Body Language & Emotional Intelligence: Crying

Showing posts with label Crying. Show all posts

Sunday, April 14, 2019

Body Language Analysis No. 4380: Tiger Woods Wins his first Masters in 14 years - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Earlier today, Tiger Woods won his fifth Masters - his first since 2005. Woods has not been victorious in a Major since the 2008 US Open. Tiger, has who has fifteen Majors wins to his credit - is second only to Jack Nicklaus' eighteen. Some are already calling Tiger's comeback the greatest in sports history.

The image above (and the accompanying close-up) taken shortly after his win, captures some crucial nonverbal tells.

Note Tiger's lips are turned inward and held between his teeth. This display is known as an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). It's an extremely common signal of the suppression of strong emotions - good, bad, and bittersweet. Although it's not always successful, an inward lip roll will often prevent our thought-emotions from spiraling out of control - and it also helps to muzzle our full facial expressions. As with 99.99+ % of nonverbal behavior, the inward lip roll is almost always subconsciously driven.

Woods' mandible is momentarily thrusting forward. This dynamic is a Jaw Jut - a signal of an adrenaline surge. Holding one's arms high - along with the formation of fists are also manifestations of a rise in adrenaline. Intriguingly, if you adopt this configuration - right now - your adrenaline will also ascend (Go ahead, try it - Stanislavski in your living room).

Tiger's mid-facial area is highly contracted too. Specifically, his cheek muscles are tightened and pulled laterally (not upward as they would be if he were smiling). Moreover, his mustache area (the area above the upper lip and below the nose) is also quite taut (more so than with the majority of inward lip rolls). In addition, Woods' nostrils are also widely flared.

Whenever assessing body language, one should never overlook the eyes (most people are profoundly unaware of what nuance their own eyes are projecting in real time). Tiger's eyes are partially closed. This closure is active, not passive - with his lower eyelids showing significant tension.

You may notice that Tiger Woods' face is also reddened. In this context, it's a signal of both peripheral vasodilation (blood vessels increasing in diameter just beneath the skin, a form of blushing) - as well as decreased venous return secondary to an (unconscious) relative Valsalva maneuver.

SUMMARY: Captured shortly after his 2019 Masters victory, this image of Tiger Woods shows him in an understandably emotional moment - in the midst of an adrenaline surge - whilst also suppressing tears.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4379: Katie Bouman, Black Holes, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4378: William Barr questioned regarding The Mueller Report

Body Language Analysis No. 4377: Donald Trump, "These aren't people, these are animals"

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4375: Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Security Clearances

Body Language Analysis No. 4374: Nancy Pelosi's Clap-Back to Donald Trump during the 2019 SOTU

Body Language Analysis No. 4360: GE's CEO Larry Culp's CNBC Interview and Subsequent Stock Sell-off

Body Language Analysis No. 4343: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Anxiety, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4336: Alita: Battle Angel, Large Eyes, and Sexual Attraction

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Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Photo credits: John Moore

When you first saw this now anti-iconic photo (above and the close-up below), what was your first thought?

Well, this is a bit of a trick question, because your first reaction should NOT have been to think about this image first - rather you should have felt it first. This would indicate you have substantial Emotional Empathy.

So long as our emotional empathy is developed - when we see another person in pain - whether it be emotional pain or physical pain, we should "feel them" first. And we should naturally, and reflexively feel their pain - without thinking. We empathize. We experience similar emotions.

(In the next moment, if you have a developed sense of Compassionate Empathy - you would then think about what you could do to help - and then act upon it.)

When we're in such a state of emotional empathy, particularly initially - we will mirror the facial expressions of those with whom we're empathizing.

Although we can primarily visualize the right side of her face and only portions of her mid-line and left face, we can still clearly discern that this two-year-old's:

• Central forehead is contracted and elevated

• Her eyebrows are simultaneously depressed in all but the medial (inner) portions

• Her upper eyelids are open widely - while her lower eyelids are tightened

• Her nostrils are flared

• Her mid-face is significantly tightened

• Her neck muscles (platysma) is tightened

• Her lips are stretched thin as her mouth corners are being pulled laterally and down

• With a simultaneous exposing of her lower teeth during in a jaw drop

• Whilst crying and screaming

SUMMARY: It's no mystery to most people who view these images, that this little girl is in an emotional state of deep anguish and fear.

