Body Language Analysis No. 4370: Donald Trump, Fist-Pumping, and Vladimir Putin at 2017 G20 - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In July of 2017, during the G20 Summit in Hamburg, a particularly intriguing body language display was captured during one of the dinners. It's quite surprising that this display did not receive more press coverage at the time. It indeed deserves close examination.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the nonverbal exchange between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on that night. The relevant video segment is short and is looped several times within the news commentary video included here (begin at 0:46).

Donald Trump turns his face and torso toward Vladimir Putin and then points at the Russian President with the index finger of his right hand.

He then gestures back - with the same finger pointing to himself -

And then Trump points again at Putin.

Next, President Trump pumps his fist, up-and-down, twice -

And yet again, Trump points at Putin (a third time) - this time with his left index finger.

Does it raise your internal alarms when a person - who doesn't know you very well - uses words such as: "We", "Our", "Us", "Let's", etc.? It should. This fits into a type of verbal behavior known as "Forced Teaming" (de Becker) and it's a common technique overused by manipulative individuals. In scenarios which are out of context to mutual familiarity and/or agreement, such verbal forced teaming is an attempt at making another person feel as if they belong to the same clan, team, etc. If you subscribe to any group/belief system, then you'll be significantly more likely to follow established rules/orders - and much more apt to be manipulated.

If you know what to look for, you'll also spot concomitant paralanguage and nonverbal forced teaming analogs.

Donald Trump frequently points to people in a crowd, a member of Congress, or his cabinet. When he does so, it's a body language form of forced teaming. It makes the other person feel as if the president temporarily raises them to the level of a peer - even if they literally and logically know it's not actually true. This makes it significantly more difficult to say, "no" to him - and much more likely that he'll be successful at winning others over to his way of thinking.

However, Trump has never pointed at another person - particularly a head-of-state - and THEN pointed back at himself - until he did so here, with Putin. He proceeded to point back to Putin - and did so a total of three times. And profoundly, sandwiched between his second and third Putin-point was Trump's enthusiastic fist-pumps.

SUMMARY:  During the 2017 G20 Summit dinner in Hamburg, Germany - Donald Trump's repeated finger-pointing-fist-pumping gesturing toward Vladimir Putin indicates Trump's belief that he and Putin are on the same team - that they have solidarity - and that they are strong together.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4369: Donald Trump's Border Wall Oval Office Address

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils So Dilated?

Body Language Analysis No. 4367: Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer Argue in the Oval Office - The Border Wall and Government Shutdown

Body Language Analysis No. 4363: Ivanka Trump's GMA Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4361: Donald Trump "Jokes" about leaving office

Body Language Analysis No. 4359: Trump and Putin in Paris

Body Language Analysis No. 4357: Donald Trump's response, "What a stupid question" 

Body Language Analysis No. 4332: Richard Nixon, Nikita Khrushchev, and The Kitchen Debate

Body Language Analysis No. 4339: Pre-Confession Interview of Murderer, Chris Watts

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3502: Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant Pranks a College Team as ‘The Transfer’ - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Kris Bryant recently pranked Mesa Community College's baseball team by going undercover and pretending to be "Roy" - a transfer student-athlete from Europe. Bryant is a starting Third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year. These types of pranks are hilarious to partake in and witness first-hand. For those of us watching for body language tells (or for entertainment value), more cameras would have certainly been helpful here.

This image was captured during 2:36 in the above video while the college team players are discovering that a Major League Player is in their midst - and they've been duped.

Note the player second from our left. He has his had on his friend's/teammate's shoulder as they are smiling along with some mild laughter.

From a psychological point-of-view, both smiling and laughing during such events are primarily rapport-building experiences while the humorous aspects are secondary. Laughter and smiling will be amplified and prolonged by making eye contact with others (also seen here). Leaning toward the other person acts as a further bonding agent while touching another person during smiling and laughing. Touch another person during these moments further Amplify these the rapport-bonding experiences.

