Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2906: President Obama, "... We Tortured Some Folks ..." (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Friday, 1 August 2014, President Obama held a press conference. Among other issues he acknowledged that in the aftermath of 9/11, "... we tortured some folks ...".

Throughout the vast majority of this segment of this press conference, Barack Obama was leaning on the lectern with his right elbow. This is rare for a President - and President Obama in particular. It sends signals of a beta emotional tone, low confidence, low commitment, a lackadaisical mindset and low priority. Because of this posture, President Obama was only able to use his right hand minimally and it remained largely obscured to the audience and viewing public. The less we see of a person's hands - the less we trust them (e.g., held beneath a table during depositions, voir dire, interrogations, negotiations, during witness testimonies in court, etc.).

This is extremely poor nonverbal behavior for anyone to exhibit - especially a head-of-state - and particularly on such an important topic. It is indeed rare for Mr. Obama. He did display similar body language (see below) against Mitt Romney in the 2012 campaign during the first debate - and that was the one in which most agree Romney beat him hands down.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2137:  Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama - First Presidential Debate -  Barack's Bad Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2905: Paul George's Injury - a Common Body Language Signal of Emotional Processing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2150:  Body Language Advice for  President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2161:  Body Language of the Third Presidential Debate - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney -  What Did They Do With Their Hands  When They Weren't Talking?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2876: President Obama on Key Bridge regarding John Boehner's Lawsuit - "So Sue Me"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2807: Barack Obama at 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Body Language

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 337:  Low Confidence Stance - Michele Bachmann

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2697: Justin Bieber Arrested, in Court - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Justin Bieber was arrested early Thursday morning in Miami Beach. He was charged with DUI, resisting arrest and driving on an expired drivers license. He was released on a $2500 bond. What follows is a partial analysis of some of his body language.

During the 0:11 - 0:17 segment, Bieber shows us a Forward Lip Purse. This nonverbal display indicates that he is in clandestine disagreement with the judge. It also indicates that he feels he is the alpha in the room. Betas don't make this in the company of those they perceive to to alphas. It also indicates that regardless of what words are spoken, that he has a plan and that he believes he has a good chance of executing it with success.

Just a few seconds later (0:21 - 0:27), Bieber displays an asymmetrical lip purse. What does this nonverbal indicate?

What other body language particulars, if any, influence the interpretation of this facial expression?

At the 0:56 - 0:58 segment, a fantastic example of a "Tongue in Cheek" is seen. This nonverbal can signify several emotions depending on the other signals with which it is clustered.These include: "I just won/I just caught you", anger, sadness, grief, sexual provocation or deception. Which of these apply to Justin in this moment?

At the 1:15 mark, we see a beautiful example of a microexpression of fear manifested most demonstratively on Justin Bieber's left neck. Watch this on the video and you will note the very fleeting contraction of his "neck of fear" (contraction of Sternocleidomastoid and Platysma muscles on Bieber's left).

What are the other components of fear seen in this moment?



There were many other body language tells in this short video. What others did you see?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2434:  Brad Pitt's Tongue-in-Cheek regarding  Reasons for Choosing to Work on "World War Z"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2665: Nick Saban's "Tongue in Cheek" Body Language - What Does It Mean?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2495:  The White House, Josh Earnest, Egypt and a Coup -  Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2638: North Korean Senior Official Chang Song-taek (aka Jang Sung-thaek) Executed, Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2691: Barbara Bush, "I Love Bill Clinton" - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2454:  NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman & a  Subtle "Neck of Fear"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2486:  Katie Holmes on David Letterman and the "Social Etiquette Fear Face


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2411: Zimmerman's Attorney, Mark O'Mara's - Body Language Faux Pas in Court

George Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara was in court today, along with John Guy, the assistant D.A. Zimmerman stands accused of second degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin. What follows is an analysis of some of the body language O'Mara displayed.