Yet there is still a mystery here - for why, upon looking at these and similar photos - does a substantial percentage of the general population still not experience any (or very little) emotional empathy? The answer is multifactorial. In a very basic sense, emotional empathy deficits can be divided up into genetic and environmental causes - both nature and nurture.

"If you only have 'empathy' for people who are in your group/tribe/same color skin/same religion/same country - you can stop deluding yourself. That's not empathy - it's just an extension of your ego."

Piper Anne Twain

Media Inquiries and Keynote Appearances

One-on-One and Online Courses Available

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

702-239-8503

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's most Telling Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute

Body Language Analysis No. 4304: Donald Trump's and Kim Jong-un's Handshake in Singapore

Body Language Analysis No. 4302: G7 Leaders Surrounding Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4284: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Deadpool 2, and Alpha Up-Regulation

Body Language Analysis No. 4278: Jaws - "You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat" - vs. A Real Shark Encounter on a Paddleboard

Body Language Analysis No. 4255: Roger Stone and Julian Assange

Body Language Analysis No. 4209: Emma Gonzalez, Florida HS Shooting, and Emotional Processing

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

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Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4289: A Royal Wedding, Suppression of Tears, and Meghan Markle's Mom - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

If you watched Meghan Markle's and Prince Harry's wedding, you may have noticed Meghan's Mum - Doria Ragland. In these two images, taken seconds apart, we see Ms. Ragland with her lips rolled inward. Note that in these particular examples, her lower lip is doing so to a greater degree - but very often both the upper and lower lips are fully enveloped.

An inward lip roll (ILR) is a nonverbal display often seen when a person is far from their emotional baseline - and - although they're rarely fully aware - the person's psyche is attempting to suppress these strong emotions. Thus this body language is a mechanism our subconscious uses to down-regulate both the inward growth - as well as the outward display of intense emotion.

It's more common to see this nonverbal down-shifting behavior associated with negative emotions (sadness, anger, frustration, etc.). An inward lip roll is an extremely common method we all use when trying to suppress tears.

And yet the opposite is also true - for we all can think of examples when we found something very funny - and yet, due to the social context, we knew we shouldn't laugh - or even crack a smile.

Intriguingly, during a Wedding, the emotions being felt - particularly by the parents - are often a mix of feelings - some happy and some a bit sad.

It's extremely rare that a person fakes or acts an inward lip roll (even with accomplished actors) - therefore its display is a crucial insight into what a person is truly thinking-feeling.

Well done Doria Ragland. Well done.

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

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4288: Is Michael Cohen going to Flip on President Trump?

Body Language Analysis No. 4286: Aaron Schlossberg's Racist Rant

Body Language Analysis No. 4284: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Deadpool 2, and Alpha Up-Regulation

Body Language Analysis No. 4282: When Public Displays of Affection are More Frequent than those in Private

Body Language Analysis No. 4276: Waffle House Hero James Shaw Jr. Meets His NBA Idol Dwyane Wade

Body Language Analysis No. 4262: Wendy Vitter, the U.S. District Court, and Brown v. Board of Education

Body Language Analysis No. 4207: Stoneman Douglas High School shooting (Parkland, Florida), Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4095: Celtics' Gordon Hayward Breaks His Leg in Dramatic Fashion During Game with Cavaliers

Body Language Analysis No. 4035: Hope Hicks, Jared Kushner, and Phone Tells

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Friday, December 9, 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3781: Emma Stone and a Sign of Sincere Laughter - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Last week Emma Stone was a guest on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show. During the show, Stone and Fallon played a "What am I Lip-Syncing?" game ("Whisper Challenge").

[Note: The original video has, since the original post, been removed from its online source. The images below however, were captured from this video.]

After guessing Fallon's rendition of Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA (2:46), stone began laughing, bent far forward - while almost putting her head between her knees.

She eventually sat up and most people would say she appeared to be laughing sincerely. Yet Emma is an actress - so could Stone be fooling us? Could her laughter be feigned?

If we flash back a few seconds earlier (2:53 - 2:55), we notice that Emma Stone's (right) ankle bends inward (medially) in what is known as the "Weak Ankle Sign". This turning or bending in of the ankle is an extremely common behavior during sincere deep laughter. While it is more commonly displayed by women in high-heeled shoes, it is certainly seen in those wearing "flats" and it's also seen in men.

