Body Language Analysis No. 4260: James Comey on Good Morning America re: Trump, Russia, and the Steele Dossier - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

James Comey's interview with George Stephanopoulos will be aired on Sunday night - however, a small portion of it was shown on Friday on Good Morning America. What follows is a nonverbal analysis.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (beginning at 1:49): You also said you were struck by what they didn't ask.

JAMES COMEY: Very much. No one, to my recollection asked, "So what, what's coming next from the Russians? How might we stop it? What's the future look like?" It was all - "What can we say about what they did and how it affects the election that we just had" Ω.

During 1:53, James Comey's right eyebrow and forehead elevate as he said, 'No one'.

Unilateral forehead/eyebrow elevation is a classic display of Disbelief. Mr. Comey is, to a degree, reliving the experience of the meeting with Donald Trump - and he's incredulous as to the lack of the President-Elect's response (along with his staff) to Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential Election. This moment of emotion is captured in the image immediately above (Please watch the video, as the still photo doesn't fully capture the nature of this dynamic).

During 2:08, as he finishes his sentence ("... It was all - "What can we say about what they did and how it affects the election that we just had"), and just as the camera fades away, Mr. Comey displays another classic expression - this one of Contempt combined with Disgust (shown in the image immediately above and notated by the Ω symbol).

Summary: Upon nonverbal analysis of the video segment included above, the sincerity quotient of the former FBI Director is high. More specifically, at no time in this interview was James Comey being deceptive. He's being truthful.

Additionally, James Comey expresses contempt, disgust, and disbelief toward then President-elect Trump.


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4259: Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad 

Body Language Analysis No. 4257: Mark Zuckerberg Testifies Before The Senate

Body Language Analysis No. 4255: Roger Stone and Julian Assange

Body Language Analysis No. 4253: Tiger Woods at The 2018 Masters - Nonverbal Biofeedback, Sport psychology, and Emotional Intelligence

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4246: Former senior KGB spy - says he was warned that Sergei Skripal and his daughter were in danger

Body Language Analysis No. 4206: Mike Pence regarding John Kelly's Handling of Rob Porter

Body Language Analysis No. 4138: Matt Lauer, Intimidation, and Aggression

Body Language Analysis No. 4055: What Does Jessica Chastain Feel For Matt Damon?

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Body Language Analysis No. 4236: Andrew McCabe, Jeff Sessions, James Comey - and Sincerity • Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Friday 16 March 2018, a bit more than one day prior to FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe's scheduled retirement date, Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired him. This act has placed a large portion of McCabe's pension in jeopardy. 

What follows is a nonverbal analysis of (then) Acting Director Andrew McCabe's testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee regarding recently fired FBI Director, James Comey. This nonverbal analysis specifically addresses McCabe's honesty and sincerity.

SENATOR MARTIN HEINRICH: Ahum, we've heard, in the news, that, that ah, claims that Director Comey had, ahum, [lip smack] had lost thee - confidence of rank and file FBI employees. Ahum, you've been there for twenty-one years - in your - opinion - ahum, is it accurate that the rank and file no longer supported Director Comey?

ACTING DIRECTOR ANDREW MCCABE: [lip smack], [Shaking head side-to-side] No Sir. That is not accurate. I can tell you sir, that ahum, I worked very, very closely with Director Comey, from the moment he started at the FBI. I was his executive assistant director of National Security at that time. I worked for him - running the Washington field office. And of course, I've served as Deputy for the last year. 

Ahum, I can tell you that I hold Director Comey in the absolute highest regard. I have the highest respect for his considerable abilities and his integrity. And it has been the greatest privilege and honor of my professional life to work with him.

Ahum, I can tell you also - that Director Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI - and still does to this day. We are a large organization. We are thirty-six thousand five-hundred people across this country - across this globe. We have a diversity of opinions about many things. Ahum, but I can confidently tell you - that the majority, the vast majority of FBI employees - enjoyed a deep and positive connection to Director Comey.

