Body Language Analysis No. 4110: Yuli Gurriel "Apologizes" to Yu Darvish for a Gesture of Prejudice During The World Series - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

The image above was captured during game three of this year's World Series. The Houston Astro's first baseman Yuri Gurriel had just hit a home run off Los Angeles Dodgers' pitcher Yu Darvish. After he returned to the dugout, Gurriel made this racially charged gesture - placing his fingers to the sides of his face, lifting the lateral corners of his eyes - while mouthing the word "chinito," (Spanish for "Chinese boy"). He was directing his gesture and racial slur at Darvish, who was born in Japan - and is of Iranian and Japanese descent. Needless to say, Yuri Gurriel was unaware he was being filmed.

During tonight's game seven, Yuli Gurriel "apologized" to Yu Darvish by tipping his hat to the pitcher. Note that Fox Sports tagged this tweet with #RESPECT. Yet Gurriel's body language shows the complete opposite. There is absolutely no respect here.

Of course, tipping one's hat is an accepted symbol (Emblem) of respect. It is also a very conscious gesture. In sharp contrast, a quite unconscious nonverbal signal - Yuli Gurriel's facial expression, displays the components of:

• An Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (Elevated CFC)
• Elevated inner (medial) eyebrows
• A partial "mouth smile"
• The "mouth smile" has a unilateral component (biased to his left) of Contempt

Whenever there is an elevated CFC accompanied with even a slight "mouth smile", the "smile" is NEVER sincere. Rather the expression represents:

• Disbelief
• Contempt
• Arrogance

Moreover, the unilateral "smile" of Yuli Gurriel's is not a smile at all (far from it) - but, signals contempt. This would true if it were displayed in isolation, yet when coupled with the elevated central forehead contraction - these two facial components project a 10 out of 10 level of DISRESPECT.

Summary: Yuli Gurriel's "apology" to Yu Darvish was profoundly insincere. Mr. Gurriel's emotions in this moment are arrogance, disbelief, and contempt. He feels Yu Darvish is beneath him. Although the conscious tipping of the hat is one traditional signal of respect - this is feigned; Gurrie's unconscious facial expression tell his true feelings.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4109: John Kelly, Robert E. Lee, and the US Civil War

Body Language Analysis No. 4107: Paul Manafort, Robert Mueller, Russian Oligarchs, and Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4105: An interview with Sophia the Robot at the Future Investment Institute

Body Language Analysis No. 4103: Las Vegas Shooter, Stephen Paddock's and His Brother's Common (Behavioral) Denominator

Body Language Analysis No. 4088: Kit Harington's April Fools' Prank on Rose Leslie

Body Language Analysis No. 4073: Prince Harry and Melania Trump Meet in Canada for Invictus Games - Harry's Hand Signal

Body Language Analysis No. 3989: Peter Sagan Regarding his Disqualification from the Tour de France and Mark Cavendish's Crash

Body Language Analysis No. 3947: Benjamin Netanyahu's reaction to Donald Trump's statement, "I never mentioned the Word or Name 'Israel' "

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3927: Jimmy Kimmel's Emotional Monologue regarding His Son’s Birth & Heart Disease


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Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey and the subsequent massive flooding, Joel Osteen has been the subject of much criticism - particularly over social media over the last 24-48 hours.

Pastor Osteen is the leader of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. There is significant controversy regarding any flooding - or near flooding which occurred/almost occurred at/near the grounds of the church. If this near flooding was true, as Osteen says, it would have placed any individuals seeking shelter there in a potentially harmful situation. Others claim that there was no flooding and the images of high water on/adjacent to the church grounds were from an earlier flood several years ago.

Osteen was interviewed several times on several different national networks this morning. One of these interviews is included above. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.

Comparing the above interview of Pastor Osteen to videos a few years old, you should notice several long-term patterns:

1. You probably recall that Joel Osteen has a prominent facial tic in the form of dramatic and long-standing blinking. Facial tics have both involuntary and voluntary components. Anxiety is one common factor which typically increases facial tic behavior.

2. He has an asymmetrical mouth configuration while speaking. Evaluating old videos show this dynamic is also longstanding - although it appears to be a bit amplified during this exchange.

Although it can be simply a form of a long-term habit/tic-like phenomenon, asymmetric mouth dynamics during speaking is also commonly correlated with insincerity/deception and bravado/swagger. Excluding tic-like etiologies, the Venn diagrams for these latter two behaviors overlap significantly.

3. Asymmetrical Smiling. Joel Osteen also has a longstanding tendency of smiling much of the time whether he's speaking or not. Osteen does this fairly dramatically - also with a strong bias to his right side.

When a smile is sincere - and it's beginning or fading, asymmetry is not uncommon - however the asymmetry should not be maintained throughout the duration of the "smile". If the smile is routinely one-sided and constantly present, it's a very safe bet the smile is insincere.

4. Constant smiling. This particular behavior of Osteen is profound - but, once again, it's been present for years. Anytime a person displays any facial expression with a continuous or near-continuous frequency - especially when it's far from emotional baseline, it's a tremendous red flag of insincerity.

