Recently Sarah Palin was asked about Donald Trump's condemnation of Jeb Bush's use of Spanish - as well as Governor Bush's response. What follows is an analysis of two key moments of Gov. Palin's nonverbal behavior which tell us her true emotions on this issue.
Jake Tapper asks Sarah Palin, "Donald Trump said this week that, 'Jeb Bush should speak English and not Spanish, ah, when he's campaigning in the U.S.' Ah, Jeb Bush's response was that Trump doesn't value Tolerance. What do you make of that debate?"
Gov. Palin answers, "I, I don't with ya, you know, choosing to speak, ah, English or Spanish in a, a conversation - what that would have to do with, ah, somebody opposing it with tolerance or not, um ...."
In this moment (captured above at 0:13), as the former V.P. Candidate says, "I, I don't..." - she displays a great example of a microexpression of contempt.
Later in this same sentence (0:23) as she says, "... with tolerance ...", Mrs. Palin displays a less dramatic yet still highly characteristic display of disgust.
Disgust and Contempt are similar and very significant emotions. In most contexts these are considered negative. Contempt however is considered by many to be a more damaging emotion and it can only be directed at person or group of people - while we may feel disgust at people or nonliving objects.
In summary, although Sarah Palin praises Jeb Bush verbally, her nonverbal cues tells us her true feelings - that she feels both contempt and disgust for Mr. Bush and his bilingual practice. What other body language behaviors of Mrs. Palin's tell us her true emotions towards immigrants?
A reminder: This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. 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.
See also:
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3300: Vladimir Putin, Narcissism and Body Language
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2603: Sarah Palin's Body Language - She Feels Disgust toward Pope Francis and ... She Tells a Fib
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2099: Nikki Haley & Sarah Palin - Governors in Contrast
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3279: Jeb Bush, Donald Trump and the Iowa State Fair - Body Language Tells
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3257: Donald Trump at the Texas-Mexico Border - Body Language of a Hyper-Alpha
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