Sunday, June 30, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4388: Donald Trump regarding Drowned Father and Daughter in the Rio Grande - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his toddler daughter, Angie Valeri drowned last week while trying to cross the Rio Grande River. Óscar and his family had journeyed from El Salvador - escaping violence and seeking refuge.

A photograph of Óscar and Valeria, side-by-side, her arm draped around his neck tragically humanizes the Central American diaspora. It reminds many of an iconic image of Aylan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian refugee, whose body washed up on Turkey's shores, near Bodrum, in 2015.

On 26 June 2019, President Trump was asked about their drowning and any possible ramifications this may have on his immigration policy. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this exchange.


During 0:03, just after he says, "Yeah" (and just after the journalist begins his question, "Does the photo of the drowned immigrants cause you -"), Donald Trump displays a Tight Tongue Jut. A Tight Tongue Jut is a nonverbal sign of the thought-emotion of:

• Disgust
• Disdain
• Repulsion

(Take care not to mistake a Tight Tongue Jut for a Loose Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut)

Notice Trump's verbal language, "if they fixed the laws, you wouldn't have that". The word "they", in this context, is an example of distancing and misdirecting language - it's a form of paralanguage camouflage. Of course, the President is a component of "they".

Notice Trump's use of the word, "rapidity" to describe the flow rate of the river. A president is, of course, not expected to be a potamologist, however, the word "rapidity" is not a word most educated people commonly use to describe a river's rate of flow. And, while we all occasionally stumble for words, the President is doing so with increasing frequency. Note his use of the word "thee" (with a long e) just prior to the word, "rapidity". This vocal variation ("thee" rather than "the") is a common subconscious/edge-of-consciousness paralanguage stalling technique (along with the accompanying pause) often employed while searching for words. For a similar reason - that of scrambling/searching for a plausible explanation - use of "thee" is also associated with deception.


During 0:29, Trump's hand-arm illustrator is incongruent with his the gesture of "go(ing) through", "But people go through the guards"). Notice also his vocal emphasis on the word "through". This nonverbal-verbal-paralanguage disparity is an indication that Trump does not believe what he's saying. His anxiety-driven over-compensatory behavior is reminiscent of a hocus-pocus/Wizard of Oz - pay no attention to the man behind the curtain type of moment.

He displays a nearly identical gesture in a similar context later, during 1:04 - 1:06, as he says, "because that journey across that river" (Additionally, the word "journey" was also out of context here - yes, Óscar and his family were on a long journey, but a river crossing (aka a fording) is not a journey). 


Trump contracts his right index finger, just as he says, "If we had the right laws that - the Democrats are not letting us have", when only a second before - that finger had been extended (0:31). ( "If we had the right laws that - the Democrats are not letting us have - those people, they wouldn't be coming up - they wouldn't be trying"). This sudden finger dynamic tells us the President completely lacks confidence in what he has just said. As he retracts the most dominant digit of his dominant hand, he's attempting to deceive us.


Trump displays a hyper-alpha hand chop as he says, "wall" ("We're building the wall..."). This is one possible dominant gesture we would have expected him to use earlier, when he said, "But people go through the guards".


During 0:41, as he says, "lot" ("it's [sic] a lot of it is under construction"), Trump he torques his head (a sudden rotation combined with a tilt). In this context, it's accurately described as a Head-Fake. For while such a head torque is frequently a sign of emphasis and conviction - Trump quite often and deliberately uses it as a ruse. Note that he's simultaneously raising a single eyebrow - his left - projecting his disbelief at his own statement. This eyebrow dynamic is subconscious. Whenever conscious and subconscious nonverbals are used together - it's the subconscious ones which tell the true thought-emotions.

It's also profoundly important here - that Trump does not use his hands or arms to illustrate his verbal statements during this sub-segment. This sudden disappearance of his hands is another profound signal of his lack of conviction and honesty.


