Body Language Analysis No. 4312: South Korea Defeats Germany at The World Cup - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

On Wednesday South Korea defeated Germany 2-0 at the World Cup. The German national team was not only the defending champions, but this loss also resulted in their elimination in the first round - which hasn't happened in 80 years. In the image above Mario Gomez (23) and Mats Hummels (5) are seen just after the match.

When confronted with defeat or when witnessing an emotionally disturbing event, we will frequently quickly move our hands to the top/sides of our heads. This nonverbal tell is commonly displayed by the losing athletes in sporting competitions when the other team scores - or near the end of an unsuccessful game/match/race.

This second photo, taken from a different angle a few seconds after the first image - shows Gomez and Hummels- along with another teammate, Joshua Kimmich (18).

This rapid hands-to-head behavior is partially is a symptom of emotional processing. For while the intellectual mind may know what has happened/is happening - the emotional mind has yet to fully to come to terms with the events - and the ramifications.

Soldiers in the act of surrendering/prisoners of war (as well as individuals upon police arrest) will very often display identical nonverbal behavior. Once captive, of course, they have no choice - they are forced. Obviously, this posture of surrender lessens the chances of physical retaliation and escape - but quite strongly, this body language also engenders beta emotions of psychological and physical weakness.

SUMMARY: The hands-to-head configuration is a sign of emotional processing in the face of witnessing or hearing a dramatic emotional event. It also makes a defeated person feel more even more beta, vulnerable, and hopeless. It's a form of negative nonverbal biofeedback. Thus, from a sports psychology perspective, this is one nonverbal behavior which we should never allow ourselves the luxury of displaying on the pitch, field, diamond, rink, or track.

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See also:

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4106 (Reposting with Addendum): Jordan's Queen Rania meets with Rohingya Refugee Children & Melania Trump's Visit to Children's Shelter/Detention Center

Body Language & Emotional Intelligence - Analysis No. 4310: Donald Trump overturns his policy of separating families at the border

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's most Telling Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4306: Donald Trump, a North Korean General, and a Salute

Body Language Analysis No. 4299: Bill Clinton confronted regarding Monica Lewinsky Affair

Body Language Analysis No. 4289: A Royal Wedding, Suppression of Tears, and Meghan Markle's Mom

Body Language Analysis No. 4268: Benedict Cumberbatch, Schadenfreude, and The Grinch

Body Language Analysis No. 4202: Saoirse Ronan, Ed Sheeran, and Galway Girl (Galway Grill)

Body Language Analysis No. 4136: Seminole Heights/Tampa Florida Serial Killer - Criminal Profiling

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2884: Mario Götze, Germany, the 2014 World Cup final, and the Body Language of Fiero (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The term "Fiero" is a word which describes the unique emotion which is felt after a significant problem is solved or a great accomplishment is achieved. And while it can occur in any field of human endeavor and is certainly not limited to sporting events - it's on the field of athletic competition that its body language is most commonly captured on camera.

The termed fiero was coined by Italian Psychologist Isabella Poggi, and does not have an English equivalent. Interestingly and unfortunately, although English does have more words than any other language - it suffers from a significant relative deficit of words which describe the many nuances of emotion, particularly positive emotional experiences when compared with many other languages. 

In the image above, one of Germany's midfielders Mario Götze (No. 19) has just scored what turned out to be the winning and only goal in the 113th minute of the 2014 World Cup Championship final vs. Argentina. Götze is in the midst of emotionally processing the event along with his teammates Thomas Müller (No. 13), André Schürrle (back, left), and Benedikt Höwedes (No. 4).

Note the prevalence of their wide open mouths and Schürrle's baring of his bottom teeth. Additionally, flared nostrils with extreme mid-face tension as well as eyebrows contracted together and centrally drawn downwards would, in other contexts, cause many to find these facial expressions as those of extreme pain, fear, and/or anger. And although in the first few moments there can be some fluctuation in what is displayed - very shortly these nonverbals will be replaced by expressions much more recognizable of extreme and pure joy.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2883: Kim Jong-un's Low Self-Esteem and the Over-use of Alpha Body Language

Body Language Secret # 355:  A Signal of Physical Pain

Sincerity Secret # 20: Fiero Feels Good, Caroline Wozniacki & Our Mirror Neurons

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2383:  Elizabeth Colbert Busch vs. Former Gov. Mark Sanford  Body Language in Last Night's Debate 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2782: Hillary Clinton dodges a shoe - Body Language ... and Not

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2833: Edward Snowden & Neck of Fear - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2742: Vladimir Putin on the Crisis Ukraine - Thin Slicing Levels of Anger - Body Language 





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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2852: Cristiano Ronaldo, The 2014 World Cup and Body Language (PHOTO)

Cristiano Ronaldo, a forward for Real Madrid, also captains the Portugal National Team in this year's World Cup. Regarded by many to be the best footballer in the World, he is shown in the image above after Portugal's 4-0 loss to Germany earlier today.

