Saturday, July 27, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4392: The Secret Tells behind Donald Trump's Statement, "No Puppet. No Puppet. You're the Puppet" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




The Mueller Investigation and, more specifically, Bob Mueller's recent testimony has served to refocus public attention on specific events leading up to the 2016 US Presidential Election. One of these moments was a crucial portion of the third debate held on 19 October - twenty days prior to the election. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of that exchange.

DONALD TRUMP (continuing at 27:21): He [Putin] has no respect for her. He has no respect for our president. And I'll tell you what. We're in very serious trouble. Because we have a country with tremendous numbers of nuclear warheads - eighteen hundred by the way. Where they expanded and we didn't. Eighteen hundred nuclear warheads. And she is playing chicken. Look.  

CHRIS WALLACE (over-talking): W-, w-, wait.

DONALD TRUMP: Putin - from everything I see has no respect for this - person.

HILLARY CLINTON: Well, that's because he'd rather have a puppet as president of the United States.  

DONALD TRUMP (over-talking): No puppet. No Puppet.

HILLARY CLINTON: And it is pretty clear -

DONALD TRUMP (over-talking): You're the puppet. 

HILLARY CLINTON: It's pretty clear - you won't admit -

DONALD TRUMP (over-talking): No, you're the puppet.

HILLARY CLINTON: ... that the Russians have engaged in cyberattacks against the United States of America. That you encouraged espionage against our people. That you are willing to spout the Putin line, sign up for his wish list, break up NATO, do whatever he wants to do. And that you continue to get help from him because he has a very clear favorite in this race. So, I, I think that this is such an unprecedented, ah, situation. We've never had a foreign government trying to interfere in our election. We have seventeen, seventeen intelligence agencies, civilian and military who have all concluded that these espionage attacks, these cyberattacks, come from the highest levels of the Kremlin. And they are designed to influence our election. I find that deeply disturbing. 


During 27:51 - 27:52, as he says, "No puppet. No puppet." - candidate Trump displays a classic Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression (abbreviated as R2E2). 

It's important here to emphasize that the person who is displaying this dynamic facial and head movement - is not feeling Empathy or Rapport - but they are trying to engender these emotions in other people. It's manipulative. They're trying to get you to rationalize - and often while rationalizing themselves.

The Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression strongly resembles disgust - but it's accompanied by a side-to-side ("No") head movement.

Verbal language accompanying the R2E2 is virtually always refuting statements, e.g., "You don't want that", "You shouldn't do that", "You know I didn't mean to say that", or, in this example, "No puppet. No puppet."

This is a classic example regarding the importance of correlating nonverbal behavior - along with the accompanying verbal language and paralanguage

Another word is conspicuous in its absence - and it should jump out at you. Donald Trump did NOT use the word "I". If he had true conviction in his denial, he would have said, "I'm no puppet" or "I'm not a puppet." When a person says, "Sorry" - or "Love you", their words don't carry anywhere near the weight, intention, or the emotions as, when they say, "I'm sorry" and "I love you".

Trump left out the word "I" because he doesn't believe his own words. This is particularly true given that "I" is one of the most commonly spoken words across almost all languages. Trump is not taking ownership. His omission of the word "I" is amplified even further given Trump's narcissism. When a person with such a strong ego leaves off the first person singular pronoun - especially with such an important rebuttal - red flags are raised. We all would do well to see them.

All mentally-healthy human beings make this expression on occasion - but you should beware when you see the R2E2 used frequently or during particularly important moments. In such scenarios, this behavior is a screaming warning.

Donald Trump's nonverbal and paralanguage behavior indicates he's trying far too hard to convince us that he's not acting in concert with Vladimir Putin. "The Gentle doth protest too much, methinks." (apologies to Shakespeare).

The full expression of the R2E2 nonverbal cluster is impossible to capture with a still image. Please watch the video several times at regular speed, 1/2 speed, 1/4 speed - and then, once again at regular speed to fully appreciate this behavior in context. Repeat this several times a week, and you'll acquire with increasing skill, the ability to spot this nonverbal behavior in real-time, with everyday situations.


