Saturday, June 30, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4314: Donald Trump, The Supreme Court, Abortion, and Punishment - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)



In the light of Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy's announcement of his retirement from the Supreme Court, the interview included here is profoundly important. In March 2016, Chris Matthews spoke with then-candidate Trump in a town hall type setting. One of the questions Mr. Matthews pressed Mr. Trump on was that of abortion - and specifically, because Trump believes abortions should be illegal - what was his view on the issue of punishment for women who undergo abortions?


In this image (captured from the above video during 2:16) - when Mr. Trump was attempting to formulate his response to Chris Matthews' question of, "... Do you believe in punishment for abortion - yes or no - as a principle?".

Donald Trump commonly displays several nonverbal signals which are distinctly beta (and feminine). One of these is exampled here. This display is much more commonly seen with women and gay men - but when it's displayed by a straight man, it projects a low-confidence/unsure/beta emotional tone.

Note the position of Trump's right wrist. It's extended (bent backward) close to its maximum. When a straight man displays this body language, it sends signals of low confidence. Moreover, when coupled with an upper arm that's positioned very closely to the torso (as we also see Trump doing), this nonverbal behavior cluster transmits even deeper beta and unsure emotions.

Notice also, Trump's eyes are looking up - fixated in the distance (middle-distance). This is a common direction of gaze and focus behavior associated with the formulation of an answer.
 

Then, just a couple of seconds later (2:18 - 2:20), once Trump makes up his mind ("... there has to be some form of punishment - Yeah. There has to be some form."), he first positions his hand in a vertically straight, ready-to-chop fashion, and then proceeds to quickly chop his hand in a very assertive (even hyper-assertive), decisive, alpha manner. Trump commonly uses this gesture - however, it's not typically temporally juxtaposed with a hyper-beta display as he does here. 

SUMMARY: Donald Trump had not thought through this question prior to Chris Matthews asking it. The candidate's nonverbal behavior displayed here - a low confidence signal followed rapidly by a high-confidence signal - is a window into the unsure mind of a person formulating his decision in that moment. We are seeing cognitive dissonance followed by a decision and absolutism. Upon deciding, Mr. Trump rapidly emotionally morphs into the bravado of hyper-confidence.

Moreover, in this particular context, his hand-chop also projects the additional visual metaphor of severe punishment for abortion.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4312: South Korea Defeats Germany at The World Cup

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4311: Jeff Sessions, "We never really intended to do that"

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4307: Jeff Sessions cites Bible Passage to Justify Separating Children From Parents

Body Language Analysis No. 4302: G7 Leaders Surrounding Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4286: Aaron Schlossberg's Racist Rant

Body Language Analysis No. 4262: Wendy Vitter, the U.S. District Court, and Brown v. Board of Education

Body Language Analysis No. 4244: Stormy Daniels' 60 Minutes Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4016: Anthony Scaramucci - Faux Pas and Harbingers


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Friday, June 29, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4312: South Korea Defeats Germany at The World Cup - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)


On Wednesday South Korea defeated Germany 2-0 at the World Cup. The German national team was not only the defending champions, but this loss also resulted in their elimination in the first round - which hasn't happened in 80 years. In the image above Mario Gomez (23) and Mats Hummels (5) are seen just after the match.

When confronted with defeat or when witnessing an emotionally disturbing event, we will frequently quickly move our hands to the top/sides of our heads. This nonverbal tell is commonly displayed by the losing athletes in sporting competitions when the other team scores - or near the end of an unsuccessful game/match/race.


This second photo, taken from a different angle a few seconds after the first image - shows Gomez and Hummels- along with another teammate, Joshua Kimmich (18).

This rapid hands-to-head behavior is partially is a symptom of emotional processing. For while the intellectual mind may know what has happened/is happening - the emotional mind has yet to fully to come to terms with the events - and the ramifications.


