Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3660: Trump Attorney Michael Cohen's Awkward Exchange with Brianna Keilar, "Says Who?" - Body Language & Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

This exchange between CNN's Brianna Keilar and one of Donald Trump's attorneys, Michael Cohen, rapidly went viral for its high level of awkwardness. Yet when we thin-slice their conversation from a nonverbal perspective we can gain significant insight. What follows is a partial analysis:

When a person speaks out of one side of their mouth, there are several possible causes which should come to mind:

1. Medical or Injury: Certainly injuries can result in long term nerve or muscular deficits. Cerebral vascular accident (Stroke) and other nervous system conditions can also cause an asymmetrical speaking style.

2. Tic-like behavior/Long-Term Habit/Idiosyncratic: While relatively uncommon, it is certainly not rare for a person to have a long-term habit or what may be classified as a facial tic of speaking out of one side of their mouth.

3. Machismo/Swagger: While there is some overlap between the nonverbal swagger via speaking out of one side of the mouth overlapping with a manifestation of insincerity-deception, it's helpful to consider these as separate root causes. Machismo/Swagger is very common in Professional athletes as well as celebrities and as the category implies, this cause is more commonly displayed in men.

4. Insincerity & Deception: In the vast majority of circumstances, there are nonverbal other signals being displayed when deception or insincerity is taking place.

On multiple occasions Mr. Cohen repeats himself with, "Says who?". Note that during these questions as his mouth speaks asymmetrically, he also displays an extended blink with a simultaneous upward movement of his eyebrows and forehead.

During the 20 second segment he displays a hard swallow. At no time did we see him display any hand gestures. Cohen's head and neck extends backward in quick snaps as he repeats his question. 

Coupling these nonverbal observations together with his verbal messages and his vocal qualities - which of the four above possibilities do you think is the most likely explanation for Mr. Cohen's asymmetrical speaking style?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication No. 3659: Ryan Lochte's "Today Show" Interview regarding Alleged Rio Robbery

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3593: What does Tulsi Gabbard think about Hillary Clinton?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2673: New Jersey Bridge Closing - Fort Lee, NJ Mayor Mark Sokolich - What His Body Language Says about His Feelings towards Governor Chris Christie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3635: Michelle Obama's DNC Speech and a Body Language Mistake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3647: Yusra Mardini, Refugees, Syrian Swimmer, and Sincere Smiles

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3610: Star Swain sings The Star-Spangled Banner at the Lincoln Memorial - Why Do Singers Close Their Eyes?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3583: Donald Trump, Reaching out to Bernie Sanders' Supporters and Insincerity Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3432: Leonardo DiCaprio reacts to Lady Gaga at Golden Globe Awards


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3596: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Blake Lively was a guest on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show yesterday. Just after the actor told a story referencing her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in a sexual scenario during Deadpool, the actor displayed a classic and often misunderstood and/or over-generalize nonverbal tell - the False Earring Adjustment.

Sometimes manifested as an Earlobe Pull (or pinch), the false earring adjustment signals the emotion of "I can't believe I (or you) just said that!" - transmitting the social awkwardness accompanying the emotion of embarrassment.

Although seen in all genders, this nonverbal display is more common in women and gay men.

Note that Jimmy Fallon, feeling similar emotions as his guest, immediately looks down at his notes in another misdirection manifestation of embarrassment-anxiety.

Depending on additional nonverbal signs with which it is clustered (none of which are seen here), what other thought-emotions can the ear pull/false earring adjustment signal?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3595: LeBron James, Disbelief and Emotional Processing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3549: Speaker Paul Ryan's interview with Jake Tapper - "I'm just not ready" to Support Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3568: Hillary Clinton, (Low) Likability, Rapport (Destroying) and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3454: Donald Trump - Buying the Farm after 2nd Place Finish in Iowa Caucuses 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2701: Cuddling, Romance, Affection and Foot-Shunning

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2579: Brandon Bryant Body Language of Disgust and Empathy - Confessions of a Drone Operator

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us ....

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Nonverbal Communication No. 3110: Scarlett Johansson gets invaded by John Travolta - An Awkward Moment from the 2015 Oscars - Body Language Tells (PHOTOS)

John Travolta provided a very awkward moment at the 2015 Oscars.

From a body language perspective there were two huge faux pas by the two-time best actor nominee when he encountered Scarlett Johansson.

Never approach a person from behind. In all but very few scenarios, such a maneuver is rarely endearing and even those who love us other will often become rapidly unnerved. Of course if there is no true affection, such an action is even more offensive.

Not only does he spring a sneak-attack, Travolta also touches Johansson on her mid abdomen. This is of course an intimate area for which Travolta had no invitation - and particularly true in such a public setting as the Academy Awards and when Scarlett recently had her first child.

Johansson's face reveals more than a little bit of anger here. Can you spot its subtle signs?

Those who are skilled and have a good amount of mindfulness can sometimes not react or at least slow down with their response with their arms or hands for a few moments in these and similar social situations. It's very difficult to do though. Such adept arm and hand control in turn tends to engender more control of the rest of the body. Yet even the untrained eye can look at Scarlett Johansson in these photos and feel their back stiffen along with hers.

Because of the rapidity and clandestine nature of Travolta's sneaky kiss & semi-embrace, Johansson did not really have much time to turn her head. Yet she could have responded more (her stomach was touched first providing a warning). A "Side-Eye" is telling. We do not look directly at someone who we don't respect, don't believe or we dislike.

Notice Johansson's head is also tilted away from Travolta. This subtle signal is a definite distancing phenomenon and is often seen in couples months or years prior to a break-up or divorce.

If you look carefully, you can also see Scarlett's lips and jaw shifting away from Travolta.

Given the context, John Travolta's action tends to strongly suggest narcissism (Surprise).



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3109: Why Chris Christie Will Never Win The White House in 2016 (or the Republican Nomination) - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1779:  Girl with a Pear Earring, Johannes Vermeer, Scarlett Johansson & Emotional Dissonance - Pain & Concern mixed with Flirting, Sexuality & Attractiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3105: Joe Biden, Ashton Carter & Stephanie Carter - Vice President Encroaches into New Defense Secretary's Wife's Intimate Space

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2995: 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman - Catcalls, Street Harassment, Body Language, Personal Safety & Threat Assessment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2563: President Obama's Subtle Anger - Body Language of Government Shutdown & the Debt Ceiling

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2894: Maria Kirilenko, Alex Ovechkin and Subtle Body Language of ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2811: Jason and David Benham are Dropped from HGTV - Body Language of Subtle Contempt, Anger & Disgust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3068: John Boehner Kissing Nancy Pelosi
 
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