Intriguingly, the weak ankle sign is also displayed during crying (Both laughing and crying are emotional phenomena of "release" - occasions when we [temporarily] let others see feelings which we otherwise "hold in").

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3780: Donald Trump's Chief Strategist Steve Bannon Time Magazine Pic

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3778: Steve Harvey Recounts His Miss Universe Mistake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3776: VP Elect Mike Pence Defends Trump's Claim of Voter Fraud

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3759: Nicole Kidman's and Jimmy Fallon's Almost Date Redux

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3710: Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte Compares Himself With Hitler

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3690: Stan Wawrinka beats Novak Djokovic to win US Open

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2802: Emma Stone & Jimmy Fallon Lip Sync Battle

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Monday, June 20, 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3595: LeBron James, Disbelief and Emotional Processing - Body Language (PHOTOS)

This is LeBron James last night just after he lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 93-89 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game Seven of the 2016 NBA Championship.

LeBron collapsed to the floor and began crying tears of joy. In this image we can see him covering his face with his right hand. The vast majority of the time when people cover their eyes in scenarios similar to this - it's NOT to prevent people from seeing their tears - but it's because they are in a sudden and deep sense of disbelief. Their "logical brain" knows what has transpired - but their "emotional brain" has not yet caught up. Thus this sudden facial/eye covering is a nonverbal sign of emotional processing.

If we could somehow watch all Cleveland fans, very many of them would have a similar hand-face body language configuration. Therefore it's NOT a requirement that one be directly involved in the event - but seeing or hearing about it - even via second or third hand information will often evoke a similar response. It is also just as common (if not more so) when it's bad news that's being witness/delivered.

Fascinatingly, those who display this nonverbal signal for another person's joy or tragedy - will also have higher empathy quotients (as well as greater compassion and affection).

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3592: Gary Johnson, The Libertarian Party and Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3589: Barack Obama's retort to Donald Trump regarding ISIS

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3582: Brock Turner's Dad Draws Outrage of "20 Minutes of Action" - Lack of Empathy and No Remorse

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3574: Selena Gomez's Body Language Reaction to Fans in Montreal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3554: Paul Allen, Steph Curry and the "Slack Jaw"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3539: Conspicuous by it's Absence - Donald Trump's Missing Expression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3512: Emilia Clarke, "Me Before You" and Body Language

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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

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

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.

Earlier today Barack Obama announced several specific executive actions he will be initiating regarding gun control. During his speech, when he brought up the Shooting at Sandy Hook, the President shed some tears. From a body language perspective, during 1:09 - 1:11, you can see the President's jaw thrust laterally (to his left). In this cluster-context, his jaw movement is indicative of an effort (partially subconscious, partially conscious) toward the suppression of sincere tears.

Of course in this setting we can see the President is indeed crying - yet many times, a person's emotions and pre-tears status are not so obvious or seen by most people (e.g., He made a similar movement to his right during 0:14). Moreover, often times this technique (and others) work well - with eyes never turning red and with no tears are being shed (however it's profoundly valuable to have this extra level of insight into someone's psyche).

There are many other nonverbal signals commonly displayed when someone is trying not to cry. How many can you name?

Lateral Jaw Thrust Left with secondary tongue component

1:09 - 1:11

Lateral Jaw Thrust Right

0:14

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3425: Donald Trump's first Campaign Ad Commercial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2705: Congressman Michael Grimm Apology - Sincere or Not?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3099: Jon Stewart Announces he's Leaving "The Daily Show" - A Classic Body Language Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3221: Gov. Nikki Haley Choking Back Tears - is She Sincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3058: Stuart Scott's ESPY Award Speech - a Common Yet Very Under-appreciated Signal of Sadness/Grief Suppression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2617: Walter Cronkite Announces President John Kennedy's Death - Body Language and Suppression of Grief

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2639: Denver School Shooting and a Body Language of High Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2231: A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

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Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3035: John Wall, Miyah Telemaque-Nelson - and Grief, Empathy & Emotional Pain (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In this touching video, John Wall of the Washington Wizards was interviewed after a double overtime win over the Boston Celtics, 133-132. The recent passing of a young girl he befriended - Miyah Telemaque-Nelson, brought this normally stoic athlete to tears.