At multiple times during Secretary Clinton's response, Donald Trump nods his head up-and-down in a classic "Yes" affirmation. Trump nods five times in only 43 seconds, immediately following Clinton saying,

"... that the Russians have engaged in ..." (nodding yes during 27:59)

"... break up NATO ..." (nodding yes during 28:14 - 28:15)

"... do whatever he wants to do. And that you ..." (nodding yes during 28:17 - 28:18)

 "... We have seventeen, seventeen intelligence agencies ..." (nodding yes during 28:37 - 28:38)

"... who have all concluded that ..." (nodding yes during 28:42)

In contrast, if candidate Trump had disagreed with Secretary Clinton, he should have been shaking his head side-to-side in a "No" gesture (illustrator) after each of his opponent's statements, rather than in a "Yes" up-and-down dynamic. Trump's multiple nodding agreements are very clear nonverbal demonstrations that his subconscious agrees with Clinton regarding his clandestine cooperation with Putin - as well as with Russia's cyberattacks


You may have noted that Mr. Trump only took four drinks of water during this 90-minute debate. It's not a coincidence that one of these occurred during 28:03 - 28:05, just after his 'puppet denial', and immediately after Secretary Clinton said, "... that the Russians have engaged in cyberattacks against the United States of America. That you encouraged ...".

Anxiety acts quickly. It dries up one's mouth and sudden thirst is a powerful indicator of this thought-emotion. While anxiety alone does not imply deception, when taken in context with other verbal, paralanguage, and nonverbal indicators seen here - Trump's sudden dry mouth is highly suspicious.


Another strong anxiety tell is Trump's adjustment of his microphone. Donald Trump is very skilled at NOT touching his face when he's experiencing anxiety or while he's lying - which is highly unusual (although, of course, he occasionally does so). Most people - both the honest and the deceptive - touch their faces far more often than the President.

However, a surrogate behavior for facial touching is microphone adjustment - which Trump does fairly often. In the segment discussed here, he does so during 28:10 - 28:12, just after Hillary Clinton says, "... you are willing to spout the Putin line ..."


Another dramatic insight into Trump's thought-emotions is displayed just after Clinton says, "... And that you continue to get help from him ..." - Trump smiles (28:20). This display is particularly important to watch at regular speed, 1/4, 1/2, and again at full speed. The image immediately above shows him just as his smile is forming. Note that his left side begins first - with the right side of his mouth momentarily suppressing it.


A split second later (also during 28:20), Trump closes both eyes in a variation of a "Joker Smile" (referring to court jesters, frightening clowns, and, most notably, the Batman villain of the same name). None of the candidate's teeth are visible and the shape of his mouth opening is completely inconsistent with sincerity. Trump's mouth is vectored strongly to the sides (laterally) - rather than with a strong vertical component (as it would be if his smile were sincere). His bottom lip is curled momentarily outward. This deliberate and hyperbolic expression of insincere surprise combined with a feigned smile is - always duplicitous.


A second later (during 28:21), Trump's center forehead elevates simultaneously with his false mouth smile. While everyone uses this expression once in a while, those who use it often (as Trump does, and not coincidentally, Putin as well) have a very high correlation with Antisocial Personality Disorder (commonly termed, 'Sociopaths' and/or 'Psychopaths').

Notice also, that Trump blushes during this moment. Blushing while smiling (feigned smiling) during denial has an extremely high correlation with deception.

SUMMARY: Donald Trump's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior during this segment of the third 2016 Presidential Debate indicates he knew Russia was in the midst of a cyberattack on the United States, that he welcomed it, and that Trump does, in fact, believe that he is subordinate to Vladimir Putin.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4391: Donald Trump, Buzz Aldrin, and Variations on the 'Side-Eye'

Body Language Analysis No. 4390: Mike Pence visits 'Detention Center' in McAllen, Texas

Body Language Analysis No. 4389: Jeffrey Epstein's Default Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4388: Donald Trump regarding Drowned Father and Daughter in the Rio Grande

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. 4362: Mohammed bin Salman regarding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi

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

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


__________________________

Saturday, July 20, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4391: Donald Trump, Buzz Aldrin, and Variations on the 'Side-Eye' - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)


We don't look directly at those individuals whom we don't like, we don't believe, and/or don't respect. A subset of this phenomenon is that sometimes we don't look directly at another person so as to avoid escalation of our own temper - in order to avoid emotional confrontation.

While we all, as human beings, are occasionally vulnerable to the weakness of losing our temper, those with greater emotional intelligence will, by definition, also have greater self-awareness. We recognize these chinks in our armor and take the necessary measures before any negative escalation.