During 0:56, Trump bends significantly forward (at his waist) as his arms and hands rock forward in palm out-and-down configuration. This dynamic is a nonverbal metaphor - symbolic for pushing Óscar (the father) away.

Notice how the President not only grows louder as he says, "father", but he also verbally stretches-out the word. This is analogous to someone shouting in English to another person who only understands Spanish - Trump's nonverbal-verbal-paralanguage display is over-compensatory. Because he has a complete absence of empathy, he bends forward, shouts, and stretches the word. This is not a feigning of empathy - rather it's a short-circuit manifestation/behavior of a person who is NOT experiencing empathy

To a somewhat lesser extent, he repeats the same nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior - during 1:01, as he says, "Daughter".

The President performs a similar nonverbal display, earlier in this video, during 0:33 - 0:35, when he says, "Democrats are not letting us have".

Another manifestation of Trump's complete lack of empathy - is demonstrated by his distancing language of "father" and "his daughter" - rather than humanizing them by using their names: Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez - and Angie Valeria.
 

As he says "probably was this wonderful guy", Trump displays two consecutive unilateral eyebrow raises ("probably" [0:58] and "wonderful" [0:59]) - on his left side - each indicating Trump does not believe his own words. He also shakes his head, in a side-to-side, "No" motion. Whenever the nonverbal language contradicts the verbal language - it's the nonverbal which tells the truth.


Yet another left eyebrow raise is displayed again as Trump says, "happen" ("Things like that wouldn't happen", 1:03).


During 1:19 - 1:21, after he says "people drowning in the rivers" ("open borders mean crime and open borders mean people drowning in the rivers"), Trump uses a variation of a Finger-Point-Hand-Chop. A finger-point-hand-chop is correlated with Hyperbolic Defensiveness and Deception.

SUMMARY: Based on his nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage behavior used during this exchange, at no time, did President Trump display any empathy regarding the recent Rio Grande River drowning deaths of Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez and his young daughter, Angie Valeria.

An empathy expression requires a corners down-turned sadden mouth configuration together with an elevated central forehead.

The President also repeatedly lied during this video.

Contrary to his words, the President does NOT at all believe that Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez was, "probably was this wonderful guy". Moreover, Donald Trump is repulsed, disgusted by, and feels disdain toward the people crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Donald Trump does NOT believe that that "open borders mean crime" or that "open borders mean people drowning in the rivers".

The President does NOT believe that if the Democrats passed his proposed border/immigration legislation, that it would prevent mass immigration from Central America. 

President Trump is increasingly misunderstanding words and using terminology out of context. These are but two of his many symptoms strongly suggesting he has progressive dementia.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4387: Donald Trump Welcomes Foreign Interference in US Elections


Body Language Analysis No. 4386: Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump in Churchill's War Room

Body Language Analysis No. 4385: William Barr Testimony - Part II - Senate Judiciary Committee - 1 May 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4384: William Barr's Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 1 May 2019 - Part I

Body Language Analysis No. 4382: Why is Donald Trump Leaning Forward?

Body Language Analysis No. 4381: Trump 'jokes' about staying in office for "at least for 10 or 14 years"

Body Language Analysis No. 4380: Tiger Woods Wins his first Masters in 14 years

Body Language Analysis No. 4360: GE's CEO Larry Culp's CNBC Interview and Subsequent Stock Sell-off

Body Language Analysis No. 4332: Richard Nixon, Nikita Khrushchev, and The Kitchen Debate


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Wednesday, June 19, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4387: Donald Trump Welcomes Foreign Interference in US Elections - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Last week, ABC News released a portion of George Stephanopoulos' extended interview with President Trump. Additional segments were subsequently released. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the initial video.

Throughout the Oval Office portion of this interview, the President is seated while Stephanopoulos remains standing. Although he has significant home field advantage, this dynamic places Trump at a significant detriment. This is particularly true since Stephanopoulos is shorter and thinner.


