Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2816: Donald Sterling Interview - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling gave an interview today with CNN's Anderson Cooper. A portion of this interview is included in the above video.

At 2:16 Cooper begins, "Did you apologize to him, er ...?"

Sterling then responds, "Well .... Aaaah ... if I said anything wrong, I'm sorry. He's [Magic Johnson] a good person and he [pause with expression of disgust during 2:27.8 - 2:29.8] and what am I gonna say ..."

Donald Sterling then went on to describe how although is great, he feels that Magic Johnson is not a good role model for the children of Los Angeles.
 

In this close up view of Donald Sterling's face, we see a classic expression of disgust. Note the tightening of his "mustache area" and a flaring of both nostrils. A disgust amplifier is also present in the partial closing of his eyelids.

What other nonverbal signal here demonstrates the presence of a second emotion?




See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2640: Disgust at Denver area School Shooting - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2443:  Kristen Wiig's Disgust & Fear Face -  Graham Norton, Chris O'Dowd and Fly Eating

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2811: Jason and David Benham are Dropped from HGTV - Body Language of Subtle Contempt, Anger & Disgust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2603: Sarah Palin's Body Language - She Feels Disgust toward Pope Francis and ... She Tells a Fib

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2799: Magic Johnson Comments Regarding L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Alleged Racist Remarks - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2801: Adam Silver Bans Donald Sterling for Life - Alpha Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2798: Donald Sterling, Prejudice and Body Language of Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Quiz No. 2815: A.J. McCarron, Asymmetrical Smiles and the 5th Round? - Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2801: Adam Silver Bans Donald Sterling for Life - Alpha Body Language Tell (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling for life from the NBA. He is not permitted to attend a game or a practice - or to make any decisions about the Los Angeles Clippers for the rest of his life. The NBA Commissioner also fined Sterling the maximum amount possible - $2.5 Million. In addition, Silver is seeking three quarters or greater consensus from the NBA owners in an effort to force Sterling to sell the basketball team.

There are many nonverbal signs in the video above of Mr. Silver's press conference. However there is one exemplified here that is rarely noted. Throughout this video (highlighted in three isolated images below) - Mr. Silver's mouth, lips and jaw display exaggerated movements. While there is certainly variation in such movements between any two people of the same culture speaking the same words - Mr. Silver's are amplified. It is not simply because he is trying to speak louder. This is a signal of an alpha emotional tone. People who display this body language/facial expression view themselves as dominant and are in the midst of asserting it.

In contrast, if Mr. Silver were in the company of the heads-of-state and other World leaders, his mouth, jaw and lips would never be moving in this manner.

Although not the case here, an even further exaggeration of these movements during speech is indicative of a patronizing and condescending mindset - and will very readily transmit such feelings.

There are also multiple examples of Mr. Silver thrusting his jaw forward - in what is known as a "Jaw Jut". This is a highly reliable signal of anger.

A Jaw Jut at 0:51 mark as Silver says "... deeply..." signifying the NBA commissioner's sincere anger.

1:16 mark as Silver speaks an exaggerated "....multi-ethnic..."


Mild Jaw Jut

More dramatic movements as Silver says "... within ..." at 1:27

More Jaw Jut (mild-moderate)









What other body language did you see during this video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2460:  Third Year Law Student-Intern Channa Lloyd African-American on Zimmerman's Legal Team An Under-appreciated Alpha Body Language Signal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2367:  North Korea, Jay Carney and  Body Language Tells from the White House Press Room

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2798: Donald Sterling, Prejudice and Body Language of Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2792: The First Woman to Run The Boston Marathon - Katherine Switzer and an Assault Warning Sign - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2506:  Barack Obama, the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle and  Retaliation Against Syrian Poison Gas Attack 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2799: Magic Johnson Comments Regarding L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Alleged Racist Remarks - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2800: Richard Gere Plays a Homeless Man and a Caring Parisian Gives Him Food - Body Language of Sincerity and Empathy

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2799: Magic Johnson Comments Regarding L.A. Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Alleged Racist Remarks - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the above video, Magic Johnson comments on the remarks which Donald Sterling allegedly recently made in a conversation with his then girlfriend. Anyone who objectively listens to the recording will reach the conclusion that - if it is in fact authentic - then the L.A. Clippers' owner is clearly racist.