From a nonverbal standpoint, Ronaldo's primary emotion in this moment is one of regret. In the real world, emotions often do not occur in isolation - there are frequently several simultaneous emotions. Cristiano's secondary emotion is one of contempt. Can you spot the specific facial components of both of these? What is his tertiary emotion?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2851: Jerad Miller Interview at Cliven Bundy Ranch Incident - Body Language Warning Signs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2559: John Boehner's Body Language - Microexpression of Contempt vs. Facial Tic

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2798: Donald Sterling, Prejudice and Body Language of Contempt

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 No. 2824: Michael Jace ("The Shield" Actor) Arrested for Alleged Murder of His Wife - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2849: Netherlands Victorious Over Spain, Vicente Del Bosque, Negative Self-Evaluation and Regret - Body Language Tells

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




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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2575: The "Bishop of Bling" - German Catholic Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst's Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst a Catholic Bishop from Germany has recently landed in hot water for alleged massive cost over-runs in the building of a luxury residence and office complex as well as lying under oath. Known as the "Bling of Bishop" and the "Luxury Bishop" he has been removed from his diocese in Limburg by Pope Francis while an audit and an investigation and regarding cost these excessive costs are conducted.

In the above image Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst is shown in a high, bilateral, palms-down configuration. Palm-down body language is authoritative, assertive and alpha - and it's universally negatively received by audiences. As with all alpha body language, it should be used sparingly - essentially choreographed into a presentation - lest it backfires. Those in leadership positions however almost always over-use alpha body language - thus destroying rapport and repelling peers, subordinates ... and superiors.

This particular example of the bling bishop is significantly dialed-up. Its bilateral nature significantly elevates his alpha signal. In addition, the higher the hands are held - the more the authoritativeness is further up-regulated. Moreover, the bishop's fingers and thumbs are closed and parallel form - which amplifies the dominant emotional tone even further. This palms-down nonverbal is extremely hyper-alpha and will alienate others. Religious figures are not exempt from this phenomenon.

Those in power will tend to display a much higher alpha body language signal density. Studies suggest that people in power often also tend to have less empathy. So if you want to seek out those with empathy - beware of those who use an excess of alpha nonverbals.

Think of another German leader from the 1930's and 40's and you will have a clearer illustration of this principle.

See also:

Negotiation Secret # 702: Muammar Gaddafi and The Dominant Spider

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 554:  Ron Paul's Palms Down Faux Pas

Negotiation Secret # 555:  How Facial Expressions Correlate with Palm Position

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1705:  North Korean Statues of Kim Jong-il & Kim Il-sung

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2572: Angela Merkel's, Mobile Phones and Eavesdropping - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2571: Angela Merkel, the NSA and Cell Phones - Body Language Tells

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2539: Calvin Johnson, the Index Finger and Alpha Behavior - A Body Language Tell of Mobile Phones


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2572: Angela Merkel's, Mobile Phones and Eavesdropping - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In this brief video of Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor - and the most powerful woman in the World - voices her concern over the alleged NSA's massive collection of phone data on tens of millions of Europeans - including the direct tapping into Mrs. Merkel's and 35 other Heads-of-State Mobile phones.

Intriguingly, on several occasions in this particular video, the German leader displayed multiple mild fear expressions. The best example of this occurred during the 0:22 - 0:23 segment - captured below in the still image. Note the corners of her mouth pull backwards and slightly down. This is subtle yet a very significant nonverbal signal of fear. Notice also the lack of any fear-related nonverbal indicators of the eyes or neck.

What nonverbal manifestations of Anger did Angela display in this Video?

What body language is present which signifies Mrs. Merkel's high-alpha personality?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2571: Angela Merkel, the NSA and Cell Phones - Body Language Tells

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. 2556: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and Star Trek - Even Great Actors Leak Body Language Tells

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2064:  David Cameron & Boris Johnson - Wincing at Wimbledon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1927: Italy's Fans watching Euro 2012 Final - Expressions of Fear 

Negotiation Secret # 351:  Lars Von Trier, Kirsten Dunst - Some Subtle and not-so-subtle signs of  anxiety, discomfort, anger, fear, etc.

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2533: Angela Merkel's Low Steeple "Trademark" - A Major Body Language Mistake (PHOTOS)

Congratulations to Angela Merkel. Yesterday she was elected to her third term as Chancellor of Germany. She is one of the few European leaders to weather the storm of the great recession and is on course to overtake Margaret Thatcher as Europe's longest serving elected female leader. Germany is the fourth largest economy (nominal GDP) in the World and many feel that Merkel is to be credited with helping to pull Europe out of its financial crisis. She is also the most powerful woman in the World.

Despite Mrs. Merkel's success, she has one body language habit that is especially rapport destroying - the over-used Conventional Steeple.  As an a athlete who meets with success early in her career, she perhaps partially attributes her winnings to factors which in reality do not contribute, and moreover detract from her ability to connect emotionally with the German or any other people.