George Stephanopoulos also had one or both of his palms facing downward on the Resolute Desk during the majority of this interview. Additionally, Stephanopoulos was leaning mildly-to-moderately forward. This nonverbal posture further up-regulates his status to a relative alpha with the President assuming a relative beta position.

At no time does President Trump point his torso or any other part of his body fully toward Stephanopoulos. Sitting in the most powerful room in the World, with a profound home-field advantage, in the context of the two men being filmed for an interview, Trump's refusal to 'face his problems (here, Stephanopoulos' questions) head-on' sends strong signals of evasiveness, emotional discomfort, weakness, and deception to both his interviewer - and to the world.

George Stephanopoulos, of course, has another advantage. As a journalist, he has the rare experience of becoming accustomed to the Oval Office years prior to this interview during his tenure as the White House Communications Director and Senior Advisor to President Clinton. He also interviewed Presidents G.W. Bush and Barack Obama multiple times in that very room.

Notice too, the volume and tone of Stephanopoulos' speech. Although he questions the President with assertiveness, his vocal qualities tend toward friendliness - causing Trump to lower his guard. In the ensuing days, the President will be partially backpedaling.


Continuing at 0:58, George Stephanopoulos says, "Why does it bother you so much?"

Donald Trump answers, "Ah - because [long pause] it's untrue. I like the truth. You know I'm actually a very honest guy [quick inhale] If I thought they were correct - I [stammer] wouldn't be complaining at all ..."


In rapid succession, Trump looks down to his left, gazes to his center, pauses at length, then looks directly left, and next to his center, then up to his left.

President Trump's slow and hesitant response to this question is conspicuous. His darting gaze indicates that he was - first trying to formulate the syntax to an answer - then he was trying to recall an audio memory/answer to Stephanopoulos' question - and next trying to recall visual memory/answer to this question. These are all indications that the President was scrambling to answer a straightforward question.


Note that just after he says, "I like the truth" and as he is saying, "You know I'm actually a very honest guy" - he looks down and away from Stephanopoulos as he also closes his eyes.

His use of the word, "actually" in this context is also a tell. Properly used, "actually" is used to show contrast, emphasis, and 'in a distinction to'. Stephanopoulos didn't question his honesty here - he just asked (referring to the new poll results), "Why does it bother you so much?". So, why did Trump use the word "actually"? When a person says, "actually" - it's often used as a form of verbal backpedaling - and demonstrative of the speaker's emotional discomfort with their own answer (indicating hedging or deception). Moreover, taken in isolation, an unsolicited defense of one's honesty is a telltale sign of dishonesty. His honesty wasn't being questioned - why is he defending it?

Yet another indication of deception here, (whilst proclaiming his own honesty) - is Trump's audible inhale and very quick segue to his next sentence as he finishes saying, "You know I'm actually a very honest guy". He told a lie and, subconsciously, he wants to cover-up his deception by immediately proceeding to the next sentence. He does so too quickly. A person declaring their honesty (if it were even being questioned) would pause after saying it, letting their declaration (with a confident tone) hang in the air.


Note that during 1:45, the President hesitates before he calls his son a "young man" ("I mean I was reading that my son was gonna to go to jail, thisa [sic] good [pause] young man"). He looks down to his left in quick succession here (1:44, 1:45). This is the quadrant we often look toward when deciding on word choice and syntax. Donald Trump Jr. is 41 years old. Although the term, "young man" is slang, and, as with all slang, it means different things to different people, most of us would not describe a 41-year-old man as a "young man". The President's use of this description (which he has used on multiple occasions) is a psychological ploy attempting to soften public opinion and to excuse his son's alleged behavior.


As the President says, "And then the report comes out" (during 2:16 - 2:17), he rocks forward-and-backward in his chair. This signals the excessive motion of his lower extremities - indicating an adrenaline surge (flight or fight) and significant anxiety. Please watch the video, as this chair rocking dynamic cannot be captured in a still image.

Simultaneously, President Trump also stares into the middle distance while displaying a mild fear expression. His fear is particularly conveyed with his raised inner (medial) eyebrows.