Some people instinctively know (at a subconscious or edge-of-consciousness level) that on some occasions - when our own impulse control is faltering - we become momentarily vulnerable. And, at these times, if we look directly at a person who we don't like, don't believe, and/or don't respect - our own negative emotions may very well crescendo beyond our control. In short, variations on the 'Side Eye' sometimes serve as techniques we use to control our own temper.

Astronauts, in large measure, are chosen because of their superior emotional intelligence. They're not average. They're certainly not emotionally labile. They have 'The Right Stuff'. They have learned to recognize as well as self-regulate their emotions.

The first time I heard the adjective, 'unflappable', it was a description of Neil Armstrong. Armstrong was always cool during emergencies. Fifty years ago today, after an unexpected boulder field necessitated a last-minute course correction, Neil Armstrong landed the Lunar Module on the Earth's Moon with only 17 seconds of fuel to spare. May we all seek to have this same grace under pressure.

Thank you, Neil, Buzz, and Michael - for what you did long ago.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4390: Mike Pence visits 'Detention Center' in McAllen, Texas

Body Language Analysis No. 4389: Jeffrey Epstein's Default Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4388: Donald Trump regarding Drowned Father and Daughter in the Rio Grande

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. 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. 4343: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Anxiety, and Empathy


_______________________

Monday, July 15, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4390: Mike Pence visits 'Detention Center' in McAllen, Texas - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)




Vice President Pence briefly visited a migrant "Detention Center" in McAllen, Texas on Friday 12 July 2019. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the above video of that event.


In our very first glance of Vice President Pence in this video (0:14), he is looking up - and maintains his upward gaze - well above the faces of the men in cages.

This complete lack of eye-contact in this scenario is profound - for it dramatically facilitates dehumanization. The tendency of a person to inflict suffering upon other human beings and animals is amplified by a lack of eye contact.

Conversely, eye contact during moments of pain and suffering engenders empathy and affection - affection even among people who have never met. Such eye contact dramatically builds rapport and feelings of connection which profoundly transcends any words.

The Vice President's facial expression is an amalgam of Contempt and Disgust.

Notice that Pence's head and neck are tilted backward. While this configuration is not a required component of either disgust or contempt - it does serve to amplify both of these emotions.

Another important component of Pence's body language here are his crossed arms. Note his right hand is largely hidden, with its fingers only partially exposed on his left bicep - while his left hand is mostly hidden. Notice too, that his upper arms are pulled more closely to his torso than is typical. This is not a loose arm cross. Pence is protecting himself from what he perceives to be a threat. His crossed arms projects the beta emotions of defensiveness (defensiveness-related anxiety), emotional discomfort, and low confidence. No leader should ever project these emotions — particularly in this context.

During the vast majority of this video, Pence's torso was oblique to it to the cage - a structure which serves as a surrogate for the men in toto (~45º to ~ 60º). Critically, although he twice twisted his torso parallel to the cage (0:16 - 0:18 and 0:45 - 0:46), by the Vice President's movements, his feet appear to have never been directly pointing at it. Human beings whole body point - and particularly point our feet - toward other people who we respect (and also toward those whom we like or find attractive). Pence's lack of body pointing in this context is further evidence of his nonacknowledgement of them as a group - and his feeling that they don't deserve respect.

Note the Male Officer in the green uniform. He's twisting/massaging/pulling at his left ring finger. This is a common significant indicator of anxiety.


Note Pence's disgust expression is more extreme in this next moment (0:21)

Senator Mike Lee, to Pence's left, is also looking over the heads of the men in cages - and while not a requirement of upward gaze, Lee's head is also tilted backward. He has an expression of both subtle contempt and subtle disgust.

The uniformed man in green has mild contempt expression together with frustration (presumably at the videographer). His fingers are interlaced with his thumbs steepled. In this context, his hand configuration is an amalgam of alpha-impatience and frustration.


Senator Lindsey Graham walks in the room and steps in between the Vice President and the encaged men. As he is doing so, he whole-body points toward who he considers to be his priority - Mike Pence (0:24).


Senator Graham continues to negotiate for positioning - maintaining his back towards the men - while his face and body point toward the Vice President (0:25).

Note also, his hands are in his front pants pockets. We hide our hands during beta moments of emotional discomfort.


The Vice President then, momentarily, uncrosses his arms, and while speaking to the officer in green, gestures with his palm down (0:27). Palm-down gestures are associated with alpha-emotional tones. These are used by individuals who are asserting dominant and often hyper-dominant mindsets. And crucially, a person using palm-down gestures has already decided what their course of action will be. There is virtually no chance of changing the mind of a person using palm-down gestures.

