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 ....

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 2091: Sincere Smiling (a' la Blake Lively) and Laughing - Reduces Anxiety and Heart Rate, Boosts Immune System and Relieves Pain

The results of this study are no surprise to those who study body language. People who adopt a smile, particularly a true smile consistent with joy (Duchenne Smile), have lower heart rates and lower anxiety levels - both during and after the stressor. The multiple images of the people shown during the 0:36 - 0:46 segment are genuine, sincere smiles characterized by the cardinal nonverbal signs of partial eyelid closure, a concave up dynamic furrow on the lower eyelids, only the upper teeth visible and a relaxed forehead.

The same study showed that laughter has the added effect of boosting the immune system and relieving pain. Although this particular study was new, these and other similar benefits of adopting positive body language have been well described for decades.

Few people can call up a sincere smile on command (how good are you?) - but it's value is tremendous. For while everyone knows those who are joyful smile, this and other studies show us that the reverse is true - a sincere smile can alter our physiology and lead to true happiness.

See also:

Secret # 702: Mouth of Fear, Trying to Smile and Forehead of Pain

Secret # 133: Surprise or Smile or Neither?

Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2203: A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection -  How Do YOU cuddle?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1441: George Clooney, Sudan and Foreheads -A Sincere Smile Never Has This ...

Yesterday, George Clooney was arrested while protesting in front of the Sudanese Embassy. He was charged with the disorderly crossing of a police line. Only two days before he had dined with the President in the White House and testified before Congress regarding the mounting crisis in South Sudan. 

In the above image, during a casual moment at his congressional testimony, Clooney certainly displayed all the components of a sincere smile: partially/mostly closed eyes with the necessary concave-up furrow in each lower eyelid and an open mouth with only the top teeth showing. 

I want to call attention to George's forehead though. While there are some slight passive wrinkles in his forehead (Mr. Clooney is 50), there is no contraction of the actors forehead muscles. When the forehead does contract however, the tissue elevates and pulls the eyebrows up along with it (most don't realize that the eyebrows lower slightly during a sincere, joyful smile - although this is difficult to see dynamically). For a smile to reflect authentic happiness-joy, the forehead must be relaxed.

One common type of feigned smile, is the "false-surprise smile" aka the "dropped-jaw smile" (see Blake Lively example this: Secret # 133: Surprise or a Smile or Neither?) which is easy to spot because of the wide open mouth, elevated eyebrows and raised & furrowed forehead.

The take-home message: If the forehead is contracted, the smile is insincere. No matter what the rest of the face looks like - always evaluate the forehead.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Secret # 702: Mouth of Fear, trying to Smile and Forehead of Pain

Blake Lively has got one of the best "Social Smiles" in Hollywood. That is, her "acted smiles" in social/interview/public appearance settings - most of the time comes pretty close to resembling a "Sincere, Felt Smile". Very few people - even actors/actresses can truly pull this off. That's one reason why this particular image is a great example here. Her mouth shows a trace amount of fear - not the typical type of fear though. She's trying to smile, but she can't in this particular moment. Her bottom teeth are showing and they shouldn't be with a sincere smile, but it is a characteristic of fear. In this case, it's an empathy-embarrassment-apology type of fear. The kind of fear where she has just delivered some bad news or she has to back out of a commitment, etc. It's not danger-fear, but it is a type of fear. One signal that it's not a classic fear is that her eyes are not opened wider than normal (e.g., with "whites of the eyes" showing above the irises/irides - not just on the sides of the eyes) in fact her lids are a bit more closed.

Blake's central eyebrows are also elevated. Another sign that goes along with this - is her central forehead being contracted. This is a classic signal of pain, either physical or emotional pain and either directly felt or experienced through empathy.

This whole smorgasbord of signals  is what is known as a gesture cluster, when several body language signs are seen simultaneously or nearly so - like words in a sentence - they take on a specific meaning. So, in summary, when you see this mild "yikes" type of expression displayed by the mouth, the eyes closed slightly, the central eyebrows raised and the central forehead wrinkled - you know that she/he is about to deliver some news that they know you don't want to hear (and they fear speaking it). You may very well see this beacon several minutes before the news is spoken - which will give you time to mentally and emotionally prepare. Your own body language, tone and words will then work to your advantage. Our overly emotional response to bad news is a common flaw that many share and a few seconds warning is priceless.

See also:

Secret # 133: Surprise or Smile or Neither?

Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 2091: Sincere Smiling (a la' Blake Lively) and Laughing Reduces Anxiety and  Heart Rate, Boosts Immune System and Relieves Pain

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2203: A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection -  How Do YOU cuddle?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Negotiation Secret # 133: Surprise or a Smile or Neither?

