Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2214: John McCain Jokes - sort of .... and John Kerry senses Deception

In the video above, John McCain (R-AZ) jokes with the audience and his colleague from across the aisle, John Kerry (D-MA) while calling the Massachusetts Senator, "Mr. Secretary" - alluding to the well-known speculation that Kerry has been for some time, on President Obama's short-list to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State - although he is probably not Barack's first choice. The recent controversy regarding Susan Rice has made Kerry's nomination for this post somewhat more likely. Some have suggested that the republican attacks on Ms. Rice have the ulterior motive of vacating Kerry's U.S. senate seat for a potential republican spot in a special election, should Rice's nomination not pass the Senate - and Kerry is nominated and approved instead. Chess on the Senate floor.

Significant body language tells are displayed in this segment - with several different underlying emotions. Just after Senator McCain springs his joke, Senator Kerry rubs his lower forehead/upper brow and to briefly covers both eyes. This nonverbal indicates emotional processing, and a wanting to "wipe it from his mind" - he is saying to himself, "I can't believe he just said that". 

Very shortly after the above noted bilateral display, Senator Kerry rubs his left eye only. This body language of a unilateral eye rub indicates that, after the initial surprise, Kerry believes that there was something deceptive transpiring. As suggested above, he is most probably questioning Senator McCain's motives.

In the real world, emotions rarely occur in isolation and they also happen in rapid sequence. After Kerry says, "See, this is what happens when you get two losers up here", while their laughter and smile are sincere, Kerry's evanescent grabbing and shaking of the back of McCain's head/upper neck (just prior to one-armed hug) indicates more than a hint of a reprimand and scolding and is also an alpha display.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1843: United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice in Response to Syrian Government's Houla Massacre

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1698: Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari & Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2198: Susan Rice's Body Language at United Nations - Her First Public Appearance Since her Initial  Post Benghazi Attack T.V. interviews

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2190: President Obama's Body Language - Press Conference 14 October 2012 - in Defense of Ambassador Susan Rice

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2195:  Sen. John McCain's Body Language when  Comparisons made between  Condoleezza Rice to Susan Rice & War with Iraq to Benghazi, Libya Attack

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 481: Interlaced fingers, Brief Thumbs and Hand Elevation

Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia, is giving us a great negotiation tell here. When people have their hands clasped in front of them during a meeting, discussion or negotiation it generally is an indication of some level of blocking and a closed-off mindset. They may also be attempting to appear reserved and relaxed. This is not a natural position of relaxation though.

Notice Mr. Putin's hands are lifted off the table. At this same time his thumbs are elevated. This is the equivalent of a shrug. We cannot see the dynamics of this particular moment since this is a still image and not a video, but very often a shrug will come in this abbreviated disguise - and the words may very well not be congruent with the emotional tone of a shrug. In these cases, the hands and the thumbs are only briefly elevated, for a second or two and the shoulders may never elevate. Thus, this gesture can be thought of as partial emblematic slip (Ekman) when it is in disparity with what is said verbally. Notice also that Mr. Putin is speaking out the side of his mouth. Although this is baseline behavior for a very small minority of people - it is a strong signal of insincere behavior or dishonesty.

In linguistics, a homonym is a word/set of words which although spelled and pronounced the same, has different meanings. I can say, "That lady is hot", or "It's rather hot outside" or "Wow, this pepper is hot!" The science of Body Language also has Nonverbal Homonyms. The thumbs up gesture, in what at first glance, may appear to be identical to the scenario in the above photo - can mean something completely different depending on what other body language signals and particulars with which it is clustered. Ignore this distinction at your peril.

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Negotiation Secret # 602: Honesty in Testimonies

We tend to not trust someone the less we can see of them. If they hide body parts when they are asked questions, this should set off alarms in our internal lie detectors. This is accurate for several body parts and particularly true of the hands. Here, Dr. Richelle Cooper is testifying in Dr. Conrad Murray's trial regarding the death of Michael Jackson. Her hands are visible, and with her palms up gesturing, this adds even more to her honest persona - but she has to bring them up fairly high for this to occur. It is possible that their view is even obstructed to some jury members. It would be a great idea for witnesses to testify with a plexiglass top table, or something similar, so that all those in court could see them in near entirety and see their Body Language displayed upon questioning. The same would be apply in depositions as well as voir dire. This would certainly add to the justice process. Those who bear false witness would be much more easily sussed out.

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