Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3516: Hillary Clinton, Finger Pointing, Fossil Fuels, Bernie Sanders and Lying - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday in Syracuse, New York, Hillary Clinton became angry at Eva Resnick-Day, affiliated with Greenpeace as well as "350 Action" - after the activist asked her if her campaign will reject money from fossil fuel companies.

Specifically, Secretary Clinton's response was, "I do not have, I have money from people who work for fossil fuel companies. I'm so sick. I'm so sick of the Sanders' campaign lying about me. I'm sick of it."

According to Greenpeace, Clinton has taken about $300,000 from people who work for Oil and Gas companies, not the companies themselves.

The finger point display, particularly when coupled with a hand chop is universally (across all cultures and social strata) and extremely negatively received. Indeed, it's one of the more potent rapport destroying nonverbal signals one can make. Thus a candidate who uses this body language, while trying to appear strong and confident, will lose voters - even among those who had previously favored them.

Moreover, the use of such a nonverbal, however justified, will serve to act as a negative feed-back loop on the person using it - reinforcing and elevating their anger (Note Hillary's eyebrows pulled together and lowered, vertical furrows in her forehead, eyelid closure, tension of lower eyelids, mid-face tension, teeth baring, jaw-jut and nostril flaring). Of course, Mrs. Clinton is human and, like the rest of us, entitled to get angry - however if she wants to be elected she should do so with considerable caution.

For these reasons, the index finger (forefinger) point, particularly when using it in conjunction with a hand-chop, should be used very rarely.





Upon more detailed examination, note the contradiction: "I do not have, I have money from people who work for fossil fuel companies..."

Mrs. Clinton displays multiple "Finger Point Hand Chops" initially with her right (dominant) hand (four times visibly) and then switches to her left (non-dominant) hand (six times). If Mrs. Clinton had felt the full conviction of her statements, she would have kept using the gesture with her dominant hand rather than switching. In addition, the fact that these actions with her left hand were more forceful and more numerous than her right hand further suggests her less-than-full belief of her own statement. This cluster of nonverbal behavior is strongly suggestive of deception by Secretary Clinton.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3515: Jimmy Kimmel asks Ted Cruz, "Who Do Like Better, Obama or Trump?"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3486: Donald Trump and Chris Christie on Super Tuesday - Display the Same Telling Nonverbal Signal to Same Statement re: Trump's Wall

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3152: Hillary Clinton First Campaign Ad - "Getting Started" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3511: Ted Cruz Statement Regarding Allegations of Extramarital Affairs - Body Language and Statement Analysis 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3262: Donald Trump, Breast Pumping and Donald's "That's Disgusting"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2672: Dennis Rodman, Kim Jong Un and the Finger-Point Hand-Chop, Body Language from North Korea

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2745: Vladimir Putin Deception regarding Crimea

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3078: Tom Brady, Deflategate, Deception and Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3241: Trump - a Hyper-Alpha Donald vs. a Kinder, Gentler Version - Body Language and Likability (PHOTOS)

Donald Trump's personality is generally very confrontational. Some would describe it as an "in your face" style - while others would label him with having narcissistic personality disorder.

Here, "The Donald" is shown in two contrasting hand-arm gestures (aka "illustrators"). Prior to the primaries, you may notice that virtually all candidates will use alpha - and even hyper-alpha body language displays much more frequently. After the primary, although such nonverbals are still used, their frequency diminishes. This behavior is virtually all subconsciously driven and done so in an effort to draw distinctions between their competitors who have very similar political ideologies. Yet the hyper-alpha body language always backfires. Rather than building rapport, hyper-alpha nonverbal signals destroy it. Only those who already are aligned with the candidate will be attracted to such behavior - all others will be alienated.

Below Mr. Trump is shown pointing with a "palms-up" illustrator. This accomplishes the goal of drawing visual attention ("pointing") - yet it does so in a rapport-building manner. While still demonstrating assertiveness and authority it has none of the negative side-effects of the above displayed index finger pointing (aka forefinger point). Narcissistic personalities have difficulty grasping and accomplishing this important distinction. What "feels right" to them - has the opposite emotional impact on others (for those who use such index finger pointing excessively [or even moderately] lack empathy and suffer an excess of ego). Index finger pointing is negatively received across all cultures.

