For ten months I've been looking for an example of a facial expression of empathy on Donald Trump. There are none. No expressions, no clusters, no body language at all of empathy. On the contrary - the image above is one of Trump's common default expressions. In many ways it's the antithesis of empathy. It screams ego, dismissiveness and judgement.
Specifically, the cluster of a backward tilting of tilted head/neck - characterizes the classic idiom of "looking down his nose". Moreover the further jutting of his jaw/chin with the pout of his lips - particularly his lower lip combined with the partial closure of his eyelids, the indirect gaze (torso turned away with a partial rotation of the head/neck and eyes) further project his dismissiveness, distancing and passing of judgement.
One of the most valuable benefits of being skilled in nonverbal communication is that you can discern those people who have low empathy vs. high empathy - and low sincerity vs. high sincerity. This is a profound life skill - whether it's in choosing a presidential candidate, a date, a business partner, a potential juror, a new hire, etc. - there is no substitute for being able to qualify and quantify these two emotions. How skilled are you in determining the empathy or sincerity levels of others?
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. 3538: Barack Obama, David Cameron, Number 10, Brexit and Body Language
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3532: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and The Graham Norton Show
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3526: Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler Meet - the Munich Agreement
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3531: Helen Mirren, Subways, Sincerity, Empathy and Body Language
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3292: Empathy, Yawning and Dogs
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2787: Korean Ferry Sinking, Empathy and Emotional Processing
Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1570: Shiva, a Signal of Empathy and the Subcontinent
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2669: Sara Bareilles and the Body Language of the Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression
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