Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3874: EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Denies that Carbon Dioxide is the Cause of Global Warming - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Thursday morning, 9 March 2017, during an interview on CNBC's Squawk Box, Scott Pruitt made his most dramatic on-camera climate-denying statement since his Senate confirmation (17 Feb. 2017) as the Chief US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator.

A portion of the interview (contained in the video above) provides several excellent nonverbal teaching examples which are included for analysis here, along with the transcript of the two men's exchange.

JOE KERNEN (beginning at 0:01): Let me ask you one other thing - ta, ta, to get to the nitty-gritty, do you believe, that it's been proven that CO₂ is the primary control knob for climate?

SCOTT PRUITT: [Loose Tongue Jut]

JOE KERNEN: Do you believe that?

SCOTT PRUITT: No, I - No, I think that, that, measuring with precision - ah, human activity on the climate is something very challenging to do and there's tremen [stutter] tremendous disagreement about the, the degree of impact - ah, tha so, so no I would not a-gree, ahhh [suppressed smile], that it's a primary contributor, ah, to the, to the Global warming that we see [Loose Tongue Jut].

JOE KERNEN: Okay.

SCOTT PRUITT: [Loose Tongue Jut]

JOE KERNEN: Alright [inaudible] -

SCOTT PRUITT (over-talking): But we don't know that yet - as far as, we, we need ta, we need to continue the debate and continue to review the analysis [suppressed smile].

JOE KERNEN: It's, it's, it's, it's a-, I, I agree tha- when I hear the science is settled, it's like I, I never heard that science actually gotten to a point where [Backwards Butt Adjustment by Kernen] - what's that's, that's the whole point of science, is that, that, you keep asking questions, you keep asking questions, but I don't want to be called a denier - so [Loose Tongue Jut], ah-um, you know - it scares me - t-, it's a terrible thing to be called - anyway Administrator Pruitt, I know you don't want to be called that either - ah-um, thanks for being with us this morning, I appreciate it.

SCOTT PRUITT: Than-, thank, thank you very much

During 0:09, just after Kernen says,"Do you believe that?", Scott Pruitt displays what is known as a "Loose Tongue Jut" (aka "Lizard Tongue"). This specific variety of tongue jut (not to be confused with a "Tight Tongue Jut) is highly indicative of the thought-emotion of "I've been bad (or I'm about to be bad)" and "I got caught" (Navarro).

During 0:23, as Mr. Pruitt says, "... so no I would not a-gree, ahhh, that it's a primary contributor ...", when he says, "... ahhh ...", he displays a partially suppressed smile (Please watch the video several times during this portion - as the dynamic nature of this near-microexpression is not illustrated as well with a still image).

A suppressed smile is always suspect. This example is highly consistent with what is known as "Duping Delight" (Ekman). The term is derived from the well-established phenomenon that those who display it are enjoying some level of true pleasure (joy-happiness) in lying - and thus are believing, that on some level, they are successfully deceiving their audience.

During 0:28, just after he says, "... to the Global warming that we see." and Kernen answers, "Okay" - Pruitt then displays another loose tongue jut.

During 0:33, just after he says, "... continue to review the analysis", Mr. Pruitt displays another example of duping delight. Because of its considerable brevity, this is also an example of a true microexpression. Even on the still image (immediately above), one can easily the left corner of his mouth is up-turned - while his right corner is down-turned (However, as with the example above, this is best studied by watching the dynamic example in the video).

During 0:41 - 0:42, Mr. Kernan displays a "Backwards Butt Adjustment", as he says, "... actually gotten to a point where ..." which is a high-anxiety nonverbal display and, more specifically, heightened anxiety leading to the feeling of needing to dial-up one's alpha qualities. This is one variation of the centuries-old idiom, "Squirming in his chair".

During 0:52, just after Mr. Kernan says, "... I don't want to be called a 'denier' " - and then as Kernan says, ".... so ....", Mr. Pruitt yet again displays a tongue jut.

Whenever the body language does not agree with the verbal language - it's the body language which is telling what the person truly believes.

There are also numerous paralanguage examples displayed in this video which are consistent with deception. Neither man suffers from chronic stuttering, yet rarely will you ever hear two adults, who are both very accustomed to appearing on TV, stutter which such frequency. Their syntax/sentence structure was also significantly amiss.

