Body Language Analysis №4690: Greg Abbott, Deception, and the Lip Curl (Photos)

 

A ‘Lip Curl’, when the lips flare/curl outward in disproportionate and melodramatic manner is a highly reliable indicator of the thought-emotions of:

• Hubris

• False Bravado

• Braggadocio

• Pretentiousness

• Righteous Indignation

• Deception

• Insincerity

• Agenda Driven (Manipulation is Present)

• This cannot be stressed enough: If a Lip Curl is displayed even with modest frequency, there’s a high likelihood of Machiavellian Personality (and very often, an accompanying Dark Triad or Dark Tetrad).

 

It’s a crucial tell, an out-of-context lip and mouth configuration — hyperbolic with respect to the word being spoken.

 

You’ve probably detected this subtle nonverbal behavior subconsciously (or at the edge of consciousness) but dismissed it.

 

It’s also commonly (but not always) accompanied by pseudo-accent sounding by word pronunciations — with an air of haughtiness (i.e., “Country Club Accent”).

In addition, there’s almost always a significant and simultaneous degree of jaw muscle tension/contraction present during a Lip Curl.

Interested in learning Body Language/Nonverbal Communication and Behavior Analysis in Group-Zoom sessions? We’ll be meeting the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month (90 minutes/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details (one-on-one and private corporate group instruction also available).

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This post and others accompanying it, serve as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in the many varied contexts of personal and professional life.

Body Language Analysis No. 4377: Donald Trump, "These aren't people, these are animals" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Friday 5 April 2019, while at two different campaign events in Iowa, Beto O’Rourke told the crowds that Donald Trump’s rhetoric echoes Nazi Germany, saying, "Putting kids in cages?", and "Calling human beings an infestation is something that we might’ve expected to hear in Nazi Germany", along with, "the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as rapists and criminals, but as animals and an infestation," as well as, "Saying that neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists 'are very fine people'? You draw your own conclusions, but this is not something that I expected to hear a president of the United States of America ever say."

One of Trump's statements to which O'Rourke was referring was from an event on 16 May 2018 (please see the above video). During a White House roundtable discussion on immigration policy, President Trump said, "We have people who are coming into the country - or trying to come in - we're stopping a lot of 'em. But we're taking people out of the country - you wouldn't believe how bad these people are. These aren't people - these are animals..."

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the President's statement from that day.

A split second after he says, "people" ("These aren't people"), President Trump displays a classic expression of Disgust.

Just as he finishes saying the end of the word "animals", Donald Trump displays what is known as a Lip Curl.

A lip curl is a signal of:

• Braggadocio
• Bravado
• Hubris
• Bluster

SUMMARY: President Trump's nonverbal behavior exhibited during this video, shows us a strong emotional display of disgust.

Disgust was the most common facial expression seen on the faces of Nazi soldiers who staffed Auschwitz-Birkenau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald, and the many other concentration camps during World War II. Contempt was also very common.

In order to perpetrate, encourage, or tolerate mass violence, hate crimes, and racism - the human mind must dramatically rationalize - by regarding the victims as "others" - believing them to be of a lower existence, subhuman.

Moreover, Trump's nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage displays - all indicate strong egocentric motives and pleasure with regard to the ramifications of his immigration policy.

Media Inquires and Group Appearances 
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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4375: Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Security Clearances

Body Language Analysis No. 4374: Nancy Pelosi's Clap-Back to Donald Trump during the 2019 SOTU

Body Language Analysis No. 4373: Matthew Whitaker's Press Conference regarding Robert Mueller's Investigation

Body Language Analysis No. 4371: "Mr. President ... have you ever worked for Russia? Yes or no?"

Body Language Analysis No. 4370: Donald Trump, Fist-Pumping, and Vladimir Putin at 2017 G20

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

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. 4364: Vladimir Putin's and Mohammed bin Salman's High Five at the G20

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Body Language Analysis No. 4356: Donald Trump: "When I can, I tell the truth" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Thursday 1 November 2018, Jonathan Karl of ABC News interviewed President Trump. One of Trump's responses went particularly viral. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this interview.

JONATHAN KARL (continuing at 3:49): And finally, I remember, you remember - well on the campaign, you made a promise, you said, "I will never lie to you". So, can you tell me now, honestly, have you - kept that promise at all times? Have you always been truthful?

