Body Language Analysis No. 4297: Donald Trump's Fearful Forefinger - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

On Friday 1 June 2018, Donald Trump met with former North Korean spy chief Kim Yong-chol in the Oval Office for about 90 minutes. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the President - with a focus on one particular tell.

DONALD TRUMP (beginning at 0:00): We'll be, ah - meeting on June twelfth in Singapore - went very well - it's really 'getting to know you' kind of a - situation. Ah, Mike has spent two days, ah, doing this. We've gotten to know their people very well and we will - you people are going to have to travel, because you'll be in Singapore 'n June twelfth. Ah - and I'll think it will be a process. It's not - I d't-, I never said it goes in one meeting - I think it's going to be a process. But the relationships are building and that's a very positive thing.

During, 0:29, as he says, "... relationships ...", he moves his right hand/arm gesturing using two rapid cyclical rotations - while advancing his hand anterior-laterally with his palm is facing in (toward his torso). Crucially, during this dynamic, his index finger is flexed (retracted) - but the other digits are extended.

This gesture is but one of many examples of what are known as alpha-beta hybrids. Alpha-beta hybrids are not pure alpha, nor pure beta - but somewhere in between. In general, the use of alpha-beta hybrids is wise. Politicians certainly don't use them anywhere near as often as they should - rather they tend to default to alpha and hyper-alpha nonverbal behavior (which, although solidifies their base - these will alienate swing/independent voters).

While this particular gesture - with the index finger retracted and all the other digits extended - is not idiosyncratic to Trump, it's relatively rare in the general population. And although it IS an alpha-beta hybrid, this illustrator lives toward the beta end of that Goldilocks zone.

Because the forefinger (index finger) is the most alpha/most powerful of all the digits, this non-usage gesture is known as the Forefinger Retraction, Forefinger Flexing, or Fearful Forefinger.

Thus, in a very literal way, this dynamic is the exact opposite an extremely Hyper-Alpha gesture - Forefinger Pointing - (where the forefinger [index finger] is extended, and all the other digits are retracted).

SUMMARY: When we observe his Fearful Forefinger Retraction in dynamic context - it unequivocally tells us that the President is having a momentary downturn of his confidence. Its presence projects a hesitancy to commit/not wanting to engage. Moreover, as its name suggests, there's also a component of fear present.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4296: Sarah Huckabee Sanders Chokes Up

Body Language Analysis No. 4294: LeBron James, Adrenaline Surges, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 4292: Sarah Huckabee Sanders' Deception

Body Language Analysis No. 4290: President Trump regarding talks with North Korea

Body Language Analysis No. 4278: Jaws - "You're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat" - vs. A Real Shark Encounter on a Paddleboard 

Body Language Analysis No. 4249: Will Smith, Sophia the Robot, Robot-Empathy, and Responding in Context

Body Language Analysis No. 4205: Chloe Kim, Albert Einstein, and Creativity

Body Language Analysis No. 4071: Fans' Reaction to Trauma - Young Girl Hit By Foul Ball at Yankee Stadium

Body Language Analysis No. 3955: Jeff Sessions, Russia, and Sergey Kislyak

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3259: Barack Obama responds to Mike Huckabee's Holocaust Reference - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today, while in Ethiopia, President Obama was asked about Mike Huckabee's Holocaust reference. The former Arkansas Governor and 2016 Presidential Candidate had said over the weekend that President Obama's president’s policy would “take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven.” Mr. Obama went on to criticize several republicans and his accompanying nonverbal signals provide some excellent teaching moments.

Here President Obama is biting his bottom lip (0:16) as he responds to former Governor Huckabee referencing the Holocaust. Depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered, lip biting can have several different meanings. In this context, Mr. Obama's lip biting signals a hesitancy to speak as well as a very careful word choice (anyone who listens only to this passage would easily discern his reluctance).

This moment showcases an excellent example of incredulity (although this is certainly not the only facial expression associated with disbelief). Note the President's forward head tilt clustered with an elevated central forehead contraction (CFC) with a mild mouth pseudo-smile. This is seen during 0:42 - 0:43 as he mentions Ted Cruz's (who he didn't mention by name) suggestion that he's the leading state sponsor of terrorism.

At 2:18 we see the President express a clear example of a facial expression of contempt for Mr. Trump as he speaks about the businessman's questioning heroism of John McCain.

What is the secondary emotion displayed here?






See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3258: Hillary Clinton speaks out on "inaccuracies" of private email controversy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2596: What Motivates Ted Cruz's Regarding Anti-Obamacare, Body Language Tells on Jay Leno

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3250: Donald Trump regarding John McCain: "He's no hero" - Body Language Tells us what he really thinks

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2641: John McCain with Protesters in Kiev, Ukraine - You Feel Safe There?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508:  Surfer Kelia Moniz and a  Classic Flirtatious Body Language Display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2951: Miss America 2015 - Sincerity, Surprise and Botox

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3255: Donald Trump and a Body Language Signal of Social Fear and Hesitancy (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Donald Trump was interviewed by Anderson Cooper yesterday. In this segment he continues to press the republican candidate regarding the idea of asking God for forgiveness. At 0:47 the reporter rephrases his question, "But the idea of asking for forgiveness, that's not a - is that a central tenet for you?"