Note Wall's Elevated Central Forehead Contraction - which, in the somewhat lower resolution image below, is more prominent slightly on his right-of-center (however the sides [lateral aspect] of his forehead remains uncontracted). This facial change is accompanied by the elevation of his inner (medial) eyebrows and slightly closed eyelids. His nostrils are also flared (very often seen prior to crying). He's also biting his lower left lip in an attempt to prevent a crescendo of his sorrow. This nonverbal cluster-context shows us that John Wall is feeling high levels of grief, empathy and emotional pain.

My condolences to family and loved-ones of Miyah Telemaque-Nelson.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2901: Sadie doesn't want her brother to grow up - Body Language of Sincere Affection (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This is an adorable and very viral video of a little girl (Sadie) expressing her wishes not wanting her younger brother to grow up.

While there are few who would doubt this little girl's love and affection for her little brother - this video and interaction serves to illustrate some high sincerity, nonverbal affection signals.

A kiss planted on the eyelid, eyebrow, forehead above the eye or the top of the head - are all excellent body language signals of high affection and high sincerity.

Here Sadie kisses her little brother on just above his right forehead.

Touching the necklace, the sternum, the manubrium or the lower throat are strong signals of anxiety and in this context it also indicates a high sincerity quotient.

Touching one's eye to another person's eye, brow or forehead is indicative of both extremely high affection and sincerity.

One of the reasons this video when viral - probably THE PRIMARY reason - is that we all want to see (and of course - to give and receive) sincere affection. It is too rarely displayed. Children haven't yet adopted the filters that most adults would do well to abandon. Every human being craves affection. Thank you young Sadie for your example.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2900: Lionel Messi and the Lateral Lip Purse - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2701: Cuddling, Romance, Affection and Foot-Shunning - Body Language Tells

Body Language Secret No. 105: Parental Affection and Love

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1423: Head First Affection & Head Surrogate Hugs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2179: Mitt Romney & Barack Obama - Sincere Hugs and True Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2897: Fifty Shades of Grey - Part II - Warning Signs & Threat Assessment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2898: Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman, a Suppressed Smile and ....

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

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2723: Bode Miller's Interview after His Super G Bronze at Sochi - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Bode Miller won a bronze medal in the Men's Super-G yesterday. He is the oldest medalist in Olympic history and the most decorated in American alpine skier ever.

Bode Miller lost his brother Chelone last year to complications from a seizure and in the interview above, he tears up and cuts his interview short. NBC's Christin Cooper has received flack for pushing Miller too hard here, and yet Miller has come back in her defense.

From a body language perspective, this interview provides a good example of one setting of what is termed, the "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR). The inward lip roll is seen when the psyche is trying to prevent the crescendo of emotions from straying far from baseline - first outwardly and thus secondarily on the inside as well.

Most of the time, an ILR is seen in the context of negative emotion (sadness, anger, disgust, etc.) - although sometimes the inward lip roll is seen to suppress joy/laughter when for some reason the person does not want it to be displayed.

Multiple times throughout this interview, Bode Miller displays an ILR, to no avail, in order to try and suppress sadness progressing to tears.

My condolences and congratulations to Bode Miller.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2722: Charles Hamelin & Marianne St-Gelias's Kiss after his Gold Medal - A Paramount Body Language Signal of Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2721: Vladimir Putin at U.S. Hockey Victory over Russia at Sochi Olympics - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2719: Julia Mancuso at Sochi Olympics - Body Language of a Heightened Adrenaline State

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2404: Internal Lip Roll and other Body Language associated with Suppression of Sadness

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2652: Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live - Trying to Suppress the Laughter

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Saturday, November 23, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2617: Walter Cronkite Announces President John Kennedy's Death - Body Language and Suppression of Grief (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

"From Dallas, Texas, the flash, apparently official, President Kennedy died at One P.M. Central Standard Time; Two O'clock Eastern Standard Time; some thirty eight minutes ago ...[tongue-in-cheek at 0:19 mark and imaged below] ... Vice President [voice crack] Johnson [cough] has left the hospital in ah Dallas, but we do not know ah, to where he has proceeded - ah presumably he will be taking the oath of office shortly and become ah, the thirty-sixth President of the United States."

The "Tongue-in-Cheek" facial expression (in the above video at 1:31 and captured in the image below) has several possible meanings depending on the other nonverbal signals with which it is clustered (can you name them all?). In this most famous news clip wherein Walter Cronkite announces President John Kennedy's death, we see an example of this body language being used to suppress grief. Moreover Cronkite's cracking voice along with his cough to clear his throat, example paralanguage congruencies with this emotion.

