Body Language Analysis No. 4163: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping - (Relatively) Beta and Alpha - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

In April 2017, President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping met at Mar-a-Lago.

In the image above, Trump is sitting - in what for him - is a very rare configuration. His right leg is crossing over his left knee/distal thigh in a "European Style". Although we can't see his right foot - from the angle of his leg, we know it's probably pointing at the Chinese President. In this context, such a foot angle projects respect and/or deference.

Note that President Xi has both feet flat on the floor. This body language transmits his greater levels of confidence and strength. The angle of his legs are also not excessively splayed. In addition, although his head/face are turned toward President Trump, President Xi's torso, hips, legs - and probably his feet - are pointed straight forward. This conveys relatively less respect of Xi toward Trump.

President Xi also is seated in his own chair - which gives him a significant advantage. The Chinese leader's personal space is protected - whereas President Trump is seated in a less protected - and more "public" space.

Contrast Trump's meeting with Xi vs. this second image from a 60 minutes interview (September 2015). Note how then-candidate Trump is sitting with legs very widely spread in an extreme example of a "Seated Crotch Display" (colloquially known as "Manspreading"). He's also leaning forward with his torso - and with his hands in a "Low Steeple" (Conventional Low Steeple). This is President Trump's primary default seated display - it's overly-dominant, aggressive, and not recommended.

Summary: President Trump's nonverbal behavior in the first image (with President Xi Jinping), although not beta in an absolute sense - is relatively beta when placed in dynamic context with Xi's alpha body language. Although he was on his home turf, Trump committed the tactical error of not planning ahead by not controlling the physical space of the meeting. In this moment, Xi is projecting more power and less respect toward Trump. Most notably, President Trump's deviation from his normal hyper-alpha seating position demonstrates Trump was considerably off his game with President Xi.


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3251: (REPOSTING) Donald Trump's Response to the question, "Have you ever asked God for Forgiveness?"

Body Language Analysis No. 4161: Vladimir Putin's Not-So-Poker Face 

Body Language Analysis No. 4159: Nikki Haley, Jerusalem, and the United Nations 

Body Language Analysis No. 4157: Donald Trump, Signing the Tax Bill, and Double-Arm Gripping 

Body Language Analysis No. 4141: Vladimir Putin and Michael Flynn in Moscow (Part II) 

Body Language Analysis No. 4128: Roy Moore's youngest accuser, Leigh Corfman - Interview on "Today" 

Body Language Analysis No. 4107: Paul Manafort, Robert Mueller, Russian Oligarchs, and Donald Trump 
Body Language Analysis No. 4063: The Murder of Laci and Connor Peterson - Scott Peterson

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3326: Donald Trump on 60 Minutes - September 2015


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Body Language Analysis No. 4044: Kim Jong-un's Choreography - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Kim Jong-un's team choreographs the photos he releases to the World's other 194 countries. The North Korean leader commonly poses (while feigning spontaneity) with his hands behind his back.

Although we can't see the position of his hands, given the angle of his visible forearm, his position at the top of the political pecking-order, and his other accompanying nonverbal signs - he's most probably clasping one palm to the back-of-the-other-hand. This configuration both projects and engenders the alpha emotions of strength, power, authority, and high-confidence.

However, if one grips the wrist of the opposite hand - it indicates frustration. Moreover, the higher one hand holds the opposite arm - the greater the level of frustration. Whenever you notice yourself gripping at the level of the wrist or higher, re-position so that one palm is holding the back of the other hand, and you'll feel your confidence increase (This upregulation of your confidence with be further enhanced if you square your shoulders, puff your chest slightly forward, and stand with your feet planted a shoulder's width apart).

