Sunday, February 17, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2307:
Oscar Pistorius in Court, Body Language and the
Bilateral Eye Cover























Hero to many around the World, and double amputee Oscar Pistorius aka "The Blade Runner" was in court this past week in Pretoria, South Africa. He is alleged to have murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. It is reported that he broke down and wept during court and this may be an image during his tears. However bilateral eye covering (and mouth covering) - is not effort to hide tears - it's a nonverbal signal of emotional processing. The emotional brain is playing "catch up" with what the five senses and the intellect is telling it. It's a body language signal of trying to temporarily "block the new reality". It speaks to the cross-cultural universality of nonverbal communication that even those who are born blind will exhibit this facial MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier).

Pistorius' red face and prominent vein seen in his right temporal region ("temple) are consistent with, but not specific for, the temporary increased intrathoracic (pressure in his chest) and thus secondary intracranial pressure (pressure in his head) seen with the physiology of the valsalva maneuver which occurs during crying.

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2211:  David Beckham, Body Language signals of  Honest Surprise, Emotional Processing and Sincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2180:  Nearly Ran Over by a Train?  Schrödinger's Dog, Signal of Emotional Overload, Loss and  Extreme Emotional Processing


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