Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3661: Donald Trump, Distrust, Destroying Rapport and the African-American Voter - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

A fundamental truth of nonverbal communication is that if you want to build rapport and gain trust, quality eye contact is of profound importance. The more people cover their eyes, the more rapport is destroyed established and the greater distrust we will have in them.

Yesterday in Dimondale, Michigan appealing directly to the African-American electorate, Donald Trump repeatedly asked, "What do you have to lose?" and went on to say, "You’re living in poverty, your schools are no good, you have no jobs, 58 percent of your youth is unemployed. What the hell do you have to lose?"

Donald Trump wore one of his "Make America Great Again" baseball-styled hats during the event. Of course he's worn these hats before, although most of the time it's been outside with much better natural light. His speech yesterday took place indoors and the lighting was poor. Thus Mr. Trump's forehead was completely covered and his eyes were very minimally visible - particularly to the camera.

Given Mr. Trump's experience on television, he seems less likely to have committed such a mistake. His communication director should have also been acutely aware of the fact that the inability to see his eyes will cost him votes.

Watch some of this video with the sound muted. How does your inability to see his eyes make you feel?

When a person's eyes are covered, it facilitates their ability to successfully tell a lie. Poker players will wear hats (and sunglasses and hoodies) to cover their face. Such practice largely prevents their competitors from reading their emotions. In card contests deception is part of the game. The rules allow for the covering the face.

Yet when a candidate is running for office, their face and feelings should be readily accessible. At no time should their eyes be obscured. This is also true for all business and the majority of social interactions. The tendency for a person to want to cover up their eyes out of context should send up red flags. Don't dismiss it. Rather ask yourself, "What are they hiding?"

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3660: Trump Attorney Michael Cohen's Awkward Exchange with Brianna Keilar, "Says Who?"

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3652: Simone Manuel & Penny Oleksiak Win Olympic Gold

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3650: Donald Trump: "Although the Second Amendment people maybe there is, I dunno"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3638: Hillary Clinton's DNC Speech - and One Expression Which Profoundly Lowers Her Likability

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3408: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Star Wars

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3381: Ariana Grande, Flirtatious Body Language and the American Music Awards

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3568: Hillary Clinton, (Low) Likability, Rapport (Destroying) and Body Language


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3040: Mourning after the Sydney Hostage Crisis - Sincerity & Empathy (PHOTOS)

As with any tragedy, in the aftermath of the Sydney Hostage Crisis people are mourning - and most of them don't know the victims.

In these three still images we see body language examples of hand coverings of the mouth, mouth-nose, and mouth-nose-eyes to varying degrees

The causes of these nonverbal behaviors is not from any type  embarrassment of public display of emotions - rather it is a natural and common (though not ubiquitous) reaction during moments of a dissociation between what is known by the intellect and what is being felt by the emotional brain. The mind is trying to process the emotions and catch up with what the rational brain already understands.

Of course these are three still images and not a comprehensive assessment of any of these scenes or the people in them. However those who display these nonverbal signals upon seeing, thinking of, hearing about, etc. another person's/peoples' suffering - indicate higher empathy and sincerity quotients vs. those who do not exhibit such body language. There are of course many nonverbal signs of sincerity and empathy.



My condolences to the family and loved-ones of Ms. Katrina Dawson and Mr. Tori Johnson.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3039: Selfies and Smiling at the Sydney Hostage Crisis 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3038: Johnny Manziel's first NFL Start - a Representative Body Language Moment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3037: Angelina has Chickenpox and will not be able to attend some events for the opening of her movie, "Unbroken" - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3036: Angelina Jolie runs into Amy Pascal after email Hack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2982: Politicians Should Never Do This If They Want To Be Elected - Hillary Clinton's Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2055: Three Wise Monkeys - Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil - Body Language Interpretation vs. Traditional Symbolism

The "Three Wise Monkeys", otherwise known as "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" is very old visual metaphor which has different meanings, depending on the culture. In Western societies it has come to mean that - in certain settings it may be wise to look away, fake ignorance or refuse to recognize questionable, illegal or immoral behavior. In Japan, where the proverb is regarded as a golden rule, the three monkeys are named Mizaru (covering his eyes), Kikazaru (covering ears), Iwazaru (covered mouth) and sometimes Shizaru, a forth monkey is pictured with his arms crossed and is symbolic against evil action. In many Eastern societies the three wise monkeys are a pictorial analogy of how the wisdom of steering clear of hearing evil conversation, witnessing evil sights, avoiding using evil words and not mirroring evil acts - will reflect positively back on oneself and one's own life experience and future. 

When it comes to anthropomorphizing (and reverse-anthropomorphizing), the HUMAN body language interpretation of covering BOTH ears - it is usually a very sudden act and accompanies a moment of extreme surprise or shock as well as when there is a sudden realization/problem solving. In all of these scenarios, there is a concomitant wide opening of the eyelids - where the white part of the eyes (sclera) is more exposed than in the normal, resting state. There is often a co-existing widely opened mouth creating a vertically-oriented oval shape. Typically the mouth of surprise/shock/sudden-realization doesn't allow much view of the teeth (such is seen in a false/feigned surprise expression as well as real fear and higher levels of true anger). The sudden rub, covering, itching of ONLY ONE EAR however, has a completely different meaning.