Great care should be taken though - for nuance is necessary. As is the case with all alpha body language signals, those individuals who use them - tend to over-use them. Thus what initially projects as confidence very rapidly becomes hyper-alpha and then backfires into arrogance. What once made a person look like a leader degrades quickly into a rapport destroying act.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4043: Donald Trump Pardons Joe Arpaio - Contempt of Court and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4041: Former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak regarding Secrets from Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4039: Blue Angels, Surprise, Emotional Processing, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4037: Charlottesville Protester Quits Boston University after Death Threats

Body Language Analysis No. 4033: Prime Minister Theresa May Regarding Charlottesville Violence, "I see no equivalence"

Body Language Analysis No. 4018: Alexis Bledel and "The Handmaid's Tale"

Body Language Analysis No. 4005: O.J. Simpson's Parole Board Hearing

Body Language Analysis No. 3982: Bangkok Police Officer's De-Escalation Genius

Body Language Analysis No. 3933: Sally Yates Testimony before Senate Judiciary Committee


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Body Language Analysis No. 3970: Kamala Harris and Jeff Sessions, Part II - Deception, Alpha, and Beta Behavior - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The contrast in body language between Kamala Harris and Jeff Sessions during Sessions' testimony earlier this week was profound.

Note the image above and immediately below - which are both representative of the Senator's and the Attorney General's nonverbal behavior during much of their exchange.

Senator Harris' upper arms, elbows, and forearms are held away from her torso at a modest angle. This indicates a level of high confidence. In contrast, Attorney General Sessions' upper arms, elbows, and forearms are all held close to his torso - in a protective mode, indicative of low confidence.

Senator Harris' hands are loose and not touching each other - also projecting a confident and alpha emotional tone. Attorney General Sessions' left hand is touching and covering his right hand. This self-touching of his hands (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier aka MAP) - as well as their close proximity to his chest, further demonstrates a lower confidence, beta mindset.

Another significant signal is the relative angle of their torsos - Harris' is leaning forward with her back away from her chair - toward Sessions, while Sessions is leaning at a considerable angle - away from Harris. This screams of Sessions' defense and Harris' assertiveness.

If we were endeavoring to prepare a witness for a testimony, deposition, or any type of legal proceeding - we would never advise him to conduct himself as Attorney General is behaving here. His body language is fearful - making him look as if he has something to hide.

Later in the video, Senator Harris gestures with her right hand - and while she refrains from pointing with a finger - she does so modestly point with her pen. This is perhaps, one of the few times when such "surrogate pointing"/"pen-pointing" is advisable. It up-regulates her alpha-tone and it's intimidating to the Attorney General. And while it should not be performed too often (for it can backfire), pointing with a pen or pencil is not as not as harsh as pointing with one's finger (and highly discouraged).

 





















Now flashback to 4:16 - Senator Harris asks, "Before, before being sworn in as Attorney General, how did you c-, typically communicate with then candidate or President-Elect Trump?"

SESSIONS: "Ah, would you repeat that?"

HARRIS: "Before you were sworn in as Attorney General, how did you typically communicate with then candidate or then President-Elect Trump?"

SESSIONS: "Ummm"

HARRIS: [over-talking] "Did you communicate in writing?"

SESSIONS: "I did not submit memoranda. Ah, I did not, ahhh, make formal presentations."

HARRIS: "Did you ever communicate with him in writing?"

SESSIONS: "I don't believe so."

Note that Attorney General Sessions:

• Asked for the question to be repeated
• When Senator Harris was repeating her question, the Attorney General's hands moved beneath the table. 
• He looked down to his right just before, and once again while he says, "Ummm"

Asking for a question to be repeated may, of course, simply be a hearing issue. However, it's also a very common stalling technique used to give a person a few seconds extra to formulate a response - rather than recall what occurred.

The sudden dynamic of moving one's hands out of sight (whether beneath a table or in pockets) is a particularly telling gesture in the context of a testimony. This illustrator screams of low confidence and alone makes deception in this moment much more likely.

The lower right quadrant - where Sessions glances - is the direction most often looked toward while lying.

Summary: Attorney General Sessions body language behavior during his questioning by Senator Harris was highly correlative with low confidence. She was displaying alpha characteristics while he was considerably beta.