DONALD TRUMP: (over-talking) Well I try, I mean I do try, I think you try too. You say things about me that are not - necessarily correct. I do try and - ah, I always wanna tell the truth - when I can, I tell the truth. I mean sometimes it turns out to be where something happens - it's different or there's a change - but I always like to be truthful. 

Throughout the great majority of this entire exchange with Karl (including further back in this interview [beginning at 2:12] as the President answers questions regarding the ongoing diaspora of Central American people walking north through Mexico), Trump looks down and to HIS right (with both eyes and to a lesser degree, his head and neck).

Eye contact during deception is an intriguing phenomenon. When someone is telling a lie, the percentage of eye contact they have with the other person (or the camera) is biphasic. It almost always either increases (and thus, often takes on the feel of staring) - or it decreases. Moreover, when their eye contact does decrease, the quadrant to which the liar most often looks is THEIR lower right quadrant (exactly what we see here).

Notice too, the verbal language President Trump used. He never said, "Yes", "Always", "I'm always truthful", or "One-hundred percent" - rather Trump said:

• "Well I try"
• "I do try"
• "I always wanna tell the truth"
• "when I can, I tell the truth"
• "I always like to be truthful"

Such hedging, whether in written or verbal form, are profound statement analysis tells indicative of deception.

In addition, Donald Trump immediately proceeds with the premise that Jonathan Karl also lies when he says, "I think you try too. You say things about me that are not - necessarily correct". This is a manipulative method known as Forced Teaming (de Becker). It's as if to say, "We're in this together Jon - you and me" - and - You lie too Jonathan, everybody lies, but we all try not to".


Now flashback to an earlier portion of this interview. Beginning as Trump says (continuing at 2:31), "... you have caravans coming up that, look a lot larger than it's reported, actually, I mean I'm pretty good at - estimating crowd size - and I will tell you - they look a lot bigger than people would think ..."

From 2:31 to 2:39 Trump displays a combination of a Suppressed Smile along with what is known as a Lip Curl. Please watch the above video - as any still image does not capture the dynamic nature of this nonverbal behavior.

In this context, a suppressed smile is what is a nonverbal phenomenon termed as Duping Delight (Ekman) - which is a form of body language 'leaking' - wherein the person displaying it, is taking true joy in THEIR belief that they're successfully deceiving people. It's crucial to emphasize here that you don't have to agree at all with the ethics of their lying or their motive. Moreover, they may not be fooling anyone at all - but THEY believe they are doing so.

A lip curl (note the outward curl of Trump's upper left lip) signals Hubris, Braggadocio, and Bravado. Trump tends to have a slight lisp when he displays his lip curls (both in this example and on other occasions). This is best exemplified as he says the word "size" during 2:37.

Notice too, that during 2:36 - 2:39, Trump's shoulders elevate slightly as he puffs up his chest (and perhaps elevates a bit on his toes). While not a required component of either a lip curl or duping delight, these additional dynamics add to this particular body language sentence - a nonverbal grouping called a cluster. These extra components serve as amplifiers - of both the joy he has in the act of deceiving - as well as his hubris, braggadocio, and bravado.

SUMMARY: During this interview, Donald Trump is looking down to his right the vast majority of the time - the direction of gaze to which most people look during the diminished eye contact of deception. Trump also demonstrates classic nonverbal tells indicating he takes pleasure and hubris in the belief he's successfully perpetrating his lies.

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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4355: Comparing Donald Trump and the Tree of Life Synagogue to Ronald Reagan and the Challenger Disaster 

Body Language Analysis No. 4353: The Murder of Jamal Khashoggi and Trump's Defense of Saudi Arabia 

Body Language Analysis No. 4351: Donald Trump Stops Anthony Kennedy in His Tracks 

Body Language Analysis No. 4349: Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford - Part III

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4321: Donald Trump and The Queen

Body Language Analysis No. 4316: Sarah Paulson, The Met Gala, and Madonna

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4282: When Public Displays of Affection are More Frequent than those in Private

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Body Language Analysis No. 4285: President Trump regarding Undocumented Immigrants: "These aren't people - these are animals" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Earlier today, during a White House roundtable discussion on immigration policy, President Trump said, "We have people who are coming into the country - or trying to come in - we're stopping a lot of 'em. But we're taking people out of the country - you wouldn't believe how bad these people are. These aren't people - these are animals..."