The conventional steeple, whether held low [as does Frau Merkel overly habituates (see collage image below) and some have said she uses this as a "trademark"), moderate (held roughly at the level of the sternum] or high (in front of the neck or face) is signal that sends messages of high-alpha emotions. The higher the steeple is held, the stronger its meaning. It is a significantly assertive body language sign and is correlated with a very elevated confidence level (take note there are several other types of steeples, such as the basketball steeple, the one-handed steeple, the pistol steeple, etc. which all connote different meanings). Betas do not use the conventional steeple in the company of alphas.

However as with all alpha nonverbals, when the conventional steeple is over-used it becomes hyper-alpha and it will back-fire and thus send strong signals of arrogance and condescending emotional tones. It does not take much to over-use this gesture. Its use carries a lot of weight and so care should be taken to display it in a deliberate and conscious fashion (essentially choreographed into a speech or discussion) and only for a few seconds when a particularly important point is being emphasized.

The vast majority of those who use the conventional steeple will over-use it though - so people will often feel patronized. Therefore when it is over-deployed, the conventional steeple will destroy rapport and offend. With the exception of a few such as some news reporters (where bizarrely, the conventional steeple is professionally entrenched) and others who have adopted this forced behavior which then becomes a bad habit through ill-advice or mirroring another (and I believe Chancellor Merkel is one of these exceptions) - those who over-use the conventional steeple also have a high correlation with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1503:  The Conventional Steeple vs. The Basketball Steeple - Seeking a Balance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2102:  The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle and the  Conventional Steeple vs.Basketball Steeple

Negotiation Secret # 277:  The Conventional Steeple:  Use it on Rare Occasions and in Small Doses - Ewald Nowotny 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2235:  Barack Obama and John Boehner - The Fiscal Cliff and Contrasting Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2496:  Would You Buy a Car from this Man? (a Lykan Hypersport?),  Destroying Rapport with Arrogant Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1811:  Jamie Dimon - the Day Before Announcement of  JPMorgan Chase's $2 Billion Loss

 
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Body Language Analysis # 1864: Assuring a Nonverbal Display

Arash Dosthossein and Hassanzadeh Kalali are Iranian. To protest possible extradition from Germany and aide them in their hunger strike, they have sewn their lips together. They wish to be accepted as political refugees. 

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Nonverbal Communication Exercise # 2012: Got Empathy? An Appeal to Asma al-Assad Diplomacy through Unconventional Channels

In this video graphic video, produced by the Huberta von Voss-Wittig, wife of Germany's United Nations Ambassador (Peter Wittig) and Sheilia Lyall Grant, wife of the United Kingdom's Ambassador (Mark Lyall Grant), they made an open and unconventional appeal to Asma al-Assad (wife of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad) to assert herself and help stop the Syrian Government's violence towards its own people. 

After watching it, were you aware that your central forehead muscles were contracting? This specific nonverbal is expressed whenever pain is experienced - emotional or physical - either directly or via empathy.

Were you aware that your head & neck pulled backwards, away from the video?

Was your real-time awareness of your emotional mind acute enough so that your conscious mind knew when your mouth, lips and teeth pulled back in a classic fear expression?

See also:
Secret # 2019: Sarah Palin's "Co-Hosting"on the Today Show - She Fears Romney's Candidacy
Secret # 1081: Newt's Mouth of Fear
Secret # 931: Harbaugh's Fear and Anxiety

Or when the platysma muscle on your neck tightened like a tent (also classic of fear)?

See also: Secret # 329: Neck of Fear

Did you have any conscious control of your hands as they reached up to cover your mouth? - a classic display of empathy.

See also:
Secret # 21: Surprise + Fear + Empathy
Secret # 221: Spontaneous Mouth Covering and Empathy
Secret # 665: A Strong Signal of Insincerity

I doubt it. 

Almost no one is aware of their emotions in real-time. It's nearly a contradiction to the nature of emotions. Body Language is the science of emotions and how these are expressed nonverbally - in real-time - on the face and body. You watched this video presumably because you have an interest in nonverbal communication - and yet you still were unaware of what you were doing while witnessing the content of the video. Indeed, this is true if you had read these/are reading these paragraphs prior to watching it. 

We all leak emotions and our true feelings through many nonverbal channels. We think we are better than the next person at controlling these expressions, and even if that's true - we still are as transparent as glass.

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Leadership Secret # 222: Palms Down vs. Palms Up

The above photo of Angela Merkel is an obvious and major faux pas.  No leader, especially a national leader and particularly the leader of the German people should use this palm down, arm extended gesture.  The obvious images of Adolf Hitler it conjures up, creates an immediate and visceral fear response in nearly all who see it.  This aside, palms down gestures universally generate negative, patronizing and condescending feelings in the audience and all others who see the image.  Leaders are well advised to use the palms up gestures instead.  The palms up gesture spread feelings of openness, fostering and supportive attitudes while still being authoritative and conveying strong leadership.

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