Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3465: Hillary Clinton's Dominant Spider - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The video above includes Hillary Clinton's closing remarks from the most recent Democratic Presidential Debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Because her opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, uses palm-down gestures with high frequency, Secretary Clinton has been coached to also use them more often (as well as those with palms-forward and closed-fists).

This image was captured from 1:04 from the video.

The particular palm-down illustrator shown here is called a "Dominant Spider".

Illustrators are nonverbal signals (which may or may not be involve the hands or arms) that illustrate, emphasize and metaphorically underline simultaneous (or nearly so) verbal and paralanguage communications. Palm down illustrators are, the vast majority of times, assertive and dominant and very often these even project hyper-dominant thought-emotions. As with most alpha body language - those who use them tend to over-use them. Thus what in small doses projects strong leadership and power - when used even slightly more frequently - will backfire and project arrogant and hyper-dominant motives. Many in the audience (even an audience of one) will feel patronized and condescension.

In a political environment, prior to the conventions, hyper-alpha nonverbals are used more considerably frequently. After the major political parties have chosen their representatives, candidates are then vying for the electorate in the center of the political spectrum. Therefore most of the time nonverbal signals become less aggressive and have more qualities which engender rapport in the four or five months prior to the election. Like many things existing in the real world, this is simple in concept. Most of the time, candidates default to their prior selves and will alienate a substantial percentage of those voters' allegiance they otherwise would have won.

It's important to keep note, this is a closing statement of a debate - and during such times, there is a slightly greater tolerance for nonverbal and other hyperbolic behavior. With this in mind, Mrs. Clinton still used alpha nonverbals a bit too much in both magnitude and frequency in these moments. And during most any other time these nonverbals would have been considerably more excessive.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3464: Of Katie Holmes, Super Bowls, Smiles and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3460: Eli Manning Reacts to Bronco's Super Bowl Touchdown

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3456: Martin Shkreli Pleads the Fifth before Congress

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3454: Donald Trump - Buying the Farm after 2nd Place Finish in Iowa Caucuses 

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

Romance, Marriage and Dating - Body Language Secret No. 609: Going from High Heels to Flats and then back to Heels 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3264: Hillary Clinton, Likability, Perceived Trustworthiness and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3258: Hillary Clinton speaks out on "inaccuracies" of private email controversy




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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3411: Donald Trump's Vulgarity, "Schlonged" and Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Yesterday in Grand Rapids, Michigan - Donald Trump used form of the Yiddish word, "Schlong" in describing Hillary Clinton losing to Barack Obama for the Democratic Nominee in 2008. Here Trump changed a noun into a verb - in what some linguists refer to as "verbing".

Beginning at about 0:14.8 in the above video, Trump continues, "... and she got schlonged, she lost, I mean she lost ....".

As Trump says the word, "... and...", his jaw juts out quite dramatically (see screen capture image below).

Whenever a jaw jut is seen, the first thing you should think of is anger - particularly higher levels of anger with a significant risk of escalating to violence. Jaw jutting also occurs in other nonviolent, yet high-adrenaline acts such as throwing a football, lifting a heavy object or stressful moments of operating a vehicle.

Once these high-adrenaline states of anger or physical acts have been excluded (and from a nonverbal standpoint, how do you know Trump is not angry in this example?), a jutting of the jaw signals either hubris or insincerity. In this moment, Donald Trump is exhibiting both.

Image captured during 0:15 of above video

Donald Trump displaying a dramatic Jaw Jut (in the absence of either anger or a strenuous physical act).

Here signalling both:

•  Hubris &
•  Insincerity

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. 3410: Bernie Sanders Apologizes to Hillary Clinton for Data Breach at Democratic Debate - Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2458: The Pain in Spain Hurts Mainly in the Spleen - Running of the Bulls & Body Language in Pamplona

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3051: Jim Harbaugh & 49ers Part Ways - Onwards to Michigan

Nonverbal Communication Quiz No. 3120: Benjamin Netanyahu Speaking Before Joint Session of Congress - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2724: Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Twenty Years Later  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis 2759: Vladimir Putin, Annexation of Crimea and Mouth Asymmetry 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3336: Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Deception and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3384: Donald Trump Repeats Controversial 9/11 Claims 

 
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3410: Bernie Sanders Apologizes to Hillary Clinton for Data Breach at Democratic Debate - Body Language Faux Pas (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Saturday Night Bernie Sanders apologized to Hillary Clinton for his campaign staff's role in the, now well publicized, data breach.

Senator Sander's mishandled this apology in multiple respects.

1. If he had the intention to apologize, he should have done so without being asked. Moreover, with the exception of an introductory statement, an apology should have been the first thing he said - and only then expounding on the details.

2. Bernie Sanders should have used an apologetic tone of voice and slowed down his rate of speech.

And from a body language perspective:

3. Senator Sanders should have turned toward Secretary Clinton with his whole body - feet, hips, torso, shoulders, head and eyes. Eye contact during an apology cannot be over-emphasized. This is one of the rare circumstances when, during a debate, one candidate should directly face another.

Take note of the image below, captured during 2:54 in the above video - during the exact moment the Vermont Senator is speaking the word "... apologize ...". Mr. Sanders' head/neck are only turned approximately 45 degrees toward Mrs. Clinton - while the rest of his body was pointed straight toward the audience. Again, this is a rare circumstance - yet if the apology is sincere, an exception should be made - and Sanders should have turned fully toward Clinton.

We point our body, face and eyes directly at those we respect (or to whom we're attracted - although this is, of course not the context here). When one person is not body-pointing toward another person while speaking to them - they either don't respect them, don't believe them, don't like them, they're not being sincere - or they're lying (these last two categories obviously overlap).

4. Sanders should have shaken Clinton's hand. If his body was fully pointed at her, and his tone and words were sincere - this would have been a profoundly powerful moment for Sanders (as well as contrasting strongly against the discord of the Republican party). Bernie would have most certainly enjoyed a boost in the polls as well.

5. Quiz: What other major body language mistake did Sanders make?

This fumbled moment was a major missed opportunity for Senator Sanders.

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. 3409: Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Reaction to Bernie Sander's Criticism of the DNC

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2863: Gary Oldman's Apology on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - Sincere or Insincere? - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3092: Brian Williams' Apology - Was He Sincere? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2839: Jonah Hill's Apology on Jimmy Fallon - Sincere or Insincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3115: Giuliana Rancic apologizes to Zendaya Coleman comment made regarding her dreadlocks at the Oscars - that she "smells like patchouli oil and weed" on "Fashion Police" - Is She Sincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2578: Obamacare Website Apology - Sincere vs. Insincere? 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3293: Why is Donald Trump a Better Liar than Most Politicians? - Body Language 

 
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