Monday, November 9, 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3368: Donald Trump, Insincerity and Starbucks - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)





With respect to nonverbal communication, Donald Trump is a Christmas Tree strewn with gifts of teaching examples. Today he provided yet another classic moment of insincerity.

This year, Starbucks has chosen to decorate their seasonal coffee cups somewhat differently than in years past. In other holiday seasons they had put images of reindeer, snowflakes, snowmen, Christmas trees and ornaments on their cups. But this year the coffee chain's cups are bright red - with none of their past decorations. Although some have asserted that the words, "Merry Christmas" were removed - these words were never on the cups in previous years - only the some of the seasonal symbols.

Donald Trump (along with many others) have taken issue with their (erroneous) claim of removal of the greeting "Merry Christmas" from Starbucks' cups. Many other people have also said (in voice very similar to the post-heart-growth-version-of-the-Grinch), "Maybe Christmas he thought doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

In the above video, Donald Trump says, "Today I read - and I have Starbucks - they're my tenants. Did you read about Starbucks? No more 'Merry Christmas' on Starbucks. No more. [long pause] I wouldn't buy - Hey, look - I'm speaking against myself. I have one of the most successful Starbucks in Trump Tower. Maybe we should boycott Starbucks - I dunno. Seriously. I don't care. By the way, that's the end of that lease - but who cares? Who cares? WHO CARES? [long pause] But today a big story. That Scar [stutter] Starbucks is taking 'Merry Christmas' off - no more 'Merry Christmas'. I will tell you - lots of big things, lots of little things, you can call this anything you want - but if I become President, we're all going to be saying, 'Merry Christmas' again, that I can tell you. That I can tell you."

During the 0:12 - 0:15 segment, as Trumps says, "... Hey, look - I'm speaking against myself ..." - he places his hand over his sternum - but only his fingers touch - while the palm of his hand remains elevated of his chest (this nuance is best seen in the dynamic context of the video). This lack of palmar touch is very telling of a insincerity. Trump is not "speaking against" himself. On the contrary - he is very much speaking on his own behalf. Trump is of course, running for President - so such a boycott may very well aide his efforts to secure the Republican Nomination. And if he loses all affiliations he may have with Starbucks - that's a small sacrifice.

Notice also, Trump's stuttering when he begins to say, "Scar -" rather than "Starbucks". This misspeak is a very interesting example of paralanguage slip (Freudian slip) - and another signal betraying his ulterior motive.






















See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3367: Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3053: Giada De Laurentiis, Insincere Smiles and Divorce

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3293: Why is Donald Trump a Better Liar than Most Politicians?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3202: FIFA's Jack Warner Cites 'The Onion' in His Own Defense

Analysis No. 2863: Gary Oldman's Apology on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - Sincere or Insincere?

Nonverbal Communication Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3133: The Red Flag of Robert Durst's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3078: Tom Brady, Deflategate, Deception and Body Language 


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