Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4740: Donald Trump's Puffer Fish Face – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

 

The above image of Donald Trump was taken as he was heading back into the courtroom yesterday after a break during his felony election interference trial.

Here's another slightly different image taken a second or two later:

 

 

Of course, everyone knows that Donald Trump is stressed. That's certainly no secret. But here's the Rub: to note similar times when someone who you like and trust – exhibits similar nonverbal behavior (i.e., in everyday scenarios).

As with all human beings, we constantly fall victim to our confirmation bias. Would most people be able to accurately interpret this behavior if instead the person exhibiting it was someone we felt relatively neutral toward – or even someone for whom we cared deeply?

Would we be then able to spot a lie? The insincerity? Manipulation? The Answer: Most of the time an otherwise socially adept person would not be able to see these behaviors in these alternative scenarios. Body Language skills are irreplaceable tools of objectivity.

Trump's expression displayed here is known as the "Puffer Fish". As with the vast, vast majority of body language, it's initiated and occurs subconsciously. It's almost exclusively seen just immediately prior to or immediately following a stressful event. 

I've seen quintessential examples of this behavior in athletes just prior to their games/events, in students just before big exams, in surgeons before/after difficult surgeries, etc. ...and, as we see exampled here – in criminal defendants. 

Despite what a person may say, if you see the Puffer Fish expression — you can be sure that the person is beginning or finishing (what is for them) a particularly stressful event.

If the display of stress seems out of proportion with the context, this body language should raise a big red flag in your mind that there's more going on. Dig deeper.

 

The Puffer Fish nonverbal display occurs during an extended exhalation. It's an outward manifestation of the psyche's attempt to bring about a calming effect – more specifically, a decrease in respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels.

SUMMARY: The Puffer Fish Expression is Body Language dynamic display indicating the attempt of the  subconscious at lowering both our physiological and psychological stress.

Inquiries regarding teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, consulting, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com     

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