Of course, Magic Johnson was specifically mentioned in the recordings - so many are interested in what he had to say. A body language analysis will also let us know what Magic is feeling. What follows is a partial discussion of the former NBA superstar's nonverbal signals:


At the very beginning of the interview, just before he begins speaking (0:06, 0:11 - 0:12), Magic Johnson displays a partial "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR). The inward lip roll signifies that the subconscious is trying to suppress the outward manifestation as well as the inward crescendo of emotions which are diverging far from baseline. The emotions can be positive such as joy - but typically they are negative emotions (e.g. anger and sadness).

At this instant, Magic's psyche is trying to prevent his anger from growing.

During the 1:46 mark, as he makes the statement, "... he shouldn't own a team anymore ..." - Johnson displays one of several classic signals of incredulity exampled here.

This disbelief is manifested by a unilateral (left sided) raised eyebrow and asymmetrical (same side) dynamic contracted forehead muscle [frontalis (pars lateralis)]. 

During the 2:01 mark, disgust is the primary emotion being felt. This is signaled here primarily by the tightening of Magic's "mustache area" and the flaring of his nostrils.

What other facial configuration displayed in this moment amplifies Johnson's disgust?

What is Magic's secondary emotion in this instant?


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2798: Donald Sterling, Prejudice and Body Language of Contempt

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. 2673: New Jersey Bridge Closing - Fort Lee, NJ Mayor Mark Sokolich - What His Body Language Says about His Feelings towards Governor Chris Christie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2129:  Barack Obama's Body Language, Misspeaks "Export More Jobs" Displays Incredulity and .....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2443:  Kristen Wiig's Disgust & Fear Face -  Graham Norton, Chris O'Dowd and Fly Eating

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2603: Sarah Palin's Body Language - She Feels Disgust toward Pope Francis and ... She Tells a Fib

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2115:  Prince Harry in Afghanistan -  Incredulity & Contempt

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2798: Donald Sterling, Prejudice and Body Language of Contempt (PHOTOS, VIDEO, AUDIO)

Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was allegedly (voice yet to be definitively proven his) recently recorded in a conversation with his then girlfriend (V. Stiviano) making multiple prejudice statements (you can listen here to the recording).

Here are some of the comments that Sterling is alleged to have made:

"... It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?..."

"... You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want.  The little I ask you is not to promote it on that ... and not to bring them to my games...."

"... I’m just saying, in your lousy f***k*** Instagrams, you don’t have to have yourself with, walking with black people...."

"... Don't put him [Magic Johnson] on an Instagram for the world to have to see so they have to call me.  And don't bring him to my games...."

In the image above, the NBA owner can be seen displaying a relatively subtle (e.g. 2.5 out of 10) display of contempt. This is often erroneously interpreted by many as a subtle and/or partially suppressed smile. It is not a smile. Contempt is a very specific emotion - occurring when a someone places another person or group of people beneath them and unworthy of consideration. Can you make the distinction between subtle (or moderate) contempt and a partial/suppressed smile? - Consistently? - And in real time?

Note also that Mr. Sterling's right forehead is contracted, while is left side is not. While this configuration is indicative of incredulity (which would be a common co-existing emotion with contempt) - a review of other images suggests that this is somewhat longstanding and is consistent with a peripheral cranial nerve VII palsy (facial nerve), (one common subtype is Bell's Palsy). Knowledge of this is of great import - lest one misinterprets his emotion-thought.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1890:  Eric Holder has (Emotional) Contempt toward Darrell Issa -  while Rep. Issa is Very Excited to be Seeking  "Contempt of Congress" against Holder

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2559: John Boehner's Body Language - Microexpression of Contempt vs. Facial Tic

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2228:  Jay Carney's Body Language -  Contempt disguised as a Sniff ....  for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2350:  Contempt - both dramatic and subtle -  Backpedaling and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2765: Obama, Romney, Russia and Facial Asymmetry - Contempt at The Hague 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2797: Michelle Obama, a Ten Year Old Girl and a Résumé - Body Language of ....

Shaquille O'Neal's and Charles Barkley's response can be heard below.



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