Soldiers in the act of surrendering/prisoners of war (as well as individuals upon police arrest) will very often display identical nonverbal behavior. Once captive, of course, they have no choice - they are forced. Obviously, this posture of surrender lessens the chances of physical retaliation and escape - but quite strongly, this body language also engenders beta emotions of psychological and physical weakness.

SUMMARY: The hands-to-head configuration is a sign of emotional processing in the face of witnessing or hearing a dramatic emotional event. It also makes a defeated person feel more even more beta, vulnerable, and hopeless. It's a form of negative nonverbal biofeedback. Thus, from a sports psychology perspective, this is one nonverbal behavior which we should never allow ourselves the luxury of displaying on the pitch, field, diamond, rink, or track.


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See also:

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4106 (Reposting with Addendum): Jordan's Queen Rania meets with Rohingya Refugee Children & Melania Trump's Visit to Children's Shelter/Detention Center

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4310: Donald Trump overturns his policy of separating families at the border

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's most Telling Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

Body Language Analysis No. 4289: A Royal Wedding, Suppression of Tears, and Meghan Markle's Mom

Body Language Analysis No. 4268: Benedict Cumberbatch, Schadenfreude, and The Grinch

Body Language Analysis No. 4202: Saoirse Ronan, Ed Sheeran, and Galway Girl (Galway Grill)

Body Language Analysis No. 4136: Seminole Heights/Tampa Florida Serial Killer - Criminal Profiling


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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4106 (Reposting with Addendum): Jordan's Queen Rania meets with Rohingya Refugee Children & Melania Trump's Visit to Children's Shelter/Detention Center (PHOTOS)


In light of Monday's White House visit of King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan, I've received multiple requests for a reposting of this previous analysis. It was originally published on 29 October 2017. In addition, US First Lady Melania Trump's visit last Thursday to a "Children's Shelter" in Texas is discussed and contrasted. Updated cross-references are included at the bottom of the page.

In late October 2017, Queen Rania of Jordan visited refugee camps in Bangladesh. In the two months prior to her visit, Bangladesh had received over 500,000 Rohingya people escaping wide-scale human rights violations in neighboring Myanmar, including extrajudicial killings, gang rapes, arson, and infanticides. This is genocide.

Too often political figures' appearances with children are simply photo-ops designed only to serve the leaders' other agenda. In contrast, Queen Rania's emotions and nonverbal displays in these images are quite sincere.


Strong signals of sincerity and empathy are sent when a Queen is not afraid to touch children in a refugee camp.


Note that in all three of these photos, Queen Rania is at or below the level of even very young children. It's rare that leaders exhibit this eye-level and eye contact behavior. Queen Rania is not simply bending over at her waist (such body language is too often performed by adults when visiting and/or speaking with children - and in so doing it sends distancing and patronizing emotional tones). When eye contact takes place at or close to the same physical level, it tends to have a much greater effect in building rapport and empathy.

In assuming this beta posture, Queen Rania elevates all the children to a relative alpha status. It's as if to say, "Although I am a queen - today you are my equals - and even my superiors."


In contrast, First Lady Melania Trump visited a "children's shelter" last week in McAllen, Texas. Some of the children housed in that facility were forcibly separated from their parents - while others there crossed the US-Mexico border seeking asylum and were unaccompanied by an adult.

No photographs or video of any interaction the First Lady may have had with the children during her visit to McAllen are publicly available. However, on the way to and from Texas, Melania Trump infamously wore the message, "I really don't care. Do U?" printed on the back of her jacket.

Stephanie Grisham, the First Lady's Press Secretary and Communications Director said, "It's a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today's important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn't going to choose to focus on her wardrobe."


President Trump contradicted his wife's spokesperson later that same day, tweeting, " 'I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?' written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!"

SUMMARY: You can take a thousand courses and read ten thousand books on the subject of "Leadership" - you can analyze the behavior of every single leader of every group of free people in human history - and you will never find an example where apathy is flaunted or espoused to be a desirable quality.

Without ethics, what is feigned as leadership is, at best, mass-manipulation.