During 2:33 - 2:35, the President gazes up to his left as he says, "I tell ya what, I've seen a lot of things over my life, I don't think in my whole life I've ever called the FBI." Looking up to one's left (more so for right-hand dominant people), is the quadrant to which we look when we're visually recalling an event. This eye gaze dynamic, in this context, indicates with high likelihood, that the President was visually remembering an occasion when he had called the FBI.


During 2:56, as he says, "The FBI director is wrong", he forms his lips in a dramatic configuration. Such hyperbolic mouth movements are quite common with Trump - and for all individuals in settings where they believe they're alpha/hyper-alpha to others who (or about whom) they're speaking. In this context, Trump's alpha projection could either apply to George Stephanopoulos, FBI director Christopher Wray, or both.


Beginning at 2:56, George Stephanopoulos asks, "Your campaign this time around, if foreigners, if Russia, if China, if someone else offers you information on an opponent, should they accept it or should they call the FBI?"

At the precise moment Stephanopoulos says, "Russia", Trump is simultaneously closing his eyes and swallowing hard. Trump's eyelid closure is a form of decreased eye contact - and a nonverbal manifestation of his attempt at distancing himself from the subject of his deception. The President's hard swallow demonstrates his dry and tightened throat triggered by his accompanying anxiety.


A nonverbal tell of profound importance occurs just after Stephanopoulos says, "Your campaign this time around, if foreigners, if Russia, if China, if someone else offers you information on an ..." - Trump displays what is known as a Forward Lip Purse (3:02 - 3:04). A forward lip purse (not to be confused with a Lateral Lip Purse) signals undisclosed disagreement and/or clandestine plans. A person who makes a forward lip purse always perceives themselves to be Alpha relative to those with whom they're interacting. They also believe they have a good chance of success with their plans.


This is Trump's Forward Lip Purse captured during the same split second from an anterior angle (on a different video available via twitter (4:04 - 4:06 https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1138936855573999616)  

Notice also, that the President is looking down to his left during this forward lip purse. This is the quadrant toward which we look when we're choosing our words and formulating syntax. Trump's word choice was telling, "I think maybe you do both. I think you might [pause] wanna listen. I don't - there's nothing wrong with listening..."

On such an important matter - if he truly believed his conduct was lawful, he should not say, "I think", rather he should say, "I know" or simply, "You'd want to listen." But he didn't. He wavered, saying, "I think." Additionally, he used the qualifier, "maybe" - and the slang, "wanna" (psychologically softening any opposition). Note also, his tone as he's says this, especially as he says, "there's nothing wrong with listening...". It's a pleading, rationalizing, whiny tone.

At other times during this video, President Trump makes multiple similar rationalizing and hedging statements with similar vocal tones, such as, "It's not an interference, they have information. I think I'd take it", and "If I thought there was something wrong I'd go maybe to the FBI - if I thought there was something wrong...", and "The FBI doesn't have enough agents to take care of it", and "they all do it, they always have and that's the way it is".


Moreover, just after Donald Trump says, "I think maybe you do both" - the camera view is switched and his expression briefly but clearly conveys a mild-to-moderate level of fear.


During 3:12, just after he says, "If somebody called", Trump exhibits what is known as a Loose Tongue Jut. A loose tongue jut indicates the thought-emotions of: "I've been bad", "I've been caught", "I've done something stupid" (Navarro).

Take care not to confuse a Loose Tongue Jut with a Tight Tongue Jut or a Wide Open Tongue Jut.

Summary: Despite clear and longstanding campaign finance law against such practice - and his subsequent partial backpedaling, President Trump's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior displayed in the accompanying video, indicates that not only does Donald Trump believe receiving foreign intelligence on rival politicians is acceptable behavior - but the President is actively communicating with foreign government(s) and/or their surrogates in this capacity and plans to continue doing so.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4386: Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump in Churchill's War Room

Body Language Analysis No. 4385: William Barr Testimony - Part II - Senate Judiciary Committee - 1 May 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4384: William Barr's Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 1 May 2019 - Part I

Body Language Analysis No. 4383: William Barr's 27 March 2019 Senate Testimony

Body Language Analysis No. 4382: Why is Donald Trump Leaning Forward?