Straight men tend to touch each other on the shoulder or upper back in these scenarios, while women and gay men have a tendency to touch the other person's forearm or hand - as well as more pronounced upper torso/head leaning and near touching of foreheads.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3501: Salah Abdeslam of Paris Attacks is Captured - Body Language Traits Shared by Terrorists

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3498: Donald Trump Mocks Chris Christie when criticizing John Kasich

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2670: Janet Yellen Confirmed by Senate for Federal Reserve Chair

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2016: Hillary Clinton, Roosevelt Island, Building Rapport and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3452: A Ted Cruz Rapport Destroyer 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2276: Michelle Obama's Eye Roll .... What was she thinking? and What Did Boehner's & Barack's Body Language Say?

Romance, Flirting & Dating Body Language Secret No. 1893: Nonverbal Communication of the Facial Platter 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3389: Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama meet in Paris - Body Language Faux Pas 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3398: Orangutan Sees a Magic Trick - Bonding, Rapport and Laughter - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Laughing is not as much about humor as it is a bonding and rapport-building phenomenon. Moreover, when we lean toward or touch the other person during laughter, this effect is amplified (It's crucial however that before this leaning-in or touching takes place, there has to be some foundation of good rapport established).

Despite being behind glass this orangutan tried to touch the man who performed the "magic trick"
during his laughter. The orangutan knew the glass was there, yet he instinctively reached to touch him. This nonverbal behavior is deeply ingrained in our brains - and this is a beautiful example of just HOW deep it goes - for this body language is true for humans and other primates.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3397: Close Encounter - Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Ryan Gosling - SNL - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3028: Chris Rock's (and other Comedians) Body Language Trick that Gets You Laughing Easier

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2887 Derek Jeter, Smiles, Laughter and Body Language Nuance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508: Anne Frank, Sincere Smiles and Emotional Comfort

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3229: Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers and a SNL Reunion - REALLY!?! - a Body Language Trick of Comedians

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3389: Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama meet in Paris - Body Language Faux Pas  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3387: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, The Graham Norton Show and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3384: Donald Trump Repeats Controversial 9/11 Claims - Body Language Tells  
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2736: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis Engaged - Body Language

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are reportedly engaged. In this image they are shown at a recent LA Lakers game. Both stars of "That 70's Show" are smiling sincerely in this moment (Kunis a bit more so). Their heads and necks are also leaning in the direction of each other. This "leaning towards" is seen during moments of true affection. The act of tilting the head/neck/torso towards another person during laughter or smiling is also a phenomenon which amplifies the bonding. Laughter when another is present has a huge component of rapport-building and it's less about something being funny. The leaning in - and sometimes touching of the other person catalyzes and accelerates the bonding of the moment. Care must be taken to have some significant rapport already established before this nonverbal is displayed however - lest it backfire.

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2352:  Mila Kunis' Tongue in Cheek  Graham Norton Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2463:  Mila Kunis on Graham Norton  Olly Murs' not-so-secret Crush on Mila

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2325:  Mila Kunis' interview with Chris Stark on BBC Radio 1 re: Oz the Great and Powerful -  Body Language, Sexual Attraction and Mirroring

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2351:  Mila Kunis on Graham Norton Body Language, Sitting and being "Emotionally Comfortable"

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 357:  Mila Kunis and Sergeant Scott Moore 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2663: Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy Engaged - A Body Language Sign of Affection 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2678: French President François Hollande, Valerie Trierweiler and Julie Gayet - Of Affairs, Affection and Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2522: Jake Gyllenhaal and Jimmy Kimmel, Part II,  Body Language and Anxiety in Hollywood 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2137: Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama - First Presidential Debate - Barack's Bad Body Language

A couple of interesting Body Language Faux Pas are seen in this image of the first Presidential Debate in Denver. 

