Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3754: Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

This image of President-Elect Donald Trump, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence - was taken on Thursday in the US Capitol.

An important nonverbal guideline is to (almost) never put your hands beneath the table or desk at which you're sitting (An exception for this principle would include; if a person is being reprimanded by their supervisor, if the table/desk is too high, or a person may be relatively short - or other such configurations which are physically awkward. Sometimes it's also best to sit/lean back, in which case their hands/arms wouldn't be on the table/desk [if the meeting is be relatively casual and/or if you're the relative alpha personality in the room]).

However if you're any kind of leader, perceive yourself as a leader, or you want to project the alpha qualities of strength, assertiveness and engagement - your arms and hands should always be on top of the table.

Outside the exceptions of those mentioned above, when a person's arms/hands are beneath a table/desk - the most favorable interpretation is that of significant anxiety. The worst possible interpretation (depending on the other nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage signals with which it's clustered) is clandestine behavior and dishonesty.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3753: Donald Trump in The White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3735: Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Mean Tweets 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3706: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debates - Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3672: Jessica Alba, Swass, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3635: Michelle Obama's DNC Speech and a Body Language Mistake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3594: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Fareed Zakaria


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today Donald Trump was caught on camera spying on Melania as they both were voting in Manhattan.

Note that Trump's eyelids are partially (mostly) closed with his head and neck simultaneously tilting backward (0:31 - 0:32). This demonstrates an attempt to act in a clandestine manner.

Intriguingly, a split second later also pulls back further - as his head-neck-torso repels away from his wife - indicating either that he (of course) doesn't want to be caught - but also telegraphing (to those who are looking) that he does not like what he's seeing.

A second later (0:33) as Melania looks over at him, Trump's upper body quickly moves back in her direction as he displays a "Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression" (aka R2E2). In this context an R2E2 is strongly suggestive of an attempt to cover for deception and clandestine behavior.

If we rewind back two - three seconds (0:30 - 0:31) we see Donald Trump's first attempt at stealth. Here there's another nonverbal clue - his prolonged lateral thrusting of his jaw (here to his right). Clustered with his coexistent secret glancing, this lateral jaw movement is profound signal of low confidence and distrust.

Take Home Point: Donald Trump distrusts Melania and has diminished confidence she will vote for him.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3748: Donald Trump, Bill Belichick and Exaggerated Mouth Movements

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3746: Alicia Keys, Questlove, Krispy Kremes and Connecting the Dots

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3744: Donald Trump - "Stay on Point", Hats, Eye Contact and Trust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3742: Evan McMullin, Donald Trump and Winning Utah

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3220: Charleston, South Carolina Shooter Dylann Roof - Social Media, Public Persona and Predicting Violent Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3060: Bradley Cooper, Air Guitar, Neil Young & the R2E2 Expression 

Negotiation Body Language Secret No. 343: Nicolas Sarkozy's Clandestine Thumbs Up - an Emblematic Slip

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3392: Donald Trump to Republican Jewish Coalition

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3688: Vladimir Putin, Phone calls, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

From a nonverbal perspective, people on the phone often become easier to read. It's a phenomenon somewhat similar to how our behavior becomes somewhat "unmasked" when we're driving. In both cases we let our guard down - it's as if part of our brain believes we can't really be seen and subsequently our psyche is less filtered.

Whenever someone places their hand in a pocket during a phone call (with the exception of having cold hands), you can be sure they are either trying to hide something - or a topic in their conversation has made them feel vulnerable.

Even thought he's has an alpha personality, what other nonverbal signals in this photo indicate Vladimir Putin is feeling a bit beta?
 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3687: Katy Perry Surprises Fan-Survivor of Orlando Nightclub Shooting on Ellen 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3684: Barack Obama's and Vladimir Putin's "Stare-Down" at the G20

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3683: Milo Yiannopoulos believes trolling is his way of "Doing God's work" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3669: Jordan Spieth, Bill Murray and the Asymmetrical Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3451: Angelique Kerber defeats Serena Williams in Australian Open 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3632: Hillary Clinton formally introduces Tim Kaine as her VP Choice

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3596: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3563: Ariana Grande, Lip Stick, Microexpressions and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3686: Donald Trump regarding his National Security Briefings


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