It's crucial to be able to pick out patterns of insincerity in people - even during moments when they aren't necessarily lying. For many of those individuals will acquire positions of power in which they can do great harm. 

From a nonverbal perspective, at no time during this testimony, did Andrew McCabe display any signals of deception. And, just as important, Acting Director McCabe's sincerity quotient is high.

One (of many) nonverbal Sincerity vs. Insincerity tells is the distinction of use vs. over-use of one's forehead.

If a person contracts their forehead too much - it's correlated with a LOW SINCERITY QUOTIENT. During such times a person's forehead is often nearly constantly and extremely contracted. An overactive forehead insincerity pattern is often seen in conjunction with other insincere nonverbal behaviors (Can you name some?).

When forehead contraction is occasional and displayed congruently with specific verbal statements - such behavior has a significantly HIGHER SINCERITY QUOTIENT.

You'll note that although it did react - McCabe's forehead was only contracted briefly" - and importantly, it was simultaneous with key portions of his verbal statement:

"I can tell you that I hold Director Comey" (0:48 - 0:50)
"considerable" (0:54)
" broad support" (1:09 - 1:10)
"and still does" (1:12)
" across this globe" (1:19 - 1:20)
"majority, the vast majority of FBI" (1:29 - 1:31)
"a deep" (1:31 - 1:32)

Summary: Andrew McCabe has a high sincerity quotient. And specifically, in this testimony, he was completely honest in his praise of and assessment of James Comey.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4235: Beware the Ides of March • Donald Trump removing H.R. McMaster

Body Language Analysis No. 4233: Donald Trump Regarding His Firing of Rex Tillerson

Body Language Analysis No. 4231: Sam Nunberg Interview (Part III) • Diminished Impulse Control, Frustration, and Anxiety

Body Language Analysis No. 4226: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, and Wikileaks

Body Language Analysis No. 4209: Emma Gonzalez, Florida HS Shooting, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4186: Donald Trump, Robert Mueller, and Disgust

Body Language Analysis No. 4162: Is Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Going to Run for President in 2020?

Body Language Analysis No. 4143: Billy Bush regarding Donald Trump on the "Access Hollywood Tape" (Stephen Colbert Interview)

Body Language Analysis No. 4045: Rex Tillerson Regarding Donald Trump, "The President Speaks for Himself"


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Body Language Analysis No. 3974: Elle Fanning, Robert De Niro, and Easter - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

During Elle Fanning's recent guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she recounted an Easter from her childhood, when her family had Robert De Niro's family as guests in their home. Her description of an Easter Egg Hunt provides an excellent nonverbal example of an honest effort to recall an event (a high sincerity quotient) - followed by an immediate change of emotional direction.

In this first image, Elle Fanning is focusing her eyes on the middle-distance (4:35). This signifies an honest, concentrated effort to recall an event.

In the next moment (4:36) Ms. Fanning displays the nonverbal cluster of:

• Squinting her eyes - focusing her thought
• Exhaling - clearing the mind and concentrating
• Displaying a Lateral Lip Purse (to her left) - deciding between a small number of choices    (e.g., What should I tell him?)

Next, we see very rapid blinking/fluttering before she says, "... I don't remember if they did ..." (4:37).

Then Elle looks up/up to her left (4:38) - significant for the visual recall of a specific event. This change is crucial - for she has remembered specifically what happened.


Summary: Although Elle Fanning is somewhat nebulous in her VERBAL LANGUAGE in how her mother eventually resolved the Easter Egg Hunt dilemma ("...  I feel like I, pr, probably my Mom, like, did some nice, she's like, 'Everyone gets one ...") - Elle's BODY LANGUAGE shows us that she did, in fact, recall what specifically happened here - but Fanning refrained from telling the full/true story - probably in an effort to save someone embarrassment. Importantly, we can tell the precise second she decided to switch directions and tell a fib. And although this is a benign little lie which has no serious consequences, it's of profound importance in the everyday world to spot these moments.