Any attorney should be extremely cautious about using certain gestures (illustrators) in court. This is of course particularly important when facing towards or speaking to the judge. Here, O'Mara displays a palms-up/fingers open toward the judge. It is also at shoulder level - which is relatively high. While his fingers-open configuration down-regulates this somewhat, such a gesture is hyper-alpha and dismissive. There are of course times any attorney should dial up his/her alpha - but directing such emotion at the judge will offend and destroy rapport. The higher this and many other gestures are held, the greater the amplitude. O'Mara may very well direct this towards opposing counsel, certain witnesses, or Trayvon Martin if he were alive, etc.

During the 0:54 segment, O'Mara displays a clear duping delight. Many are difficult to see and much more evanescent. Although it still lasted less than one second and was a near microexpression - this example of a duping delight is considerably more obvious than many. It indicates that O'Mara believes Trayvon Martin was not the aggressor. This is a freshman mistake and yet a very human one.

A few seconds later at 0:59, O'Mara scratches just lateral to his left eye on the anterior aspect of his temple as he speaks about attributing aggressive behavior to Trayvon Martin's marijuana use several hours prior to his death.

This example of a facial MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) indicates that O'Mara does not believe his own statement regarding the assertion between violence and marijuana use.

The near-eye scratch above stands on its own, however a few seconds prior, Mr. O'Mara demonstrates transient increased blinking rate with mild prolonged lid closure. This cluster context is consistent with anxiety

In addition and well exampled here, is Mark O'Mara's "beta elbow configuration". He displayed this demure posture far too often throughout this video. When the elbow is held too close to the side of the torso during arm and hand illustrators - it indicates a lower degree of confidence. With some men this nonverbal behavior is not only scenario specific - it's used chronically. Of course the elbows should not be held too far away from the body - and any display of confidence can be over-alpha and thus can backfire (e.g., as above when he directs his palms toward the judge).

Whether in the courtroom, in a sales setting or in the midst of a negotiation, etc., striking the right, context-specific balance of alpha and beta - and the ability to know when to dial it up or dial it down is very crucial. When is the last time you destroyed rapport and didn't realize it?

See also:

Analysis # 1697: George Zimmerman in Shackles - How does this Alter His Body Language, Testimony and Our Perception?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2050: George Zimmerman's Interview on Fox - Microexpression of Contempt and  Duping Delight

Analysis # 140 : Duping Delight Microexpression

Analysis # 1696: George Zimmerman's Testimony - Fear, Incredulity, Regret & Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2400:  One Way Deception be Minimized in the Court Room -  O.J. Simpson's in Court

Analysis # 1548: Trayvon Martin's Death - George Zimmerman and his First Court Appearance

Analysis # 1897: George Zimmerman's Reenactment of Trayvon Martin Shooting

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2310:  Oscar Pistorius' Body Language in Court - Part II  Central Forehead Contraction, Frown & Pupil Dilation ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2338:  Why Does Keit Pentus-Rosimannus feel Fear?  Body Language of Estonia's Minister of Environment

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2307: Oscar Pistorius in Court, Body Language and the Bilateral Eye Cover

Hero to many around the World, and double amputee Oscar Pistorius aka "The Blade Runner" was in court this past week in Pretoria, South Africa. He is alleged to have murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. It is reported that he broke down and wept during court and this may be an image during his tears. However bilateral eye covering (and mouth covering) - is not effort to hide tears - it's a nonverbal signal of emotional processing. The emotional brain is playing "catch up" with what the five senses and the intellect is telling it. It's a body language signal of trying to temporarily "block the new reality". It speaks to the cross-cultural universality of nonverbal communication that even those who are born blind will exhibit this facial MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier).

Pistorius' red face and prominent vein seen in his right temporal region ("temple) are consistent with, but not specific for, the temporary increased intrathoracic (pressure in his chest) and thus secondary intracranial pressure (pressure in his head) seen with the physiology of the valsalva maneuver which occurs during crying.

