Body Language & Emotional Intelligence: Divorce

Showing posts with label Divorce. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3700: George Clooney comments regarding the News of Brad Pitt's and Angelina Jolie's Divorce - Body Language & Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Although in this brief interview George Clooney first discusses publicly that his friends - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are getting a divorce - by evaluating his body language we can discern that at the very least he had foreknowledge of something strongly amiss in their marriage - and was he not surprised.

During 0:25 - just after the CNN reporter says, "... Angelina and your friend Brad ..." and Clooney answers, "Oh, what happen?" - Clooney's forehead and eyebrows contract and elevate - but simultaneously his upper eyelids partially close. This is an unnatural facial movement of emotional dissonance and not in any way indicative of surprise or sincerity - moreover in this context it's a signal of foreknowledge and insincerity.

Less than a second later Clooney pulls in the right side of his jacket.

This is essentially simultaneous with the repositioning of his notebooks higher and more centrally over his chest. This configurational change is an emotionally protective barrier formed just after he hears the word "divorce".

Then at 0:27 George looks up to his right - the quadrant to which most right-handed people (as is Clooney) momentarily gaze when they are visually recalling a specific event.

Then at 0:28 Clooney again closes his upper eyelids - this time completely - while contracting and elevating his eyebrows and the full width of his forehead.

Clooney continues (at 0:32), "... That's, that's a sad story and unfortunate for a family [smiling]. Ah, it's an unfortunate story, ah, ta - about a family. I feel very sorry to hear that..."

Smiling at this specific time is extremely out of context. This phenomenon is a variant of what, in body language parlance, is known as "Duping Delight". Clooney thinks he has fooled us into believing that this is the first he's heard the news (Moreover, a paralanguage signal of his insincerity here is that he feels the need to tell us twice).

During 0:43 Clooney displays a classic expression combination of regret and disgust.

Summary: Although this is unpleasant "news" for George Clooney to hear, he had prior knowledge of trouble in Brad Pitt's and Angelina Jolie's marriage. This "news" did not surprise him. It's important to point out here that although Clooney is an accomplished actor and he can fool us when he's "in character", when George is just being George, he's no better than average at deception.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3699: The Tulsa Police and the Shooting Death of Terence Crutcher

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3698: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump in Upcoming Presidential Debates, My Contribution to This Month's Article in "The Atlantic"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3695: Donald Trump, "Take Their Guns away", "Let's see What Happens to Her"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3689: Times Square Kiss on V-J Day

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3674: Drake Presents Rihanna with Vanguard Award - 2016 Video Music Awards - MTV

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3620: Cristiano Ronaldo's Injury, UEFA Euro 2016 and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2967: George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin Wed in Venice - All The World's a Stage - Sincerity level of Smiles

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

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

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Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3232: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announce Divorce - a Body Language Signal of Diminishing Affection (PHOTOS)

Some who follow celebrities have been speculating for a while about the health of Jennifer Garner's and Ben Affleck's marriage. Such Hollywood watchers may have seen something similar to above photo. Today Ben and Jenn announced their plans to divorce.

From time to time most everyone will walk in front of their significant other. When this behavior is demonstrated occasionally, it usually is symptomatic of anxiety. More specifically it signifies a preoccupation with an upcoming event (or the ramifications of a past event). Another way to think of this body language - is that the person guilty of it is not being mindful (not living in the present moment).

However when a person consistently walks a bit ahead of their partner, it's a strong nonverbal example of diminishing affection. In addition, such signals of sentiment shrinkage will virtually always be seen prior to an affair. Can you name any other body language harbingers of relationship failure?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis 3231: Jeb Bush just prior to the Announcement of his Candidacy - What his Body Language Tells Us

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2424: Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien - Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2827: Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy - She was the Alpha, He was the Beta

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1916: Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise are getting a Divorce - What Body Language Metric could have Predicted this Back When They Were Dating?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508: Surfer Kelia Moniz and a Classic Flirtatious Body Language Display

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3053: Giada De Laurentiis, Insincere Smiles and Divorce (PHOTOS)

After 11 years of Marriage, Giada De Laurentiis announced yesterday her impending divorce. The chef and her husband Todd Thompson have been separated since July 2014. Giada has made statements stating that their relationship is amicable. The couple has one child (Jade, 6).