It wasn't just a jacket. By wearing this message, the First Lady (and, of course, The President) - send a very clear and deliberate message of apathy - where instead, deep empathy and positive action are needed.

“There are two ways to be fooled: one is to believe what isn't true, the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” 

Søren Kierkegaard


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See also:

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4311: Jeff Sessions, "We never really intended to do that"

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4302: G7 Leaders Surrounding Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair 

Body Language Analysis No. 4294: LeBron James, Adrenaline Surges, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 4278: Jaws - "You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat" - vs. A Real Shark Encounter on a Paddleboard 

Body Language Analysis No. 4276: Waffle House Hero James Shaw Jr. Meets His NBA Idol Dwyane Wade

Body Language Analysis No. 4264: Criminal Profiling • Sketch of Man Who Allegedly Threatened Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) Over Her Affair with Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4185: Tom Hanks, Embarrassment, and Emotional Processing


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Saturday, June 23, 2018

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4311: Jeff Sessions, "We never really intended to do that" - (VIDEO, PHOTOS)



Jeff Sessions' recent behavior could get him expelled from the Methodist Church. On 18 June 2018, 640 senior clergy of the United Methodist Church clergies brought charges against the Attorney General. Invoking paragraph 2702.3 of the United Methodist Book of Discipline, they charged Mr. Sessions with child abuse, immorality (including “the use of violence against children to deter immigration”), racial discrimination, and the dissemination of false doctrine counter to Methodist teachings (e.g., his use of the Bible verse Romans 13 in an attempt to legitimize President Trump's immigration policies).

On 21 June, Sessions appeared in an interview on Christian Broadcast Network (CBN) News. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of a portion of that interview (a segment of which is included within the above MSNBC video). 

JEFF SESSIONS (beginning at 0:56): ... It hasn't been good [Tight Tongue Jut] And the American people don't like the idea that we're separating families - ahum - we never really intended to do that. What we intended to do [sniff] was to ahum make sure that - adults who bring children into the country are [stutter, stammer] charged with the crime they've committed instead of giving that special group of adults immunity from prosecution - which is what, in effect, we were doing [sniff, Tight Tongue Jut] Ahum, so I think it's the right thing. We'll work our way through it ahum, - and try and do it in the most compassionate way possible.

Throughout much of his interview, Jeff Sessions displayed multiple examples of partially suppressed smiles.


This suppressed smile was captured during 1:03 after Sessions says, "... ahum - we never really intended to ..."

Consider the context of this interview:

• He's the Attorney General of the United States
• The issue at hand was the forcible separation of children from their parents - occurring at least 2300 times under his direction
• Most of the World is highly vocal and extremely critical of the Trump Administration's policy and actions on this matter
• The United Methodist Church has charged him with:
  1. Child abuse
  2. Violence against children to deter immigration
  3. Racial discrimination
  4. The dissemination of false doctrine


This image of a suppressed smile was captured during 1:14, Sessions says, "... crime ..."

Given these circumstances, any smiling is extremely out of context behavior. Why then is Jeff Sessions smiling? We are left with the following conclusions:

• Attorney General Sessions' smiling is a manifestation of Deception - a phenomenon known as "Duping Delight" - where a person takes pleasure in their belief that fooled others into believing their lie (We know that he's lying based on other well documented/videoed statements he and the Trump Administration have made). 

and/or

• Jeff Sessions is taking pleasure, true Joy-Happiness in the forcible separations of children from their parents

Additional tells we see during this portion of his interview:

• Stammering/Stuttering (indicative of significantly high anxiety)
• Sniffing
• Tight Tongue Juts


This is a Tight Tongue Jut (indicating Disdain, Disgust, Repulsion) during 0:58, just after Sessions says, "It hasn't been good".


During 1:05, just after AG Sessions says, "... the American people don't like the idea that we're separating families - ahum - we never really intended to do that. What we intended to do ..."
- he sniffs deeply.

