Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3820: Mr. Trump: "Who would you trust more, Angela Merkel or Vladimir Putin?" - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Michael Gove of The Times and Kai Diekmann, former chief editor of the German newspaper Bild, recently interviewed Donald Trump. The entire transcript of their exchange can be found here.

One of more important questions Mr. Trump was asked involved Trump's anticipated trust for Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin: "Talking about Russia, you know that Angela Merkel understands Putin very well because he is fluent in German, she is fluent in Russian, and they have known each other for a long time — but who would you trust more, Angela Merkel or Vladimir Putin?"

Trump answered, "Well, I start off trusting both — but let’s see how long that lasts. It may not last long at all."

The video above includes Trump during this answer (beginning at 2:22).

This first image (immediately above), was captured during the first portion of his response, "Well, I start off trusting both — but let’s see how long that ..."

Note his fingers are intertwined (aka interdigitated) with his elbows resting on his desk as he is speaking. This is a common authoritative configuration used by many alpha personalities and is meant to metaphorically elevate a person above others who are present as well as to appear thoughtful and contemplative - however in truth, the emotional tone is just the opposite. It indicates a defensiveness and closed-mindedness. A person who is using this body language is not open to suggestions or outside consideration - but only interested in advancing their agenda(s).

During the next portion of the sentence his thumbs momentarily extend as he says, "... lasts. It may not last ...", before they return back to their earlier form.

This evanescent "Thumb Extension" signifies the authority and control Trump feels as he makes his (rather ominous) prediction (Be careful not to confuse the "Thumb Extension" with a "Thumb Shrug" [How do you tell the difference?]) Mr. Trump enjoys the act of wielding power and his thumb extension is a clear signal of his feelings.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3819: Turkey's Parliament, Presidential Powers and Constitutional Amendments

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2817: President Obama Awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Joe Biden

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2815: Donald Trump's first Press Conference as President-Elect

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3802: Amanda Nunes, Ronda Rousey and UFC 207

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3759: Nicole Kidman's and Jimmy Fallon's Almost Date Redux

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3756: Amy Adams, Anxiety and Hesitancy to Disclose

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3706: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debates - Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3676: Colin Kaepernick Says He Be Sitting Down During the National Anthem


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3253: John Kasich Formally Announces His Candidacy for President - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today Ohio Governor John Kasich announced his candidacy for President. He is the 16th major Republican to make a bid for his party's nomination. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of his speech.

At multiple times Governor Kasich put a hand in his pocket. This is an awful body language for any leader to use - particularly while on camera and speaking - and especially during his announcement to run for the highest office in the land. It does not build rapport. On the contrary - it signals reluctance, tentativeness and nondisclosure. Some people will occasionally use this MAP (manipulator, adaptor, pacifier) in an effort to look relaxed or approachable - yet it does not - rather it projects non-engagement.

Simply put - hands in pockets will lose you votes and rapport. If you're running for office or leading people, keep your hands OUT of your pockets. Mitt Romney did this far too much in 2012 - thus sending signals he was not emotionally comfortable.

This gesture (in body language terminology - one type of "illustrator") is a "basketball steeple". And although the tempo of movement associated with Kasich's use of this nonverbal is a bit too quick (see video at 39:00) - the basketball steeple is a great example of an "Alpha-Beta Hybrid" - not too aggressive/dominant - yet not too demure/sedate. Alpha-beta hybrid body language (which can be up and down-regulated in the moment depending on the need and/or feedback) are fantastic body language displays for leaders to use - for they build rapport and assertiveness without arrogance - as well as increase likability without sending signals of weakness. The basketball steeple is but one of many varieties of an alpha-beta hybrid.

This image captured at 40:34 shows Gov. Kasich with his fingers interlocked (intertwined). This MAP indicates low emotional comfort and anxiety - and should in general not be used. However, Kasich used this fairly display relatively briefly (several 1- 3 second intervals) and while he was speaking about the almost unfathomable condition of family fighting against family in the U.S. Civil War. If one truly has empathy for those in War - this gesture is sincere - for it was congruent with his vocal qualities as well as his words (but still should never be used for very long).  

