Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2939: Barack Obama in Tallinn, Estonia - Body Language Tells (PHOTO)

Barack Obama visited Estonia earlier today. With the threat of near all-out war in Ukraine, the American President wanted to assure Baltic Nations and all the other NATO members that the United States stands with them. Of course it was just as much or more for Vladimir Putin's benefit.

This gathering around a table in Tallinn provides a good body language teaching moment. During his very symbolic visit, Mr. Obama should not be leaning back or pulled away from the table. Nor should his legs should be crossed. Of course we don't know what was being spoken at this time - however depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered - this sends signals of disengagement, disagreement and/or critical evaluation. Rather he should be sitting forward on his chair with his hands above the table. The normally nonverbally adept President is off his game - for it's almost as if Barack is channeling a bit of Vladimir's feigned laissez faire persona.

Moreover Susan Rice should not have her hands below the table. It is virtually never a good nonverbal signal in any kind of rapport-building, trust-building or negotiation scenario. This body language is consistent with a beta emotional tone and low confidence.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2938: Josh Earnest, Steven Sotloff and ISIS - "Nonverbal Monotone"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2489:  Angelina Jolie and "Maleficent" - Body Language Signals of Sincerity and Disengagement

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2584: Darnell Barton - Hero with Body Language of De-Escalation

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2937: Vladimir Putin - “If I want to, I can take Kiev in two weeks” and Critical Evaluation

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2915: The Many Faces of Tony Stewart

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

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

From a nonverbal communication perspective, this interview from 25 November 2012 of Keit Pentus-Rosimannus displays several very significant tells. One body language sign in particular is highlighted here.

After being asked by Ms. Kadri Jakobson if she was aware of a lawsuit being filled against her and others for 500 000€, she replies, "This is the first time that I hear of this. I have no relations with this company."

Then the Estonian Minister of Environment was asked, "Have you been dealing with this company during 2010-2011?"

Vice-Chairwoman of Estonia's Reform Party then said, "No I have not. The company used to belong to my father which in 2010 as you say was sold."

At the juncture of 0:50 - 0:51 mark, just after this last sentence, Ms. Pentus-Rosimannus makes a highly characteristic nonverbal display in the form of a microexpression of fear. The corner of her mouth pulls back and slightly down (the mouth of fear) while her neck also tightens in an unmistakable fashion (neck of fear). Both of these nonverbals are extremely evanescent. This is an extremely good example of a subtle, yet definitive microexpression of fear - one of the best you'll ever see.

A microexpression is an extremely brief, but very reliable emotional display which is initiated by the subconscious. Fear is but one of several emotions which can be manifested in this way. While we cannot say precisely why she feels this primal emotion, it is absolutely present. 

If you were in Keit Pentus-Rosimannus's shoes and you were telling the truth, it is always possible that you would feel the fear which may accompany a false accusation. So we must be careful not to always and automatically ascribe guilt to all fear displays - lest we commit the "Othello Error" (Ekman). 

However, although she is being question, she is not really being accused by Ms. Jakobson. If the Minister was hearing for the first time about such a lawsuit (and it were unfounded), her primary emotion should be that of anger (which is also very common when politicians are questioned by members of the press - and which she does indeed display and to a fair degree suppresses at other times during the video). But in such a scenario, a fear display would be unusual.  And yet we see it here.

It may be fear of false accusation. It may be fear for another (empathy-based). It may be fear based on guilt. But make no mistake - Ms. Keit Pentus-Rosimannus absolutely feels fear. 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2274: The Eyes & Mouth of Fear -  Body Language of Ahmed Dogan during  Attempted Assassination

Body Language Secret # 702: Blake Lively's Mouth of Fear,  trying to Smile and  Forehead of Pain

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2019:  Sarah Palin's "Co-Hosting" on The Today Show -  She Fears Romney's Candidacy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel -  What Her Body Language Tells Us ....