Just as he finishes saying the end of the word "... animals ...", President Trump displays what in nonverbal parlance is known as a Lip Curl.

A lip curl is a signal of:

• Braggadocio
• Hubris
• Bravado
• Bluster

SUMMARY: President Trump's nonverbal behavior - which is in full agreement with his verbal and his paralanguage displays - are all indicating strong egocentric emotional motives with respect to his policy on immigration. Such behavior points to high subjectivity, extreme bias, and impulsiveness in decision making.

Group Appearances and One-on-One

Online Courses Available 

702-239-8503

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4284: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Deadpool 2, and Alpha Up-Regulation 

Body Language Analysis No. 4282: When Public Displays of Affection are More Frequent than those in Private 

Body Language Analysis No. 4280: David Beckham, Princess Leia, and Embarrassment

Body Language Analysis No. 4279: Rudy Giuliani regarding President Trump's alleged Sexual Relationship with Stormy Daniels

Body Language Analysis No. 4201: Donald Trump's reaction to Rob Porter Resignation

Body Language Analysis No. 4268: Benedict Cumberbatch, Schadenfreude, and The Grinch

Body Language Analysis No. 4173: California Mud Slides - Rescue and Surprise

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3856: "Belle" Clip - Beauty and the Beast

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3814: Claire Foy's recounting of Meeting Kate Winslet

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Body Language Analysis No. 4201: Donald Trump's reaction to Rob Porter Resignation - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Friday morning, President Trump publicly reacted to Rob Porter's resignation. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of his statement.

Journalist: Do you have any comment on Mr. Porter?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we wish him well. He worked very hard. I found about it - recently and I was surprised by it. But we certainly wish him well. It's a-ah ... obviously tough time - for him. He did a very good job when he was in the White House. Ahum, we hope he has a - wonderful career and - hopefully he will have a great career ahead of him. But ah, it was very sad when we heard about it, and certainly he's also, ah, very sad. Now he also, ah, as you probably know, he says he's innocent – Ω – and I think you have to - remember that. He said very strongly yesterday that he's innocent - so you'll have to talk to him about that. But we absolutely wish him well - did a very good job while he was at the White House. Thank you very much everybody.

During 0:35, as he says, "... ah ...", the President displaces his derriere backward in his chair in a classic Butt Adjustment. A Butt Adjustment is an Alpha Up-regulation signal triggered by anxiety. The President feels nervous when he's preparing to say, "... as you probably know, he says he's innocent ..." 

Additionally, his prolonged blinking is an epiphenomenon of psychological blocking - as the President's psyche is attempting to insulate itself. 

One to two seconds later, during 0:36 - 0:37, as he is saying, "... he says he's innocent ...", Donald Trump displays a Lip Curl. A Lip Curl is a signal of Braggadocio, Hubris, and Bravado.

Another second later, during 0:38, just before he says, "... and I think you have to - remember that. He said very strongly yesterday that he's innocent ...", President Trump exhibits a Jaw Jut (notated by the Ω symbol). It's important to note this is not a jaw jut associated with anger (e.g., there are no other anger signals present). A Jaw Jut in the absence of Anger is indicative of Hubris.

Summary: Intriguingly, Donald Trump became anxious during his defense of Rob Porter - specifically just prior to saying, "... as you probably know, he says he's innocent ...". The President also felt significant hubris-braggadocio-bravado.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4200: Mike Pence re: Rob Porter and Why It Seems Pence is "Out Of The Loop" on Major News

Body Language Analysis No. 4198: Lupita Nyong'o, Black Panther, and Attention to Detail

Body Language Analysis No. 4196: Trey Gowdy on "Face The Nation"

Body Language Analysis No. 4194: Tom Brady, "Why Does Everyone Want Me To Retire So Bad?"

Body Language Analysis No. 4183: Aly Raisman, Larry Nassar, and USA Gymnastics

Body Language Analysis No. 4149: Zendaya, Zac Efron, and "The Greatest Showman"

Body Language Analysis No. 4125: Michael Flynn, Trick Arrows, and Suppressing Strong Emotions 

Body Language Analysis No. 4091: John Kelly's Press Briefing, "I'm not quitting"/"I'm not getting fired" 

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



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Body Language Analysis No. 4149: Zendaya, Zac Efron, and "The Greatest Showman" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Zendaya was recently a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon promoting her recent film, The Greatest Showman. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the above video segment.

