This morning while in Laconia, New Hampshire, Ron DeSantis was asked, “Governor, how come you’re not taking questions from voters?”
What follows is a Body Language, Paralanguage, and Statement Analysis of his response.
*The corresponding descriptions appear below each of the following images.*
DeSantis responds, “People talkin [sic] coming up to me talking to me. What are you talkin’ bout? I’m out here [inaudible] with people. Are you, are you blind?!” The reporter says, “What?” DeSantis again asks, “Are you blind?” — The reporter answers, “I’m not blind.”
DeSantis then says, “Okay, so people are coming up to me and talkin’ to me whatever they want to talk to me about.”
During 0:19, as DeSantis says, “I’m out here [inaudible] with people”, the candidate displays a Lip Curl.
A Lip Curl is a description given to the evanescent dynamic of the lips curling/flaring outward in a disproportionate and melodramatic manner relative to normal lip configuration necessary for the pronunciation of the word being spoken.
A Lip Curl is a highly reliable indicator of the thought-emotions of:
- Braggadocio
- False Bravado
- Righteous Indignation
- Pretentiousness
- Deception
DeSantis then asks (the first time), “Are you Blind?!” Note as he says, “Blind”, his head oscillates back and forth (side-to-side) as well as moving forward. This is an example of a “Self-Righteous Head Wiggle” (SRHW).
A Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is fairly rapid (high frequency) and of varying amplitude movement of head from side-to-side. While it’s often extremely short in duration (a microexpression or near-microexpression, as we see here) and at other times it lasts longer.
Please watch the video several times (even at slower speeds) as an image does not capture the motion and nuance of this dynamic nonverbal behavior.
The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is typically displayed by individuals who are of relatively high-alpha personalities — but also by others during extra-high confidence moments and when people are expressing particularly strong opinions.
Additionally, the SRHW will sometimes have a *superimposed forward movement component* when Arrogance and/or Condescension are simultaneous (as DeSantis emotes in this, and even more so during his reiteration of the question).
When, instead, an *overlying Backward motion/pulling away dynamic* is displayed (not seen here), there are feelings of Disgust, Contempt, and/or feigned-disbelief/disbelief is being felt.
Another common feature of the SRHW is a temporary increase in pitch (vocal frequency), volume, as well as speaking speed (i.e., words per second). Note each time DeSantis says, “Blind”, his pitch increases.
This paralanguage/verbal elevated pitch-change is virtually always simultaneous with the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle.
There’s often a similar side-to-side motion of the torso (as is seen to a mild degree in this example) — and sometimes even with the jaw (not seen here).
Prolonged eyelid closure (not seen here), although not a necessary component of the SRHW, when seen simultaneously, is an amplifier of self-righteousness, disgust, and/or contempt.
The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is one form of nonverbal hyper-swagger and nonverbal arrogance.
Immediately after the first time he asks, “Are you blind?!”, DeSantis displays a Loose Tongue Jut.
A Loose Tongue Jut is an indication of the thought-emotions of:
• “I’ve just said/about to say something stupid”
• “I’ve just/about to mess up”
• “I’ve been/about to be caught”
• “I’ve just lied/about to lie”
Take care not to confuse a Loose Tongue Jut, with a Tight Tongue Jut, or a Wide-Open Tongue Jut — as these three nonverbal behavior signals have completely different meanings.
The second time he says, “Are you blind?!”, DeSantis’ Torso jerks his torso even closer toward the reporter (compared with the first iteration), but without a side-to-side motion component.
This forward-thrusting of the torso, particularly from a person in power, is especially arrogant and aggressive. It’s often a component of an invasion of personal space (intimate space) and will feel this way even when the person may be technically outside this space.
When used in reference to a person or group of people — particularly people who are present, DeSantis’ backward, Thumb-Arm Jerking dynamic (seen during 0:23, also with a pen in his hand) is a significantly negative gesture.
This is a form of pointing — and although it’s less offensive than the universally highly-offensive index finger (forefinger) pointing, it’s still quite dismissive, derogatory, degrading, arrogant, and contemptuous.
It’s a body language dynamic that very much says, “You (they) belong in back of me”, “You’re (they’re) inferior to me”, “You (they) don’t belong here”, “Get out of here”, etc.
Note DeSantis did not answer the reporter’s question. Talking with voters is not equivalent to answering their questions. This is a classic technique used in the context of deception — appearing to answer a question, but not actually answering the question.
Moreover, bullies, chronic liars, and manipulators (considerable Venn diagram overlapping) will often shout rhetorical, accusatory, and intimidating questions at the person asking the question — getting them to back down. Does this behavior look familiar?
SUMMARY: In this short video, Ron DeSantis displays multiple signals of Deception. In addition, he displays Arrogance, Contempt, Manipulation, Bullying, and Self-righteousness. His behavior is highly consistent with Impulse Control Disorder and Low Self-Esteem.
Interested in Learning Body Language/Nonverbal Communication and Behavior Analysis in Group-Zoom sessions? We’ll be meeting the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month (90 minutes/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details.
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This post and others accompanying it, serve as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts.
