Body Language & Emotional Intelligence: Caitlyn Jenner

Showing posts with label Caitlyn Jenner. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3211: Jerry Seinfeld, David Remnick, Seth Meyers & a Body Language Signal of Memory Recall (VIDEO, PHOTO)

During this dialog between Jerry Seinfeld, David Remnick and Seth Meyers, there is a fantastic example of a nonverbal signal of memory recall. Specifically, during the segment from 2:56 - 3:01, David Remnick (Editor-in-Chief of The New Yorker) looks relatively straight ahead (in ~ primary gaze) while his eyes make several relatively high frequency, low amplitude movements back and forth. These are known as "saccades" (or saccade-like movements). This particular type of saccade (of which there are many - and most have nothing at all to do with body language - but are significant of other physiology) is highly consistent with recalling memory - usually visually. David Remnick had for a moment forgot which magazine cover Caitlyn Jenner had initially appeared and he recalled it by first "seeing" the Vanity Fair cover in his mind's eye - and this visual trigger allowed him to then recall the publication's name. Of course this is something we all do. When Remnick's eyes were moving back and forth during this "Primary Gaze Saccade" - a portion of his brain dedicated to vision (visual cortex) was truly seeing the now iconic magazine cover. Here is an outstanding example of this body language phenomenon.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

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.

This website serves 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 many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.

__________________________________