What are the components of a sincere smile? How about an insincere one?

Giada is famous for her "toothy" smile. When a person's lower teeth are visible during a smile - it's almost always insincere. Ms. De Laurentiis is well known for this appearance. Her teeth are spectacular - however her sincerity is lacking. Depending on what the rest of the face/neck is doing, such a widely opened and sometimes squared-off mouth appearance can be associated with or is confused with anger or fear - although here neither of these are present with Ms. De Laurentiis. For many people this is their default mouth configuration when they're trying to "push out" a smile which they don't really feel.

The exceptions for lower teeth exposure with sincere smiling are seen during the beginning or end of a display of true laughter (during sincere laughter the lower teeth may be visible), due to a skewed camera or eye angle (e.g., a shorter smiling person next to a taller observer) or with the fatigue associated with prolonged posing (thus after very brief duration the smile becomes insincere).

A sincere smile must also always have eyelids which are partially closed. This is an absolute requirement. The lower eyelids must also always show evanescent, concave-up furrows. This is natural for all ages - and yet plastic surgeons have popularized the removal of this dynamic and natural change seen in the normal and healthy moments of a true smile (Duchenne Smile).

When the cheeks have much less upward movement and more lateral movement (such as when the bottom teeth are exposed) the lower lid crease will not form.

Another component of a sincere smile is a forehead that is always relaxed - Always! - thus when a forehead is contracted - there is always insincerity present. This is a common component of a subconscious, default, false smile for many people - particularly celebrities and politicians.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2858: Hope Solo, Domestic Violence, Arrests and Wedding Rings - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the Seattle Reign FC and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist, was arrested earlier today for alleged domestic violence against her sister and her nephew.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the recent video interview above (17 April 2014) and sheds some light on probable underlying causes behind her alleged violence.

Many times throughout this video, Hope twists her wedding ring. This is a strong indicator of anxiety - and more specifically within the context of her marriage.

Hope Solo is married to former professional football (American Style) player Jerramy Stevens.

And although Solo's been interviewed many times on national television under more what otherwise would otherwise be more stressful conditions, the dramatic frequency of this recent body language display indicates greater anxiety "beneath the surface" and foreshadows a break-up in her marriage.

There are a multitude of other nonverbals displayed in this video. Which others did you spot?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2857: Barack Obama on Syria, Belief that Syrian opposition could have overthrown Assad with U.S. arms a "fantasy" - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424: Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2399: Matthew McConaughey on David Letterman and a Very Common Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2090: Hope Solo on Piers Morgan Flirting 101

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2626: Rashida Jones's Anxiety regarding YouTube Awards on Jimmy Fallon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2702: Barack Obama - Anxiety and Non-engagement; Body Language Signals

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2808: Andrew Garfield, The Spider Man Theme Song and Anxiety - Body Language Tells

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2768: Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Martin - and the VERY UNconscious Uncoupling foretelling their Conscious Uncoupling (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Although Gwyneth did not coin the term "Conscious Uncoupling" - she has certainly popularizing it in the last 72 hours. In the moment of this image however, Ms. Paltrow is exhibiting a very strong SUBconscious uncoupling.

Forty percent of the mass of the human brain is dedicated towards vision. In addition, of the five senses - vision accounts for ninety percent of our sensory input. So the human brain is very visually-biased (even for you "non-visual thinkers" out there) - while the senses of touch, taste, smell and hearing have to share the remaining ten percent. When the eyes are shut - a bit less blood flows to these visual brain and therefor a less nutrients including oxygen gets distributed there. The neuro-chemical activity of the other portions of the brain is thus up-regulated while the visual centers are momentarily down-regulated. Our non-visual senses become sharper - as well as the cognitive and emotional functions. This phenomenon occurs very rapidly - almost instantaneously.

