Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3203: Caitlyn Jenner on Vanity Fair - Did Annie Leibovitz Project what she intended? - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

A huge percentage of the time professional photographers pose their subjects in body language which is off the emotional-context mark - way off. They may be good at lighting, knowing the best angle, picking the right filter or lens - but relatively few professional photographers have any significant amount of nonverbal knowledge. The same is true for advertising professionals. The wrong expressions and body language are often used despite teams of people, months of effort and millions or even tens of millions of dollars spent (or more).

If Annie Leibovitz is trying to capture a successfully transitioning Caitlyn Jenner - from a body language perspective - she hits the mark. Of course a magazine cover presents a very different and artificial scenario vs. interpreting body language in real-time and real-life, however Jenner's arms behind her back with her hands clasped - projects a strength, confidence and alpha emotional tone - which is certainly in her character. It also sends signals of significant openness - and who in World history has made a more open transition? While of course currently there are other important reasons for such a configuration, by keeping her legs tightly crossed - Jenner still transmits femininity (as do her bare shoulders).

By rotating Caitlyn's head to one side (projecting coyness), tilting her head/neck downwards - makes it so that in order to have eye contact with the camera, she must look up - which necessitates more widely open eyes (This is true with her right eye, while Jenner's droopy left lid [ptosis] gives the secondary effect of "bedroom eyes" here - adding to the sexuality). The combination of Jenner's head & neck tilted down - yet upwardly gazing with Leibovitz's slightly downward camera angle, also projects a "come hither" look - which is often emulated in every day flirting and romance.

The one suggestion I would make regarding this specific photo, is to not have Kaitlyn's back a corner. This component gives the feeling of her being bad, trapped or "cornered" - and is a visual metaphor suggesting a decision that is punishment or forced, rather one of free will - which of course is an important sentiment and distinction.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3202: FIFA's Jack Warner Cites 'The Onion' in His Own Defense - Insincerity Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3165: Bruce Jenner's 20/20 Interview, Part I

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3167: Bruce Jenner's 20/20 Interview, Part II - Confidence, Vulnerability and Sincerity

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1010:  Rashida Jones - What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3190: Taylor Swift's Body Language of Feigned Surprise

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3127: Hillary Clinton's Press Conference and a Body Language Down-regulator of Sincerity 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3167: Bruce Jenner's 20/20 Interview, Part II - Confidence, Vulnerability and Sincerity - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Part II nonverbal analysis of Bruce Jenner's 20/20 interview with Diane Sawyer - some highlights of the above video segment are discussed below.

During 0:17 - 0:19, 0:23 - 0:24 and 0:28 and 0:30 Bruce Jenner displays examples of the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (SRHW).

A self-righteous head wiggle can be very short-lived (e.g. a microexpression or near-microexpression) - yet also may last several seconds. This nonverbal has a significant tendency to occur in clusters. It's comprised of a rapid side-to-side movement of the head & neck - which is high in frequency and typically has mild-to-moderate amplitude (amount of movement).

A SRHW is displayed by a person in the midst of an alpha mindset - with strong opinions who is highly confident. They may often be so self-assured that may consider them smug. They see themselves as a relative alpha or authority figure - at least during those moments.

The self-righteous head wiggle must be viewed in the dynamic context of a video. The primary movement is a side-to-side wiggle - however sometimes there is an additional backwards component or a forward vectoring. Contempt, disgust or incredulity body language often is seen with the backwards movement - while arrogance and condescending nonverbal signals may accompany the forward motion (which is often seen with smaller audiences and even in one-on-one scenarios. Very often there is an increase in vocal frequency (pitch) as well as volume and rate of speech with the self-righteous head wiggle. Similar analog nonverbal movements may also be seen with the torso, jaw or the entire body.



This particular loose and relatively relaxed hand illustrator is known as the "Spiral Staircase" because of the configuration of the fingers. It's one of many "Alpha-Beta Hybrids" - wherein it's not too aggressive (e.g., some nonverbal behavior can send signals of arrogance and patronizing emotional mindsets - thus destroying rapport) - yet it's not too demure, submissive or weak. Alpha-beta hybrids are profoundly valuable body language tools (yet very underutilized) and are extremely helpful in sales, interviews, the courtroom and in negotiations - for they dance skillfully within the nuance of the middle ground (where most people stumble).

At the very end of this video clip, Bruce Jenner's head and neck tilts (in relation to his already-angled torso). This tilting is a signal of sincere vulnerability (e.g., I'm letting you see the "real me", inside my heart, inside my thoughts. I'm sharing a personal side of me). Unless there is a physical injury, disease, etc. - when the torso is leaning to one side and/or the neck and head tilts in a similar manner - this dynamic body language configuration is indicative of sincerity-vulnerability.

In summary - in this video segment Bruce Jenner displays nonverbal signals indicating self-righteousness, confidence and sincere-vulnerability.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3165: Bruce Jenner's 20/20 Interview, Part I - Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3075: Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son) Blasts Duke University for Muslim "Call to Prayer"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2506:  Barack Obama, the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle and  Retaliation Against Syrian Poison Gas Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3048: Vladimir Putin's Press Conference, 18 December 2014, Economic Instability and Low Emotional Comfort

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3165: Bruce Jenner's 20/20 Interview, Part I - Body Language Tell (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Bruce Jenner made his long-awaited appearance on 20/20 last night - discussing his gender-transitioning as well as many other related subjects about which some have been curious. There were numerous nonverbal signals throughout the two hour interview. Request for analyses of this particular interview have been voluminous. These will be broken into several key segments over the next few days.

Jenner begins in this video, "Shouldn't I take my pony tail out? Yeah, why not, huh? We're talking about all this stuff [deep inhalation] Yeah, let's take the damn pony tail out."

As Diane Sawyer notes - it's removal is indeed a symbol - a metaphor for an openness and change. Yet from a nonverbal perspective this goes significantly deeper.

His elbows are vectored out laterally (NOT pointed strait ahead) - thus exposing his open armpits in a significantly-sexual moment. Bruce Jenner is about to announce to the World he is "For all intents and purposes, I’m a woman", and he's projecting his sexuality for all to see. It may sound odd to some, but although he is feeling anxiety - and even fear (see below), in this moment he is for the first time openly a trans-woman and wants to be perceived not only as female in gender - but also sexually. Bluntly stated - Bruce Jenner the (trans-)woman is feeling sexy.

When Jenner fluffs his hair, this preening behavior projects a component of femininity as his more overt sexuality display diminishes.

For fraction of a second, with Bruce blurred in the background, we can see on the monitor Jenner's "Mouth of Fear" (mild-moderate) - with additional jaw clenching and neck muscle tightening ("Neck of Fear"). He is experiencing emotional dissonance - which is very understandable. The former Olympic Gold Medal Decathlete and World record holder is happy this moment has arrived - yet he's fearful too. Who wouldn't be?


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3164: Johnny Depp's portrayal of Whitey Bulger in "Black Mass" trailer

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3162: Robert Downey Jr. walks out of Interview - Star walks out when asked about past

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2840: Shailene Woodley, Jon Steward Show and a Body Language of Sexual Interest Display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3138: Wisconsin's Nigel Hayes, "God She's Beautiful" and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2701: Cuddling, Romance, Affection and Foot-Shunning
 

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