Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3893: Devin Nunes' Statement to Press Outside White House after His Controversial Meeting with Donald Trump - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

This photo was captured immediately after Representative Devin Nunes' now very controversial meeting with President Trump at the White House on 22 March 2017. Afterward, in his statement to the press, Nunes, who is chairman of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also revealed the existence of previously undisclosed FISA investigations. Many have noted that disclosing FISA's activities in such a manner is a violation of the law and antithetical to some of the basic principles for which FISA exists.

Thus within this context, Devin Nunes' facial expression in this moment is understandable. This nonverbal display is a classic example of an "Inward Lip Roll". As the name suggests, this facial configuration involves the lips are rolling inward, usually completely (momentarily with no view of the lips) and are gently to moderately "bit" by the upper and lower teeth. Sometimes abbreviated as ILR, the inward lip roll is a signal of the subconscious effort to suppress the growth of strong emotions - not only outwardly - visible for all to see, but also "inside" one's own psyche. The ILR can be thought of as a natural down-regulating mechanism.

Most of the time, the ILR is associated with the attempt at controlling what are thought of as traditionally "negative" emotions - such as anger, fear, frustration, disgust, sadness/tears, etc. Yet it's also seen during attempts to prevent "positive emotions", such as joy-laughter - the display of which (in the wrong settings) would have negative ramifications.

In our everyday interactions with others, we rarely have the benefit of such background information as we have here with Rep. Nunes. This is precisely why recognizing nonverbal signals as they occur in real-time is so very crucial - for people truly speak much more with their faces and bodies than they do with their words.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3892: Sean Spicer to April Ryan, "Stop Shaking Your Head"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3890: Ted Koppel on why he thinks Sean Hannity is bad for America 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3888: Paul Ryan's Response to the House's Failure to Overturn Obamacare and Pass the American Health Care Act (AHCA) of 2017 - "This is a disappointing day for us" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3868: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, The West Bank and Anxiety 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3856: "Belle" Clip - Beauty and the Beast  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3815: Donald Trump's first Press Conference as President-Elect

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3799: Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia - Full Lips and Lip Pursing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3634: Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Democratic National Convention, Emails and Body Language



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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3869: James Clapper regarding Alleged Wiretap of Trump - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

James Clapper was a guest this morning on Meet The Press. Mr. Clapper is the immediate former Director of National Intelligence (serving from August 9, 2010 until January 20, 2017).

What follows is the transcript of the currently available on-line video of Mr. Clapper's interview with Chuck Todd, as well as a partial nonverbal analysis.

CHUCK TODD: Ah, let me start with the President's tweets, ah, yesterday, ah, this idea that maybe President Obama ordered an illegal wiretap of his offices - if something like that happened, would this be something that you would be aware of?

JAMES CLAPPER: I would certainly hope so. Ah, I, I can say, obviously I'm not, I can't speak officially anymore, ah, but I will say that for (0:19 - 0:21) the part of the National Security apparatus that I oversaw as DNI, there was no such wiretap activity mounted against the ah, the Pres-, the President-elect at the time, as a candidate, or against his campaign. Ah, I can't speak for, ah, other title-III authorized, ah, entities in the government, or, ah, a state or local entity.

TODD: Yeah, ah, I was just going to say, if the FBI, for instance, d- had a FISA Court order for some sort, for a surveillance, would that information you would know or not know?

CLAPPER: (over-talking): Yes.

TODD: You would be told things.

CLAPPER: I would know that.

TODD (over-talking): If there was a FISA Court order -

CLAPPER (over-talking): Yes.

TODD: On something like this, um -

CLAPPER (over-talking): Something like this, absolutely.

TODD: - and at this point, you can't confirm or deny whether that exists?

CLAPPER: I can deny it. (1:00 - 1:02, Head Torque)

TODD: There is no FISA court order

CLAPPER: Not, not to my knowledge.

TODD: Of anything at Trump Tower?

CLAPPER: No.

TODD: Well that's an important, ah, revelation at this point.

Nonverbal Analysis:

During 0:19 - 0:21, as Mr. Clapper says, "... I will say that for ...", he displays what is known as a Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (SRHW). As the name implies, a self-righteous head wiggle is displayed by those who have a high confidence that the opinion or idea which they're expressing is correct. Such individuals have emotional tones, that are for the moment, in a high alpha state. A SRHW is comprised of a relatively rapid, side-to-side movement of the head-neck - and often the torso too - as well as occasionally with the jaw.

Don't confuse the SRHW with what, in this example, occurred just prior to it - when Mr. Clapper is adjusting/twisting his butt and back toward the back of his chair. This maneuver is an example of what is known as an "Alpha-Up Regulator" (of which there are many). It signals a person (usually in an already alpha mindset) recognizes (subconsciously and at the edge of consciousness) the need to be a bit more assertive and thus, is metaphorically "stepping up to the plate" (rather than shrinking back). Clapper knows he is no longer Director of National Intelligence, yet he feels the need and responsibility - for the moment, to speak with the authority which he carried only a short time ago.

This behavior is not able to be well-represented in a photograph - please view the video to appreciate the full dynamic nature of this body language.

Later in the video:

During 1:00 - 1:02, as James Clapper says, "I can deny it", he displays what is known as a "Head Torque". A head torque is also a high-alpha signal. It's composed of a twisting (rotating) motion of the head and neck - together with a simultaneous thrusting forward of the head. A head torque signals a particularly determined and adamant emotional tone.

While not required (but is seen here), the additional component of prolonged or prominent blinking/eyelid closure, in this context, acts as an adamant-amplifier.

It's also common that a head torque is accompanied with anger and/or frustration - however, neither of these emotions are present in this moment of head torquing.

A head torque is also a significantly dynamic nonverbal signal, please watch the video.


Summary: Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's nonverbal behavior in this video segment, indicates he is being sincere and honest when he said that there was no FISA Court Order under his jurisdiction for the surveillance of Donald Trump, Trump's campaign or Trump Tower - and if there were, he would have known about it.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3868: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, The West Bank and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3865: Jeff Sessions and Al Franken - Senate Judiciary Committee during Sessions' Confirmation Hearing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3863: Kellyanne Conway, Disrespect and The Oval Office

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3843: 84 Lumber Super Bowl Ad - "The Entire Journey"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3814: Claire Foy's recounting of Meeting Kate Winslet

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3792: Notre Dame's Matt Farrell and Family Surprised by Brother Bo's Military Homecoming at Basketball Game

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3760: Rory McIlroy's "Little Interviews"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3693: Grace VanderWaal Wins America's Got Talent Season 11


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