In addition, there is a high likelihood Jeff Sessions was being deceptive and that he did correspond with Donald Trump in writing prior to Sessions being sworn in as Attorney General.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3969: Vladimir Putin Offers James Comey Asylum

Body Language Analysis No. 3967: Jeff Sessions' Testimony, Microexpressions, and Duping Delight

Body Language Analysis No. 3964: What Donald Trump Really Thinks about James Comey

Body Language Analysis No. 3962: James Comey's Testimony

Body Language Analysis No. 3960: James Comey, Critical Evaluation, and The Side-Eye

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3918: The Image of Kim Jong-un He Most Prefers the World to See

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3862: Oscars Mistake - "La La Land" erroneously named Best Picture over "Moonlight"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3798: Elle Fanning, Channing Tatum and Dialing Up the Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3741: Bryan Cranston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Weddings and Tears


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Body Language Analysis No. 3939: The Russians are Confident - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and Donald Trump - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Maybe you've heard? The Russians came to town. Last Wednesday Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak visited Washington and met with Donald Trump and Rex Tillerson. The image above shows Minister Lavrov and Secretary Tillerson at the State Department.

This particular moment contains some profound nonverbal tells. An analysis follows...

While Minister Lavrov is speaking, Secretary Tillerson's facial expression is primarily that of bitterness and regret - with a secondary (minor) emotion of anger.

Note Tillerson's hands are configured in what is known as a modified "Fig Leaf" (aka "Genital Guarding"). This is a significantly beta nonverbal display and should never be used among geopolitical equals (with the exceptions of funerals, weddings, certain military ceremonies [e.g., at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier], and in the presence of high-level religious figures).

Holding his own hands is pulling Tillerson's shoulders forward and down - making him look weak. In contrast, Lavrov's shoulders are straight, square and strong. The Russian projects power and assertiveness - while in comparison, the American looks diminutive and weakened.

You may have also noticed that Tillerson is squeezing his fingers. Finger squeezing is a subset of hand-wringing behavior - both of which are high anxiety displays. In particular, these are frequently displayed during times of higher levels of stress when it's felt that the likelihood of a successful outcome is increasing small or there are 'feelings of no recourse'.

Tillerson's feet are relatively close together while Lavrov's are positioned in the more recommended mode - slightly less than a shoulder's width apart. In comparison, Tillerson looks like he is 'At Attention' and that Lavrov is his commanding officer.

Standing with your feet close together - particularly when next to someone with a broad stance - engenders feelings of inferiority and subordination. It will lower your confidence (even if standing alone) and - as military leaders knew millennia ago - it makes one much more likely to take orders and acquiesce.

Incredibly, standing with one's feet close together will also cause thoughts and speech to be less fluid.

Thus if you want to improve your ability to:

• Think on your feet
• Speak on your feet
• Be confident and project confidence
• Be authoritative and project authority
• Intimidate another person
• Look like a leader

                  ...then stand like Sergey - and not like Rex.

Summary: While we cannot say specifically why - we can be absolutely sure, that in this moment - Secretary Tillerson's confidence is low while Minister Lavrov's confidence is high. This is especially noteworthy for Tillerson is on his home soil.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3398: Donald Trump regarding asking James Comey for his Loyalty

Body Language Analysis No. 3396: Donald Trump's first interview after Firing James Comey

Body Language Analysis No. 3395: Donald Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 3933: Sally Yates Testimony before Senate Judiciary Committee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3926: Donald Trump regarding Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un and Nuclear Threats

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3922: Vladimir Putin and Michael Flynn in Moscow

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3868: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, The West Bank and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3799: Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia - Full Lips and Lip Pursing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3717: Creepy Clowns, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3891: Donald Trump and Jared Kushner - Alpha and Beta Tells - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

When Jared Kushner testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding Russian interference in the US Presidential Election, those questioning him would be well advised to evaluate his body language at least as much as his verbal responses. And while certainly Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor won't be on his cell phone during these proceedings, the images here provide body language examples of contrasting emotional states.

When a person holds a mobile phone with their index finger (forefinger) extended along the long axis of the phone, as Jared Kushner is doing in this image (close-up in the image immediately above of the wide angle below) they're in an alpha mental state. More specifically, they are either receiving or delivering messages which are in their favor - or they are speaking to a person with whom they perceive as a beta.

