Barack Obama visited Texas today to address the crisis at the border as well as the larger issue of overall immigration reform. President Obama met with Governor Rick Perry - since of course this problem puts a burden on the state he governs.
During the 1:54 - 1:56 segment in the above video (captured in images below), President Obama scratches five times behind his left ear (in such a scenario, people nearly always scratch/rub on the bony prominence there called the mastoid process) with his left index finger (forefinger). Many people falsely believe this signal as a nonverbal indicator of deception - yet it's not. However this behind the ear scratch is a very reliable indicator of anxiety.
As odd it may sound to some, scratching/rubbing/touching anywhere on the external ear itself (pinna) such as the earlobe or twisting a finger in the external ear canal (external auditory meatus) or just in front of or just below the ear in concert with a declarative statement or in when answering a question - is consistent with a lie. The President is not lying here though.
Two days ago Vladimir Putin gave his annual press conference. This year's marathon session lasted about four hours. While the Russian President covered many topics - a small portion dealing with Edward Snowden is discussed here. Below is a partial body language analysis.
The words highlighted in red and purple are coincident with his nonverbal displays as they are timed with the interpreter's words, which are of course are slightly delayed from Mr. Putin's.
(mild) fear at 1:01 (mouth and neck)
"... We act under the assumption that in Russia, he will not continue any anti-American propaganda ...."
Putin fears that some of Snowden's future NSA disclosures will make trouble for him and Russia.
Below Vladimir looks first rapidly up to his left (1:22), then straight left (1:23) during the following translator's sentence:
"... In operational terms, we have never worked[up to his left, see first image immediately below] with him [straight to his left, see second image below] and we are not doing this now ..."
1:22
Although not 100% reliable, once a person has been normed for this gaze-directional patterns, a high percentage of right-handed people (Putin is right hand dominant), look up to their left when they are visually recalling a memory.
Image at 1:23
A gaze directional straight to the left (with no significant up or down component) is highly consistent with auditory recall in most right-handed people.
The previous two images, in context with his words, strongly suggests that either Putin himself has met with and is recalling conversations with Edward Snowden - or Vladimir is recalling watching/listening to videos of others interviewing him.
Contempt at 1:26 (Microexpression)
"... We are not asking him any questions about what and how was done in relation to Russia ..."
Mr. Putin clearly feels contempt for those that imply Russia is interrogating Edward Snowden.
1:47- 1:48 Regret Display
"... He ah, decided to live in our country due to certain circumstances ...a lot has "
This strongly implies that Mr. Putin feels that giving Snowden amnesty was more trouble than benefit. He regrets letting him into Russia.
1:49 The Puffer Fish
"... A lot has been already done about this ..."
The puffer fish nonverbal display is strongly consistent with anxiety and is more correlative with a past event - although it can be seen with one anticipated in the near future.
This body language tends to have a calming effect as it lowers the heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.
A "Behind the Ear Scratch" (on the mastoid process) as Mr. Putin's interpreter say's "... But it is now up to him to determine his future. We're not going to help him or prevent him, we're just provided him the shelter ..." shows us Vladimir's significantly heightened anxiety regarding Russia's harboring of Edward Snowden.
Smith: "Yea, yea, God, we're going to tech next week. I've got lots of questions actually for you Robbie about singing." (to Robbie Williams)
Williams: "Right ah, I'm not the best for that."
During the entire segment from 1:57 to 2:02, Smith scratches behind his right ear (specifically on
the posterior base of his right mastoid process). He does this 17
times (see below). Scratching of this area is consistent with honest anxiety. Smith is clearly quite stressed about his singing in 'Psycho'.
Do not confuse this with "The Ear Screw", "The Ear Tug" - or scratching just below or in front of the ear. These other facial nonverbal MAPs (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers) often have less straightforward meanings depending on the other body language signals with which they are clustered. Do you know what these body language signs can indicate?