Conclusion: While Mr. Pruitt's body language demonstrates that HE ACTUALLY DOES BELIEVE the rise in human-generated Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) is the primary cause of climate change - he says the opposite - and is therefore not telling the truth.



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3873: Brie Larson's Eyes, The Bachelor, and the Edge of Consciousness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3871: Emma Watson's Old Habit, Harry Potter Outtake and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3869: James Clapper regarding Alleged Wiretap of Trump

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3833: Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson and a Yacht

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3790: Senator John McCain Believes Russian Election Interference Could 'Destroy Democracy'

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3772: Mitt Romney Meets with Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3739: Hillary Clinton's Statement regarding FBI Probe


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3377: Holly Holm's post-fight interview after defeating Ronda Rousey (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

After defeating a very highly-favored Ronda Rousey on 15 November 2015, there were a multitude emotions along with the corresponding nonverbal signals displayed by Holly Holm (UFC 193) One of these is highlighted here. 

When a person is feeling strong emotions of grief, empathy, affection, post-fiero and love - in addition to kinesthetic thought-feelings - they will very often look down to their right during moments of particularly high intensity. Holly Holm did this repeatedly during this post-fight interview.

Depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered, this direction of gaze is very often a signal of sincerity. 

Note: The original video has, since the original post, been removed from its online source. The images below however, were captured from this video.

During 8:00

During 1:14

During 1:49

During 2:50

During 2:59














See also:


Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3376: Liam Hemsworth, The Hunger Games and "Honest Anxiety"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2123: The "White Widow" Samantha Lewthwaite's - What does Her Falsified Passport Photo Tell Us? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1870: Predicting Boxing Match Based on Body Language Confidence Levels at Weigh-In

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3141: Carly Fiorina "Higher than 90%" Chances She's Running for President - Body Language  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3248: Daniel Radcliffe Temps as a Receptionist at Nylon - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3267: Jeb Bush, Emotional Dissonance and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3375: Donald Trump Questions Ben Carson's Stabbing Story 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3363: Chris Christie's Viral Video - Why do even Democrats love it? - Body Language Tells 
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2685: Amber Heard, Johnny Depp Engaged - When They Fell In Love - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Amber Heard and Johnny Depp are engaged. They met on the set of "The Rum Diary", filmed in 2011 and released in October of that same year. Depp and his long-time love of 14 years, Vanessa Paradis, announced their split in June of 2012. Depp and Heard began dating soon afterward.

In the above video, Ms. Heard is interviewed as part of a promotion for the film. There are several nonverbal cues seen here indicating her romantic interest at the time for Johnny Depp.

Dialog summary beginning at 2:02

Interviewer: "And Johnny, Johnny, I know Johnny's a very keen, passionate reader and so are you. Did you have any kind of like sharing book tips?

Heard: "Yeah."

Interviewer: "What's, what's on Johnny's list?" 

[Looks down to her right with suppressed smile at 2:11]

Heard: "We, we, um, we, we, we have very similar tastes in, in, in literature, poetry."

Interviewer: "What are you reading at the moment?"

Heard: "Ah [Jaw Confessional at 2:19], I am reading 'East of Eden'." [Blush, Suppressed Smile at 2:21]

Interviewer: "Oh, wow! Steinbeck."

Heard: "A classic."

Interviewer: "Yeah."

Heard: "I haven't it read in forever."

Interviewer: "You've read it before?"

Heard: "Yeah, and, and, and, somebody close to me suggested I re-read it and, and, and I'm discovering all sorts of new things." [blush, suppressed smile at 2:33]

Heard is looking down to her right. She does so at multiple strategic times [2:11 - 2:13, 2:19 coincident with jaw confessional and 2:25 - 2:30].

Most right handed people look down to their right during times, of high emotion as well as when referencing the kinesthetic.

2:19 Jaw Confessional, Looking Down to Right, Blush, Suppressed Smile

The "Jaw Confessional" is a body language signal of high sincerity - although all is not revealed in her verbal language. It is seen during moments of a re-living of strong emotional moment such as embarrassment, regret, apology, affection or love. She displays this nonverbal just prior to saying "I am reading 'East of Eden". It is not because she is lying or embarrassed she is reading the classic - it is because Johnny recommended it.