Before Mr. Cooper had finish asking his question, Mr. Trump displayed a classic nonverbal facial cluster. He pulls the corners of his mouth out (laterally) and downward. Simultaneous he juts his jaw out quite far as he audibly inhales with a hissing sound. This lasts for about 2 seconds. During the beginning of this expression cycle, Trump also displays a prolonged blink with mid-facial tension.

This evanescent cluster of facial changes is indicative of social-fear and hesitancy. It's not an expression of physical danger fear - but the type of trepidation where a person feels they must tread delicately for fear they will suffer significant social repercussions.

There were a multitude of other body language signals displayed during this interview. This was just one moment - yet a very telling one. Trump shows us an Achilles' heel. He reveals his vulnerability to the subject of religion - and more specifically his feelings regarding God. He also fears this weakness will cost him the republican nomination. His opponents should seize on this moment and hit him hard here.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3254: How to Destroy Your Cell Phone With Sen. Lindsey Graham – Touché Donald Trump - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2802: Emma Stone & Jimmy Fallon Lip Sync Battle - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2556: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and Star Trek - Even Great Actors Leak Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3173: Maryland State Attorney Marilyn Mosby - Freddie Gray's Death Ruled Homicide - charges to be pressed against police 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2783: Hillary Clinton asked again about 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2855: Hillary Clinton, 2016 Presidential Race and Duping Delight
 

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

In this video of a recent fundraiser-campaign speech in San Francisco, during the 1:02 - 1:05 segment, Barack Obama says, "...as long as I'm Commander-in-Chief we will sustain the strongest military the World has ever known..." Simultaneous with this declaration, Obama's right eyebrow and right forehead contract and elevate - while the left-sided counterparts remain relaxed. This unilateral facial nonverbal is consistent with disbelief and/or incredulity. The statement which came just prior to this statement is not shown/heard here (e.g. it is somewhat out of context) - and the President could very well have been referencing someone or group who called into question the sincerity of his military commitments (anyone who has access to the transcript of this speech, or a larger video segment - please email the link).

Temporally overlapping slightly (1:05 - 1:07) with the above body language/facial display (and thus contributing to the body language "cluster") is another interesting nonverbal - where the President held his right thumb and forefinger (aka index finger) about 3 inches/ 7.5 cm apart. This gesture may indicate the obvious - such as "a little bit", "a small amount", etc. - however it can also signal skepticism or reluctance.

This is yet another excellent example of how, nonverbally, the hands and the face often mirror each other.

See also:

Nonverbal Analysis # 1197: Forefinger and Thumb Held Close Together - Rick Santorum

Nonverbal Analysis # 1559: Timothy Geithner on Face the Nation

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

Nonverbal Analysis # 1600: Senator Marco Rubio - Sincerity, Self-directed Incredulity & Humor, Blocking and Appeals for the Vice Presidency

Nonverbal Analysis # 67: Incredulous Cluster

Nonverbal Analysis # 1910: Natasha Smith Sexually Assaulted in Tahrir Square - Post Assault Interview

Nonverbal Analysis # 2124: This Body Language-Facial Display Should always make you think "Insincere"

Nonverbal Analysis # 1531: Hillary Clinton Describing the Osama Bin Laden Navy SEAL Raid at the U.S. Naval Academy, 10 April 2012

Nonverbal Analysis # 2129: Barack Obama's Body Language, Misspeaks "Export More Jobs" Displays Incredulity and .....
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1559: Timothy Geithner on Face the Nation

Timothy Geithner appeared on Face the Nation yesterday. He exemplified "Nonverbal Homonyms" using (subconsciously) the same hand gesture on different occasions with two different meanings. When the thumb and forefinger (index finger) are held in close proximity (but not touching), it can be a body language indication for "a little bit" or "very close". Geithner exampled this twice in this video, first during the 2:23 - 2:26 time marks, when he spoke about a small percentage of people paying more taxes and again displaying the same nonverbal with similar words during 2:51 - 2:55.

The Treasury Secretary also used this same hand gesture at the 3:58 - 4:02 mark, only this time it had a different meaning. This same hand configuration may also indicate hesitancy, ambivalence or uncertainty (Pease) - and that's the context in which he was using it here. During this occasion - the third time he used the gesture - Geithner was discussing the Obama administration's disagreement with tax cuts for the wealthy when he said, "....but you know, extending unaffordable tax cuts for the most fortunate Americans ...." - and so his verbal message was also clearly expressing a similar sentiment - one of reluctance. We can therefore conclude that Geithner's nonverbal signal was highly congruent with his spoken word - and thus based on this consistency, we should assign him a high "sincerity quotient" - at least on the basis of this video (of course, this has nothing to do whether we agree with his politics or not). If we were selecting a jury, based on this honesty display - he would pass. Voir dire away.

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