A profound and almost never recognized benefit of a less aggressive/kinder hand-arm gesture - is its effect on the face. Tension in the hand will be mirrored on the face - as well as the emotional status. And a kinder, empathetic hand will produce a kinder face. This effect is greatly demonstrated in these two images. An astute person will recognize this hand-face relationship and use it as a biofeedback tool to regulate their emotions (there are of course many others).

While Donald Trump is currently enjoying a boost in the polls when compared with most of the 2016 republican presidential candidates - he is simply not likable. In order to win a presidential primary (let alone a general election) a candidate must be likable. And the largest component in the likability equation is body language.

Donald Trump will absolutely not win the republican nomination.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3240: Ariana Grande - Tongues, New Boyfriend, Donuts ... & Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3132: Ashley Judd responds to Twitter Troll Harassment - "I'm pressing charges"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2149:  Joe Biden - Losing Voters with the Double Index Finger Point -  A Faux Pas Nearly Every Time

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1918:  Vladimir Putin - Pointing with Pen Surrogates  Sharp vs. Blunt   

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3152: Hillary Clinton First Campaign Ad - "Getting Started"


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2963: Barack Obama at the United Nations General Assembly regarding ISIS/ISIL, 24 September 2014 - Body Language Faux Pas (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Barack Obama, along the other heads-of-state, has been meeting at the United Nations General Assembly the last several days. During this segment of his speech where he spoke of ISIS/ISIL/Islamic State, President Obama committed a highly significant body language faux pas on multiple occasions - which for him is rare. In this brief video (above), the President used the index finger (forefinger) point nine times. Some were certainly less obtrusive - such as pointing downwards (3:06 - 3:10) and others when he pointed briefly at himself or to his right (2:48, 2:45 and 2:19 - 2:21), however with the majority of these - he pointed directly at the audience (see below). Index finger pointing is a profoundly negative nonverbal and moreover it's considered universally offensive in virtually every culture and subculture on the Earth. This has been true throughout recorded history.

The President has much better body language instinct than average - so why was he off his game yesterday? People who point with their forefingers with high frequency (and not just on a given occasion) have an extremely high rate of narcissism. It is also important to consider the autism spectrum disorders. Barack Obama does not point frequently. Two other possible causes include anger and/or alpha emotional tones - both of which are playing out in these speeches. What are some other thought-emotions correlative with a forefinger point?

Politicians will often point at their audiences when in front of their political base - which is still not recommended (yet there is wider latitude for mistakes is allotted in such scenarios). However it is very unwise to do so when seeking rapport, votes or trying to building a coalition - all of which are needed here.

There were several other highly significant nonverbal errors used in this speech. How many of these have you also committed recently?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2962: Denzel Washington, Lenny Kravitz & David Letterman - Body Language of ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2360:  Bill Clinton and the Body Language of a  "Loose Hand, Palm Up Point"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2672: Dennis Rodman, Kim Jong Un and the Finger-Point Hand-Chop, Body Language from North Korea

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2160:  Index Finger (Forefinger) Pointing in Politics -  The Third (and Final) 2012 Presidential Debates -  Body Language of Being an Alpha Male without Offending

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2490:  Hillary Clinton and the Two-Handed Point -  The American Bar Association, Body Language and  Variations on a Theme

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha

0:40 - 0:41

1:58 - 1:59

2:19 - 2:21

2:23 - 2:24

2:45

2:48

3:06 - 3:10

3:37 - 3:39

4:19 - 4:21













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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2646: Does Barack Obama Want to Go to the Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics? What His Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This video gives us a great example in the evaluation of a nonverbal cluster - that is, several body language signs occurring simultaneously or in close temporal proximity. A cluster is truly a nonverbal sentence".

It begins with President Barack Obama saying, "Ahhh ya know me attending Olympics particularly at a time when we got all the other stuff that people been talking about is going to be tough, although I would love to do it [hard, dry swallow]. I'll be going to a lot of Olympic Games post-Presidency ... um ..."

During 0:07

An extended blink (a form of gaze aversion) along with a partially suppressed smile - aka Duping Delight (Ekman) begins a body language cluster which tells us what Mr. Obama really feels about going to Sochi, Russia for the upcoming Winter Olympics.

During 0:09 - 0:10

Here the President makes a "Hard Swallow (and Dry)" as he looks down - away from his audience (more gaze aversion). Both nonverbal changes are very common in the midst of deception.