At 2:21 Ms. Heard show us a strongly Suppressed Smile with a Blush.

This cluster combination is so very strong for sexual attraction that it's almost a neon sign.

At 2:33, we see a repeat suppressed smile with Blush.










Amber Heard fell in love on the set of "The Rum Diary" - not the following year when they began dating.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2492:  Jared Remy Arrested for Murder of His Girlfriend -  Three Jaw Signals in a Cluster, Thee Body Language Meanings

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2314:  Naomi Watts Pre-Oscar Interview and her Body Language of the "Jaw Confessional" and the Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2582: Jay Carney Dismisses (and is Embarrassed by) Low Obamacare Enrollment Numbers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2589: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Admits to Smoking Crack Cocaine - Body Language of the "Head Torque"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2684: Controversial Sex Ed Poster - A Concerned Parent and a Contemptuous School Official - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2683: Alice Eve, Craig Ferguson, Kierkegaard and Free Will, Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2456:  Julia Merfeld Trys to Hire a Hit Man to Kill Her Husband -  Sexual Attraction and a Murderous Wife; Body Language and Disinhibition

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2325:  Mila Kunis' interview with Chris Stark on BBC Radio 1 re: Oz the Great and Powerful -  Body Language, Sexual Attraction and Mirroring


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2483: Alex Rodriguez's Subtle Sadness Signal Body Language, PEDs and A-Rod (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

More A-Rod. Not because he's popular - but because he demonstrates a particular nonverbal that is relatively difficult to find on video.  The images below, which are captured at 0:37 and 1:07 - 1:08 respectively from the video above show two (of many here exampled) versions of a very evanescent and subtle change. Can you spot it? First watch the video - then see below.

0:37

In both of these two moments, A-Rod's chin briefly wrinkles.

In this cluster-context this nonverbal is highly reliable for suppression of sadness. In fact, Rodriguez is on the verge of tears.

Taken from 1:07 - 1:08

In each of these examples you can see slight but highly significant quivering of the muscles on the front of A-Rod's chin.









There are two other body language-facial expression signals which display that Rodriquez's psyche is suppressing against a crescendo of sadness (here successfully). Do you know these nonverbals?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2482:  Alex Rodriguez's Sincerity - Body Language of a One-Sided Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2480: Alex Rodriguez's Press Conference - 2 August 2013,  A-Rod's Body Language Part Deux

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2479:  Alex Rodriguez Press Conference 2 August 2013,  A-Rod's Body Language Tells Part I, Anxiety Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2275:  Lance Armstrong's Insincerity - Body Language revealed in Oprah Winfrey Interview, Part III

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2404:  Internal Lip Roll and other Body Language  associated with Suppression of Sadness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2288:  Part III Ronaiah Tuiasosopo interview with Dr. Phil -  Body Language, Eye Movement, Sincerity and Sadness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2053:  Strong Signal of Fear-Sadness Anxiety -  Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2344: Jillian Michaels Body Language Neck of Fear & Mouth of Fear

This recent video interview of Jillian Michaels is loaded with great body language examples. Perhaps the best one is seen during 2:31 - 2:33 when she confesses that she hasn't been to the gym in weeks. She displays the classic "neck of fear" as well as the "mouth of fear". Of course fear is relative and the different components of its body language display can tell us more. We can be afraid of a stranger with a gun or afraid of failing a test - or show fear as an expression of empathy. Other nonverbals can tell us the magnitude. Here the star of "The Biggest Looser" is afraid of being perceived as a hypocrite or something similar.

Ms. Michaels (and everyones') "neck of fear" is made by the contraction of many of the muscles there - particularly the thin layer of muscle just beneath the skin on the whole front side of the neck and beneath the jaw - the platysma. Contraction of this muscle gives this particular highly characteristic "tenting up" appearance (still image below) of the neck. Fear is the only emotion which causes this platysma contraction and appearance.  Her lips are also stretched laterally together with a mildly clenched teeth. This is a mild to moderate example of the mouth of fear. With more severe levels of fear the jaw separates and pulls backwards and down. 

There are some other nonverbal elements of the fear expression which are not present here. What are these components and why are they not seen?