When there are no infections or allergies present, sniffing is an extremely common indicator of anxiety. Moreover, taken in toto with the other signals present - and given the timing/coordination of his sniffing with his verbal statement - it's also highly correlative with deception.

In addition, Sessions is also displaying a Forward Lip Purse in this moment - indicating a Clandestine Disagreement or Clandestine Plan. This nonverbal sign is ALWAYS a red flag that whatever the person is saying - it's vastly different vs. what they're thinking-feeling.


During 1:22, just after he says, "...instead of giving that special group of adults immunity from prosecution - which is what, in effect, we were doing ...", Sessions makes another Sniffing Display - in conjunction with another Tight Tongue Jut.

SUMMARY: Jeff Sessions is lying during this interview. You don't need to be a body language expert to know that - you simply have to watch/listen to his previous videoed statements. Yet this short display serves as an excellent nonverbal teaching example - for we don't always have such ample evidence.

Moreover, he has clear disgust, disdain, and repulsion for the people who are immigrating. Sessions is also very possibly taking true pleasure in others' suffering.


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See also:

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4310: Donald Trump signs order stopping his policy of separating families at the border

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's most Telling Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute

Body Language Analysis No. 4304: Donald Trump's and Kim Jong-un's Handshake in Singapore

Body Language Analysis No. 4269: Michael Cohen and the Joker Smile

Body Language Analysis No. 4217: Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther, Anxiety, and Alpha Up-Regulation

Body Language Analysis No. 4155: Luis Elizondo Interview - Former Military Intelligence Official Who Ran AATIP (The Pentagon's Secret UFO Unit)

Body Language Analysis No. 4104: Walter Cronkite Reaction to JFK Assassination

Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey


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Thursday, June 21, 2018

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4310: Donald Trump signs order stopping his policy of separating families at the border (VIDEO, PHOTOS)



On Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order which stopped his previous policy of separating families at the US-Mexican border.

This new executive order will allow families who cross the border illegally to instead be detained together rather than being forcibly separated as has been occurring since 6 April 2018. The order specifies nothing with regards to reuniting the families who have already been separated. Moreover, another law (The Flores Settlement) will also have to be modified since it prohibits the government from holding children in detention for longer than twenty days.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Donald Trump during Wednesday's impromptu signing ceremony in the Oval Office.

DONALD TRUMP (continuing at 0:26): ... but we're going to keep - the families together. I didn't like the sight or the feeling of the families being separated. Ah, this is a problem that's gone on for many years as you know, with many administrations ...


During 0:30, as Donald Trump says, "... like ...", he shrugs his right shoulder.

A shoulder shrug transmits the thought-emotions of:

• I don't know
• I don't care
• What does it matter?

A unilateral shoulder shrug is an example of what, in body language parlance is called a Partial Emblematic Slip. The term partial is applied here because it's only used on one side. It's classified as an emblem because it's a universally recognized signal. And it's called a slip because it's subconsciously leaking - rather than being deliberately displayed.

A very significant statement analysis tell (a subset of paralanguage) is revealed when Trump says, "I didn't like the sight or the feeling of the families being separated. Here, the President emphasizes what HE didn't like or felt - not what THE FAMILIES - particularly the YOUNG CHILDREN must have been feeling. At a time when empathy should be a profound and highly focused theme, the President instead shows us his ego.


We see an example of a bilateral shoulder shrug during 0:37 as he says, "... as you ..." (How many others did you spot in this video?).


JOURNALIST (beginning at 4:38): Did Ivanka Trump show you photos of the children being separated from their families?

PRESIDENT TRUMP (over-talking): No, Ivanka feels very strongly, my wife feels very strongly about it. Ah, I feel very strongly about it, I think, ah, Ω anybody with a heart would feel strongly about it. We don't like to s, see [stutter] families separated ...

