Body Language & Emotional Intelligence: Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3181: Cristiano Ronaldo defends Japanese boy on TV - Body Language of Deception (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3181: Cristiano Ronaldo defends Japanese boy on TV - Body Language of Deception (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Seen in this currently viral video, the great footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is being interviewed by a Japanese boy. The boy is doing his best to read and interview in Portuguese - Ronaldo's native tongue. This act shows respect to the athlete and requires some significant courage. Most adults won't do so - rather they would require or request a translator - particularly in front of an audience or when televised. Thus it should not surprise anyone that Ronaldo came to the boy's defense when some began laughing at him.

Ronaldo says, " .... he speak good - Portuguese .... " (beginning at 0:49).

Then during the 0:50 - 0:51 segment, as he says " ... Portuguese ...", Cristiano Ronaldo scratches the lateral edge of his left nostril. Nose touches/rubs/scratches of course, most of the time, also result in a covering of the mouth. When making a declarative statement simultaneous with or just after a nose rub or mouth cover/touch - it's highly indicative of deception. This example is of course is a small lie, some would refer to it as a "white lie" - one of low consequences. This is not a disparaging observation of the Real Madrid forward - on the contrary, it's complimentary. The chances of being caught lying are proportional to the punishment or consequences of that lie. Here the ramifications of being caught are very low - Ronaldo was coming to the aid of a child. Who, of average or of high empathy would do otherwise? So if Cristiano is easily caught in this trivial lie (except for the boy's feelings of course - his feelings are not trivial) - then he would be very easily discovered in a more significant deception. The fact that Ronaldo is a poor liar indicates he's had little practice at lying. It also indicates his personality is consistent with both high sincerity and high empathy.

This website serves as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.

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