Note the position of President Obama's feet. The vast majority of his weight is on his left foot, while only the toes of his right foot are touching. Moreover, his right foot is crossed-over in back - past the vertical axis of his left leg. Although to the casual observer this may appear relaxed - it's far from it ... While Mitt Romney has got both feet planted flat on the floor, they should be a bit further apart - about shoulder width. Such a foot configuration would be more alpha, assertive and engenders more confidence. It will even lead to more fluid thought, better word choice and improved speech flow.  While neither man's legs & feet are perfect, Mr. Obama's are horrible for any type of leadership appearance - particularly for a speech or debate. In this context, his lower limb nonverbals indicate non-assertive, demure and beta emotional tone. 

A similar emotional message is being signaled by Obama's hand position. His hands are hidden. The less we see of a person, the more difficult it is to establish and build rapport - AND the less we trust them. This is particularly true when it comes to the hands. Hidden hands also indicate a less than confident emotional mindset. A much better place for his hands would be resting on the sides of the lectern - popularized by John Kennedy and also used very effectively by Bill Clinton and recently by Ann Romney.

The combination of the President's hand and foot positions seen here are NOT those of a confident, energetic, alpha emotional mindset. They are consistent with low confidence, tired and beta behavior. 

See also:

Nonverbal Analysis # 2125: Presidential Debate Body Language - George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot 1992

Nonverbal Analysis # 346: Rick Perry Forgets: 8 Republican Presidential Hopefuls Debate in Detroit - 60 seconds of Oops, Body Language and Empathy

A Nonverbal Analysis # 2134: A Watershed Body Language Moment: Nixon - Kennedy Debates 1960

Nonverbal Analysis # 2131: Presidential Debate Highlights - Bush vs. Gore 2000 - Gore's Invasion of Bush's Personal Space

Nonverbal Analysis # 2104: Mitt Romney's Convention Speech - Part II

Nonverbal Analysis # 1149: Who was More Nervous in Last Night's Debate? Santorum, Romney, Gingrich or Paul?

Nonverbal Analysis # 915: Interpersonal Space of Candidates 

Nonverbal Analysis # 1553: Ann & Mitt Romney's Body Language at NRA Meeting

Nonverbal Analysis # 2135: Ronald Reagan in Nashua, New Hampshire: "I'm Paying for this Microphone Mr. Green!"

Nonverbal Analysis # 2136: Some Body Language Highlights from First Obama - Romney Presidential Debate in Denver

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1808: Time Magazine's Breast Feeding, Dr. William Sears, and Attachment Parenting Controversy - Shows Emotional Dissonance at Best

Jamie Lynn Gromet is shown here with her son of almost four years on the cover of the current issue of Time Magazine. The cover story is about "Attachment Parenting" which among other principles advocates "co-sleeping", breast feeding children to a greater age than many are accustomed, feeding with love and respect, responding with sensitivity, providing constant loving care and using a nurturing touch.

Clearly this particular photograph was chosen for its shock value in an effort to increase readership - but the body language in this image is not consistent with the principles of attachment parenting. Ms. Gromet is displaying significant emotional dissonance - e.g. "I'm doing this because I HAVE to ...", "I'M the alpha, is that CLEAR?", "What's YOUR problem?", etc. Her son is also significantly non-affectionate.

While her left hand has good palmar touch to her child's back - certainly a signal of some affection, Ms. Gromet's right hand is akimboed in a thumbs-backward fashion on her hip. Particularly in this context, this overly-strong alpha nonverbal does not engender boding with children (or adults) - on the contrary, it is a rapport and bonding destroyer. It will not calm a child - it will not even create feelings of tolerance. This arm/hand gesture will raise the respiration and heart rate of children and promote anxiety. A thumb-forward akimbo transmits completely different emotions - that of trust and fostering emotions and in some contexts quizzical. Thumb-forward akimbo is therefore very commonly seen in teachers and parents on the playground.

See also: Secret # 33: Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo

The lack of any arm-hand contact by the little boy is also conspicuous. It is distancing and off-putting. It makes us feel uncomfortable. Any parent-child bond (or any loving relationship) should be reciprocated - not because it is cognitively driven - but because it is emotional.

