Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3171: Brooke Baldwin - Blames Vets for Riots? Then Apologizes - Contrasting Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

These two videos are an excellent study in contrast. Yesterday, CNN Anchor Brooke Baldwin, in an interview Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) on the subject of the rioting in Baltimore, said, “I was talking to a city councilman here last week who was saying, ‘Brooke, these people have to live in the communities. There’s no emotional, or there’s a lack of emotional investment,’ ” Baldwin continued, “And a lot of these young people … and I love our nation’s veterans, but some of them are coming back from war, they don’t know the communities and they’re ready to do battle.”

Note Baldwin's hand and arm movement during the dialog in the above video. In body language terminology these are examples of what are termed "Illustrators". Yet they are incongruous in both amplitude and context with her words (As if she was an orchestral conductor and the music is "off" to a bit). This disparity is a strong signal of insincerity. It shows us that Brooke Baldwin either did not believe what she was saying - or that she was being melodramatic and trying to inject (act) sincerity and emphasis when she was not well thought (or fully emotionally present) on the specifics. Either way this is insincere behavior.

Understandably, many have blasted her for making this statement.

Today she apologized for her words (See video below). In contrast to the above AND with vast majority of other apologies of celebrity and public officials - this one was sincere. Note that she did NOT read her apology. An apology that has to be read (and written by lawyers) is not spoken from the heart and not sincere. An unscripted apology, even to an eight-year old "feels right". Both Baldwin's vocal qualities and her choice of words were also sincere.

[For some reason, several months after it was posted, CNN has removed Brooke Baldwin's apology from their YouTube channel. The image captured below however, was taken during this apology.]

From a nonverbal perspective, Ms. Baldwin's central forehead is contracted and directed upward (an Upward CFC). Her inner eyebrows are also vectored up. In addition, Brooke's mouth configuration is consistent with mild pain and sadness. While her facial expression could have been more extreme, this is certainly consistent with sincerity and emotional pain.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3170: Angry mother beats son for participating in Baltimore Riots - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3169: Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez regarding the Death of Freddie Gray - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2863: Gary Oldman's Apology on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - Sincere or Insincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3092: Brian Williams' Apology - Was He Sincere? - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3115: Giuliana Rancic apologizes to Zendaya Coleman comment made regarding her dreadlocks at the Oscars - that she "smells like patchouli oil and weed" on "Fashion Police" - Is She Sincere?





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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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