Intriguingly, research shows that this is one of the most common reasons WOMEN lie - to save others from emotional discomfort/embarrassment. Men will not lie for this reason as often.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
1-702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3973: Alex Jones, Megyn Kelly, and a Fundamental Insincerity Tell

Body Language Analysis No. 3971: Elon Musk, Amber Heard, Affection, and Ownership

Body Language Analysis No. 3969: Vladimir Putin Offers James Comey Asylum

Body Language Analysis No. 3967: Jeff Sessions' Testimony, Microexpressions, and Duping Delight

Body Language Analysis No. 3964: What Donald Trump Really Thinks about James Comey

Body Language Analysis No. 3941: H.R. McMaster’s Press Conference, Part II — Donald Trump, Russia & Classified Information

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3885: Vogue's 73 Questions with Selena Gomez

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3862: Oscars Mistake - "La La Land" erroneously named Best Picture over "Moonlight" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3798: Elle Fanning, Channing Tatum and Dialing Up the Alpha 


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3726: Donald Trump Accuser - Kristin Anderson - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Kristin Anderson was recently interviewed by Anderson Cooper regarding an alleged incident in a Manhattan night club which occurred in the early 1990s. Ms. Anderson recounts that a person sitting next to her reached up her skirt - and that this act was unsolicited, unexpected and unwanted. She says she immediately pushed the hand away, turned and looked, got up off the couch and moved away with her friends. Ms. Anderson and her friends recognized the person as Donald Trump.

From a nonverbal perspective, Kristen Anderson was sincere during this entire 17 minute interview (Part I above, as well as Part II). There are no signals of deception.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3725: Donald Trump Challenges Hillary Clinton to a Drug Test before Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3723: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - Body Language, Emotional Intelligence and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3719: Donald Trump's "Apology" - Crisis Management and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3717: Creepy Clowns, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3708: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump - Presidential Debates - Part IV - Hillary's Email Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3688: Vladimir Putin and Phone calls

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3596: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3539: Conspicuous by it's Absence - Donald Trump's Missing Expression


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3646: Melania Trump, Donald Trump, Visas, Citizenship and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In recent days Melania Trump's immigration to the US has been called into question after the New York Post publish nude photos of the possible future first lady. The date of the photos are in dispute as to whether they were taken in 1995 or 1996 - but the location of the photo shoot is not - the United States. Statements made by Melania Trump (e.g., "I travel every few months back to the country, to Slovenia, to stamp the visa.") are consistent with short term visas (i.e., B-1 Temporary Business Visitor or B-2 Tourist Visa). Yet these types of visas do not permit employment in the US. The H-1B visa does allow a foreign citizen to be employed in the US, however an H-1B does not require travel back to another country to get it stamped (and lasts for 3 to 6 years, sometimes longer). If Mrs. Trump (or anyone) entered the US with a short term visa (which doesn't allow employment) with the intention of working, it could constitute "visa fraud". An exception for this would be if she worked for free and did not receive income.

Melania Trump has been questioned in the past about her immigration to the United State on many occasions before this recent controversy. The MSNBC interview by Mika Brzezinski included above was one of these - and was conducted in February 2016.

Mika Brzezinski (beginning at 3:36): "But y, y, you're an immigrant."

Melania Trump: "Yes."

Mika Brzezinski: "Do you ever think he's gone too far?"

Melania Trump: "I follow the law. I follow - a law the way supposed to be. I never thought to stay here without papers. I had visa. I travel every few months back to the country, to Slovenia, to stamp the visa. I came back. I applied for the green card. I applied for the citizenship later on - after many years of green card. So I went by system. I went the law. And you should do that. You should not just say, 'Okay, let me just stay here and - want ever happens, happens.' "

In the segment of this video where Melania Trump speaks regarding her immigration to the United States, her sincerity quotient is very high. Specifically, in the personal immigration portion of the interview, she exhibits no nonverbal indicators of deception. Of course, it is possible that Melania unknowingly broke the law - or that she was counseled to act in a manner which was illegal (and she was unaware of it). But at the time of the above interview, Melania Trump did indeed believe she had followed the letter of that law with respect to her immigration to the United States.

