Body Language Analysis No. 4114: Robert Mueller, Critical Evaluation, and the Double-L • Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

In this photo, Robert Mueller is displaying a classic nonverbal signal (MAP [Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier]). More specifically, this is known as the "Double-L" (because of the two Ls [right angles] made by the Index finger and the Middle finger - and a second one by the Index finger and Thumb). The thumb is resting on the inferior aspect of his mandible (jaw) - with the Index Finger resting on the zygomatic arch (cheekbone) - and the middle finger is over his lips (or on occasion, in the "mustache area").

The Double-L is strongly indicative of critical evaluation. It's helpful to think of this as projecting the colloquial thought-emotion of: "I'm not buying what you're selling".

As mentioned above, the middle finger can be positioned either in the "mustache area" (beneath the nose/above the upper lip) - or over the lips. When it's placed over the mouth, it sends the additional message of "Be Quiet"/"Stop Talking"/"Shut up".

The entire width of Robert Mueller's forehead is contracted and elevated. Although not a required component of the Double-L cluster, this dynamic amplifies his thought-feelings of disbelief.

Not to be overlooked, is another detail in the Special Prosecutor's mid-face. The second image captures this area in a close-up. Notice how his mustache area is tightened/contracted - as well as his nostrils which are flared. These expression ingredients project the additional emotion of Disgust.

Summary: The Double-L signals the alpha/hyper-alpha emotions of critical evaluation combined with deep disbelief. In this example, the elevation of his entire forehead width telegraphs Robert Mueller's amplified level of disbelief. Moreover, he also feels significant disgust for the object of his attention - who he very much wants to stop talking.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4112: Donald Trump's Interview on Sharyl Attkisson's "Full Measure"

Body Language Analysis No. 4110: Yuli Gurriel "Apologizes" to Yu Darvish for a Gesture of Prejudice During The World Series

Body Language Analysis No. 4108: Sarah Huckabee Sanders' White House Briefing regarding Paul Manafort and George Papadopoulos

Body Language Analysis No. 4106: Jordan's Queen Rania meets with Rohingya Refugee Children

Body Language Analysis No. 4103: Las Vegas Shooter, Stephen Paddock's and His Brother's Common (Behavioral) Denominator

Body Language Analysis No. 4088: Kit Harington's April Fools' Prank on Rose Leslie

Body Language Analysis No. 4064: The Murder of Laci Peterson - Part II

Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey

Body Language Analysis No. 3979: Ivanka Trump, "I Try to Stay Out of Politics"


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Body Language Analysis No. 4034: Steve Bannon's Critical Evaluation - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Perhaps you've heard? Steve Bannon has been fired. Although rumors of President Trump's chief strategist's departure have been circulating for weeks, what appears to have been the last straw for Donald Trump, was Bannon's recent and very public contradiction of the President's strategy regarding North Korea.

In the image above, Steve Bannon is in the Oval Office displaying a classic nonverbal MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) known as the "Double-L". Note how his index finger (forefinger) is resting on the left side of his head and directed upward, his thumb is resting on the side/base of his jaw (mandible) pointing posteriorly, and the remainder of his fingers are angled to his right. These three groupings of digits are oriented at roughly right-angles to each other, and thereby giving this gesture its name, the "Double-L" - which is a strong signal of critical evaluation (e.g., Whatever you're selling, he's NOT buying).

Of particular note is his middle finger. It's held over his lips (see below) and it's also isolated from the other digits. And although this signal is a subconscious/edge-of-consciousness phenomenon, the middle finger placement signals Bannon's psyche is simultaneously "shushing" the speaker - as well as flipping them the bird. This is a variation of a "Partial Emblematic Slip".

Nuancing further, we can see Steven Bannon's eyebrows and lower forehead are pulled together (medially) and lowered. His lips are also stretched and very thinned. The cluster of changes is consistent with anger.

Summary: In addition to his anger in this moment, Steven Bannon's display of a "Double-L" indicates a classic and strong critical evaluation of the speaker/idea/plan being put forth. Superimposed in this moment is the display of his middle finger MAP - which is an additional, potent signal of profanity and his desire to silence them.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4033: Prime Minister Theresa May Regarding Charlottesville Violence, "I see no equivalence"

Body Language Analysis No. 4031: One Gesture to Never Use When Condemning Neo-Nazis

Body Language Analysis No. 4029: Charlottesville, Heather Heyer, and Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 4027: Warning Signs - Police Officer Shot Multiple Times at Close Range

Body Language Analysis No. 4017: Elisabeth Moss, Anthony Rizzo, and a Signal of Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 3995: Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, and the G20 Group Photo

Body Language Analysis No. 3946: Melania Swats Away Donald Trump's Hand as They Arrive in Israel

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3896: Did Matthew Perry Really Beat Up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3815: Donald Trump's first Press Conference as President-Elect


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3768: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Fidel Castro (Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz) died yesterday. Mr. Castro was a Cuban revolutionary leader and politician (a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist) who governed the Republic of Cuba - first as Prime Minister (1959 to 1976) and then as President (1976 to 2008).