When we kiss with our eyelids shut because we want to heighten the emotional experience of the moment. We want to drink in every ounce - every drop of the kiss. And if we kiss with our eyelids closed - the moment - and therefore the relationship has less emotional impact. Granted we all get distracted from time to time - but kisses should not be one of these times. A highly reliable signal of waning of affection or love in any relationship (spouse, child, parent, platonic friendship, etc.) are eyes remaining open during a kiss.

Although the status Coldplay musician Chris Martin's eyelids at this instant are difficult to discern (they are perhaps slightly opened) in this moderate-resolution image, Gwyneth's are certainly opened. Does your spouse kiss with eyes open? Do you?

What other signals (there are several) of low or waning affection are seen in this image?

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2663: Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy Engaged - A Body Language Sign of Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2764: Embarrassment, Affection & Flirtation - Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher - Kiss Cam Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2643: Is this Hug More Sexual or Affectionate? Student Suspended One Year for Hugging a Teacher

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2649: How a Kiss can Change the World - Body Language of Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2748: Tatia Pilieva's Brilliant Video "First Kiss" - Body Language of Romance and Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424: Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2502: A Body Language Sign of True Love & Affection - A Father Reunited with Young Son Who He Believed died in Syria Poison Gas Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2767: Barack Obama Meets Pope Francis - The Body Language "Being Beta"

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Sunday, June 16, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2431:
Wendi Deng & Rupert Murdoch
Who was More Dominant? Body Language Signals
(Video, Photos)

She didn't acquire the nickname "Tiger Wife" for having a beta personality. And who can forget Wendi Deng protecting her husband Rupert Murdoch from a pie thrower (see video below) during his testimony before the House of Commons Select Committee in the Summer of 2011?

Rupert Murdoch and his third Wife, Wendi Deng have file for divorce siting "irreconcilable differences". In each of the two images included here, Wendi's hand is holding Rupert's - and she is on top. During hand holding when walking the equivalent dominant body language position is with the hand in front. Those who are on top or in front during this common affection/support display are the dominant or alphas within the relationship - while the person with their hand in the back or on the bottom is a nonverbal signal of the relative beta personality.

Tiger Wife. Tiger ex-wife.

What other classic body language do you see in the video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1921: Who was More Dominant - Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes?

Dating & Romance Secret # 33: Blake Lively or Penn Badgley -Who is the Dominant Partner?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2242: Rihanna & Chris Brown at Lakers Game Body Language of Dominance, "Ownership", Narcissism and Submission

Flirting and Romance Secret # 51: Dominance Display in a Couple: Maria Sharapova & Sasha Vujačić

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2330: Body Language of Foot Placement on another Person's Chair

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1162: Ahmadinejad, Napoleon, al-Assad and Dominance

Romance and Dating Secret # 217: Who Wears the Pants in France?

Former Tiger Wife and volleyball player Wendi Deng goes on the offensive in the video below.

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Monday, June 10, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424:
Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien
Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and
Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love
(Video, Photos)

Giada De Lauentiis recently appeared on Conan O'Brien some of which is included in the above video. The talented and beautiful chef, writer and T.V. personality gives away some personal secrets (without meaning to) in multiple body language tells.

Giada certainly has beautiful teeth, however she makes the same mistake a lot of people do when they put on their "Social Smile" - they display the bottom teeth. The lower teeth should only be exposed in the context of a smile if it mixed with laughter, out of fatigue (holding the smile too long in a pose) - or with a downward camera angle or line of sight from a significantly taller person. Although she does laugh a fair amount here - not of such scenarios apply. Thus despite her gorgeous pearly-whites, her smile transmits insincerity. I wish to emphasize that this does not indicate that anyone who uses such a social smile is as a whole insincere - only in that moment. We all need to smile when we do not feel joy-happiness and some pull it off better than others. Ms. De Laurentiis would project much more sincerity if she would not force herself to expose all 32 of her teeth.

