Friday, March 15, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2335:
Ted Cruz & Dianne Feinstein -
Gun Control, Body Language and Condescending Signals





This video of Senators Ted Cruz and Dianne Feinstein encapsulates a few moments of the current argument regarding gun control. As in all posts on this blog, this is not an instrument of political agenda - rather it is to teach nonverbal communication in a real-world context. Democrats, Republicans, Socialists, Communists and all other politicians are fair game. We all are human. Through our subconscious and sometimes our conscious minds' - we all exhibit and interpret body language constantly.

Throughout very significant portions of this video, Senator Cruz's central forehead is contracted. Sometimes called the "grief muscle", the central forehead contracts when there is significant emotional or physical pain - either being experienced directly or secondarily, for other people(s) or animal(s) via empathy. In the absence of these contexts, it has a very different meaning. At the very best it signifies a contemptuous incredulity, as well as arrogance and smugness. It will have strong messages of a patronizing attitude (and although not implied here with Senator Cruz, over longer time frames - if a person constantly displays this central forehead contraction (CFC) in the absence of such emotional or physical pain - it signals traits of his or her personality - that of insincerity or worse).

So although Senator Feinstein was indeed responding to what she heard, she was also very much responding to what she saw - in Senator Cruz's nonverbal signals of condescension.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2140: Joran van der Sloot's going to be a father -  Body Language Signs of Chronic Insincerity

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2310: Oscar Pistorius' Body Language in Court - Part II  Central Forehead Contraction, Frown & Pupil Dilation ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2171:  Charlie Bit My Finger!  One Body Language Signal Always Seen With Significant Pain

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2259: Game Show Killer Rodney Alcala Gets Two More Sentences - His Body Language Warning Signs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2124:  This Body Language-Facial Display  Should always make you think "Insincere"

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1439:  Central Forehead Contraction & Inward Lip Roll  Devon Davis & April Davis

















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