Thursday, January 25, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4185: Tom Hanks, Embarrassment, and Emotional Processing - Nonverbal and Emotional Processing (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Tom Hanks was recently a guest on The Graham Norton Show. In a response to a question regarding meeting the real people whom he plays, Mr. Hanks dramatically misspeaks (during 1:00).




























About 2.0 seconds later (during 1:02), Mr. Hanks displays an excellent example of a microexpression of (self) disbelief as his left eyebrow raises.

Simultaneously, he also proceeds to look rapidly left, then back to his right and forth is a classic "Double-take" display of surprise. Please watch the video as this dynamic process isn't able to be captured in a still photograph.



























Rapidly (also during 1:02), both eyebrows then raise - along with the entire width of his forehead, and both of upper eyelids. His mouth, although it's not widely opened (e.g., thus a more moderate/suppressed surprise), it still takes on a momentary horizontally-oriented oval morphology.























Tom Hanks' blushing is difficult to visualize as it is largely camouflaged and blended in with the orange background of the stage.

But Hanks also proceeds to cover his mouth with his left fist (1:13). This is a variety of facial covering often seen with embarrassment. More specifically, during moments of emotional processing - although our intellect may know what's just happened, our emotional brains will take a few seconds/minutes (sometimes longer) to fully digest the moment.




























A few seconds later (1:18) we can see a further nonverbal phenomenon - where Hanks' right hand is mirroring his left hand's fist configuration. This right-left hand-mirroring behavior connotes a stronger emotional intensity.

Summary: Although Tom Hanks is an excellent actor, he's not acting here - his disbelief, surprise, double-take, embarrassment, and emotional processing displays are all sincere.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4184: Why Does Donald Trump Point So Often?

Body Language Analysis No. 4182: North, South Korea, and the Olympics

Body Language Analysis No. 4180: White House Press Briefing Re: President Trump's Physical - Dr. Ronny Jackson

Body Language Analysis No. 4178: Donald Trump, "I'm the Least Racist Person", DACA ... and Kevin McCarthy's Anxiety

Body Language Analysis No. 4166: Logan Paul's Apology

Body Language Analysis No. 4161: Vladimir Putin's Not-So-Poker Face

Body Language Analysis No. 4123: Jason Momoa, Aquaman, the Quindent, and a Secret

Body Language Analysis No. 4088: Kit Harington's April Fools' Prank on Rose Leslie

Body Language Analysis No. 4055: What Does Jessica Chastain Feel For Matt Damon?


_____________________________________________________________________________________