Intriguingly, later in the video (5:48), Mika asks Melania, "Let me ask you about women. He's (Donald Trump) taken a lot of criticism ... "

Then at 5:50, look carefully at Melania's cheeks. She displays a subtle, yet very significant nonverbal tell when she pulls in (sucks in) her cheeks and simultaneously displays a prolonged blink. This cluster is a reliable indicator of Melania's anxiety regarding Donald Trump and how he interacts with women.

Summary: IF indeed Melania Trump violated the law with respect to her visa and her immigration to the United States, she did NOT knowing do so. Mrs. Trump does however have significant anxiety regarding the subject of how Donald Trump treats women.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3645: Miss Teen USA's Apology - Is She Sincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3643: What Will Donald Trump Do If He Trails in the Polls By a Large Margin? - Body Language and Predicting Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3641: How Marina Joyce is like Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3620: Cristiano Ronaldo's Injury, UEFA Euro 2016 and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3602: Samantha Cameron's Beta Behavior - How Not to Stand Beside the Prime Minister

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3568: Hillary Clinton, (Low) Likability, Rapport (Destroying) and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us ....


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3544: John Kasich's Honest Anxiety - Body Language (PHOTOS)

This is an image of John Kasich in Glastonbury, Connecticut on 22 April 2016. Scratching or rubbing the back of the head is highly correlated with "Honest Anxiety". That is to say, although Governor Kasich is certainly feeling anxiety here - there is no deception occurring.

Touching, rubbing or scratching the face in particular places (do you know where?) is correlated with lying. It's profoundly important to note that in order to have high reliability, these deception tells should be clustered simultaneously (or nearly so) with other nonverbal signals, paralanguage and verbal language. However, when these MAPs (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers) involve the back (or top) of the head - or the back of the neck - the anxiety is real - and so is the sincerity.


 This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda. 
 
See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3543: Donald Trump, "It Felt Like I Was Crossing The Border Actually"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3521: Woman Mistakes Kevin Hart For Chris Rock

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3517: Before His Walk Back, Donald Trump "There Has To Be Some Form of Punishment" to Women who have Abortions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3396: President Obama's Oval Office Address - Dialing up The Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3402: UFC 194: Conor McGregor and José Aldo - Octagon Post Fight Interview 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3416: LeBron James Catches a Golden State Fan "calling" him a Cry Baby 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3381: Ariana Grande, Flirtatious Body Language and the American Music Awards 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3393: Syed Rizwan Farook, Tashfeen Malik, San Bernardino Shooting and Predicting Violent Behavior

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3275: Carly Fiorina, The Republican Debate and Likability (or not) – Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Carly Fiorina has climbed in the polls and Donald Trump has fallen. According to Rasmussen the former HP CEO has increased her share of the polling pie to 9%. She is clustered with Governor Scott Walker who's also poling at 9% - and just behind Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio who are both at 10%. Donald Trump has slipped significantly to 17%.

Yet from a body language perspective, Ms. Fiorina is far from where she needs to be. Although there are several mistakes exampled in this short video segment, one very common one seen here is a complete lack of the use of her arms and hands.

In nonverbal parlance many of hand and arm gestures are examples of what are termed "illustrators" - for they emphasize, highlight and add flavor to our verbal language. And while illustrators certainly may be displayed too frequently, too dramatically, overly aggressively (hyper-alpha displays such as Mr. Trump) or not congruently with the simultaneous-clustered paralanguage and verbal messages - using them minimally or not at all, will almost always project a lower confidence and diminished assertiveness.

What many people don't realize is that lack of/low illustrator use results in other over-compensatory behaviors (How is Carly overcompensating here?).

Also, when hands are hiding behind, blocked by or resting too long on a lectern (or below a table, a witness stand barrier, etc.) human beings will subconsciously assign less trustworthiness to the speaker. Simply put, if we cannot see your hands we tend to think you're less honest.