What other body language does Mr. Cronkite display which is also signaling the suppressing of sadness and curtailing tears?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2233: Body Language, President Obama, 20 Children and the Tongue-in-Cheek

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2434: Brad Pitt's Tongue-in-Cheek regarding Reasons for Choosing to Work on "World War Z"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2530: Tom Coburn, Obamacare and Anxiety - Body Language Tell on a Senator's Face

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153: President Obama's Tongue in Cheek

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2352: Mila Kunis' Tongue in Cheek Graham Norton Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2554: Harry Reid's Body Language Lets Us Know What He's Thinking - Short Term Debt Limit Hike

Nonverbal Communication Test No. 2465: Barack Obama's Comments on Trayvon Martin & George Zimmerman Body Language & Sincerity

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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2318:
John Boehner at Rosa Parks Statue Unveiling
A Body Language Signal of Squelching Tears

Today in the U.S. Capitol Building's Statuary Hall, John Boehner spoke at the unveiling of the statue of Rosa Parks. A portion of his speech is shown in the above video. At several times the Speaker of the House grew emotional. At multiple times the Congressman Ohio also displayed a classic nonverbal which often is seen prior to tearful episodes - the "Lateral Lip Displacement" (one of which is captured in the image below). This characteristic body language-facial expression is a signal of an effort to squelch the emotional display. The lips, most commonly the lower lip, will contract to one side (here Mr. Boehner's left) and protrude. This can also be seen with a "wrinkling" of the front side of the chin.

This Lateral Lip Displacement (with or without protrusion) may occur without tears, a reddened face (not blushing), facial or head touching (manipulators, adaptors, or pacifiers) or other more obvious signals associated with revealed. When the tempering down of emotions is successful, and tears do not fall, many will be left wondering what the expressions they just saw had meant.

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229: President Obama and a Body Language Signal of Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2210: Body Language Signaling of an Attempt to Control Emotional Escalation & Display - The Inward Lip Roll

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2177: "I'm Tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney" - We're all Abigael Evans - Dialing up her Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2296: Penelope Soto Apologizes & Avoids 30 Days in Jail - Body Language Accompanying Sincere Tears & Apology

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2276: Michelle Obama's Eye Roll .... What was she thinking? and What Did Boehner's & Barack's Body Language Say?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2254: John Boehner's Speech Today - One Major Body Language Improvement The U.S. Speaker of the House Should Make

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Friday, February 8, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2296:
Penelope Soto Apologizes & Avoids 30 Days in Jail -
Body Language Accompanying Sincere Tears & Apology

After using profanity and giving Miami Dade Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat the bird earlier this week, Penelope Soto apologized - which is shown in the above video. In the midst of her apology she displays three common body language signs commonly seen in an effort to avoid tears. Her apology is very sincere.

Evidence of rapid bouncing movement of her lower limbs can be indirectly seen as her whole body bounces up and down. Similar movements of the hand & arms are also very common.

Ms. Soto's Inward Lip Roll (ILR) is a common nonverbal signal the psyche is trying to suppress displaying emotions - most often anger, and sometimes laughter-joy, embarrassment, etc. - but here it is the overwhelming emotional release associated with tears which often come with a sincere apology.

In addition Penelope looks up dramatically. This extreme upward gaze often happens just prior to or during the early stages of a tearful emotional moment.

There is other very telling body language seen in this video. Can you spot it?

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Thursday, January 24, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2279:
Hillary's Tears and Senator Barrassso's Contempt & Disbelief-
Body Language at Benghazi Hearings

Although he thinks he's trying to show thoughtful contemplation, it is feigned. During the 0:54 - 0:59 segment, Senator Barrasso's (R-WY) true emotions are betrayed by his nonverbals. He's really feeling Contempt (for which there are several facial expressions), Disbelief. Such body language is Condescending and will engender Patronizing feelings. He's directing these emotions towards Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during yesterday's Senate Hearings regarding the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks against the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya.

All people, particularly those in the public forum and those in "leadership" positions (even minor ones) very often are thinking one thing - however they're saying and trying to project other feelings. If you know what to look for, you can pick up on these ruses - and avoid financial losses, heartache and much worse. How many body language-facial expressions do you mislabel and thus fall victim to their subterfuge?

What do think about Hillary Clinton's tearful display in this video? Was her crying sincere?

