On Tuesday, Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg testified before the Senate Judiciary and Commerce Committees. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of but two key moments of his five-hour testimony. Included here is a nuancing of a nonverbal signal that most casual observers would conflate - however, their meanings are profoundly different.
SENATOR CRUZ (continuing at 1:18): Well Mr. Zuckerberg, I will say there are - a great many - Americans who I think are deeply concerned that, that Facebook and other tech companies are engaged in a pervasive pattern of bias and political censorship. Ah, There have been numerous instances with Facebook ...
During 1:36, as Senator Cruz says, "... Facebook ...", Mr. Zuckerberg displays a Tight Tongue Jut. A tight tongue signals the thought emotions of:
• Disdain
• Disgust
• Repulsion
With a Tight Tongue Jut, the mouth is barely opened - but the tongue is pushed out through closed lips. It's helpful to think of this as an adult analog to an infant rejecting creamed asparagus.
Notice also his nostril flaring and tension in the region above the upper lip/below the nose (the "mustache area").
In this specific example, it's not possible to differentiate if Mr. Zuckerberg's emotions are directed at the Senator from Texas - or toward the accusations/in defense of the company he co-founded (or both).
Now on a bit further ...
SENATOR CRUZ (continuing at 2:54, over-talking): So, let me, let me, let me ask this question: Are, are you aware of any ad or page that has been taken down from Planned Parenthood?
MR. ZUCKERBERG: Senator, I, I'm not. But let me just - can I [stutter] f- finish?
SENATOR CRUZ: (over-talking) How about moveon.org?
MR. ZUCKERBERG: Sorry?
SENATOR CRUZ: How about moveon.org?
MR. ZUCKERBERG: I'm not specifically aware of those cases.
SENATOR CRUZ: (over-talking) How about any Democratic candidate for office?
MR. ZUCKERBERG: I, I'm not specifically aware. I mean I, I'm, I'm not n-, I'm not sure Ω
During 3:18 - just after Mr. Zuckerberg said, "I, I'm not specifically aware. I mean I, I'm, I'm not n-, I'm not sure" - Mark then displays a Loose Tongue Jut (notated in the dialog by the Ω symbol). A Loose Tongue Jut transmits the thought emotions of:
• "I've been bad"
• "I've been caught"
• "I've done a stupid thing" (Navarro).
Contrast this with the Tight Tongue Jut shown earlier. Note that in the Loose Tongue Jut - as the tongue protrudes out - the mouth is partially opened.
A split second later - also during 3:18 - Mr. Zuckerberg displays an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). An Inward Lip Roll is a signal of the psyche suppressing strong emotions - both from being expressed on the face - but also inwardly from growing even stronger.
What emotion you ask?
Another split-second later (still during 3:18) - we see Mark Zuckerberg's jaw jutting forward (A Jaw Jut) This is secondary to an adrenaline surge accompanying anger. Note also the wrinkling/dimpling on the anterior (front) aspect of his chin.
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