Note the direction of Pence's gaze - he's still not looking at the men. He's temporarily looking downward - as is the officer to whom he's speaking.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee are also averting their gazes - but in the form of prolonged blinking. Their eyes are momentarily closed. At least a portion of their minds do not want to look at the suffering before them. They're both in states of cogitative-emotional dissonance.

Graham's hands are still in the pocketed and beta configured. His mouth projects regret. These are additional signals of cogitative-emotional dissonance.


Pence displays a clear expression for the thought-emotion of Contempt as he asks the office a question confirming that the facility ("you"), "... you don't have enough space?" (0:30).

Note that the context of "you" as Pence uses it here - the "Detention Center" - is instituted by the federal government - for which Pence is second in command. Pence is a crucial part of the "you" to which he refers.


In this next image, only Lindsey Graham is looking straight ahead (in primary gaze). Pence, Lee, and the officer are all looking in upward gaze - thus not into the eyes of the caged men (0:31).

A crucial detail here is that the heads and necks of each of the three American politicians are all tilted backward. This disgust amplifier is an indirect indication of the politicians "looking down their noses" at the caged men.

Pence continues his beta, defensive, protective, low confidence, emotional discomfort crossed-arm configuration. 

Pence proceeds to nod his head up-and-down while his facial expression conveys an amalgam of Anger and Disgust. Head nodding is extremely common default behavior for Vice President Pence.
This nodding behavior, while on its surface, would seem to be purely an acknowledgement and/or an agreement - with its excessive duration and context is a manifestation of Pence's adrenaline excess arising from his anxiety, emotional discomfort, a desire to look thoughtful - particularly while on camera.

Senator Lee's right index finger is digging into the pad of his right thumb as he simultaneously looks approximately 90º to his left. Senator Lee is profoundly emotionally uncomfortable. He's struggling to appear relevant - and yet, he very much wants to leave.


Lindsey Graham is feeling deep regret and shame during 0:36.


During 0:34 - 0:39, Pence lowers his arms and hands to his sides as he briefly looks out into the crowd of men in cages. His gaze is at a level consistent with their faces as he continues to nod his head up-and-down.


As he looks away, Pence continues to display contempt (0:46). Senator Lee continues his prolonged blinking - his psyche trying to block the suffering in front of him.


The officer of the facility elevates his forehead and eyebrows, while simultaneously making acknowledgment eye contact with the Secret Service agent. He motions with his right arm-hand as his left hand begins to elevate to Pence's back in order to direct the Vice President out of the room. It's highly likely that this officer, prior to Pence's entrance, was instructed to give him a very short description and get the Vice President back outside of the room.

Pence once again, defaults to his a disgust expression with his looking-down-his-nose/head and neck tilted backward posture (0:46).


Along with Senator Lee, Vice President Pence also manifesting his anxiety in a similar fashion - digging his right thumb into his right index finger (0:48).


While exhibiting the same anxiety dynamic with his left hand (0:50).


Pence exhibits continued contempt as he rotates to exit the room (0:50).


SUMMARY: Mike Pence's body language repeatedly displays contempt and disgust for these men in cages.

Although he is the second in command of the nation, the Vice President is defensive, has low confidence, high anxiety, and feels in need of protection.

It's of profound importance to note that Mike Pence had almost no eye contact with these men. Empathetic leaders would be engaging with them - looking them in their eyes, speaking with them, and even touching them. They would be acknowledged as human beings who are suffering.

Mike Pence is trying to feign empathy - he's making a token attempt at appearing thoughtful. However, the Vice President does not feel any empathy for these men. Rather he feels disgust and contempt toward them.


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



See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4389: Jeffrey Epstein's Default Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4388: Donald Trump regarding Drowned Father and Daughter in the Rio Grande

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

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

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

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


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

_________________________

Monday, July 8, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4389: Jeffrey Epstein's Default Expression - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)


Jeffrey Epstein was arrested on Saturday 6 July 2019 for allegedly sex-trafficking dozens of minors in Florida and New York between 2002 and 2005. He will appear in federal court in New York today. He's an American financier and registered sex offender. Epstein has multiple US residences, including one in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was initially employed at the investment bank Bear Stearns - and left to start his own firm, J. Epstein & Co. As a hedge fund manager, he became a billionaire.

