one of many times he displays this very telling nonverbal during his interview with Ms. Couric.

We may never learn the whole truth, but Manti Te'o has not yet fully disclosed the whole story of what has transpired with his hoaxed girlfriend "Lennay Kekua" and/or Ronaiah Tuiasosopo.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2278: Diane O'Meara (the "face" of Lennay Kekua) on the Mantei Te'o "Girlfriend Hoax" - Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2277: Diane O'Meara, Lennay Kekua, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo & Manti Te'o - O'Meara's Body Language -Part I

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2286:  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo's Body Language on Dr. Phil's Interview -  The Voice and Mind of "Lennay Kekua" - Part I

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2287:  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo on Dr. Phil Interview -  Part II - A Body Language Signal that's a Red Flag

Negotiation Secret # 140: Duping Delight Microexpression

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication # Analysis 1492: Ben Bernanke's Duping Delight &  Partial Emblematic Slip

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2050: George Zimmerman's Interview on Fox -  Microexpression of Contempt and  Duping Delight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2188: Paula Broadwell on Petraeus Relationship - Body Language of Prolonged Blink,  Hard Swallow and More Duping Delight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2093: Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye - Matt Lauer's Classic "Tongue-in-Cheek" and Duplicitous Smile



















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