Monday, April 3, 2017

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3897: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)



Roger Stone's most recent book, The Making of the President, was published only 10 days after Donald Trump's inauguration. The image above occupies the bottom 40% of the book's cover.




Although the book was written by Mr. Stone, it is, of course, in President Trump's best interest to have a picture of him which best projects a "Presidential Image" - this photo does NOT accomplish that goal.











































No part of Trump's body is pointed at the "audience" - rather it's oblique. The President's head is partially turned toward us, but not fully. This necessitates his eyes looking further laterally in order to make contact.

His eyelids are partially closed - yet with his eyebrows elevated. This opposite motion of these two adjacent tissues is NOT a natural default nonverbal - it takes effort. One colloquial expression for this eye appearance is "Looking Askance". He is critical of us - the audience. Human beings do not look directly at those whom they do not like, do not believe, or do not respect.

























Although very few people use this Conventional Steeple hand position for any longer than a second or two (and some never at all in their whole lives') - Trump has been using it for years. If you view tens of thousands of pictures of former presidents, you will only find that Donald Trump displays the conventional steeple.

If used only for a second or two at the correct time, a conventional steeple conveys assertiveness, confidence, and power - but if used for greater duration and frequency (and with this display, a little bit goes a long way), it very rapidly projects arrogance as well as condescending and patronizing emotional tones


























It's rare for Donald Trump to sit with his ankles crossed. This body language configuration indicates low confidence, low assertiveness, hesitancy, and low emotional comfort. It's very Beta - and a position in which no president should ever be photographed.

In the sales process, one should never make an "ask" or an attempt at a "close" when the prospect is seated in this manner.
























A further failure of attention to detail is betrayed not only by debris on the floor - but also by what appears to be a tag or upholstery hanging from the underside of Trump's chair.

And that's not a wall behind the President. It's a photographer's screen. A shadow and gap can be seen along the floor juncture - and particularly with the wall. The "audience" should never see the edges of the screen - for it's a bit like Toto pulling back the curtain in The Wizard of Oz. In this setting, it has the additional effect of acting as a visual metaphor of a façade. It very much says, "This is False", "This is Not Real", "This is a Ruse", "This is not Solid".


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3896: Did Matthew Perry Really Beat Up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3894: Michael Flynn and Russia - "When are given immunity, it means you probably committed a crime"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3892: Sean Spicer to April Ryan, "Stop Shaking Your Head" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3867: What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye? Emma Stone, Romance and Flirting

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3850: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump and Michael Flynn

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3829: Mary Tyler Moore - Flirtatious, Sexy, Alpha Female Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3782: Zoey Deutch, Ryan Seacrest and Embarrassment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3779: Donald Trump Cover Shoot - Time Magazine's Person of the Year

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