In 2008, Epstein was convicted of soliciting an underage girl for prostitution - for which he served thirteen months of a suspiciously lenient eighteen-month sentence. Moreover, he was allowed to spend twelve hours a day, six days a week outside of confinement, in his personal office, on a "work release". It's also important to note, he was not in prison - but rather when confined, he was in a private wing of a Palm Beach County, Florida jail.

Most all human beings have a default facial expression which is neutral - not Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein's face tends to adopt a peculiar default expression. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of this behavior.

The majority of people would say that Epstein is not smiling in the above image - even though his mouth corners are up-turned - and they would be 100% correct. The outside/lateral portions of his upper and lower lips are brought together - while the more anterior/medial aspects of his lips are pursed - and protruding mildly forward. Not surprisingly, this is known as a Forward Lip Purse.

A forward lip purse (not to be confused with a lateral lip purse) indicates the withholding of information (i.e., a clandestine disagreement and/or a hidden plan). In addition, a forward lip purse is only displayed when a person believes they have a good chance of success in carrying out their covert actions.

Only a person who perceives themselves to be an alpha/the dominant personality present displays a forward lip purse. A person in the midst of a beta emotional moment never makes this expression.

If one is expecting or presuming honesty, the presence of a forward lip purse should NEVER be displayed. In a marriage, a business partnership, in a courtroom witness, a politician, etc. - a forward lip purse is a profound red flag. This point cannot be overemphasized.

Note also, Epstein's eyes - they are partially closed. In particular, his lower eyelids are displaying some moderate degree of tension and his eyebrows are lowered. These eye-related findings indicate disagreement and a mild, but suppressed anger.

Take care not to confuse a forward lip purse with a lateral lip purse - for they have completely different meanings.


Contrast Epstein's lower eyelids in this second image with those in the first photo.

We see a concave-up furrow in each lower eyelid together with partially closed lids. Epstein's mouth still has the forward lip purse displayed along with the peculiar pressing together of his outer/lateral portions of his lips - although this characteristic is somewhat less pronounced in this example.

Most people would identify this as a smile - and they'd be correct. It's a true/sincere smile (a Duchenne Smile). Yet, crucially, sincerity does not indicate ethical motives. Because Epstein continues to display a forward lip purse - we know he is taking joy-happiness in his surreptitious plans.


This next image is similar to the previous one - but Epstein's smile is not as sincere (or possibly it's decrescendoing) - as his eyes are opened slightly wider and his superimposed forward lip purse is more pronounced. Note its somewhat spooky similarity to the Batman character's, The Joker's smile.

Whenever you see this expression - don't trust it.


In this fourth and final image, we again see Epstein again making a forward lip purse, however - similar to the first photo, his expression also has a component of anger. The downward tilt of his head and the further, tense closing of his eyelids - both indicate he's feeling angrier compared with the first example.

Epstein's lateral gaze - colloquially known as a Side Eye - is a classic gaze pattern shown by all human beings when we're looking at someone who we:

• Don't like
• Don't trust/don't believe
• Don't respect

Note too, the slightly greater tension of the tissue beneath his nose and above his upper lip (the mustache area). This finding is also consistent with anger.

Epstein's right head tilt (his right) could be his attempt at appearing sincere - a technique sometimes employed by sociopaths. Another highly possible etiology could be a congenital, left IV Cranial Nerve palsy (aka a Trochlear Nerve Palsy) - an ailment which is not uncommon.

SUMMARY:  Jeffrey Epstein's default expression, a Forward Lip Purse, indicates his withholding of information - that of a hidden plan and/or an undisclosed disagreement. In these images, the Billionaire believed himself to be alpha/dominant and those with whom he was interacting to be beta/subordinate. He was hyper-confident/arrogant in his belief of success in initiating and executing his furtive acts.

Everyday insincere default expressions are truly forms of living masks worn by "regular" people all around us - and yet these feigned feelings frequently go unrecognized.

It's crucial to emphasize that none of the expressions shown here are indications of - or correlate specifically with sex-related crimes.

Yet it's also important to stress, regardless of your endeavors - whether you're a playing Monopoly, speaking to your spouse, counseling a patient, cross-examining a witness, or negotiating with a criminal for the release of a hostage - when your opposition displays a forward lip purse - protect your flank.

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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4388: Donald Trump regarding Drowned Father and Daughter in the Rio Grande

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. 4379: Katie Bouman, Black Holes, and Emotional Processing

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


_______________________