When a person holds their cell phone with all their fingers on one side of the phone with their thumb on the other side - they are in a relatively beta mental state. They are getting or delivering news which is less in their favor. And while the President of the United States has relatively few people who make him feel more beta - even the most powerful people are still human - and thus have frequent moment-to-moment fluctuations in their relative alpha-beta emotional states.

Thus while watching a person as they are speaking on their phone, and you observe the index finger change position and proceed to extend up and alone - you know they've just fluxed into a higher level of confidence, assertiveness, decisiveness, and power. And when you see the index finger return back - grouped with the other fingers - they have down-regulated into a relatively beta state.

The barometers of body language have many qualifiers and quantifiers - read them well and succeed.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3890: Ted Koppel on why he thinks Sean Hannity is bad for America

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3888: Paul Ryan's Response to the House's Failure to Overturn Obamacare and Pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017 - "This is a disappointing day for us"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3886: Donald Trump, Russia, Healthcare, and "Huge" Negotiation Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3871: Emma Watson's Old Habit, Harry Potter Outtake and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3862: Oscars Mistake - "La La Land" erroneously named Best Picture over "Moonlight"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3823: Nina Dobrev, Flyboarding, Laughter and a Rapport/Bonding Amplifier

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3792: Notre Dame's Matt Farrell and Family Surprised by Brother Bo's Military Homecoming at Basketball Game

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3711: Vin Scully calls Kirk Gibson's legendary walk-off homer during Game 1 of the 1988 World Series


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3739: Hillary Clinton's Statement regarding FBI Probe - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday Hillary Clinton made a statement addressing FBI Director James Comey's recent decision to notify Congress regarding the bureau's review of emails which are potentially related to her personal server.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Secretary Clinton during her statement and the subsequent Q &A.

When a person reads a speech, prepared remarks, a script, etc., - they tend to be of lower confidence and of lower emotional comfort. This behavior is very common (even with experienced speakers) and is particularly true when the words are written by another person(s) rather than by the person who's reading them. An extremely common body language phenomenon accompanying such scenarios is standing with one's feet close together.

When she's reading her statement (which was no doubt prepared by others), Hillary Clinton's feet are indeed closer together. However after she finishes reading and prepares to take questions, Secretary Clinton then readjusts her feet - moving them further apart (0:56 -1:00 and more so during 1:08 - 1:10). Although we cannot see this directly, we can see her head and shoulders move lower - (this is not be confused with the separate and also significant nonverbal superimposed actions of the relaxing of her shoulders, arms, hands and face).

Please watch the video to appreciate this relatively subtle yet nonverbally profound dynamic.

The fact that Secretary Clinton moved her feet apart (along with her other relaxing displays) when it was time to answer questions is significant. This switching to a higher confidence stance - as well as her more relaxed torso, arms and face when she went into 'an unscripted mode' strongly suggests that she believes she is innocent of any new wrong-doing.

In distinction, a person who believes they are guilty may 'say all the right things' - however their feet will stay close together (e.g., 'at attention') - and other body language and facial expressions would also grow even more tense once they 'moved off script'.

 See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3738: Gary Johnson Loses His Temper

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3734: SNL's spoof on the 3rd Presidential Debate - and 3 Insincerity Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3724: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - Emotional Intelligence and a Profoundly Telling Body Language Signal 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3705: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debate - Trump: I'm 'smart' for paying no taxes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3697: NYC Bombing Suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami in Custody - Body Language, Threat Assessment and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3670: Paul LePage's Voicemail Rant

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3508: Batman V Superman - Sad Affleck? (NOT!)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3619: Lone Protester, Baton Rouge Police and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2470: NYC Mayoral Candidate Anthony Weiner & His Wife Huma Abedin - Body Language Tells, Part II


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3674: Drake Presents Rihanna with Vanguard Award - 2016 Video Music Awards - MTV - Body Language & Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

At the recent MTV Video Music Awards, Drake, a long time close friend, presented the Vanguard Award to Rhianna. His intro and background story telling were heartfelt (and they are now strongly rumored to be a romantic couple). Rhianna is, for the most part, a very alpha personality. Thus as with most entertainers - she often seeks the limelight. Yet, when another person is touting your skills and accomplishments - it is (and thus feels) fundamentally different vs. when such alpha behavior is self-initiated. And in such scenarios the nonverbal behavior is very different as well. What follows are highlights some of the key body language moments of this interaction.

