Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2992: Michigan State's Football Coach Mark Dantonio, "I can only be diplomatic for so long ..." - Disrespect, Contempt and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

For those who follow American College Football, there was an interesting occurrence in the pregame activity between the Michigan State University and University of Michigan teams yesterday. Joe Bolden, a U. of M. junior linebacker, drove a tent stake into the turf at Michigan State's stadium - and this was the proverbial straw that broke the camels back for Mark Dantonio. The Spartan Coach alluded to this and other past disrespectful actions in a post-game news conference, a portion of which is included in the above video.

This is a very good nonverbal example of contempt being briefly displayed layered on top of a baseline manifestation of anger. Watch this first with the volume on, then review it once more with the sound muted. Did you spot the microexpression of contempt?

The expression of anger persists throughout the entire video - and most people identify it easily.

Here (during 0:31) Dantonio's eyebrows are seen drawn together with the center (medial) portions of the eyebrows also displaced downwards. Additionally, the coach has significant mid-face tension. What other components of anger are present in this moment?

Now go back to the very beginning of the video (during 0:05) just prior to and during the word "... say ...", Mark Dantonio displays an excellent example of a microexpression of contempt.

There are many types of  microexpressions and contempt is only one. It is also important to note that as with all emotions, contempt may last for significantly longer duration. There are also other patterns and characteristics of contempt not seen in this example. That being said, contempt is very well exampled here and to fully appreciate the dynamics of this body language-facial expression, be sure to view the video several times.

Very few people can see microexpressions naturally, yet virtually everybody can be trained to spot these profoundly valuable nonverbal tells. 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2991: Citizen Pulls over a Cop - Gavin Siem flags down Grant County Deputy Dustin Canfield

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2811: Jason and David Benham are Dropped from HGTV - Body Language of Subtle Contempt, Anger & Disgust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2956: Eric Frein - Suspect in Murder of Pennsylvania Officer - Body Language Sign of Impeding Violence

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 457:  A Contempt Amplifier - Salman Rushdie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2765: Obama, Romney, Russia and Facial Asymmetry - Contempt at The Hague

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2742: Vladimir Putin on the Crisis Ukraine - Thin Slicing Levels of Anger

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1863:  Sharapova's Lips of Anger

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