During 0:11 - 0:12

The index finger (aka forefinger) point (disguised here as a bit o' "awe shucks" swagger) is a major nonverbal faux pas - and one President Obama rarely commits. One thing this tells us is that he was (for a few seconds) off his game with respect to his body language. This temporary disinhibition was due to anxiety brought about by his previous lie. He very probably will be going to many Olympics in the future - however he has no desire to be back in Russia and in the company of Vladimir Putin. Note his suppressed smile/duping delight has re-appeared.

It is also an interesting statement analysis observation that Mr. Obama uses poorer (extemporaneous) word selection during these few seconds (we all do when we lie). Grammar, syntax and word choices all grow worse during deception.

In summary, the President was fibbing when he said he would love to go to the Sochi Olympics.

What else did you notice in President Obama's last press conference of 2013?

See also:

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. 2602: Barack Obama at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2593: Barack Obama, Insurance Cancellations and Signals of Low Confidence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2511:  Barack Obama & Vladimir Putin  Handshake at 2013 G20 Meeting

Negotiation Secret # 140:  Duping Delight Microexpression  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2236:  John Boehner & the Fiscal Cliff Plan B Failure - Body Language of Duping Delight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2411:  Zimmerman's Attorney, Mark O'Mara's -  Body Language Faux Pas in Court

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2586: Harrison Ford in "Ender's Game" - Microexpression and Macroexpression of Regret - Harrison's Brand and the Stanislavski Method
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2360: Bill Clinton and the Body Language of a "Loose Hand, Palm Up Point"

This past weekend in St. Louis at the Annual meeting for the Clinton Global Initiative University, President Bill Clinton was asked if he would rather serve eight more years as President, or complete sixteen projects at the Clinton Global Initiative, he paused and said, "I would rather keep doing what I'm doing, because I think America will have some very good choices for President".

Of course, with Hillary Clinton at his side this response drew a huge response from the crowd as the former Secretary of State is the de facto Democratic Presidential Nominee in 2016. It's hers if she wants it. 

Bill is a master when it comes to body language. Even if you're his political opposite, when you meet him he has the ability to make you feel, for a few moments, as if you are the only other person in the World. Many a republican have said this. Given her level of experience, Hillary is pretty good with her nonverbal communication - yet she could still learn a lot from her Husband. 

In the image above Bill utilizes a nonverbal nuance of which few politicians are aware - the relaxed hand, palm up index finger point. Most people are ignorant of just how cross-culturally highly offensive is the act pointing with the forefinger (aka index finger). Once you have learned this bad habit as a child - it is difficult one to "unlearn". 

Many modifications of the forefinger point will soften the caustic nature of this body language illustrator. Some cultures will instead point with their elbow in order to be more polite. Other cultures will pucker their lips and gesture with a quick movement of the lips/head/neck. Yet another kinder modification is to point with the palm up, hand/fingers held loosely. In the above photo, Mr. Clinton is doing pretty well, however he could have done a bit better her if he was pointing with all his fingers and his palm directed upward a bit more - yet he's still far ahead of the pack on this one.

Another big advantage of having the fingers in a loose configuration, is it will tend to simultaneously relax the face muscles. When the hand in tense - the face will mirror this tension - which is often manifested as anxiety, sadness, anger, contempt, fear or disgust. When the fingers and hands are relaxed, so becomes the face. This is one reason why a hand massage feels so good.

The significance of palms up is also very important. It is universally interpreted as more giving, supportive, open, accepting and kind - whereas the palm down point is much more authoritative and often hyper-assertive. There are rare times when this gesture may be called for - but most "leaders" (or those in leadership positions) dramatically over use it. Those who use the palm down point often are not only offending others (either out of choice or naïveté) - but its chronic use is a strong indicator of narcissistic personality disorder.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2339:  Alpha, Beta, Body Language & Rapport Destroyers

Negotiation Secret # 339:  Don't Point at Me! I am not your child!

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 349:  Pointing with Two Fingers (or more) 

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 793:  The Finger Point - A Rare Exception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2321:  Cardinal Timothy Dolan on "Face the Nation"  Problems in Catholic Church & Electing a New Pope  Clergy are Not Exempt from Body Language Tells ...

Negotiation Secret # 441:  The Political Point - How Not to Use It

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1918:  Vladimir Putin - Pointing with Pen Surrogates - Sharp vs. Blunt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags 
 

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