0:46

Here Rihanna's hands are clasped behind her back. This particular body language is high alpha as well as confidence building - yet she did not hold this configuration for long.

0:54

Here Rihanna is feeling slightly embarrassed. Her arms crossed - and the fact that her hands hidden is particularly telling.

1:06

Hand rubbing and/or scratching the back of the neck is a classic display of "Honest Anxiety".

2:06

Touching or rubbing the base of the front of the neck/the top of the sternum (manubrium) is a classic anxiety tell and projects higher beta emotional tones (definitely NOT an alpha maneuver).

2:33

A variation of the "Fig Leaf" (aka "Genital Guarding") is another very common beta body language. It's unusual for an alpha dominant person to maintain this configuration for long (of course even alphas have beta moments). When the fingers are intertwined (as is seen here), it's less beta (more alpha) than if one hand was placed in front of the other (but if still covering the lower abdomen/genital area).

3:03

The opposite wrist hold is another beta position. For the most part, the further up the opposite arm it's being held, the more beta the nonverbal signal becomes (depending of course on the other body language and facial expressions simultaneously being projected).

Summary: Although she's an alpha personality, in this presentation we see excellent nonverbal examples of Rihanna's emotional dissonance (e.g, being proud fluctuating with feeling humbled [and sometimes embarrassed]). Such alpha-beta flux behavior is typical for a person in this or a similar settings - who has moderate to high baseline levels of sincerity and empathy.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3673: Anthony Weiner, Huma Abedin separate after Sexting Scandal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3658: Usain Bolt's "Cheeky Smile"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3643: What Will Donald Trump Do If He Trails in the Polls By a Large Margin?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3670: Paul LePage's Voicemail Rant

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3626: Mike Pence's Wikipedia Profile Picture says "WTF"

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2299: Rihanna & Chris Brown at 2013 Grammys - What Their Body Language Says

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2576: Chris Brown's Body Language - a Signal of Psyche's Suppressing Emotions ... and Anger


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3619: Lone Protester, Baton Rouge Police and Body Language (PHOTOS)

Photo Reuters Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Reuters

At the time of this writing, the full story surrounding this specific woman and situation is not available - while protesting the deaths of Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and others - she refused to get off the street in front of the Baton Rouge Police Department.

In these two photographs taken at the same instant from different angles, we can see the police are advancing toward the woman. Presumably she was then escorted or maybe carried off the street with or without hand cuffs - and arrested.

From a body language perspective, these images give us insight into several key thought-emotions transpiring in this moment.

In her right hand is her phone - however it's difficult to tell what's in her left hand, perhaps some paper from which she had just read something aloud. Her hand/arm position is somewhat beta - although not dramatically so. To nuance this further - if her hand(s) and arm(s) were moving away from her body then this would have been crescendoing towards alpha, and if they were moving toward her torso, she would have been becoming more beta. The dynamics would be of course much easier to "read" if we had some simultaneous accompanying video.

The police no doubt are, to a degree, practicing protocol. Yet this scenario seems somewhat over cautious on their part. Perhaps the officers think she has a weapon or some device in her hand. The officer more distant to the camera appears to be about to grab her left wrist.

Note the position of her lower extremities. Both her feet are flat on the ground facing forward - and both are also slightly splayed. This leg/foot position is one of strength. Despite the fact that she is dramatically over-powered - this woman is, in large measure, the alpha personality in this moment.

The officers are two and she is one (not to mention the mass of many cops behind them). They are armed - she is not (most probably). They have full riot gear - military style protection. She has on a sleeveless and backless sundress. They have steel-toed boots - while she has on flimsy flats.

The police are obeying orders - however they are also conducting themselves in a manner which, while protecting them, also lends itself toward escalating the tension (particularly for other protestors watching). Their crouching and approaching body configuration implies both caution and aggression.