During 4:48, just before he says, "... anybody with a heart would feel strongly about it...", Donald Trump displays a Tight Tongue Jut (notated by the Ω symbol). A tight tongue jut signifies the emotions of disdain, disgust, and repulsion. Thus, Donald Trump is feeling disdain, disgust, and repulsion as he's entertaining the thought of other people having empathy (e.g., anybody with a heart...).

Another interesting statement analysis tell was demonstrated when Trump called his daughter by name - and yet didn't use Melania's name - instead referring to her as "my wife". This pattern in his word choice betrays the President's diminished affection for his third spouse. It's a significant verbal tell - even when used in isolation - but it's particularly glaring when juxtaposed next to a named family member.


You may have noticed that throughout much of this video, Mike Pence displayed significant anxiety as he repetitively pinched and picked his forefinger fingernails against his thumbnails. In this image, the Vice President is showing this anxiety tell on his right hand - although he exhibited this body language bilaterally.

SUMMARY: Donald Trump displays a significant lack of empathy on multiple occasions during this video. The thought of other people having empathy disgusts and repulses him. Moreover, he's being deceptive when the President speaks of not liking the sight of families being separated. On the contrary - such forced separation does not bother him.

Mike Pence's nonverbal behavior shows his significant anxiety throughout this Oval Office appearance.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4307: Jeff Sessions cites Bible Passage to Justify Separating Children From Parents

Body Language Analysis No. 4305: Donald Trump's Aberrancies - post-Summit Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4303: Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, Women's Empowerment, and Rage

Body Language Analysis No. 4282: When Public Displays of Affection are More Frequent than those in Private

Body Language Analysis No. 4251: Cristiano Ronaldo's Bicycle Kick vs. Juventus F.C.

Body Language Analysis No. 4254: Tony Robbins, Nanine McCool, and the #MeToo Movement

Body Language Analysis No. 4248: My Extended interview re: Security Video of Stephen Paddock (1 October Las Vegas Shooter) - KTNV • Channel 13 Las Vegas

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils So Large?


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Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Photo credits: John Moore

When you first saw this now anti-iconic photo (above and the close-up below), what was your first thought?

Well, this is a bit of a trick question, because your first reaction should NOT have been to think about this image first - rather you should have felt it first. This would indicate you have substantial Emotional Empathy.

So long as our emotional empathy is developed - when we see another person in pain - whether it be emotional pain or physical pain, we should "feel them" first. And we should naturally, and reflexively feel their pain - without thinking. We empathize. We experience similar emotions.

(In the next moment, if you have a developed sense of Compassionate Empathy - you would then think about what you could do to help - and then act upon it.)

When we're in such a state of emotional empathy, particularly initially - we will mirror the facial expressions of those with whom we're empathizing.

Although we can primarily visualize the right side of her face and only portions of her mid-line and left face, we can still clearly discern that this two-year-old's:

• Central forehead is contracted and elevated

• Her eyebrows are simultaneously depressed in all but the medial (inner) portions

• Her upper eyelids are open widely - while her lower eyelids are tightened

• Her nostrils are flared

• Her mid-face is significantly tightened

• Her neck muscles (platysma) is tightened 

• Her lips are stretched thin as her mouth corners are being pulled laterally and down

• With a simultaneous exposing of her lower teeth during in a jaw drop

• Whilst crying and screaming


SUMMARY: It's no mystery to most people who view these images, that this little girl is in an emotional state of deep anguish and fear.

Yet there is still a mystery here - for why, upon looking at these and similar photos - does a substantial percentage of the general population still not experience any (or very little) emotional empathy? The answer is multifactorial. In a very basic sense, emotional empathy deficits can be divided up into genetic and environmental causes - both nature and nurture.

"If you only have 'empathy' for people who are in your group/tribe/same color skin/same religion/same country - you can stop deluding yourself. That's not empathy - it's just an extension of your ego."