This image, captured at 1:37 in the video is less than a second before Conan mentions Giada's husband. She is pushing out her social smile which was just preceded by laughter.

As soon as she hears and processes the word "husband" (1:38), Giada displays a tight upper lip and a foreshortened mouth opening consistent with anger. Although she does have a prominent chin, she is jutting it forward here. Clenching of her jaw muscles can also be seen. This cluster context is highly consistent with anger.

Note also how her body slumps and looses its high-anticipation appearance it had at 1:37. Her hands immediately configure into a defensive mode, her shoulders slump and her head, neck and torso all lean back in her chair.

At 1:39 Giada's mouth takes on a very clear configuration of regret expressed in a near-microexpression.

At 1:40 there is a very brief (another near-microexpression) display of disgust. There remains a component of regret present.

Less than a second later (still at 1:40) Ms. De Laurentiis displays lip pursing. This is strongly suggestive of clandestine disagreement/plan. She could very well be thinking of divorce in this moment.

Note the above four images occur in rapid succession between 1:38 and 1:40. Go back and watch this segment in the video several times. It is quite telling.

Later in the video (2:08 - 2:09), Giada twists her wedding ring when recounting the story of her husband. In this cluster context this anxiety signal (MAP surrogate) is congruent with the findings above.

There are some interesting parlanguage tells in this video as well. One of these is the distancing language of "my husband" - rather than calling him by name - Todd (Todd Thompson, her husband is a fashion designer). While some celebrity couples (or their agents') insist on using such "distancing language" it is impersonal and always telling when not directed by such outside influences. There are multiple other paralanguage and nonverbal indicators in this video which indicate Ms. De Laurentiis and Todd Thompson are having significant marital difficulties. She is ready to take her wedding ring off. How many other signs did you spot?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley - Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

Romance and Dating Secret # 202: Revealed in a Kiss - Prince Albert and Princess Charlene

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1916: Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise are getting a Divorce - What Body Language Metric could have Predicted this Back When They Were Dating?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2191: Anne Hathaway's Impersonation of Katie Holmes on SNL - "Norming" Katie and Variations on a Theme

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1866: Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth are Engaged - An Affection-Love Sincerity Signal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2203: A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection - How Do YOU cuddle?

Romance, Marriage and Dating - Body Language Secret # 609: Going from High Heels to Flats and then back to Heels?

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Sunday, February 10, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2298:
Kylie & Kendall Jenner Do NOT Like Kanye West
Their Body Language Contradicts their Words -
Spells another Split-up in Kim Kardashian's Future

In this short excerpt from a recent interview of Kylie and Kendall Jenner with A.J. Hammer on "Showbiz Tonight", their words say one thing and their body language says another. The body language is always right. They do not like their sister Kim Kardashian's partner Kanye West.

Kylie Jenner says, "... he, he fits in great with the family. We like him a lot. He's very cool". In this image, Kylie Jenner looks down to her right just as she says, "...We like him a lot..." Ninety-five percent plus of right-handers look down to their right when they are experiencing or speaking about an emotional issue. She avoids eye contact with A.J. Hammer along with covering her right eye. A unilateral eye cover (or scratch or rub - all forms of Manipulators, Adaptors or Pacifiers) during a definitive statement or when answering a question is strongly suspicious for deception (covering both eyes has a completely different meaning). This nonverbal cluster along with her stuttering ("....he, he ....") are strong indicators that at least Kylie Jenner does not like Kanye West.

Here Big sister Kendall says, "...Yep. He's a sweetheart...".
Just after "Yep" and after "sweetheart", she purses her lips. Lip Pursing is a strong nonverbal signal that what is said and what is being felt are in disparity.