Note the woman's overall posture. This is seen most accurately via the perfect lateral perspective shown above. From the top of her head down her back, legs and feet - she is simply straight. Again - this is very alpha - signaling her strength, determination and defiance.

Photo credit: Max Becherer/AP

Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Reuters

Although some detail is not possible due to the angle, glasses and the face shields - in this close up of the first image we can also see that the woman's face is relatively neutral (non-aggression). The officer furthest away is displaying a jaw jut - indicating anger and/or significant physical exertion (thus a high adrenaline state).

Addendum: The woman in this photo has been identified as Ieshia Evans.

This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. 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.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3618: Salma Hayek regarding Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3615: Store Owner Abdullah Muflahi Interview regarding the Shooting of Alton Sterling

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3607: Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Dating Rumors and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3597: David Cameron, The Brexit and Suppressing Emotions

Body Language Analysis No. 1864: Assuring a Nonverbal Display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2689: Mirrors Used as Protest Tool in Keiv (Kyiv) Ukraine

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2727: "I am a Ukrainian" Video

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2649: How a Kiss can Change the World - Body Language of Affection


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3429: Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward met with Ammon Bundy - Body Language Tells (PHOTOS)

Yesterday Harney County (Oregon) Sheriff Dave Ward met with Ammon Bundy at an intersection near Malheur National Wildlife Refuge - federal land which was seized last Saturday along with other militia-activists.

From a body language viewpoint this handshake between Sheriff Ward and Mr. Bundy tells us some critical information. There were other law enforcement personnel present (by some reports, sheriffs of neighboring counties) as well as some other activists - with Ammon Bundy as their apparent leader.

Note that Mr. Bundy is pointing his body approximately 90 degrees from the sheriff. During a handshake, the entire body - feet, hips, torso, shoulders, face - and most importantly the eyes - should be pointed directly toward the other person. The sheriff is pointing toward Bundy - but Bundy is not doing the same.

A few seconds later - after the 2-5 second duration handshake - if good rapport is to be achieved and/or maintained one or both people should rotate their bodies so that collectively there is a 20-30 degree rotation (so that their bodies are not directly pointing at each other). If, after a handshake, this body rotation does NOT occur - it will serve to elevate the tension between the two people (the same is even true in the animal world). Here we see an extreme rotation AND it's DURING the handshake (not after). In isolation, such body nonalignment may signify disrespect, dislike, lack of engagement and/or lack of sincerity.

If there's one time when there should be eye contact - it's during a handshake. Note that Sheriff Ward is looking at Bundy, however Bundy is looking off in the distance - to Ward's right. It's amazing how frequent those who are leaders (or who call themselves "leaders") will not look another in the eye during a handshake. This non-eye contact during a handshake, when interpreted in isolation could convey lack of respect, deception, insincerity, acquiescence or being intimidated.

Notice also that the Sheriff's left hand is out at his side, while Bundy's left hand is in his pocket. This is also an extreme body language faux pas. It doesn't matter if it's winter. The left hand should never be hidden or pocketed when shaking hands. Taken on its own, this hidden-hand behavior also has the same possible meanings as the above described low degree of eye contact - being intimidated, lack of respect, deception, acquiescence or insincerity.

Did you notice how the Sheriff is leaning into the handshake but Bundy is leaning a bit backwards? What do you think this means?

While this is only but moment in time - it's very telling. When interpreted in toto, this particular handshake-meeting is significant for low respect, insincerity, a non-compromising mindset - on the part of Mr. Bundy. Law enforcement should strongly consider these during their negotiations as well as very possibly a clandestine plan.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3428: Jenna Dewan Tatum performs Ginuwine's "Pony" - Lip Sync Battle

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2851: Jerad Miller Interview at Cliven Bundy Ranch Incident - Body Language Warning Signs

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3133: The Red Flag of Robert Durst's Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3424: Donald Trump, "Hillary Clinton created ISIS with Obama"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3416: LeBron James Catches a Golden State Fan "calling" him a Cry Baby 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3398: Orangutan Sees a Magic Trick - Bonding, Rapport and Laughter

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3403: "Johnnie Walker - Dear Brother" Commercial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3426: Barack Obama, Executive Action, Gun Control and Body Language

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