45:43

This chin, mouth and mid-face cluster is indicative of brief (near-microexpression) fear-sadness as Kasich describes a man who watched helplessly as his wife and two children were swept away in a flash flood several days ago. This was another sincere moment of empathy.

Just after Governor Kasich announces his attention to run for President he looks down with his head/neck and while closing his eyes. A few moments prior, he stepped back several inches and braced himself by grabbing the sides of the podium (lectern). Such humbled body language (and similar) is common and displayed by most candidates in the context of announcing their candidacy - particularly for high office. Of course eye contact with the audience and upright posture are essential for good rapport and the projection of strength, confidence and assertiveness - yet most of us want (and need) our leaders (during certain moments at least) to be humble. Like most body language however, a balance is needed. Too much humility (weakness) or too much confidence (thus arrogance) does not win elections.

Although he could certainly make some significant improvements, more than the majority of candidates - John Kasich projected a good balance of alpha and beta qualities during his formal announcement speech. Both his sincerity and empathy were relatively high during this event - and it's these qualities more than most which translate to likability.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3252: Shark Attacks Surfer Mick Fanning in the midst of competition at J-Bay Open - Body Language of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No 1915: Mitt Romney's Response to Supreme Court's Decision on "Obamacare"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2074:  Mitt Romney and Senator Kelly Ayotte  What Body Language Tells? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2595: Barack Obama's Emotional Dissonance, Low Confidence and the "Turtle Retreat" - He Does Not Want To Be There 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2281:  Inaugural Luncheon Anxiety  Barack Obama's Body Language  Michelle's Mirroring 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3200: Martin O'Malley announces Candidacy for 2016 Presidential Race - Body Language of Emotional Processing 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2653: Carey Mulligan - Blunted Surprise and ... Body Language on Jimmy Kimmell, Part I (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Carey Mulligan is promoting her most recent film "Inside Llewyn Davis" and was featured in a video clip from a recent appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live". 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 1:30 the dialog continues....

Kimmel: "What are you going to do f-, do you go back to England for the Holidays?"

Mulligan: "I do, yeah, I go back to London."

Kimmel: "That seems like it is the best place to have Chr-, the most Christmassy place to have Christmas."

Mulligan: "I can't, yeah, I can't really ... The American Christmases seem [surprise at 1:45] Not, No offense."

Kimmel: "Oh, [Laughs] uh, oh."

Mulligan: "Awful."

Kimmel: [Continues Laughter]

At 1:45 Mulligan manifests a blunted microexpression of surprise with fear. They are blunted due to of Botox over-treatment on the upper half of her upper face. Here we see that not only does her forehead minimally contract (her eyebrows do shoot upwards for a fraction of a second - yet there are no transient and otherwise normal-for-context, co-existing furrows on her forehead), but her eyelids barely open wider than they were a moment before.

This is a very muted surprise response particularly for an actor and considerably inhibits her (or anyone's) ability for full or even mild emotional expression.

Two tenths of a second later.

Her neck tightens moderately ("Neck of fear").

At 1:46

Hands with palms towards the audience with a downward motion in a subconscious attempt to mollify offense to the audience. 

Tightly clenched intertwined fingers in a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) display of high anxiety.

Note the color of her hands, forearms and face from a transient change in blood flow.

A sincere smile with increased blushing of her face is seen at 1:48. True (sincere) surprise is virtually always followed by (or coexistent with) one or two other emotions. Here is embarrassment is seen and above we saw fear manifested.

Mulligan's bilateral "Hair Adjust Behind Ear" body language is commonly seen during moments when the alpha qualities are being dialed-up and assertiveness is being engaged.

Here embarrassment continues.

If surprise is not rapidly followed by a second emotion, there is a very high probability the surprise is at least false (fake) or exaggerated.











