Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

One of Lady Diana passion's was the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. In both of these images, taken within minutes of each other she was working toward that goal.

At first glance, you may think Diana's body language appears relatively unchanged. Look closer.

In each moment, Lady Di is in an "Arms Akimbo" configuration - but in the image above, her thumbs are forward - conveying a supportive and curious emotional tone. It's also mildly assertive. However it's not an alpha nonverbal signal, yet it's not a fully beta one either - but a hybrid. The Thumbs-Forward Arms Akimbo is one of one of many "Alpha-Beta Hybrids".

Now, look at the photo below. Diana is again seen in Arms Akimbo, but this time her fingers are positioned forward. This variation is significantly more alpha and less relaxed. It's more assertive. It signifies a readiness for action and greater authority relative to others in the vicinity.

Whenever making a body language diagnosis, a profound fundamental principle is to not rely on a single signal. Keeping this in mind, contrast Diana's face in each picture. In the first image she's smiling - and she is either speaking and/or transitioning to (or from) laughter. This is congruent with her Thumbs-Forward Arms Akimbo.

Now compare this with Diana's face in the second image. She's not smiling. Her mouth and her mid-face are tense. Di's nostrils are mildly flared. Her eyelids are also displaying tension as she focuses sharply on an object or person in the mid-distance. This facial expression also matches her Fingers-Forward Arms Akimbo.

Although examples cannot be visualized here, such nonverbal pattern clustering is also typically seen in the lower extremities. When a person is standing in the Fingers-Forward Arms Akimbo, their feet tend to be position further apart - and thus conveying more alpha emotions - versus with the feet closer together when standing in the more beta, Thumbs-Forward Arms Akimbo.

"Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can."

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4045: Rex Tillerson Regarding Donald Trump, "The President Speaks for Himself"

Body Language Analysis No. 4043: Donald Trump Pardons Joe Arpaio - Contempt of Court and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4017: Elisabeth Moss, Anthony Rizzo, and a Signal of Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 4002: Justin Trudeau Meets His Namesake

Body Language Analysis No. 4001: Jodie Whittaker, Dr. Who, and Flirting from a TARDIS

Body Language Analysis No. 3971: Elon Musk, Amber Heard, Affection, and Ownership

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3901: Jared Kushner in Iraq

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Body Language Analysis No. 4031: One Gesture to Never Use When Condemning Neo-Nazis - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Palm-down gestures should be rarely be displayed by anyone in a leadership position. Illustrators that are oriented with the palm facing downward are hyper-alpha and hyper-aggressive. They're patronizing and condescending. They're rapport destroying and contempt projecting.

While palm-down gestures may solidify the opinions of (some of) those who already agree with you - and further alienate those who previously disagree with you - like all alpha and hyper-alpha body language, they will crucially serve distance the opinions of those who people who are undecided. Thus from a leadership or any kind of political point-of-view, palm-down gestures should be strongly avoided.

These effects are greatly amplified when they're overused - and when an outstretched arm is employed.

Fascinatingly, palm-down gestures also will result in a poorer recall of the subject matter by any members of the audience (even an audience of one) - a detail which should not be lost on politicians, professors or parents.

On Tuesday, President Trump held a press conference where, in answering questions regarding the recent violence and loss of life in Charlottesville, he said, "there's blame on both sides". Many people, including many current high-level Republican office holders, feel Donald Trump is very much practicing a "Moral Equivalency" between Neo-Nazis, white nationalists, white supremacists - and those standing up to these and other hate groups.

Summary: From a body language perspective, palm-down gestures - especially those made with an outstretched arm, should almost never be used by anyone in a leadership position. In the past several days, as Donald Trump has claimed to distance himself from the Neo-Nazi movement, this nonverbal principal is particularly germane, as it evokes memories and feelings associated with the quite similar Nazi Salute.

Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4030: Charlottesville, Empathy, and One Expression Donald Trump Should Have Displayed

Body Language Analysis No. 4028: Donald Trump's Response to Charlottesville Violence, "On Many Sides"

Body Language Analysis No. 4026: Aubrey Plaza, Ingrid Goes West, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 4024: Donald Trump Threatens "Fire and Fury" to North Korea

Body Language Analysis No. 4019: John Kelly and Donald Trump in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4011: Anthony Scaramucci's First UK Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 3985: Grief, Pain, and Barometers of Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 3974: Elle Fanning, Robert De Niro, and Easter

Body Language Analysis No. 3958: Vladimir Putin interview with Megyn Kelly


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3257: Donald Trump at the Texas-Mexico Border - Body Language of a Hyper-Alpha (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Donald Trump jetted to the Texas-Mexico border on Thursday. The republican candidate who's leading most of the polls appeared in this video with the Mayor and the City Manager of Laredo.

It's of course common knowledge that Mr. Trump more than any other candidate - republican or democrat - spouts dramatic and aggressive language. What many don't realize however, is that his body language is also more invasive and provocative. Verbal and the nonverbal signals are intertwined. Assertive and hyper-assertive verbal language are linked to alpha and hyper-alpha body language. Passive and demure verbal language are also yoked with beta body language. The trick is (most of the time) to strike a happy medium. There are times of course, when projecting dominance and strength are important - but (surprise) Donald (way) over-does it.

What follows are five nonverbal hand-arm displays (Illustrators and one [Self-Pointing] sometimes also transitions to a MAP [Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier]) which are all common in political candidates (and other hyper-alpha personalities). These are much more plentiful (in the political context) prior to primaries - when republicans are running to the right and democrats are leaping left. After the primaries though, the nonverbal (and verbal) language is nearly always less extreme.

The "Dominant Spider"

This is much more common in males and is extremely frequent in those with narcissistic personality disorder.

"Palms Forward"

A refuting and dismissive illustrator


Much more common in those with impulse control problems

"Palms Down" illustrator

When the fingers are separated - the palms down is less alpha vs. when the fingers are together.

Depending on the frequency and context, "Self-Pointing" may of course be indicative of self-deprecating emotions and messages. Trump however is using the self-point in a braggadocio manner here. During this press conference (during 4:53 - 4:54), he even refers to himself in the third person. In most scenarios, frequent self-pointing is highly correlative with narcissism.

Of the five examples shown here, the "Hand Chop" is the most frequently seen illustrator among alpha personalities - and there's certainly no exceptions when it comes to politicians (the palms down is a close second).








It's important to show strength, confidence and assertiveness yet without being hyper-aggressive, arrogant and condescending. Hyper-alpha body language will polarize. Those who already agree with you will be drawn towards your cause. All others will run in another direction.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3256: Katie Holmes on Jimmy Fallon - Body Language Tells

Ted Cruz to Announce his Candidacy for 2016 Presidential Race - Why He Will Never Win - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3134: Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3154: Marco Rubio's Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3227: Bobby Jindal's, "... I am tanned ..." remark - What does his Body Language tell us? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3200: Martin O'Malley announces Candidacy for 2016 Presidential Race - Body Language of Emotional Processing 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3235: Jim Webb Announces His Presidential Bid .... and some Body Language Weakness 

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1010:  What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye? - Rashida Jones 

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