See also:

Negotiation Secret # 329: Angela Merkel and the Neck of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1927:  Italy's Fans watching Euro 2012 Final - Expressions of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2031:  Tina Fey arriving at Alec Baldwin's Wedding,  Fear-Empathy with a (partial) Sincere Smile - Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2261:  Mom pulls Python off of her 2 year old daughter -  Body Language & Microexpression of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2303:  Karen & Jim Reynolds Interview -  Rogue Ex-Cop Christopher Dorner's Last Hostages  Microexpression of Fear - but it's not what you think ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2338:  Why Does Keit Pentus-Rosimannus feel Fear?  Body Language of Estonia's Minister of Environment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2306:  George W. Bush trapped in Room -  Body Language's Microexpression of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2297:  Rooney Mara on Conan O'Brien  Common Body Language Tell  Fear Apology Query Expression-Cluster

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2318: John Boehner at Rosa Parks Statue Unveiling A Body Language Signal of Squelching Tears

Today in the U.S. Capitol Building's Statuary Hall, John Boehner spoke at the unveiling of the statue of Rosa Parks. A portion of his speech is shown in the above video. At several times the Speaker of the House grew emotional. At multiple times the Congressman Ohio also displayed a classic nonverbal which often is seen prior to tearful episodes - the "Lateral Lip Displacement" (one of which is captured in the image below). This characteristic body language-facial expression is a signal of an effort to squelch the emotional display. The lips, most commonly the lower lip, will contract to one side (here Mr. Boehner's left) and protrude. This can also be seen with a "wrinkling" of the front side of the chin.

This Lateral Lip Displacement (with or without protrusion) may occur without tears, a reddened face (not blushing), facial or head touching (manipulators, adaptors, or pacifiers) or other more obvious signals associated with revealed. When the tempering down of emotions is successful, and tears do not fall, many will be left wondering what the expressions they just saw had meant.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2285:  Emotional Processing during Crying - Body Language of Survivor of Brazilian Nightclub Fire

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229:  President Obama and a Body Language Signal of  Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2210:  Body Language Signaling of an Attempt to Control Emotional Escalation & Display - The Inward Lip Roll

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2177: "I'm Tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney" -  We're all Abigael Evans - Dialing up her Alpha 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2296:  Penelope Soto Apologizes & Avoids 30 Days in Jail -  Body Language Accompanying Sincere Tears & Apology

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2276:  Michelle Obama's Eye Roll .... What was she thinking? and  What Did Boehner's & Barack's Body Language Say?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2254: John Boehner's Speech Today - One Major Body Language Improvement The U.S. Speaker of the House Should Make

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2288: Part III Ronaiah Tuiasosopo interview with Dr. Phil - Body Language, Eye Movement, Sincerity and Sadness

Throughout much of this segment of his interview with Dr. Phil, Ronaiah Tuiasosopo looks down to his left. It's not entirely clear whether he is right handed or ambidextrous, however Tuiasosopo's eye movements are consistent with the primary body language pattern of an individual who is left-hand dominant. Ninety-five percent of right handed people, when looking down to their right during highly emotional moments - usually sadness. Conversely those who are left-hand dominant will look down to their left during these intense emotional times - as does Tuiasosopo multiple times, although this pattern holds only 85 - 90% for lefties.

Tuiasosopo's tears are sincere. The atypical pattern of his eye movements during these significant moments of true sadness is good example of the importance of establishing baseline behaviors during nonverbal evaluations.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2286:  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo's Body Language on Dr. Phil's Interview -  The Voice and Mind of "Lennay Kekua" - Part I

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2287:  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo on Dr. Phil Interview -  Part II - A Body Language Signal that's a Red Flag

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2280: Manti Te'o's interview with Katie Couric Manti isn't telling us the whole truth -  Te'o's Body Language of Duping Delight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2277: Diane O'Meara, Lennay Kekua,  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo & Manti Te'o -  O'Meara's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2278: Diane O'Meara (the "face" of Lennay Kekua)  on the Mantei Te'o "Girlfriend Hoax"  Part 2

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2186: Paula Broadwell, David Petraeus,  Body Language and the man who would be President ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2247: Barack Obama's Body Language on Meet the Press  "That was the worst day of my Presidency
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2258: Prince Charles worried about Harry? What his Body Language Says