See also:

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 457: Salman Rushdie's Contempt Amplifier

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1450: Rick Santorum's Contempt and Frown - The Proverbial Twisted Smile

Negotiation Secret # 389: Muammar's Constant Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2059: Musharraf has Contempt towards Pakistan's Intelligence Agency

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2167: Colin Powell Endorses President Obama - His Body Language Display of Anxiety, Contempt & the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2178: Little Girl Tells Pippa Middleton, "I Hate Princesses" Pippa's Body Language of Contempt ...

Nonverbal Communication Intelligence Analysis # 2111: Mitt Romney on Libya Embassy Killings - Multiple Displays of Contempt

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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2254:
John Boehner's Speech Today -
One Major Body Language Improvement
The U.S. Speaker of the House Should Make

John Boehner (R-OH) was re-elected by his republican colleagues as U.S. Speaker of the House. Of course this speech contains many nonverbals - a couple notables here:

Mr. Boehner's use of his hands is very minimal during this speech. In the world of body language, most hand-arm "gestures" are termed "Illustrators" (although other parts of the body/face can be illustrators as well) while others here fit into what are known as Manipulators, Adaptors or Pacifiers (MAPs). In general, although there are some exceptions, illustrators act to visually "underline", emphasize, accentuate, etc. simultaneous speech (although they can be used in absence of any verbal communication). Illustrators usually involve no self-touching.

MAPs involve of variations self-touching - although some examples of this category of body language may not at first glance seem to fit into this category. MAPs in general (exceptions here too) are signals of anxiety - and these can of course be greatly nuanced with added, layered meanings depending on the specific MAP and the other nonverbals with which they are clustered.

Speaker Boehner, throughout the vast majority of his speech today, used very little illustrators. Most of the time his left hand was placed on top of his right hand, with his right hand held in a loose fist. Such body language (one of many examples of a MAP) in this context is very ill-advised. Rather he would greatly benefit from skillful, congruent and relaxed use of illustrators - for they send signals of honesty, an alpha mindset, confidence and assertiveness. Together with other intangibles these qualities engender rapport. In fact, in face-to-face interactions, if a person does not use his hands, full and objective rapport is very difficult to establish. One who rarely uses his hands-arms (again in a congruent and relaxed manner) projects to her/his audience (even an audience of one) significantly reduced feelings of trust, reduced forthrightness and much less comfort-confidence. Of course, over-use, incongruent and "excessive-alpha" illustrators will backfire and also prevent and/or damage rapport - or worse.

Another under-appreciated MAP displayed several times in the above video is Mr. Boehner's short-lived biting of his right lower lip. Here his subconscious/edge of consciousness is attempting to squelch his emotions as he tries to prevent the display of happy-sad tears. This is well exemplified during the 5:06 - 5:12 segment.

Good luck to the entire 113th Congress.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2078: Mitt Romney's Taxes and Harry Reid's Accusations

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2121: Mitt Romney's 47 Percent - Body Language of the Hidden Video

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2061: David Cameron Defends London Olympics against Mitt Romney's Remarks - Alpha Dominance and Illustrators - Matching Hands and Feet as Sincerity Amplifiers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2052: Dialing Up Empathy and Sincerity - Mitt Romney's & Barack Obama's Response to Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1915: Mitt Romney's Response to Supreme Court's Decision on "Obamacare"

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1083: Brewer's Body Language MAPs Flag Foreboding

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 199: When a Lie is Told, Heard or Visualized by ....Vladimir's Eye

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2063: Mitt Romney and Ed Miliband - Under Used and Backfiring Uses of Hands

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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2210:
Body Language Signaling of an Attempt to Control Emotional Escalation & Display - The Inward Lip Roll

This is a touching video segment showing firefighters from Louisiana returning the favor they received seven years ago after Hurricane Katrina - now helping out their colleagues in New York after Hurricane Sandy.

An "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR) is a nonverbal signal of anxiety. More specifically it shows us that the psyche is trying to prevent the escalation and display of strong emotions - usually negative ones. Here, the normally stoic N.Y. firefighter is confessing his brotherly-love and sincere, deep-felt thanks to his Cajun comrades. Although partially obscured by his mustache, an ILR can be seen at 1:26-1:28, 1:29 and again at 1:31-1:32. Here there is some emotional dissonance present - a "good cry" or tearing-up is being partially suppressed.

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