Piper Anne Twain


Media Inquiries and Keynote Appearances 
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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's most Telling Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute

Body Language Analysis No. 4304: Donald Trump's and Kim Jong-un's Handshake in Singapore

Body Language Analysis No. 4302: G7 Leaders Surrounding Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4284: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Deadpool 2, and Alpha Up-Regulation

Body Language Analysis No. 4278: Jaws - "You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat" - vs. A Real Shark Encounter on a Paddleboard

Body Language Analysis No. 4255: Roger Stone and Julian Assange

Body Language Analysis No. 4209: Emma Gonzalez, Florida HS Shooting, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4159: Nikki Haley, Jerusalem, and the United Nations


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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's most Telling Expression - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)


During her press briefing today, one of the most common non-neutral facial expressions displayed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was that of Disgust. Why? Largely because she was in a near constant state of emotional dissonance. Her job description requires her to be the mouthpiece of the President and his policies - and yet a significant portion of her psyche is protesting.

Secretary Nielsen's most telling disgust display of all was captured in the above moment (close up below) as she walked away from the lectern at the end of her briefing (photo credit - Alex Wong).


SUMMARY: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen repeatedly displayed sincere disgust during her press briefing on Monday. She's having significant difficulty bottling-up her feelings - and this is, in part, a leakage - a manifestation of her emotional dissonance. She feels trapped. It's highly likely that DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen will soon resign.


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702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4307: Jeff Sessions cites Bible Passage to Justify Separating Children From Parents

Body Language Analysis No. 4305: Donald Trump's Aberrancies - post-Summit Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4303: Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, Women's Empowerment, and Rage

Body Language Analysis No. 4298: LeBron James Walks Out of Post Game Press Conference after Game One Loss

Body Language Analysis No. 4196: Trey Gowdy on "Face The Nation

Body Language Analysis No. 4183: Aly Raisman, Larry Nassar, and USA Gymnastics

Body Language Analysis No. 4158: Michelle Williams regarding Kevin Spacey - "All the Money in the World"

Body Language Analysis No. 4099: Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, and Jim Leavelle

Body Language Analysis No. 4031: One Gesture to Never Use When Condemning Neo-Nazis



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Sunday, June 17, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4307: Jeff Sessions cites Bible Passage to Justify Separating Children From Parents - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)



On Thursday 14 June 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions quoted a passage from the Bible in an effort to justify forcibly separating children from parents at the US-Mexican border. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Sessions during his statement.

At multiple times during this short video segment, Attorney General Sessions smiled - and crucially, he was (partially) suppressing his smile. This was most evident when he was quoting Bible scripture.

Did AG Sessions smile because he found the bible verse humorous? No. Did he smile because he felt victorious? Possibly-Probably. Did he smile because he took joy in the act of other peoples' suffering? This is highly Probable. Thus, this is also an example of Duping Delight. Sessions believes he is fooling us (at least some of us) by quoting the Bible - and he's taking pleasure in doing so.


An important way to think of AG Sessions' behavior is that it was a classic example of Smiling Out Of Context. The vast majority of people, if put in his shoes (even if they'd believe themselves' to be "doing the right thing") - would NOT be smiling.

When a person is smiling out of context - it should always send up a red flag. This is particularly true when the ramifications bring pain, suffering, and harm to others.

We could stop right our nonverbal analysis right here and our conclusions would be accurate - yet there's more nuance.


A particular variety of smile suppression - where the central upper lip is projected forward in a semi-pointed fashion - has a very high correlation with the emotions of Schadenfreude or Malice. Schadenfreude is a German word for the emotion of "experiencing of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of or witnessing the troubles, failures, or humiliation of another". The emotion of Schadenfreude is a watered-down version of Malice.

The image immediately above was captured during 0:41, just prior to Sessions saying, "I would cite you to the Apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13 'to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained the government for his purposes', ..."


This image shows AG Sessions less than a second later in that same sentence. Note the central forward pointing of his lips - especially his upper lip.


This facial expression is so characteristic of malice/taking pleasure in other's suffering that it's even been used for decades in the setting of animation. In this Seussian example, we see the Grinch just as he's crystallized his plans to steal the Whos' Christmas gifts in his effort to stop their Christmas.