See also:

Secret # 2: Blake Lively & Penn Badgley - Hugs as a measure of Affection - Impending Break-up

Secret # 771: Ann's & Mitt's Affectionate Hug

Secret # 105: Parental Affection and Love

Another strong signal of affection is tilting of one's head - leaning towards the one we love. This is true at any age, between parent and child ... or between lovers. No head/neck tilting here. Hmmm...

See also: Secret # 1500: Leaning in, Head Touching and the Manubrium - Kyra and Kevin are 10th cousins, once removed

Jamie Gromet should also be wearing a face of peace and joy. Not only do we not see any evidence of a sincere smile - or even a social smile - but incredibly, she has a subtle display of contempt! Why?

See also:

Secret # 101: Contempt Doesn't Sell

Analysis # 1696: George Zimmerman's Testimony - Fear, Incredulity, Regret & Contempt

Analysis # 1407: Auboni-Champion Morin - Reunited with Son after 8 years - Microexpression of Contempt

When there is true affection and/or respect, an embrace is marked by a pointing of the feet, the hips, the shoulders and the face towards each other. In this example, the two are turned askew. This body language is also significantly less consistent of sincere affection.

See also: Secret # 39: Affectionate vs. Non-Affectionate Hug

Whether a mother practices or is familiar with attachment parenting or not, affection should be natural between any loving parent and child. Dr.William Sears and his followers place extra emphasis on this premise - thus it is inconsistent that both mother and child here are not looking at each other, but the camera instead. Eye contact promotes and is symptomatic of bonding, affection, love, good parenting and nurturing (friendship and romance as well). Where is the eye contact? There is none.

See also: Secret # 335: What does "Eye Contact" really mean?

Any nurturing, loving or bonding here, is not about us - it's about THEM. Time magazine makes Ms. Gromet looks task-oriented and bitter - rather than a young mother driven by love, affection and the maternal bond. Consequently a loving act is made to look perfunctory and cold. Where is the warmth?

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1212: Invading Barack Obama's Personal Space

 

In this video, CBS sports announcer and former NBA player, Clark Kellogg interviews President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron at University of Dayton just prior to the Western Kentucky vs. Mississippi Valley State match up in the first round of March Madness (Western Kentucky won, 59-58). Notice how many times Kellogg puts his left hand on The President's right shoulder. It's rare that you'll see this repeated behavior directed towards a president or past president (or any other high ranking public office holder, CEO, celebrity, etc.) outside the confines of a close personal friendship and even then - not in a televised or public setting. In fact, the President himself reciprocates this touch - but only once - to Kellogg and then to Cameron as well. Kellogg knows Obama personally though, and what we're witnessing here is a subconscious bonding-rapport behavior - albeit excessive. Violations of personal space can quickly destroy rapport.

Another common body language explanation for excessive violation of personal space - is a dominance display, common with but not limited to that of narcissism/narcissistic personality disorder.

Not surprisingly, interpersonal space intrusions can also be a signal of affection and physical-romantic attraction. 

It is important to exclude medical causes when interpersonal space is chronically violated. Damage to a portion of the brain (amygdala), borderline personality disorder, sensory processing disorder and various other neuro-psycho-social disorders are all important considerations.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 731: Body Language, a Beautiful Prime Minister and a Bad Handshake - Yingluck Shinawatra

Yingluck Shinawatra is the first female Prime Minister of Thailand. Here she is shown shaking hands with Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda - although for a head-of-state, she's not doing so very well.

The handshake is great example of a "Goldilocks" body language. Similar to the fairy tale of the same name, it has to be performed in a "not too much, not too little, but just right" manner. Neglecting to use this nonverbal middle ground sends very wrong messages. When there isn't enough extension of the arm during a handshake (e.g. as Ms. Shinawatra displays above), messages of non-engagement and aloofness are transmitted. However extending the arm too much (see Negotiation Secret # 299: At Arm's Length) sends signals of distancing (e.g. "I'm not really sure about you", or "I don't really like you that much" or "I don't really want to be here", etc.). Prime Minister Noda strikes a happy medium however, and is extending his arm in an ideal in between (Goldilocks) manner.