Blake Lively is certainly one of Hollywood's most attractive young starlets. In this image, Blake has a classic False Smile though. It is commonly known as a False-Surprised Smile or Dropped Jaw Smile (B. & A. Pease).  With a true, felt smile - the forehead is relaxed - but Ms. Lively's forehead is contracted across its entire width.  With true surprise, the expression is very brief - nearly always less than a second or two.  We cannot tell the duration of Blake's expression, of course, because this is a photo. It is valuable to keep this in mind though - for if you see a surprised expression, and it lasts longer than 1 or 2 seconds, at least a portion of it (or perhaps the entire emotion) is being faked or exaggerated. This is a red flag - dig deeper.

Another sure sign that this is not true surprise, is that Ms. Lively's eyelids are not opened wide.  With true surprise, the eyelids are opened wide enough to see the whites of the eyes (sclera) ABOVE the iris (colored part of the eye).

Blake Lively - beautiful but not believable (here in this photo). Blake is not surprised, nor is this a sincere smile, but a common expression that looks (to most people) like both, but is neither. Things are not always as they seem. Don't get fooled by professional actors or those around you whose motives may be questionable.

See also:

Secret # 702: Mouth of Fear, Trying to Smile and Forehead of Pain

Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 2091: Sincere Smiling (a la' Blake Lively) and Laughing Reduces Anxiety and  Heart Rate, Boosts Immune System and Relieves Pain

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2203: A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection -  How Do YOU cuddle?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Dating & Romance Secret # 33: Who is the Dominant Partner?

In this photo of Actors Blake Lively and Penn Badgley holding hands - Ms. Lively is displaying her dominance nonverbally.  It is unusual and even rare to see the woman have her hand in front of her male partner when holding hands. Here, Blake proves the exception. This is a strong dominance display. There can be no doubt who the "Alpha" was in this relationship... and who is the "Beta". Many other body language signals and gestures display dominance - some in the world of  romance - and others in the world of business. Overlook them at your peril.

More Blake Lively:

See also:

Secret # 702: Mouth of Fear, Trying to Smile and Forehead of Pain

Secret # 133: Surprise or Smile or Neither?

Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 2091: Sincere Smiling (a la' Blake Lively) and Laughing Reduces Anxiety and  Heart Rate, Boosts Immune System and Relieves Pain

________________________________________________________________________________________

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

Blake Lively and her boyfriend, Penn Badgley are shown hugging in this photo on the set of the TV show "Gossip Girl". But unless this is part of the script (and I don't think it is), this "Hug" is considerably non-affectionate and is a strong signal of an impending break-up of this actor couple. Let's start at the ground and work up. Notice their feet are not even close to pointing at each other. This is a very strong indicator of non-affection, especially during a hug. We point our feet towards those we love, like, are attracted to, or have affection for (even if not in an embrace) - or those we believe are important and deserve our respect. In the context of a married or dating couple, this is a flashing neon sign of non-affection and impending break-up. You heard it here first.

The couple's hips are far apart and also not pointed at each other (angled apart) - Blake's even more significantly. This is how you hug your cousin or your co-worker (see post on Cameron Diaz's and Tom Cruise's hug), not your significant other. Another detail here, is that Ms. Lively is bending more at the waist, while Mr. Badgley's waist is not bent at all. This particular waist finding is our emotional brain's attempt at keeping our hips further apart and our hugs less intimate, less affectionate and less committed. Blake is just not into it. To all men who get a hug like this on a "first date" - you won't get a second one.

Ms. Lively has a purse in her right arm, and she is hugging with only one arm. Blake's emotional brain is using her forearm to act as a barrier against affection. The purse is an additional barrier. These are two strong additional warning signs. Penn is hugging primarily with his left arm - his right arm is only slightly engaged.

Finally, look at their eyes, while Mr. Badgley's eyes remain closed, Ms. Lively's eyes open first (see photo below). We tend to close our eyes and keep them closed longer when the affection, the commitment and the love is deeper. Our emotional brain is focusing on the affection of the moment and trying to drink it all in. If one person never closes their eyes, or opens them quickly - there is less emotional commitment.

Using actors as examples to teach and coach body language is particularly illustrative, because it demonstrates so poignantly that although they are professionals and get paid millions to suspend our disbelief, faking emotion is extremely difficult to do. Truth always leaks, and often gushes out. It surprises me that more actors don't get body language coaching. It not only will help them become better actors, but as it does for everyone else - it gives profound understanding of all human emotion.

Update: Five days after this article-analysis was posted, Blake Lively and Penn Badgley split-up!

See also:

Secret # 702: Mouth of Fear, Trying to Smile and Forehead of Pain

Secret # 133: Surprise or Smile or Neither?

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 2091: Sincere Smiling (a la' Blake Lively) and Laughing Reduces Anxiety and  Heart Rate, Boosts Immune System and Relieves Pain

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2203: A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection -  How Do YOU cuddle?

_____________________________________________________________________________