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

Kim Jong-un is shown here recently watching a missile (KPA Strategic Rocket) test (“tactical rocket firing”) on 29 June 2014 near Wo'nsan, North Korea (Kangwo'n Province).

The North Korean leader, as many have observed, has a low self-esteem. And as with many with this problem, Kim Jong-un overcompensates with alpha body language. When hands are clasped loosely behind one's back - it signals an alpha attitude - both to others and to one's own psyche. It lets other people know you have confidence as well as up-regulating your own emotional tone. Yet, like all alpha signals, this must be used sparingly, lest it backfires and has the opposite effect. Many "leaders" (elected and otherwise) over-use alpha nonverbals and rather than signaling confidence - it transmits arrogance, aloofness and patronizing motives.

Interestingly, when a leader uses this body language - his or her subordinates will never use it in their presence (for fear of offending their superior). Kim Jong-un's father (Kim Jong-il) and his grandfather (Kim Il-sung) both used it to excess as well. This is not specific to the culture of North Korea - but an example of a nonverbal that for family/environmental reasons became indoctrinated - and works to their disadvantage.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2881: LeBron James and What He Learned About the Way He Switched Teams - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2364:  Kim Jong-un Tells a Lie to His Generals  North Korea, Body Language and Third Rate Vetting

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2760: Kim Jong-un, Low Confidence and Cigarettes - Body Language of an Anti-Leader

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

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1085:  Low Confidence vs. High Confidence  Kennedy and Eisenhower

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2718: Obama: "I can do whatever I want" Body Language with French President François Hollande

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2718: Obama: "I can do whatever I want" Body Language with French President François Hollande (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

French President François Hollande is visiting the United States. President Obama, who normally has very good body language, committed a major faux pas as the two leaders walked outside Monticello today. Keeping his hands clasped behind his back nearly the entire time he walked outside of Jefferson's Home, the President said, "... Sorry we're breaking protocol here. That's alright. That's the good thing about being President, I can, I can do whatever I want." (0:01 - 0:08)

POTUS used the hyper-alpha display of long-duration hands clasped behind-the-back nonverbal - despite the fact he's the most powerful man on the planet. When you're at the top of any pecking order, one should want to build rapport, not destroy it. Barack does not need to remind anyone he's President. As with all high-alpha body language, if over-used it will backfire and send patronizing and arrogant signals. This nonverbal configuration is powerful and thus it should be used very sparingly - essentially choreographed for particular and brief moments. Moreover, walking in this manner, particularly with another head-of-state, has the effect of amplifying its condescending message.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2717: LA Reporter Confuses Samuel L. Jackson with Laurence Fishburne - and a Common Body Language Misconception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2620: President Obama Tells a Couple Fibs - "Norming" Barack's Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2678: French President François Hollande, Valerie Trierweiler and Julie Gayet - Of Affairs, Affection and Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1705:  François Hollande & the French Presidential Election - The Pistol Steeple and Emotional Dissonance 

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1085: Low Confidence vs. High Confidence Kennedy and Eisenhower

Both of these photos of John Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower were taken at Camp David in April 1961, just after the Bay of Pigs Invasion. The confidence levels of the then current, younger and inexperienced President and his older, experienced and finally responsibility-free predecessor are conveyed by their arm and hand positions. Kennedy has at least one hand in his pocket (perhaps both in the image above). This is a low confidence signal. Eisenhower's hands are not hidden and he's walking in the high confidence, hands-loosely-held-behind-the-back configuration exampled above.

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