Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2830: Petro Poroshenko, Ukrainian Elections and an Hyper-Alpha Body Language Signal (PHOTO)

It appears that billionaire Petro Poroshenko has been elected as Ukraine's next president. And while arm separatists continue to create significant unrest in the eastern portions of the country, Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to respect the Ukrainian people's choice in the election.

Poroshenko, who made his fortune in the candy business, is show in this image with his hands in a configuration in what in body language parlance is known as a "Steeple" - and more specifically a "Mid Conventional Steeple" (This steeple is a mid-level one as opposed to one more highly displayed - at the upper chest or face, or near the waist which is a lower steeple).

When used sparingly and for short duration the conventional steeple is a strong assertive signal. However most people who use the steeple - end up over-using it - rather than displaying it rarely and essentially choreographing its use. In such over-steepling scenarios it backfires and sends signals of arrogance, condescending and patronizing emotional tones. This alpha nonverbal then becomes a hyper-alpha one. Many leaders make this crucial mistake - and thus destroy rapport rather than building it.

What nonverbal signals on the "Chocolate King's" face?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2806: Russian "Separatists" in Ukraine - Body Language of .....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2814: Ukraine, Pro-Russian Separatists, Bilateral Eyelid Closure and Emotional Processing - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2727: "I am a Ukrainian" Video - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2829: Respect, Funerals, Memorials and Alpha vs. Beta - Body Language Tells

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2208: President Obama & Mitt Romney in the Oval Office - Multiple Body Language Tells

Mitt Romney visited President Obama yesterday at the White House. In this image above, there are several nonverbal tells which betray both of their emotions and (although it was a private meeting) - we can be pretty sure weren't expressed by their words. 

Barack's left (and dominant) hand is in his hip pocket (of course, handshakes are by custom performed with the right hand). This body language display tells us that he really doesn't want to be meeting with Mitt. It's nearly always misinterpreted as a signal of nonchalance or relaxation - however it's a reliable nonverbal signal of non-engagement and mental-emotional withdraw. Think of this as a turtle with his head in his shell. When you see it, emotional dissonance should come to mind. The President really doesn't want to be there - and yet he said he would meet with Romney. His emotions are split.

Romney's hand position during the handshake shows that he's still trying to display dominance - a poor concession for not having that Oval Office for his own. His dominant "hand on top" configuration is a strong alpha nonverbal. The President's acquiescence by taking the submissive, beta position in this context is congruent with his hand-in-pocket configuration (a "gimmie") - neither of which he did in any of their three debates.

Although this is not a high resolution image, Mitt Romney's "smile" is clearly not a true smile at all - but a poor attempt at a "social smile". The thinned upper lip with essentially horizontal morphology indicates an emotional tone of anger. There is also a bitterness component seen here. If any of us were in Mr. Romney's shoes, we'd all probably have a similar mouth display - and his facial display is not a surprise here. But it does serve as a good teaching example when we have clear insight into his emotional tone.

See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1510: Handshakes, Statesmanship and Dominance -  Manmohan Singh & Asif Ali Zardari

Negotiation Secret # 379: Dominant Handshake Tendencies

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1131: Romney's Handshake, Santorums Bicep's, and Dominance 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1863: Sharapova's Lips of Anger 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1859: The Prince is Angry at the Queen's Jubilee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2138: President Obama's Anger During Debate - An Under-Appreciated Body Language Signal

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 831: Santorum's Hands and the Alpha-Beta Hybrid

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2074: Mitt Romney and Senator Kelly Ayotte - What Body Language Tells?

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