Whenever a person's face assumes, what for them is a "default expression" (sad, happy, angry, critical, etc.) - and maintains this "facial pose" - it becomes much easier for the brain to deceive. When the stakes are high, convincing deception is a difficult act - it takes significant mental focus, and even then most people can't readily pull it off. Therefore, when a person wears a "living mask" (a constant, practiced, and for them, easy default expression) it's much easier to lie.

As a rule, a person who constantly smiles - out of context and out of proportion - is to be strongly avoided.

5. Stuttering is often correlated with facial tics and tic-like behaviors. Stuttering can be correlated with anxiety, and thus sometimes indirectly associated with dishonesty and insincerity - however, there is no direct relationship.

6. Hard swallowing. You'll note that at several times Osteen's "Adam's apple" (Thyroid Cartilage surrounding the Larynx) moved up-and-down during what is known as a "hard swallow". These actions are good general indicators of a dry throat and anxiety.

7. Touching with fingertips but not full palms when gesturing to the chest. Several times when gesturing to his chest (obscured somewhat by the banner at the bottom of the page), Osteen touches with his fingertips but not with a "Full Palmar Contact". This absence of full contact with the palm of the hand when touching one's chest during a declaration of honesty is also correlated with a lack of sincerity.

8. Constant head nodding. In this context, this action is indicative of (significant) anxiety.

9. You may notice that Pastor Osteen does not answer questions directly - but rather meanders and answers indirectly. Although of course, not body language, such a paralanguage pattern is suspicious, but not definitive, for deception.

10. Osteen's verbal timeline - e.g., when the storm began, when he said the waters receded, when the water truly began to recede, when the church released the statement, when the city asked for help, and when the church began to take people in - all do not appear to line-up. This could, of course, be simply due to Osteen's anxiety and the rushed format of a TV interview.


Summary: Much of Pastor Joel Osteen's behavior seen in this video is chronic - and not specific to this particular interview. Such findings muddy the water. Yet much of this long-term behavior is correlative with insincerity. Moreover, this not just one or two items - but multiple findings indicative of anxiety and insincerity. Thus while there is insufficient evidence in this video to indicate Pastor Osteen is being deceptive with respect to the Hurricane Harvey controversy, there are ample nonverbal findings here correlating with a chronic, low level of sincerity.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4046: Melania Trump, Hurricane Harvey, and "Destroying Empathy 101"

Body Language Analysis No. 4044: Kim Jong-un's Choreography

Body Language Analysis No. 4042: Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor - Official Weigh-in

Body Language Analysis No. 4040: James Clapper Regarding Donald Trump's Fitness for Office 

Body Language Analysis No. 4022: Jessica Alba's Rules for Naming Her Baby

Body Language Analysis No. 4008: Veteran Who Survived Dunkirk Reacts to Film

Body Language Analysis No. 3953: Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron meet in Versailles

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3816: Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson



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Body Language Analysis No. 4046: Melania Trump, Hurricane Harvey, and "Destroying Empathy 101" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today, President Trump and The First Lady visited Austin and Corpus Christi to meet with Governor Abbott, other local leaders, first responders, etc. - and to offer their support for the those suffering in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

Melania Trump took a lot of internet heat for departing the White House in  six-inch heels - although, perhaps getting wind of this popular opinion, she changed into sneakers on Air Force One.

We can make the argument that the primary reason the President and the FLOTUS (a title which does not require the wearing of a written label), visited Texas was to be the national face of empathy.

There are are a myriad of ways to express and engender empathy. Yet, when in the context of nonverbal communication, the behavior which is the most crucial for displaying empathy is eye contact - a subject which itself has many branches of nuance. And yet there can be no true eye contact if sunglasses are worn. Aside from the very practical aspect of south Texas having 100% overcast skies of late - wearing sunglasses is deliberately distancing.

When on camera, being interviewed, or even if simply in view - wearing sunglasses, particularly when in such a highly visible leadership position - is a nonverbal double standard. It screams, "I get to look into your eyes (and your soul), but I'll keep mine under wraps - thank you very much." Using this deliberate barrier is a nonverbal manifestation of contempt. It elevates the wearer and lowers everyone else.

With the exception of a funeral or similar ceremonies, in the context of others' suffering, wearing sunglasses is emotionally cold. It's snooty. It's aloof. It's rapport destroying. A leader should be open, inviting, sincere - and yes, projecting empathy. Transmitting empathy without the use of one's eyes is profoundly difficult and always incomplete. This is not about style. This is not about fashion. This is about people. And if you want to tell a person (or a nation), "I care about you and your suffering" - do NOT wear sunglasses (even if it's sunny).

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


See also:

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4043: Donald Trump Pardons Joe Arpaio - Contempt of Court and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4041: Former Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak regarding Secrets from Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4039: Blue Angels, Surprise, Emotional Processing, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4026: Aubrey Plaza, Ingrid Goes West, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 4015: Reince Priebus' First Post-Resignation Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 3974: Elle Fanning, Robert De Niro, and Easter

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3924: French Presidential Front-Runner Emmanuel Macron

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3857: Taunting a Snowplow Driver - Belleville, Ontario - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence


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