Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4750: Joe and Hunter Biden, hugs, and true affection – Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

 

Yesterday, Hunter Biden was convicted today on three felony charges related to the purchase of a handgun in 2018 violating laws meant to prevent drug addicts from owning firearms.

The above image of Joe Biden hugging Hunter was taken this past February. It demonstrates a crucial component of a sincere hug and thus affection – closed eyes (eyelids). 

If one's eyelids aren't closed during a hug – either the person is distracted (usually with anxiety), they're not emotionally-comfortable with any public affection (anxiety component here, too) – or, the hug is insincere (the affection is being feigned).

Ninety percent of our sensory input and forty percent of the mass of our brains is dedicated to the visual system (the occipital lobe).

When we close our eyes, the blood, nutrients, and neuro-activity are slightly shunted to areas of the brain which serve our other four senses - as well as to the cognitive and emotional centers.

By closing our eyes, we amplify the non-visual areas of our brains. So it's not your imagination that you can taste the wine or the chocolate more deeply, smell the aroma of the flower, or hear music with more nuance, if we close our eyes.
 

It's also very common to close our eyes when we're trying to increase our cognition – when we're trying to 'concentrate', to focus.

 

The same enhancement also is true of our emotions. And when we're sincere – we instinctively want to experience the totality of the affection – to "drink in" the entire hug, and experience every ounce of the moment – thus we close our eyes.

Inquiries regarding teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, consulting, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com  

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3017: Narendra Modi, Tony Abbott and Hugs at the G20 (PHOTOS)

Here we see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Tony Abbott hugging last week at the G20. In three photos taken from different angles in rapid sequence we can dissect the relative thought-feelings of each man during this hug/Abrazo.

In the top two images Modi's hand is cupped - preventing full palmar contact with the Australian's back - while Abbott's palm makes full contact. Abbott's hand also contacts for a longer duration.

Modi' is also "leaning into" the hug more while Abbott is standing with straighter back.

Abbott's eyelids are closed for part of the hug, while Modi's eyelids remain open.

In the final image it can be seen that Modi's disengages from the embrace quicker with the beginnings of a turning away/rotation of his torso.

Thus while this hug is certainly not the same kind of embrace seen with greater levels of intimacy, and is not meant to suggest so (e.g., The handshake which initiated this greeting is maintained during the hug and therefore keeps a greater distance between them) - there is still disparity in the level of affection displayed here - which is profoundly valuable to recognize. Mr. Abbott's eyelid closure, standing straighter during the hug, hugging for longer duration and his full palmar contact - vs. a lack of all these shown by Mr. Modi - tells us that Mr. Abbott trusts Mr. Modi, is emotionally comfortable with him and is generally more open in the context of leadership - while Mr. Modi is relatively diminished in these feelings towards Mr. Abbott and/or Australia.

Of course their body language disparity could be due to Mr. Modi's relative lack of exposure on the World stage vs. Mr. Abbott who has been at the game a bit longer .... or it may be for other reasons. It is, however, NOT due to their cultural differences and it is also NOT because Mr. Abbott is trying hard to be a good host (the G20 was held in Brisbane, Australia). It will be interesting to see how the relationship between these two men and their countries changes during their administrations.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3016: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and a Suppressed yet Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3014: Vladimir Putin - Odd Man Out Down Under at the G20 Summit

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2511:  Barack Obama & Vladimir Putin  Handshake at 2013 G20 Meeting

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3012: Tony Abbott No Shirtfronts Vladimir Putin at APEC - (yet he buttons-up) - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2771: Australian PM Tony Abbott regarding Malaysian Airlines MH370 Search - Body Language Misinterpretations and Regret

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2260:  'Top Chef' host Padma Lakshmi regarding  New Delhi's recent gang-rape,  Indian Culture and Sexual-Physical Harassment - Body Language Nuance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2980: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Thinks Women Should Not Ask for Raises and should Trust in Karma 

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Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1423: Head First Affection & Head Surrogate Hugs

When true affection is present during a hug, there should always be mutual touching of the heads. If such contact is lacking between these areas during an embrace - there is either a concurrent mental distraction or absence/waning affection. A partial exception applies when a child or person short in stature hugs an adult or another who is significantly taller. In such scenarios, the taller person's sincerity &/or mental focus should be (silently) called into question if they do not pick up a child or bend down in order to touch heads. Hugs and physical contact are rare enough - and certainly important enough, that great effort should be taken at such times for mental and emotional focus. This is body language tell is highly reliable and is virtually always accompanied by a bending/flexing of the neck - particularly in the taller participant of the hug.

Very intriguingly, when there is an outpouring of emotion - but when a person is momentarily "alone" and there is no other head to touch (or not possible) - we will nonverbally (and unconsciously) substitute - and use a "head surrogate" (see below).

The image above was taken shortly after the killing of three children and one Rabbi at the Jewish Secondary School, Ozar Hatorah, in Toulouse, France. Below, a woman mourns with her head against a hearse. The perpetrator of these horrific crimes is currently unknown, as the biggest manhunt in modern French history is underway. It is strongly believed that the same gunman has antisemitic, anti-Muslim, and racial motives and is also responsible for the recent killing of three French soldiers of North African heritage, two of whom were Muslim as well as seriously wounding another of French-Caribbean ancestry.

See also: Secret # 2: Hugs as a Measure of Affection and Impending Break-up

See also: Secret # 921: Gabrielle Giffords' and Barack Obama's Hug 

See also: Secret # 771: Ann's and Mitt's Affectionate Hug

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