Close up view of Kendall Jenner's lip pursing.

Later in this video, Kylie Jenner again covers her right eye as she looks down to her right (this image is an instant after this covering). Eye contact will very often decrease at the moment of a lie - alternatively it may increase to unnatural staring. This is during her answer, "I mean of course, she's our sister and I want her to be happy and I know she doesn't (pause) she obviously wants to be divorced" (then a bilateral shoulder shrug). Interpretations of shrugs are difficult and fraught with double-negatives. There are obvious body language signals of anxiety here with a high probability of another deceptive statement. Could it be that Kim Kardashian doesn't want to be married to Kanye West? Or perhaps she still has some feelings for Kris Humphries? It is not possible to pin this down, but there is certainly significant anxiety being displayed by Kylie Jenner in this moment.

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1907: Governor Rick Scott tells a Lie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2156: Barack Obama's Body Language at Al Smith Charity Dinner - Comedy, White Lies and Facial Touching MAPs

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 335: What is the definition of "Eye Contact"?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2092: The Importance of Eye Contact - Contributing Author to "The Language Lab"?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2273: Lance Armstrong & Oprah Winfrey, Part II Lance Gives Away More with His Body Language - He told more Lies

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 394 & 496: Rick Perry's Nonverbal Mistakes in Iowa

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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1921:
Who was More Dominant -
Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes?

Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes - who was the most dominant in their relationship/marriage? Since the announcement of their impending divorce, many have speculated in the last couple days that Joey Potter blindsided Maverick. Hmmm ....

Notice the pattern in which they are hand holding in these four images. Katie has her hand on top or in front in all of them. This is highly consistent with a dominance and alpha female behavior - which holds true for both dating and marriage. The next time you're at your local mall, take a sample of the first 20 couples you see. Chances are that all 20 will show, male dominant behavior - with the man's hand in front or on top. In about 98% of the time this alpha-male behavior will be seen. Not so with TomKat. There are certainly other body language signals of female-male/male-female dominance. However, consistency of this pattern strongly suggests a strong female authority. Note that in the first and second photos (taken at the same event and the couple's last public appearance) Tom and Katie switch sides, thus hands as well - and yet Holmes' nonverbal domination display persists.

Analysis # 1916: Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise are getting a Divorce - What Body Language Metric Predicted This?

Romance & Dating Secret # 33: Blake Lively or Penn Badgley - Who is the Dominant Partner

Flirting & Romance Analysis # 51: Maria Sharapova & Sasha Vujačić

Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in the Near Future

The image below was taken at a Katy Perry Concert on 7 August 2011.

Photo below was taken in NYC on 16 December 2011.

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Friday, June 29, 2012

Body Language Analysis No. 1916: Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise are getting a Divorce - What Body Language Metric could have Predicted this - When They Were Dating?

When it comes to dating and romance are you aware that you your significant other's height statistically plays a key roll in whether it will just be a date or two - or if last as a couple

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are getting a divorce after a five year marriage.

Boguslaw Pawlowski, Ph.D., a Polish Anthropologist has noticed an interesting body language predictor of relationship longevity (it also predicts male-female & female-male attraction) - height ratio. When the man is 9% taller (1.09 times taller or the woman being 0.917 the height of the man) - Boguslaw found that this is the optimal ratio for longevity of a relationship. He found that the further a couple is from this height-proportion, the shorter the relationship tends to last. Like all statistics, this tendency describes large numbers of people (also disease behavior, sports stats, economics, etc.) and we can place too much emphasis when we look at small numbers or individual cases - but one can't help but wonder if this nonverbal quality had some influence on Katie and Tom - for she is 5'9" and he is 5'7" (a male to female ratio of only 0.97! - or said another way she is 3% taller than he, see below).

By the way - Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (married for 50 years) ratio was exactly 1.09 and Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick (married 24 years) ratio is very close, 1.085!