Quality and nuanced hand and arm illustrators will also send signals of likability and improve rapport (as well as decrease unfavorables and increase her favorables). These behaviors must never be or look as if they're forced or cliché in nature - lest the audience will feel the insincerity and such acting will backfire. By improving her nonverbal skills, Ms. Fiorina will further leverage her verbal prowess and climb higher in the polls. If so, come November 2016, we could very well have two women running for the White House. 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3274: Chris Christie, Rand Paul, The Republican Debate and National Security

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3272: Donald Trump, Megyn Kelly, Deception and Misogyny 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2016: Hillary Clinton, Roosevelt Island, Building Rapport and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3060: Bradley Cooper, Air Guitar, Neil Young & the R2E2 Expression 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2818: The Caring Hand, Palms Up and Building Rapport

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2977: Raven-Symoné: "I'm Tired of Being Labeled" - Interview with Oprah

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2952: Kmart's "Not a Christmas Commercial" - No Place for Arrogance
 
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2854: Dr. Oz Testifies Before Congress - Does He Believe? - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Dr. Mehmet Oz testified before the Senate's Consumer Protection Panel on Tuesday. Senator Claire McCaskill grilled him regarding some of his claims of the effects of dietary and health supplements on his TV show.

Towards the end the video above, it cuts in with Dr. Oz laughing (3:12).

A moment later Senator McCaskill begins to admonish him from using the word "miracle".

Dr. Oz then displays an "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR) at 3:16 - this in an effort to suppress his previous laughter. The ILR is very commonly used by the subconscious to suppress strong emotions (positive or negative) when they are deviating significantly from baseline and a need to avoid an emotional crescendo.

Dr. Oz simply doesn't want to laugh as he is being scolded.

A fraction of a second later (still 3:16) Dr. Oz displays a "Tongue Jut". This nonverbal indicates he believes he's been bad by laughing out of context.












Throughout the other portions of this video (which is not inclusive of his entire testimony), while Dr. Oz does display anxiety (normal for context during any testimony) - his sincerity quotient is high and specifically he is not lying. He believes what he is saying.

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2690: Peyton Manning Explains the Meaning of "Omaha" Call - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2725: Ted Nugent: Calls Barack Obama, "a Subhuman Mongrel" - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2711: John Kerry and Sergei Lavrov - Tell Me How You Really Feel - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2404:  Internal Lip Roll and other Body Language  associated with Suppression of Sadness

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2254: John Boehner's Speech Today - One Major Body Language Improvement The U.S. Speaker of the House Should Make

John Boehner (R-OH) was re-elected by his republican colleagues as U.S. Speaker of the House. Of course this speech contains many nonverbals - a couple notables here:

Mr. Boehner's use of his hands is very minimal during this speech. In the world of body language, most hand-arm "gestures" are termed "Illustrators" (although other parts of the body/face can be illustrators as well) while others here fit into what are known as Manipulators, Adaptors or Pacifiers (MAPs). In general, although there are some exceptions, illustrators act to visually "underline", emphasize, accentuate, etc. simultaneous speech (although they can be used in absence of any verbal communication). Illustrators usually involve no self-touching.

MAPs involve of variations self-touching - although some examples of this category of body language may not at first glance seem to fit into this category. MAPs in general (exceptions here too) are signals of anxiety - and these can of course be greatly nuanced with added, layered meanings depending on the specific MAP and the other nonverbals with which they are clustered.

Speaker Boehner, throughout the vast majority of his speech today, used very little illustrators. Most of the time his left hand was placed on top of his right hand, with his right hand held in a loose fist. Such body language (one of many examples of a MAP) in this context is very ill-advised. Rather he would greatly benefit from skillful, congruent and relaxed use of illustrators - for they send signals of honesty, an alpha mindset, confidence and assertiveness. Together with other intangibles these qualities engender rapport. In fact, in face-to-face interactions, if a person does not use his hands, full and objective rapport is very difficult to establish. One who rarely uses his hands-arms (again in a congruent and relaxed manner) projects to her/his audience (even an audience of one) significantly reduced feelings of trust, reduced forthrightness and much less comfort-confidence. Of course, over-use, incongruent and "excessive-alpha" illustrators will backfire and also prevent and/or damage rapport - or worse.