Each of the two images included here show a very common nonverbal signal known as "The Double-L". It is one of many which characterizes the thought-emotion of "Critical Evaluation". The Double-L is named so because of the two simultaneous right angles (or relatively so) made between the thumb and the forefinger (index finger) - and another similar angle between the forefinger and the middle finger (although this configuration is not fully visible here in either photo).

In the image above, notice also Fidel is not looking directly at the person to whom he's speaking. His head is turned so that his eyes have to also turn in order to fixate on his subject. We often don't turn our heads (or bodies) directly toward a person we don't like, don't trust (believe) or don't respect. This cluster of body language behaviors (Head-Turn, Eye-Turn, Double-L) are all congruent and thus amplify each other.

Very often when the Double-L is used, there's a disparity between what is being said aloud - vs. the person's true thoughts and feelings. Thus it's helpful to think of this particular critical evaluation signal as saying, "I'm not buying what you're selling, but I'm not going to say so (or I might say it in an indirect manner)".

The image below is a study in contrast - as well as one of deception. Note that Castro is in the midst of blowing a kiss with his right hand - yet with his left hand he's configured in a Double-L. The act of blowing a kiss is a very conscious and affectionate (or feigned-affectionate) act, while the Double-L is nearly always subconscious (and signals negative emotions). Whenever there's such conscious-subconscious nonverbal disagreement - it's the subconscious body language which always telegraphs the true thought-feelings.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3767: Joseph Gordon-Levitt on playing Edward Snowden - but How Do Tom Hanks and Gemma Arterton feel?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3764: Donald Trump's "A Message from the President-Elect"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3762: Mike Pence responds to 'Hamilton' Cast Message

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3760: Rory McIlroy's "Little Interviews"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3738: Gary Johnson Loses His Temper

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3693: Grace VanderWaal Wins America's Got Talent Season 11

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3654: Hope Solo Calls Swedish Team "Cowards" after US Loss in Rio

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2635: Raúl Castro and Barack Obama Shake Hands at Nelson Mandela's Memorial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3504: Raúl Castro Lifts Barack Obama's Arm at Press Conference


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2751: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp, Gina Meyers and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Oscar Pistorius's trial in the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp is continuing in Pretoria, South Africa. The double amputee Olympic athlete is seen in this image in the foreground, out of focus.

In the background on the extreme left of the photo is a friend of Steenkamp's - Gina Meyers. She is seen displaying one variety of a "Critical Evaluation Cluster". Here we see the thumb of her right hand supporting the left aspect of her mandible (jaw) while her pinky finger rests on her philtrum and covers her central mouth/lips. The remainder of her fingers are on the right side of her face/cheek. This specific body language MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) is termed the "Double-L" and is a nonverbal cluster highly indicative of Critical Evaluation.

Meyers's does not believe what she's hearing.

Although details are somewhat difficult to visualize in this lower resolution close-up of this same moment, Gina Meyers's right eyebrow can be seen to be elevated compared to her left side. As expected, her right forehead can also be seen in a contracted state (with evanescent furrows). This unilateral raised eyebrow is a specific facial expression telling us she is disbelief with what she is hearing and/or seeing.





See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2750: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp and Lies - Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1720:  Critical Evaluation, Disbelief & a Partial Emblematic Slip  Valérie Trierweiler & Francois Hollande

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2461:  Prosecutor John Guy's response to  Defense Attorney Don West's Knock-Knock Joke  Body Language at George Zimmerman's Trial

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 1019:  David Cameron's Critical Cluster






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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2461: Prosecutor John Guy's response to Defense Attorney Don West's Knock-Knock Joke Body Language at George Zimmerman's Trial (Video, Photo)

Attorney Don West can be seen in this video as he was making a portion of his opening argument in the defense of George Zimmerman. In it he told his now infamous knock-knock joke. Although this short video is laden with body language examples, it is included here to exemplify one of prosecuting attorney John Guy's nonverbal tells.

During the 1:04 - 1:15 segment, Mr. Guy displays a version of the "Double-L" (see image below). Here his index and middle finger of his left hand are oriented vertical on the side of his face, while his ring finger and pinky are curled (flexed) over the left side of his mouth. His left thumb supports his chin. This particular MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) is a very common and highly reliable nonverbal signaling critical evaluation.

Of course in such courtroom theatrics, it is not at all surprising that one attorney would be thinking & feeling critical emotions towards an opposing attorney. However this is also an extremely common body language signal which can be seen in multitude during any business meeting or negotiation. Moreover, it often occurs when negative emotions are being felt and yet with minimal or no signals of verbal disagreement.

What emotion does attorney Bernie de la Rionda's facial expression convey in the image below?

What about facial nonverbals of the man sitting immediately behind Mr. Guy?

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 # 1720:  Critical Evaluation, Disbelief & a Partial Emblematic Slip  Valérie Trierweiler & Francois Hollande

Negotiation Secrets # 102 and 122:  Two Critical Evaluation Emblematic Slips

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 1019:  Cameron's Critical Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2305:  Carnival Cruise Line CEO, Gerry Cahill's Apology Sincere or Insincere?  What his Body Language Says ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2444:  George Zimmerman Trial  Jonathan Good - Eyewitness Testifies regarding the Last Seconds of Trayvon Martin's Life

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