See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2395:  Carey Mulligan on Jimmy Fallon  on The Great Gatsby & Acting with Leonardo DiCaprio

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2632: "The Sound of Music", Carrie Underwood and a Key Body Language Limiting Element

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1261:  True Surprise - Rarely Captured  IMF Director Christine Lagarde

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2170:  The San Francisco Giants, Surprise,  Bird Poop and Body Language

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1171:  Not So Fast Swift ....  Taylor's False Surprise

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2454:  NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman & a  Subtle "Neck of Fear"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2498:  McKenzie Morgan,  17 Year-Old Solo Pilot Walks Away From Crash  Partial Mouth and Neck of Fear Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2169:  President Obama's Deputy Campaign Manager  Stephanie Cutter, Causes of Blushing & -  Blushing in the Neck and Peri-Sternal Region .... 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2379:  Bill Clinton's Speech at the  George W. Bush Presidential Library Opening  Body Language of Former and Current President

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


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2518: Bashar al-Assad Shows Body Language Tell of Extreme Stress Charlie Rose Interview, Part III (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This is the third nonverbal evaluation of Bashar al-Assad highlighting his recent interview in Damascus by Charlie Rose. On the very next day the serendipitous/accidental/off-hand remark by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was reflected back as a serious idea by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last night President Obama asked the U.S. Congress to back-burner an approval vote on military action against the Syrian government's forces so as to diminish their ability to deploy chemical weapons (a vote that was increasing looking that he would lose). It has certainly been a whirlwind the last few days.

The following is a transcript of the above video - a short section of the interview. Afterwards yet another particularly telling nonverbal signal is discussed.

CHARLIE ROSE: "The President is prepared to strike, ah, and perhaps we'll get the authorization of Congress or not. Ah, the question then is - would you give up chemical weapons if it would prevent the president from authorizing a strike?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "Ah ..."

CHARLIE ROSE: "If that is a deal you would accept?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD:  "Again, you always imply that we have chemical weapons. [Laughs]"

CHARLIE ROSE: "I have to because that's the assumption of the President."

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "Yeah"

CHARLIE ROSE: "That is his assumption and he's the one who will order the strike."

BASHAR AL-ASSAD:  "It's his problem if-- if he has an assumption. But for us, in Syria, we have principles. We'll do anything to prevent the region from another crazy war. It's not only Syria. Because it will start in Syria ..."

CHARLIE ROSE: "You'll do anything to prevent the region from ... "

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "The region."

CHARLIE ROSE:  "... having another crazy war?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "Yes."

CHARLIE ROSE: "You recognize the consequences for you if there is a strike?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "It's not about me. It's about the region."

 At 0:27 just after Rose says, "That is his assumption and he's the one who will order the strike" - al-Assad's intertwined fingers straighten (We do not see how long this lasts because the camera view changes). This body language sign is a particularly strong signal of anxiety. Notice also how he stutters, "It's his problem if-- if he has an assumption ..." - a common paralanguage manifestation of anxiety.


Many have said that al-Assad was calm during the interview. While he was more polished than he has been compared with some of his other public appearances - and while his words to some may have seemed composed - the Syrian dictator demonstrated multiple anxiety tells. This was but one. He strongly fears the wrong end of a cruise missile. This legit fear has moved him to a different course of action in the ensuing days.

When the verbal and the nonverbal signals are not congruent - it is the nonverbal that always 'speaks' the truth. How many times have you been deceived because you believed someone's words and missed their body language signals?

What other nonverbals did you spot in this video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2517:  Bashar al-Assad Fears Over-Throw if U.S. Attacks, Body Language Tell During Charlie Rose Interview, Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2516:  Bashar al-Assad's Interview with Charlie Rose, Body Language Tells, Part I

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 387:  John Kerry's Extended and Intertwined Fingers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2408:  Sen. Kelly Ayotte's Anxiety & Regret via Senators Graham & McCain - Republican Body Language in Response to President Obama's National Defense University Speech

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2281:  Inaugural Luncheon Anxiety  Barack Obama's Body Language  Michelle's Mirroring 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2450:  Daniel Radcliffe on The Graham Norton Show -  Deception, Mirroring and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2493:  Jewel in Disguise at Karaoke Bar, Body Language Cues to Lack of Nervousness

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2487: Chelsea Clinton's Beta Body Language - The Elevated Fig Leaf (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the video above Chelsea Clinton is interviewed in Kigali, Rwanda. She speaks briefly about her work with the Clinton Global Initiative as well as possible future political aspirations. 