Another under-appreciated MAP displayed several times in the above video is Mr. Boehner's short-lived biting of his right lower lip. Here his subconscious/edge of consciousness is attempting to squelch his emotions as he tries to prevent the display of happy-sad tears. This is well exemplified during the 5:06 - 5:12 segment.

Good luck to the entire 113th Congress.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2078: Mitt Romney's Taxes and Harry Reid's Accusations

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2121: Mitt Romney's 47 Percent - Body Language of the Hidden Video 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2061: David Cameron Defends London Olympics against  Mitt Romney's Remarks - Alpha Dominance and Illustrators - Matching Hands and Feet as Sincerity Amplifiers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2052: Dialing Up Empathy and Sincerity - Mitt Romney's & Barack Obama's Response to  Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2150: Body Language Advice for President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1915: Mitt Romney's Response to Supreme Court's Decision on "Obamacare"

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1083: Brewer's Body Language MAPs Flag Foreboding

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 199:  When a Lie is Told, Heard or Visualized by ....Vladimir's Eye
 

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2198: Susan Rice's Body Language at United Nations - Her First Public Appearance Since her Initial Post Benghazi Attack T.V. interviews

Today, in her first public appearance since her T.V. interviews immediately following the 11 September 2012 Benghazi, Libya attacks - Susan Rice spoke outside United Nations Security Council. Although the entire event is not included in the above CBS video (those who have a URL of this full press conference are invited to forward the URL), the portion which is shown here is crucial. Susan Rice's verbal statements were highly congruent with her nonverbal signs as well as her paralanguage. At no time does the United States Ambassador to the United Nations display any body language signals of deception. Moreover, Ms. Rice's nonverbals are highly consistent with truth and indicate a very high "Sincerity Quotient". If this were a voir dire (jury selection), you'd be well advised to pick Susan Rice for your jury.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2195: Sen. John McCain's Body Language when  Comparisons made between Condoleezza Rice to Susan Rice & War with Iraq to Benghazi, Libya Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1843: United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice in Response to Syrian Government's Houla Massacre

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2190: President Obama's Body Language - Press Conference 14 October 2012 - Defense of Ambassador Susan Rice 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1698: Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari & Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2187:  Paula Broadwell with Hearsay on Benghazi Attack -  Excerpt from University of Denver Speech and a Body Language form of "Duping Delight" .... 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2179:  Mitt Romney & Barack Obama -  Sincere Hugs and True Affection 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1905:  Ann Curry's Smile and Sincerity Quotient 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1516:  Ozzie Guillen Apology, his "Sincerity Quotient" &  Fidel Castro 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2086: Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Love and Sincerity

There are many fantastic body language displays in this interview, but one in particular is highlighted here: At the 0:37 mark in this video, just after she sees a video of her husband (Kevin Bacon) describing their first encounter and their love, Kyra Sedgwick briefly touches her sternum with her right (dominant) hand. When we further nuance her body language however, we see that she makes contact not only with her fingers - but with the palm of her hand as well. This "palmar touch" indicates a much greater level of sincerity.

When anyone touches with just the fingers/finger tips (such as often seen in business, sales, the courtroom and in personal relationships) - this indicates insincerity. Such a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier) display would not indicate the person as a whole was insincere, but it would mean in that moment, they were not feeling full commitment and/or not being entirely honest (unless of course we see such nonverbals displayed chronically). 

Touching over the upper left chest or over the sternum, particularly with one's dominant hand indicates even higher levels of the "Heart-Felt" emotions of love and affection.