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

Negotiation Secret # 329: Angela Merkel's Neck of Fear

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2320: Estonian Skier Andrus Veerpalu Denies Performance Enhancing Drugs - What his Body Language Tells Us

 

Estonian Cross Country Skier and three time Olympic Medalist (two golds and one silver) Andrus Veerpalu was accused of using performance enhancing drugs in April of 2011. At that time two tests were positive for HGH (Human Growth Hormone). The International Ski Federation (FIS), found the Estonian hero guilty of using this performance enhancing substance. Mr. Veerpalu appealed to the International Court of Justice for Sport (CAS). On 28 February 2013 the CAS deferred their decision until 25 March. This was the fourth time they postponed and no reason was given for the delay.

From a body language perspective, during the above video press conference/interviews (recorded at the beginning of this controversy in 2011), Andrus Veerpalu showed multiple signals of anxiety, shame, self-contempt, bitterness-regret and emotional pain. 

From the very beginning of this video, Andrus Veerpalu's body posture is consistent with very low confidence. If you were an actor trying to play the part of a demure, defeated, beta, low confidence and shameful character, you would want to emulated what he displayed throughout this video. His shoulders are hunched forward - slumped together and pulled inwards - not the posture of a world-class athlete or even that of a moderately confident person. Multiple times he shifts in his chair - indicative of significant anxiety. His head is flexed forward and his neck is foreshortened - resembling a turtle with its head partially retracted. He looks down with his eyes much of the time and when he does look up - he does so just with his eyes and his head still remains down. At multiple times he takes deep breaths and exhales. All these are strong nonverbal signs of low confidence/low emotional comfort - and in this context - when defending oneself from accusations - these body language signals are also consistent with shame. 

This image is taken at 1:22 in the video and this expression is best viewed in the dynamic nature of video. Here Veerpalu displays with his left mouth a very quick microexpression of self-contempt -bitterness - regret. Pure contempt (when directed at others) looks different - in that the upward component of the corner of the mouth occurs secondarily - with the primary upward vector occurring between the corner and the cupid's bow. Contempt has more of an upward vector than what is seen here (primarily laterally). Self-contempt/regret also has less nostril dilation accompanying this evanescent nonverbal display. Mr. Veerpalu made this expression at multiple times throughout this video signifying in this context a very strong signal of self-incrimination and regret. It is very atypical to see this expression so many times in the context of innocence. (See below)

At 1:42, when the reporter asks what he felt when he first heard that his blood test were positive for doping, Andrus Veerpalu contracts his central forehead and simultaneously displays a frown. This nonverbal (in isolation) is strongly consistent with significant emotional or physical pain - felt either for oneself or for another person, group or animal(s) via empathy. Thus, in this particular context, this facial configuration is strong emotional pain - certainly what we would expect in this scenario.

This image is taken at 2:09 just after Andrus denies performance enhancing substances. Again, he displays the self-contempt bitterness-regret microexpression simultaneous with a central forehead contraction of emotional pain. Again this is best viewed in the video as the subtle and rapid nature is best appreciated appreciated in motion. In the context of accusation this mouth microexpression is not consistent with innocence.

At the end of the video, Mr. Veerpalu appears to be in tears - a nonverbal display which is not congruent with innocence.

It is hard to watch a sports hero fall. On their shoulders rests hope and vicarious victory for millions. Lance Armstrong and Andrus Veerpalu are not the first to do so - and unfortunately they won't be the last.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2312: Bruce Willis' Body Language - Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2228: Jay Carney's Body Language - Contempt disguised as a Sniff ....  for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 457:  Salman Rushdie's & a Contempt Amplifier

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1890:  Eric Holder has (Emotional) Contempt toward Darrell Issa -  while Rep. Issa is Very Excited to be Seeking  "Contempt of Congress" against Holder

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2272:  Lance Armstrong's Mia Culpa with Oprah Winfrey  Body Language Part I

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2273: Lance Armstrong & Oprah Winfrey, Part II  Lance Gives Away More with His Body Language -  He told more Lies

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2310:  Oscar Pistorius' Body Language in Court - Part II  Central Forehead Contraction, Frown & Pupil Dilation ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2307:  Oscar Pistorius in Court, Body Language and the  Bilateral Eye Cover

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