During 2:56, at the end of the sentence, "... and so, we really had to quite literally trust each other, because he had to hold my weight and I had to hold him, you know, so it was just kinda like, a - great icebreaker ..." , Zendaya displays what is known as a "Lip Curl".

A lip curl involves the lips protruding outward with a slight to sometimes dramatic momentary concave shape as they extend away from the teeth in a brief exaggerated dynamic. This is a moderate example and involves mostly her upper lip. It projects the (primarily) alpha emotions of Hubris, False Bravado, Hyperbole, and Braggadocio. Very often there is also a component of Sarcasm present.

This photo was taken approximately 0.10 second earlier. While blurrier (due to her motion) than the preceding image - it captures a Zendaya's upper lip in a configuration more typical of a "Lip Curl".

During 4:03 - 4:04, just after the blooper video of her and Zac Efron colliding, Zendaya displays a Loose Tongue Jut. This nonverbal signals the thought emotions of "I've made a mistake", "I've been caught", "I've been bad" (Navarro). It very often has components of self-deprecating emotions - and in such scenarios, it's helpful to think of it as a nonverbal equivalent of the common verbal expression, "My Bad!"

Take care not to confuse a "loose tongue jut" with a "tight tongue jut" - as they have completely different meanings.

Just after the viewing of a portion of the film trailer, Zendaya retracts/hyper-flexes her left ring finger - touching it with her thumb (during 4:42).

A few seconds later, she grabs and twists that same, left ring finger (during 4:45). 

In this setting, these left ring finger manipulations/MAPs (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers) are signals of Zendaya's affection and sexual attraction for Zac Efron - as well as her accompanying anxiety.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4148: Kayla and Roy Moore's Antisemitism

Body Language Analysis No. 4146: Roy Moore, Red Flags, and Sociopaths

Body Language Analysis No. 4144: Donald Trump Touching Mike Pence on the Knee in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4142: Donald Trump, "I feel badly for General Flynn"

Body Language Analysis No. 4137: Matt Lauer's "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace"

Body Language Analysis No. 4116: Carey Mulligan and American Accents

Body Language Analysis No. 4095: Celtics' Gordon Hayward Breaks His Leg in Dramatic Fashion During Game with Cavaliers

Body Language Analysis No. 4067: 2017 Emmys - Melissa McCarthy's Reaction to Sean Spicer Doing Melissa McCarthy Doing Sean Spicer

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


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3816: Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Rex Tillerson has a symmetry problem. The nominee for the US Secretary of State and former Exxon CEO speaks out of the right side of his mouth.

From a nonverbal perspective, we should immediately think of several different causes when we see such a one-sided speaking style:

1. Injury, Stroke, Muscle Palsy, etc.: Certainly there are numerous medical causes of an asymmetrical mouth while speaking.

2. Tic-like behavior/Long-term habit: We all know people who, although they have no medical causes, have spoken out of one side of their mouths' their whole lives.

3. Insincerity & Deception: A person may be overall an insincere individual, although not necessarily lying in a specific moment. Another person may be a pretty honest, yet they may currently be telling a lie. In either case, one signal of their sincerity could be an asymmetrical manner of speech (although it's certainly not always seen in the midst of deception).

4. Swagger/Bravado: Speaking out of one side of the mouth is one way a person may project Swagger and Bravado. This Braggadocio overlaps behaviorally with the emotional tone of insincerity.

Rex Tillerson appears to have spoken out of the right side of his mouth for years. Thus he most likely fits into one of the first two categories - and probably more specifically that of a Tic-like habit.

It's of crucial importance to note, those who speak out of one side of their mouth are overall judged by others to be less trustworthy. This tendency is also a cross-cultural phenomenon.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2815: Donald Trump's first Press Conference as President-Elect

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2812: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone & La La Land - Backstage Interview Golden Globes 2017

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3810: Mark Wahlberg, Justine Bieber and Ellen DeGeneres

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3798: Elle Fanning, Channing Tatum and Dialing Up the Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3768: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3723: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3658: Usain Bolt's "Cheeky Smile"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3584: Brock Turner's Mugshot, Duping Delight and Body Language

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