See also:

Analysis # 1500: Six Degrees of Separation? Leaning in, Head Touching and the Manubrium - Kyra and Kevin are 10th Cousins, Once Removed

Analysis # 21: The Romantic Height Ratio

Analysis # 54: The Manubrial Touch Betrays Our Feelings

Analysis # 1449: Dr. Who, Jenna-Louise Coleman and Necklaces

Analysis # 2053: Strong Signal of Fear-Sadness Anxiety - Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2078: Mitt Romney's Taxes and Harry Reid's Accusations

On Friday, Harry Reid accused Mitt Romney of not paying any taxes for the past ten years. In this video, Mr. Romney is defending these attacks by the Senate Majority Leader. While, like everyone else, we don’t have any of the former Massachusetts Governor's tax records, and thus we can’t comment on legalities as the IRS’s could, Mitt Romney’s body language tells us his honesty regarding these taxes. Generally, Mitt has a very bad habit of not using his hands as illustrators during speeches and interviews – however  this video is an important exception to his pattern. An illustrator is a facial, hand/arm or body dynamic nonverbal configuration which emphasizes, underlines or animates the spoken word. When used in a congruent manner with the verbal message, illustrators indicate credibility, build rapport and increase learning/recall in the audience. One must be very careful to not confuse illustrators with MAPs (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers).

Mitt tends to be “old school” when it comes to his lack of displaying illustrators. In decades past, “speech coaches” often preached to not use one's hands/arms when talking - based on nothing more than their own personal bias. Romney has heeded this bad advice - it is absolutely wrong. It is not to imply however, that haphazard movements of the hands & arms are helpful or to be encouraged. Atypically for him, Mitt used his hands and arms in a highly congruent manner when verbalizing his defense against Harry Reid's accusations. 

Romney's body language indicates high sincerity and honesty regarding his belief in his tax history. He just needs to achieve a similar level of congruency between his words and nonverbal displays in other interviews, speeches and debates.

Analysis # 2046: Romney, Sincerity, Truth and Bain Capital

Analysis # 2052: Dialing Up Empathy and Sincerity - Mitt Romney's & Barack Obama's Response to Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

Analysis # 1915: Mitt Romney's Response to Supreme Court's Decision on "Obamacare"

Analysis # 2051: Mitt Romney regarding Campaign Finance Rules - and a Near-Microexpression of Disgust

Analysis # 2063: Mitt Romney and Ed Miliband - Under-used and Backfiring Uses of Hands

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2042: Syrian Government Defector Nawaf al-Fares

The former Syrian Ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf al-Fares, and the highest ranking government official to defect thus far to defect, is interviewed in the above video. His nonverbal signals are consistent with high "Sincerity and Honesty Quotients" and much empathy for the Syrian people. Based on his body language in this interview, he is a very credible witness to the events there. His frown-sadness mouth clustered with his constant central forehead contraction (CFC) and medially elevated eyebrows illustrate this well. Whenever the CFC is seen with a smile, even a trace amount, its meaning completely changes.

Note al-Fares hands in the mid-portions of the video. What some may call "Thumb Twiddling" - and mislabel as a signal of boredom - in this context is an example of a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier). His thumbs touch/massage each other as they move. In this context, this MAP indicates nonverbal indicates anxiety and is highly congruent with his words, tone and the subject matter being discussed.

If you were selecting a jury, you would want to include Nawaf al-Fares.

See also:

Analysis # 1905: Ann Curry's Smile and Sincerity Quotient

Analysis # 1516: Ozzie Guillen's Apology, his "Sincerity Quotient" & Fidel Castro

Analysis # 2046: Romney, Sincerity, Truth and Bain Capital

Analysis # 1829: Dara Torres Interview with Piers Morgan - Embarrassment, Visual Recall, Sexual Anticipation Lip Biting & Sincerity Quotients

Analysis # 1915: Mitt Romney's Response to Supreme Court's Decision on "Obamacare"

Analysis # 882: Bashar al-Assad's Chronic Insincerity

Analysis # 1861: Bashar al-Assad's Denial and Deception

Analysis # 1698: Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari & Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria

Analysis # 1236: Kofi Annan Does Not Believe

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