The nonverbal display in the above image does not indicate deception, guilt or innocence.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2143: Meyers and Bailey Leonard - The Illini, The Marine & The Reunion -  Emotional Processing & Sincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2216: Senator Jim DeMint's Body Language -  Lip Purse, Suppressed Smile, Duping Delight & Retiring Early

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2129:  Barack Obama's Body Language, Misspeaks "Export More Jobs" Displays Incredulity and .... 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1834: Signals of Emotional Processing & Emotional Overwhelm

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2285:  Emotional Processing during Crying - Body Language of Survivor of Brazilian Nightclub Fire

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2211:  David Beckham, Body Language signals of  Honest Surprise, Emotional Processing and Sincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2180:  Nearly Ran Over by a Train?  Schrödinger's Dog, Signal of Emotional Overload, Loss and  Extreme Emotional Processing


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1548: Trayvon Martin's Death - George Zimmerman and his First Court Appearance

George Zimmerman appeared in a Florida courtroom yesterday. He is being charged with second degree murder in the death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defense in what will be the most visible case to date of a "Stand Your Ground" Law in the U.S.

As Paul Ekman so very astutely has pointed out - when attempting to judge someone's guilt or innocence, we must (among many other things) be very aware of what he calls the "Othello Error". This mistake may occur when those who are the "lie detectors" or "deceit prosecutors" - don't take into account that a person who is telling the truth is also experiencing anxiety - and thus because of this stress appear as if he/she is lying.

In Shakespeare's famous play, Othello evokes this type of fear in his innocent wife, Desdemona - when she learns that the only person (Cassio) who can prove her innocence is now dead (Othello had him killed). Othello saw the fear and anxiety on Desdemona's face and interpreted this as being caused by her emotions over losing her alleged lover. Othello failed to consider that the stress he saw - although very real - was the result of anxiety Desdemona was experiencing over losing her only witness. She feels trapped! His observations were accurate - but his conclusions are false!

I was not there (neither were you) so we cannot claim to know whether Mr. Zimmerman is guilty or innocent. 

Zimmerman shows us a relatively stoic face. His rate of blinking is substantially increased in frequency. Comparing his blinking to that of the officer on Zimmerman's right, we can easily see that the frequency is substantially increased. It is very important to consider what his normal blink rate is however (i.e., What is his baseline?). If we saw him before and after his court appearance - and he blinked substantially less, then we would be much more confident that this change was indicative of increased stress-anxiety. It is also important to ensure Mr. Zimmerman does not suffer from an ophthalmic condition which causes him to blink so often. As pointed out above though, this level of stress is not surprising, regardless of any guilt or innocence.

The duration of some of Mr. Zimmerman's blinks are also increased. Provided that there is no medical or habitual etiology here, this is consistent with psychological "blocking" - wanting to make everything disappear. George Zimmerman's intellect knows he's in court, but his emotional brain is still processing this. It's coming to terms with this reality. This is very normal behavior for anyone in this context.

Zimmerman's eyes are opened wider than those in a normal resting state. It is particularly apparent when he first walks into the courtroom. In this context, this "white and wide" appearance is indicative of fear and associated increased sympathetic nervous system activity and elevated adrenaline (epinephrine). Again, both the guilty and the innocent would have fear in such a setting.

Mr. Zimmerman's elevated anxiety increases both the rate and depth of his breathing. Several (but not a lot) deep swallows are also noted. These are also normal physiologic changes in this context.

At the 1:05 - 1:06 time-mark, Mr. Zimmerman's temporalis muscle on the sides of his head tighten (contract). This is visibly centered in front of and slightly above the ears (only his left side is visible). It occurs because he clenches his jaw. With this one exception, George Zimmerman's mouth/lips/tongue/jaw demonstrate very little activity and remain relatively neutral during this video. This calm is unusual and tends to suggest that Mr. Zimmerman has a higher degree of confidence that he will be found innocent.

In summary, from a body language point-of-view, George Zimmerman's first court appearance demonstrated a mildly increased level of anxiety which - either guilty or innocent is very expected in such a scenario. Indeed, most people would display more stress than Zimmerman is in this setting.

See also:

Analysis # 1491: Barack Obama on Trayvon Martin"If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon" 

Analysis # 1590: President Obama's Blink Rate ... and His Anxiety

Secret # 1149: Who was more nervous in Last Night's Debate? Santorum, Romney, 
               Gingrich or Paul?

Secret # 491: Eyes White and Wide

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