Notice also how much Prime Minister Shinawatra is leaning forward. Having a table between two people shaking hands (as in the above example) is highly discouraged. Taking time to walk around to the other side of the table/desk when shaking hands builds warmth and rapport. Ms. Shinawatra amplifies this error by engaging in the handshake while standing further from the table than her Japanese counterpart. This increased distance necessitates a forward lean - and along with the interposition of the table sends a distancing, non-rapport, non-bonding building body language message identical to that described in the above paragraph. The opposite scenario of shaking hands standing too close - will make others feel uncomfortable, sometimes very uncomfortable. Entering into another's personal space should be reserved only for those who we know very well and feel comfortable hugging.

The Thai Leader is also not making any eye contact. While this is obviously a posed photograph, it is imperative to remember that quality and sincere eye contact (as Prime Minister Yoshidiko Noda exemplifies) cannot be over-emphasized. Not all "Bonding Moments" are created equal - and those during the few seconds of a well executed handshake will set the tone for entire diplomatic, business and personal relationships.

To her credit, Prime Minister Shinawatra is displaying a fairly good social smile - however Mr. Noda's smile has a higher "Sincerity Quotient" and indeed is a sincere smile - highly indicative of happiness-joy emotions. Each leader's hand and finger position is optimal here as well - with a symmetrical, neither-on-top, equal-dominance configuration - each palm being perpendicular to the floor.

A quality and sincere handshake has more components (some but not all of them delineated here) than most otherwise socially adept people realize and even very few CXOs perform them well - thus they squander the precious moments and opportunities of an initial greeting or re-greeting. Shakespeare's Brutus spoke it well:

There is a tide in the affairs of men, 
which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
is bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea are we now afloat,
and we must take the current when it serves,
or lose our ventures.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 361: Another Bonding Adjunct During Laughter

Although many people are unaware of it, a primary role of laughter is a means of bonding more than it is a result of humor. This is a fundamental staple of Psychology 101. I pointed out in a post a few days ago (Negotiation Body Language Secret # 501: Bonding and Rapport Facilitators - The Laughing Lean) that women will often lean towards each other as the laughter maximizes and peaks. This nonverbal promotes bonding and builds rapport even further. In the above image, Herman Cain is leaning a bit towards Mitt Romney during a break at a recent Republican debate in Orlando, Florida. Sometimes when women or lovers do this, their heads will even touch - although such head touching is rare among straight men.

The shoulder or arm touch is a similar bonding adjunct. This nonverbal is seen commonly with both sexes. Discretion must be exercised though, so as to avoid evoking patronizing feelings. In some contexts this body language will back fire - and you may rapidly "Un-bond".

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 501: Bonding and Rapport Facilitators - The Laughing Lean

Laughter is really more of a bonding facilitator than it is necessarily a pure byproduct of humor. A common example of this phenomenon is manifested daily in cinemas all over the World. When the same comedy is played, people always laugh more when the theater is crowded - compared to when it's sparsely filled.

There are several body language gestures which can accentuate this laughing-bonding-rapport building process. A very common one is demonstrated here between U.S. First Lady, Michelle Obama and Ms. Oprah Winfrey. As bouts of laughter are near maximum crescendo as well as their peak, it is very common for those laughing to subconsciously reduce their interpersonal space. This is very often and sincerely manifested nonverbally by a leaning of the head(s) and upper body towards the other person. It often is mutual and simultaneous. Sometimes during extreme laughing bouts there may even be a touching of heads. This head tilt is significantly more common and pronounced with women compared with men.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 712: We are Born with the Desire for Eye Contact

Eye Contact is normal. Eye contact is natural. Newborns have a strong desire to gaze into others' eyes. Why do so many adults who have otherwise fairly good interpersonal communication skills "unlearn" this fundamentally indispensable nonverbal staple? A normal and healthy amount of eye contact should between 30 and 70 percent of the time. Try your best to keep it closer to 70 percent if you want to enjoy good rapport and bonding.

See: Negotiation Body Language Secret # 335: What does "Eye Contact" Really Mean?

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