Analysis # 1525: Up for Auction, Up for Interpretation - Edvard Munch's "The Scream"

Analysis # 2047: Barack Obama Does Not Believe

Covering BOTH eyes with the hands, which typically occurs a bit slower than bilateral ear covering noted above, is significant of emotionally processing an event, either witnessed directly or experienced vicariously. It may also indicate a similar emotion of an anticipated event for the immediate or relatively near future. Some refer to this as "emotional blocking". The logical brain acknowledges what is transpiring - or is about to - yet the emotional brain is trying to catch-up and process what is going on. A variation of this is seen when people have prolonged eyelid closure - so while the hands are not covering the eyes, the eyelids are - and this is generally seen in lesser circumstances. It can be thought of as honest and non-sarcastic incredulity/disbelief. This is to be distinguished from the "extended blink" which is usually shorter in duration, coupled with other specific nonverbal clusters and is a form of distancing-arrogance-patronizing behavior. Once again, covering, rubbing, itching ONLY ONE EYE has a completely different meaning.

See also:

Analysis # 291: Obama and Biden - Visual-Emotional Blocking

Analysis # 2053: Strong Signal of Fear-Sadness Anxiety - Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

Analysis # 2049: Emotionally Processing a Sad or Shocking Event

Rapidly covering the mouth with one or both hand in a covering manner (similar to the chimpanzee above) has a similar meaning to the sudden covering of the ears/sides of face - that of surprise and shock (and sometimes sudden realization/sudden problem solving) - and although it is often difficult or impossible to visualize, often has the suddenly widely-opened, vertical-oval shaped mouth as well as the eyes suddenly opened in a "white and wide" manner. Again, a slower covering of the mouth, touching/rubbing of the lips - almost always with ONE finger/thumb (and to a lesser degree the whole hand) - or touching nearby in the "mustache area" (and often accompanied by a rubbing touching of the nose) has a different meaning entirely.

See also:

Analysis # 871: Sudden Mouth Covering - Governor Rick Perry

Analysis # 1926:  Mexico's President-Elect Enrique Peña Nieto - Critical Evaluation Body Language Cluster

Analysis # 102 & 122: Two Critical Evaluation Emblematic Slips

Analysis # 1212: Sudden Mouth Covering

Although not in the original screenplay (by Rod Serling and Michael Wilson) the western interpretation of the "See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil" (different order) proverbial principle was improvised by director Franklin Schaffner and memorialized in the original (1968 version) "Planet of the Apes".

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2053: Strong Signal of Fear-Sadness Anxiety - Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

Aurora, Colorado Police Chief, Dan Oats is seen here at a press conference yesterday exampling what is known as the "false tie adjust". It is a very reliable body language signal of anxiety - and more specifically a fear-sadness sub-type (In this context it also is suggestive of empathy). Also known as the "Manubrial-Touch", it is seen both in sexes - with women often touching/moving/holding the pendant of their necklace. Variants of this nonverbal are also seen when there is no tie or necklace present - with a touching/rubbing/scratching of the upper portion of the sternum - the manubrium.

Chief Oats also has a classic nonverbal expression of fear displayed with his mouth. While he may not enjoy press conferences or speaking in public, he is for now one of the mouth pieces regarding the tragic shooting in the early morning yesterday. Most everyone fears being the bearers of bad news.

Notice also how many people behind him have their eyes closed. This is not coincidence. One reason for prolonged eyelid closure is emotional processing. It's a body language signal that one's emotions are trying to catch-up to reality and what the "logical brain" already knows. Thus it is common to see prolonged eyelid closure (and eye covering with the hands) during times of fear.

See also:

Analysis # 54: The Manubrial Touch Betrays Our Feelings - Sarah Palin's Mistake

Analysis # 1500: Six Degrees? Leaning In, Head Touching and the Manubrium - Kyra and Kevin are 10 Cousins, Once Removed

Analysis # 2030: Barclays, Bob Diamond, LIBOR and Anxiety - The False-Tie Adjust

Analysis # 1449: Dr. Who, Jenna-Louise Coleman and Necklaces

Analysis # 1177: Christine Lagarde's Neck Tell

Analysis # 2049: Emotionally Processing a Sad or Shocking Event

Analysis # 291: Obama and Biden, Visual-Emotional Blocking

What do you think former White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino is Thinking-Feeling?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2049: Emotionally Processing a Sad or Shocking Event

When we cry, we cover our eyes to wipe tears and to achieve a small level of privacy - however another primary (and often overlooked) reason is to aide in our "emotional processing". When we are dramatically saddened or emotionally shocked, our intellects may understand what has transpired, but our emotions often lag far behind. When people cover their eyes after witnessing a shocking, disturbing or sad event/scene - this nonverbal is a clear signal that they are emotionally processing bad news. Such body language phenomenon exists even for those who were born blind.

Recently discovered, the remains of 520 Bosnian Muslim victims (a small fraction of those killed) from the 1995 Srebrenica Massacre were buried on July 11 at the Potocari Memorial Cemetery.

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