In this interview Prince Charles expresses his concern for his son Harry - both verbally and nonverbally. The more obvious body language signal of worry seen here are the multiple elevations of the Prince's medial (inner) eyebrows. What is not as well known however is the epiphenomenon of eye movement and how these patterns of dynamism correlate with emotions and thoughts. When right-handed people are discussing issues which are emotionally charged - particularly when dealing with someone with who they have affection for, 95+% of the time they will look down to their right. This body language is clearly seen multiple times throughout this video as Charles speaks about Harry serving in Afghanistan.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2146: Biden vs. Ryan Vice Presidential Debates - Both Candidates Displayed Body Language of Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1709: Peyton Manning's Agent Does Not Fully Believe

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2247: Barack Obama's Body Language on Meet the Press  "That was the worst day of my Presidency

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2186: Paula Broadwell, David Petraeus, Body Language and the man who would be President ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1808: Time Magazine's Breast Feeding, Dr. William Sears, and Attachment Parenting Controversy - Shows Emotional Dissonance at Best

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2107: Andy Murray, Affection and Savoring the Moment

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

Body Language Secret # 105: Parental Affection and Love  

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1910: Natasha Smith Sexually Assaulted in Tahrir Square - Post Assault Interview

Natasha Smith is an incredibly brave woman. As a British journalism student who was on assignment in Egypt recently, her work took her to Tahrir Square. Tragically she was savagely attacked and sexually assaulted by many men there - and then rescued by others who put their own lives' in harm's way. 

Here is a portion of her interview within the above video with accompanying nonverbal analysis:

2:19 - 2:28:  In this segment, note Natasha's left eyebrow elevated throughout - a clear body language signal for disbelief/incredulity. She can't believe that she gets special treatment because who she is and others are being ignored in large numbers.

"There's been all this fuss because I'm British, and I'm young and I'm a girl. But this is happening to women elsewhere constantly."

In this next portion (2:29 - 2:42); note Ms. Smith's Central Forehead is Contracted (CFC) throughout - which is a nonverbal signal of pain - either emotional or physical (although this must be accompanied by a mouth expression of pain, fear, or sadness - if there is even a trace amount of a "smile" - it's a false smile - beware - a CFC with a smile is a huge warning sign). This pain may be being experienced actively, being relived in the memory, or felt secondarily via empathy. Along with this CFC, the medial (closer to the center of the face) portion of her eyebrows are elevated, while the lateral portions (closer to her ears) move slightly downward (depress). Here the brave journalist is displaying strong empathy for the acts of violence, emotional trauma and lack of justice she feels towards other victims. 

Also note that for a very brief moment (2:41*), a microexpression of anger is displayed as her eyebrows not only pinched closer together, but also depressed, particularly medially.

"And we don't hear about that - we don't hear stories of Egyptian woman or African women or women across the World who ... who will often ...often suffer these attacks and worse (left eyebrow shoots up again for less than a second in disbelief), worse attacks and they'll be no (*) justice done."

This is a very illustrative interview for the emotions and body language signals of incredulity and  empathy as well as a microexpression of anger. Ms. Smith is a very courageous woman and her professional voice, insight and deep emotional understanding of others will serve her and the public well.

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1887: Rodney King - Sincerity and Painful Emotional Recall

Rodney King drowned yesterday, apparently from accidental causes. In the 1:15 - 1:24 segment of this video, King speaks about forgiveness. Note that King's eyes look down and to his right during this period. In greater than 90% of the time, right-handed people will look down to their right when they are to a degree "emotionally re-experiencing" a significantly sad event.

Rodney King's central forehead is also contracted. This portion of the forehead contracts when we feel emotional or physical pain, either directly in the first person, or indirectly for others via empathy. Be very wary of what the mouth does during such times however. When the mouth nonverbals are congruent with these specific emotions - (with no signs of smiling, even slightly) - usually with some component of a frown or fear - such body language is highly consistent with the emotion of sadness, or physical pain.

When King says, "...you know people have forgiven me for some things that I have done, you know, um, and so, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I wasn't able to forgive the officers ..." - he was being very sincere.

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