Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2847: Eric Cantor, Concession Speeches and Low Affection - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In a major upset, Eric Cantor (R - VA) lost in his primary race to Dave Brat last night. The above video is a portion of the House Majority Leader's concession speech. At the very beginning he kisses his wife, Diana.

Note that Diana does NOT close her eyes. Her head and neck are neither tilted nor rotated until the last fraction of a second.

The Congressman is aiming for his wife's lips. This however is not her (subconscious) intention.

At the very last instant she tilts and rotates her head/neck to her left and avoids a lip kiss from her husband.

In addition she is the first to pull away - deliberately and actively disengaging from the kiss. A careful observation of the video also shows she pulls away very slightly before the kiss very - belying her dislike for his affection.


Mrs. Cantor is not just a "bad kisser". This kiss is strongly indicative of a low affection quotient of Diana Cantor towards her husband. Such behavior is not what most would expect following a loss of this magnitude or context.

With regards to Representative Cantor, what nonverbals are very incongruent with a person who has just suffered such a major loss?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2846: Shailene Woodley Set Interview - The Fault in Our Stars - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1855:  Sincere Kisses & Closed Eyes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2748: Tatia Pilieva's Brilliant Video "First Kiss" - Body Language of Romance and Affection 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2678: French President François Hollande, Valerie Trierweiler and Julie Gayet - Of Affairs, Affection and Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2764: Embarrassment, Affection & Flirtation - Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher - Kiss Cam Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2548: Confused, Quizzical and Disbelieving Body Language from Eric Cantor's Colleagues

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2293:  Eric Cantor, the New House GOP Agenda and  One Body Language Signal a Leader should NEVER display

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2548: Confused, Quizzical and Disbelieving Body Language from Eric Cantor's Colleagues (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the above video, Eric Cantor is shown speaking regarding the U.S. government shutdown and partial funding via separate bills. He is shown with several of his colleagues. Behind the House Majority Leader and to his left is the Majority Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Between McCarthy and Cantor is an as yet unidentified woman.

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

At 1:13 in the video, Cantor continues, "And so I would ask my friends in the media to, to look at the votes we've taken. Fifty-seven democrats have voted with us in a bipartisan way on all these bills, ah, in fact unanimously today to ease the pain of the shut-down. I would implore my friends in the media to ask majority leader Reid, why is he not bringing up any of these bills. Because I think there is a majority of Senators to support these bills to ease the pain on the American people while we continue to wait for the President to join us, ah, in these discussions to work out our differences."

Kevin McCarthy reaches for his nose at the same time as the unidentified woman between him and Cantor and tilts her head to her right. This occurs at 1:17 just after Cantor says (the first time) "...my friends in the media...".

In this context, this nonverbal connotes that Rep. McCarthy cannot believe that Cantor referred to the media as "my friends". Of course in Washington when members of the government refer to someone as "my friend" it means the complete opposite. Perhaps McCarthy thought that this was a bad tactic or even perhaps that he believed that Cantor meant to say "... my (Democrat) friends in the Senate...".

Here Rep. McCarthy rubs his nose even more vigorously. No doubt his nose really itches. Anxiety causes releases neurotransmitters known as "natriuretic polypeptide b" (Nppb) to be released. This creates the real sensation of an itch and therefore it is subsequently scratched or rubbed.

The bilateral eyelid closure in this context is consistent with his cluster of disbelief. His psyche is trying to "make this mistake go away"

This image, a close-up of the first one above shows this immediate head tilt signifying her critical-quizzical mindset. She too is wondering virtually the same thing as McCarthy.

This head tilt is well recognized by some, although its sudden presence often does not elicit clarification. It often is accompanied by a partial eyelid closure - more often in one eye (exemplified on her left).

When it has a particularly critical slant to it, this expression may also be simultaneous with a head-neck retraction (away from the speaker) and a simultaneous contempt or disgust expression (neither present here).

It is interesting a how often those in the backgrounds, who are not speaking, but who are supposed to be presenting a unified front, let their own feelings slip via their body language. What other nonverbal signals do you see in this video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2542: Chuck Schumer Doesn't Believe Harry Reid - Body Language and a possible U.S. Government Shutdown

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2293:  Eric Cantor, the New House GOP Agenda and One Body Language Signal that A Leader should NEVER display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2461:  Jen Psaki, Egypt & The U.S. State Department -  Pseudo-Prayer Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2279:  Hillary's Tears and Senator Barrassso's Contempt & Disbelief- Body Language at Benghazi Hearing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2390:  Charles Ramsey Interview & Cleveland Kidnappings -  Sarcastic Disbelief, Disgust and Exclamation

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 # 2349:  Barack Obama, The Miami Heat & Chicago Bulls -  POTUS's Body Language 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2293: Eric Cantor, the New House GOP Agenda and One Body Language Signal that A Leader should NEVER display

At multiple times during this interview, Eric Cantor (R-VA) displayed a nonverbal that a leader should never display unless he or she is speaking to young children - the "Pseudo-Prayer". This body language is one type of self-touching that does not fit within the category of a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) - although to those new to nonverbal discipline, it is often categorized as such. It's also not consistently visible in this example because The House Majority Leader's hands partially drop below the bottom of the camera view - but its effect can be felt with even this partial view.

MAPs are types of self-touching which indicate anxiety. The pseudo-prayer (which is of course not limited to any political party) - where the fingers and palms of each hand are pressed together in what looks like a prayer configuration and is nearly always performed with at least a small amount of an up-and-down chopping motion component - is one of many hyper-alpha nonverbal communication signals. In distinction to MAPs, those who display this nonverbal are not feeling anxiety (during the moments of its display), but rather a patronizing and arrogant emotional tone. His extended blinking amplifies these condescending signals (What other nonverbal warning signal is present here?). Those with no body language training at all, will, to varying degrees, sense the strong disparity between what the speaker says and their true feelings - and thus it will destroy rapport. If someone does this to you, at the very best they are being insincere and duplicitous - and they may be preparing to skin you. 

Unless you are speaking to young children, do not use the pseudo-prayer and, if you are able, avoid those who use it towards you.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1083:  Brewer's MAPs Flag Foreboding

Nonverbal Communication Anlaysis # 1181:  Helle Thorning-Schmidt & her False Praying Gesture

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2223:  Dick Armey's Body Language and the Fiscal Cliff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1896:  IMF Managing Director - Christine Lagarde Pseudo-Prayer & Pursed Lips

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1698:  Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari &  Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1555:  Ann Romney Hits it Back Over the Net to Hilary Rosen

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1093:  Michelle Obama & When NOT to be Alpha 

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