Body Language Analysis No. 4381: Trump 'jokes' about staying in office for "at least for 10 or 14 years"

Body Language Analysis No. 4380: Tiger Woods Wins his first Masters in 14 years

Body Language Analysis No. 4379: Katie Bouman, Black Holes, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4339: Pre-Confession Interview of Murderer, Chris Watts



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Sunday, June 9, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4386: Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump in Churchill's War Room - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)


This image was captured on 4 June 2019, during President Trump's recent visit to the United Kingdom. Here, Donald Trump is seen with his daughter, Ivanka, and others, while touring Winston Churchill's sleeping quarters (a part of the Churchill War Room Museum) located beneath the Treasury building in the Whitehall area of Westminster.

What follows is a nonverbal analysis of this moment.


In this close-up of his face, we can see President Trump's upper and particularly his lower eyelids are tense. His mid-face is dramatically tightened - with his nostrils considerably flared and his 'mustache-area' extremely contracted.

His Jaw is Jutting forward - indicative of an Adrenaline Surge. Simultaneously, his lips are curled inward - covering his teeth with his mouth slightly opened in what is termed, an Inward Lip Roll. An Inward Lip Roll shows an attempt to suppress strong emotions from crescendoing.

In this moment the President's face is projecting considerable anger.


Note the placement of Trump's hands. His thumbs are hooked behind the waist of his pants, gripping his belt. The long-axes of each of his forearms-wrists-hands are directed at his groin. More specifically, his right index finger (the most dominant of all his digits) is also pointing directly at his genital region.

In a very general sense, this body language gesture is an example of a "MAP Surrogate" (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier). More exactly, it's an example of a variation of a Partial Emblematic Slip.

Trump's nonverbal behavior in this moment is dramatic and profoundly out of context. It's a Hyper-Alpha Sexual Display wherein Donald Trump is attempting to project an amalgam of his perceived virility and sexual dominance - along with his anger and sexual aggression.

Moreover, and of profound importance, at no time should sexual expression/sexual projection be accompanied by anger. It's never remotely healthy when these two emotions overlap.


Ivanka's head and neck are bowed. Her shoulders are slumped while her eyes are looking down - fixed and staring - primarily center-down, but slightly to her right. This is the direction of gaze associated with guilt, shame, regret, and sadness. She is caught off-guard and emotionally distressed.


Ivanka is whole-body pointing toward her father. Ivanka's hands are in a Fig-Leaf configuration (also known as Genital Guarding). In this context, this is a deeply-Beta, low-confidence, deferential posture with strong overtones for protection.

Summary: The nonverbal behavior captured in this photograph reflects the stark contrast between the two Trumps' thought-emotions. Donald is Hyper-Alpha - but Ivanka is deeply beta. Donald is pointing at his genitals - while Ivanka is protecting hers. Donald is projecting sexual aggressiveness and anger - yet Ivanka is feeling submissive, shame, and sadness.


Media Inquires and Group Appearances 
One-on-One and Online Courses Available 


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4385: William Barr Testimony - Part II - Senate Judiciary Committee - 1 May 2019


Body Language Analysis No. 4384: William Barr's Testimony - Part I - to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 1 May 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4383: William Barr's 27 March 2019 Senate Testimony

Body Language Analysis No. 4382: Why is Donald Trump Leaning Forward?

Body Language Analysis No. 4381: Trump 'jokes' about staying in office for "at least for 10 or 14 years"

Body Language Analysis No. 4380: Tiger Woods Wins his first Masters in 14 years 

Body Language Analysis No. 4379: Katie Bouman, Black Holes, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4364: Vladimir Putin's and Mohammed bin Salman's High Five at the G20



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