Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3920: Jason Chaffetz and Elijah Cummings - No evidence that Michael Flynn followed the law - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Tuesday, The White House announced that they are refusing to provide any documents relative to the investigation of Michael Flynn (Donald Trump's former national security adviser).

Also, earlier today, Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee and its ranking Democrat, Elijah Cummings (D-MD) held a brief press conference. The video above is a portion of that exchange. A portion of it is transcribed here along with a partial nonverbal analysis.

Manu Raju: "Do you believe that Michael Flynn broke the law from either not disclosing it, these payments on the security clearance, or not getting permission for getting these, ah, foreign payments?"

Jason Chaffetz: "Ah, personally I see no information, or no data to support the notion that General Flynn complied with the law - and that is - he was supposed to seek permission and receive permission from both the Secretary of State - and the Secretary of the Army prior to traveling to Russia to - not only to accept that payment to - but to engage in that activity. I see no evidence that he actually - did that..."

The image above was captured during 0:13 of the above video. Note Representative Chaffetz's forehead. Its left half is dramatically contracted upward, secondarily also raising his left eyebrow. This is strongly indicative of disbelief. Throughout the entire time he's speaking and for a second or so afterward, Rep. Chaffetz's left forehead and eyebrow maintain this configuration.

At this same moment, Representative Cummings is experiencing and displaying three emotions - anger, contempt, and disgust - the Venn diagrams of these all overlap. Note the extreme tightening of his mid-face, the greater contraction/elevation of his right mid-face, the flaring of his nostrils, clenching of his jaw, dimpling of the anterior aspect of his chin, the thinning of his lips (particularly the upper lip), and the lowering of his inner (medial) eyebrows.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3919: Donald Trump's Hands vs. Xi Jinping's Hands - Beta & Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3917: American Airlines Stroller Incident - Anger, Contempt and Escalation (vs. Deescalation)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3915: Donald Trump Greets Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3912: Keri Russell's Schadenfreude, Matthew Rhys' Fear, and a Hesitancy to Disclose

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3872: "Fearless Girl" Statue in Manhattan's Financial District

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3860: Ian McKellen, The Oscars and a spot-on Maggie Smith Impression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3808: Felicity Jones' Sincere Smile

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego



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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3171: Brooke Baldwin - Blames Vets for Riots? Then Apologizes - Contrasting Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

These two videos are an excellent study in contrast. Yesterday, CNN Anchor Brooke Baldwin, in an interview Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) on the subject of the rioting in Baltimore, said, “I was talking to a city councilman here last week who was saying, ‘Brooke, these people have to live in the communities. There’s no emotional, or there’s a lack of emotional investment,’ ” Baldwin continued, “And a lot of these young people … and I love our nation’s veterans, but some of them are coming back from war, they don’t know the communities and they’re ready to do battle.”

Note Baldwin's hand and arm movement during the dialog in the above video. In body language terminology these are examples of what are termed "Illustrators". Yet they are incongruous in both amplitude and context with her words (As if she was an orchestral conductor and the music is "off" to a bit). This disparity is a strong signal of insincerity. It shows us that Brooke Baldwin either did not believe what she was saying - or that she was being melodramatic and trying to inject (act) sincerity and emphasis when she was not well thought (or fully emotionally present) on the specifics. Either way this is insincere behavior.

Understandably, many have blasted her for making this statement.

Today she apologized for her words (See video below). In contrast to the above AND with vast majority of other apologies of celebrity and public officials - this one was sincere. Note that she did NOT read her apology. An apology that has to be read (and written by lawyers) is not spoken from the heart and not sincere. An unscripted apology, even to an eight-year old "feels right". Both Baldwin's vocal qualities and her choice of words were also sincere.

[For some reason, several months after it was posted, CNN has removed Brooke Baldwin's apology from their YouTube channel. The image captured below however, was taken during this apology.]

From a nonverbal perspective, Ms. Baldwin's central forehead is contracted and directed upward (an Upward CFC). Her inner eyebrows are also vectored up. In addition, Brooke's mouth configuration is consistent with mild pain and sadness. While her facial expression could have been more extreme, this is certainly consistent with sincerity and emotional pain.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3170: Angry mother beats son for participating in Baltimore Riots - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3169: Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez regarding the Death of Freddie Gray - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2863: Gary Oldman's Apology on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - Sincere or Insincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3092: Brian Williams' Apology - Was He Sincere? - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3115: Giuliana Rancic apologizes to Zendaya Coleman comment made regarding her dreadlocks at the Oscars - that she "smells like patchouli oil and weed" on "Fashion Police" - Is She Sincere?





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