During the interview Ms. Clinton very evanescently displays an example of the low conventional steeple (bottom photo). Most politicians and public figures who display this particular MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) end up over-doing it. When over-displayed this (and other) alpha nonverbals have the effect of transmitting arrogance and patronizing feelings. Chelsea however displays this particular gesture sparingly and thus avoids sending such signals.

However Chelsea over-uses two similar variations of an elevated fig-leaf.

A traditional fig-leaf (see cross-references below) has both hands clasped in front of the groin region. And while there are certainly occasions when such body language should be used (at funerals, meeting with high level religious figures, weddings, religious ceremonies, in situations where you want to show respect and deliberate beta behavior, etc.), in general, the fig-leaf should be avoided for it sends signals of overly beta behavior.

In the first two photos, Ms. Clinton is configured in two variations of an elevated-fig leaf. In the first photo her fingers are intertwined and in the second her left hand is holding her right fist. Both of these are just below chest-level. This appears to be her default hand-arm position (in between the use of hand-arm illustrators) throughout this (edited) video. Such body language should be avoided for the elevated fig-leaf sends signals of lower confidence and lower assertiveness. It effectively says, "I am a Beta".

It is possible that Bill and Hillary's daughter is using such hand gestures because she is mirroring the reporter's. Television news personnel are notorious for extremely overusing both the low and mid-steeple as well as the elevated fig-leaf.

Many women are accustomed to using the fig-leaf or its elevated versions in an effort to appear more feminine. This is a mistake. There is, of course, a big difference between looking feminine and projecting signals of low confidence. If you want to be perceived as an alpha, use the fig-leaf and its cousins only in carefully selected scenarios.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1563: Geithner and Holder  In Deference to the President -  One Occasion to Use the Fig Leaf

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1770:  White House Correspondents' Dinner - Lindsay Lohan's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2063:  Mitt Romney and Ed Miliband -  Under Used and Backfiring Uses of Hands

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2431:  Wendi Deng & Rupert Murdoch  Who was More Dominant? Body Language Signals

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2419:  Sexual Assault in U.S. Military  Senate Armed Services Hearings -  Kirsten Gillibrand and a Body Language Crescendo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2208:  President Obama & Mitt Romney in the Oval Office -  Multiple Body Language Tells

Can you rank all three photos in order from most beta to most alpha?

What are some other nonverbals displayed in this interview?












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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2387: Governor Pat McCrory of North CarolinaFingers Intertwined & a Microexpression of One Eyebrow (Video) (Pictures)

Pat McCrory, the Governor of North Carolina delivered the weekly republican address today. The subject was innovation at the state level. His nonverbal displays were anything but creative however.
In an effort to look like a leader, far too many politicians build walls when they believe they are building bridges. 

Throughout the majority of this address, the Governor of North Carolina's fingers are intertwined. This nonverbal (a form of a MAP, aka Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier) is very commonly displayed when a boss is sitting behind a desk and reprimanding a subordinate. It sends condescending and arrogant signals to the audience. The Governor is seeking to build rapport - however he is destroying it. Like almost all MAPs, the intertwined fingers also signals heightened levels of anxiety and more specifically a closed-off, defensive emotional mindset. It's utterly amazing how many of those who hold leadership positions are completely unaware of this patronizing nonverbal.

Another interesting nonverbal display gives away some the Governor's poker hand:

At the 2:51 mark, Governor McCrory's left eyebrow very briefly elevates in a beautiful example of one type (there are many) of microexpression. This signals his own disbelief at his own statement, ".... For instance, we're working on an innovative reform for Medicaid ...."



There are many other nonverbal displays in this video. What others can you spot?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2308:  Bill Burr on Conan O'Brien -  Body Language of the Abbreviated Shrug

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2161:  Body Language of the Third Presidential Debate - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney - What Did They Do With Their Hands When They Weren't Talking?

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 387:  Extended and Interwoven Fingers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2141:  Barack Obama's Body Language  Index Finger and Thumb an Inch or two apart -  Incredulous Eyebrow & Forehead 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2205:  Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Resigns - His Body Language Microexpression of Disbelief 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1696:  George Zimmerman's Testimony -  Fear, Incredulity, Regret & Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2375:  Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and a  Body Language False Positive

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