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 # 1770: White House Correspondents' Dinner Lindsay Lohan's Body Language

 

Over the weekend, at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, comedian Jimmy Kimmel put on a fantastic show. Before the festivities began though (and Jimmy picked on Ms. Lohan and Kim Kardashian, among numerous others), many of the celebrities were interviewed. In this brief video, I want to contrast the body language of Lindsay Lohan (whom we don't hear, and is visible in another interview in the background) with Wolf Blitzer, the longtime CNN News anchor. 

Ms. Lohan appears at the 1:32 - 1:34 mark in a low-confidence, low-comfort fig leaf (aka genital guarding) configuration. While there are a few times this body language should be displayed e.g. in respect/deference & religious type settings, this is not one of them. It's not the way to attract quality leading lady scripts.

See also:

Secret # 415: When is it Appropriate for a President to Stand in the "Fig Leaf"?

Secret # 1563: Geithner and Holder - In Deference to the President

Secret # 441: Bill Clinton's Rapport and His Temporary Universe

Secret # 517: Respect for Vaclav Havel

Secret # 593: Projecting and Detecting Confidence

Secret # 10: High Confidence vs. Low Confidence Stance

Secret # 14: High Confidence and Low Confidence Drivers - Arms Akimbo & Assertive Attitudes

During the 1:35 - 1:36 segment, Lindsay displays a "Hair Adjust Behind Ear" nonverbal. This is a classic MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) indicating anxiety - and this specifically with the HABE, the psyche is calling upon inner reserves to "dial-up" her alpha qualities. She's trying to be more assertive and more confident in the midst of, what for her is, an anxiety moment. 

See also:

Secret # 411: Dialing Up Her Alpha - Dana Perino

Secret # 1459: Geithner Gets His Alpha On

Secret # 345: Dialing Up Her Alpha - Sharon Bialek

During the 1:37 - 1:45 segment, the actress rubs her left arm with her right hand. This is another MAP and is a clear indicator of anxiety. Ms. Lohan is trying to comfort herself.

During the remainder of her time in this video, 1:45 - 2:03, the former child-star once again reverts back to the low confidence fig-leaf.

Blitzer, the long-time CNN anchor, uses the political-point (loose okay sign) to indicate confidence and rapport-building authority very well. His palm opens up to a relaxed-hand vertical and 45 degree-palms up configuration, indicating openness and confidence - another great illustrator of confidence and rapport. Note also that Wolf uses his "Thumbs-up" to point at Brooke Baldwin and Brianna Keilar (she displays a sincere smile at the 1:32 mark) - and thus exhibits both the very positive universal emblem of optimism (thumbs-up) while avoiding the forefinger (index finger) point which is highly offensive and rapport destroying the World over.

See also:

Secret # 1995: Barack Obama, Social Darwinism and the Political Point

Secret # 441: The Political Point - How Not to Use it

Secret # 515: Huntsman's Political Point (C+), Skeptical Eyebrow and Facial Tension

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

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