SUMMARY: Jeff Sessions' partial suppression of his smile as he was quoting the Bible - indicates he believes he was fooling us - and that he was taking pleasure in doing so (Duping Delight). Moreover, the particular configuration of his protruding and pointed upper lip during his smile suppression also betrays his emotion of taking some pleasure in the suffering of others.

Happy Father's Day. 


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute

Body Language Analysis No. 4304: Donald Trump's and Kim Jong-un's Handshake in Singapore

Body Language Analysis No. 4302: G7 Leaders Surrounding Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4300: Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Water Bottles

Body Language Analysis No. 4295: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4286: Aaron Schlossberg's Racist Rant

Body Language Analysis No. 4274: Ariana Grande, Jimmy Fallon, and Recalling the Manchester Bombing

Body Language Analysis No. 4249: Will Smith, Sophia the Robot, Robot-Empathy, and Responding in Context

Body Language Analysis No. 4077: A Facial Expression Common to Both Bad Actors and Sociopaths



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Friday, June 15, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




North Korea released a video on Thursday from the Singapore Summit earlier this week. It shows President Trump returning a salute from one of Kim's generals. Trump's action shocked many people - including Kim Jong-un.


From a nonverbal perspective, it's crucial to note that Donald Trump did not initiate the salute - but responded to the General's salute (an example of social mirroring) after the General missed Trump's cue to shake hands. Upon receiving the salute from Trump, the general then re-initiated a handshake.

The image above - a screen grab from 0:06 obscures Trump's face - but not Kim's.


A closer evaluation of the North Korean leader in this same instant shows a slack-jawed Kim Jong-un. His full facial expression projects an emotion of momentary shock. For a second, he can't believe what he's seeing.


Did you notice that the North Korean General did not look at Trump's face during his salute - but looked down? He did, however, make eye contact thereafter.


Kim recovers quickly from his shock - and when Trump and the general shake hands, Kim smiles - with a mild component of laughter.


However, a closer evaluation of Kim Jong-un reveals his "smile" is asymmetrical - exposing a good bit more teeth (specifically his right, lower teeth). In this context, his particular evanescent mouth asymmetry indicates Kim's:

• Hubris
• Bravado


While of lower resolution and not captured here from an optimal angle, Donald Trump's facial expression in this same second clearly shows his:

• Central Forehead Contracted and Elevated
• Partial Mouth "Smile" (and Insincere Smile)

This is one nonverbal cluster we never want with high frequency - for although we all display it once in a while - those who use it often have a high correlation with Antisocial Personality Disorder (colloquially referred to as Sociopathy/a Sociopath).

Taken isolation this elevated CFC + partial mouth smile expression indicates one of the following feelings:

• Arrogance
• Contempt
• Sarcastic Disbelief

We all feel these thought-emotions on occasion (hopefully not too often) - and all three may be manifested via other facial expressions. But this is NEVER an expression we should ever want to see when someone is shaking our hand.


Summary: Kim Jong-un was momentarily shocked when he saw Donald Trump saluting a North Korean general. Kim then showed bravado/hubris.

President Trump's expression was insincere while shaking the foreign subordinate's hand. More specifically, Trump projected emotions of arrogance, contempt, and/or sarcastic disbelief.


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4305: Donald Trump's Aberrancies - post-Summit Interview 

Body Language Analysis No. 4303: Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, Women's Empowerment, and Rage

Body Language Analysis No. 4301: Donald Trump and the G7 Summit "Family Photo"

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

Body Language Analysis No. 4293: Why is Harvey Weinstein Smiling?

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils So Large?

Body Language Analysis No. 4202: Saoirse Ronan, Ed Sheeran, and Galway Girl (Galway Grill)

Body Language Analysis No. 4181: Ann Curry, Matt Lauer, "Verbal Sexual" Harassment, and NBC

Body Language Analysis No. 4137: Matt Lauer's "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace"


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