Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3570: Donald Trump's Duplicitous Thumb - Body Language (PHOTOS)

When it comes to the "Thumbs Up" body language display, it's important to see what may not-so-obvious. First - never forget the accompanying facial expression - for it's subconsciously driven, whereas the decision to display an upward thumb is a conscious one. It's always the subconscious component which tells the true emotions. Donald Trump's facial expression shown above is one of blended contempt, disgust and disbelief. 

Yet there are further details for his thumb to reveal. Like many politicians (and of course people from all walks of life), when Mr. Trump uses the "Thumbs Up" display - his Thumb is rarely fully committed. Notice that the base of his thumb (proximal phalanges [or the singular, phalanx]) remains touching or very close to the rest of his hand - with only the distal end of his thumb extending away.

In contrast, note Ronald Reagan's thumb in this image from 1980 - his whole thumb is extended away from his hand.

Reagan's smile is also very sincere - thus his face and his hand are nonverbally congruent (vs. Trump's disparate body language).

This lack of full thumb engagement called a "Mini-Thumb", "Duplicitous Thumb" or "Tentative Thumb" - for it signals incongruity and insincere emotional tones. It is yet another nonverbal display revealing a significant difference between what is said and what is being thought and/or felt. 

Even when Mr. Trump's thumbs extend in this gesture a bit further - they rarely lengthened much more than what is seen here (on his right).











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. 3569: Johnny Depp Surprises Pink on Jimmy Kimmel

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3559: Kit Harington, Game of Thrones, Jon Snow and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3558: Jack Whitehall, Harrison Ford and Jennifer Lawrence
 
Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3382: Donald Trump's Mask

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3449: Natalie Portman's Hands

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3324: Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin Shake Hands at UN Luncheon 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3198: Sepp Blatter, FIFA, Subtle Fear & Body Language
 
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3171: Brooke Baldwin - Blames Vets for Riots? Then Apologizes - Contrasting Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

These two videos are an excellent study in contrast. Yesterday, CNN Anchor Brooke Baldwin, in an interview Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) on the subject of the rioting in Baltimore, said, “I was talking to a city councilman here last week who was saying, ‘Brooke, these people have to live in the communities. There’s no emotional, or there’s a lack of emotional investment,’ ” Baldwin continued, “And a lot of these young people … and I love our nation’s veterans, but some of them are coming back from war, they don’t know the communities and they’re ready to do battle.”

Note Baldwin's hand and arm movement during the dialog in the above video. In body language terminology these are examples of what are termed "Illustrators". Yet they are incongruous in both amplitude and context with her words (As if she was an orchestral conductor and the music is "off" to a bit). This disparity is a strong signal of insincerity. It shows us that Brooke Baldwin either did not believe what she was saying - or that she was being melodramatic and trying to inject (act) sincerity and emphasis when she was not well thought (or fully emotionally present) on the specifics. Either way this is insincere behavior.

Understandably, many have blasted her for making this statement.

Today she apologized for her words (See video below). In contrast to the above AND with vast majority of other apologies of celebrity and public officials - this one was sincere. Note that she did NOT read her apology. An apology that has to be read (and written by lawyers) is not spoken from the heart and not sincere. An unscripted apology, even to an eight-year old "feels right". Both Baldwin's vocal qualities and her choice of words were also sincere.

[For some reason, several months after it was posted, CNN has removed Brooke Baldwin's apology from their YouTube channel. The image captured below however, was taken during this apology.]

From a nonverbal perspective, Ms. Baldwin's central forehead is contracted and directed upward (an Upward CFC). Her inner eyebrows are also vectored up. In addition, Brooke's mouth configuration is consistent with mild pain and sadness. While her facial expression could have been more extreme, this is certainly consistent with sincerity and emotional pain.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3170: Angry mother beats son for participating in Baltimore Riots - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3169: Baltimore Deputy Police Commissioner Jerry Rodriguez regarding the Death of Freddie Gray - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2863: Gary Oldman's Apology on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" - Sincere or Insincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3092: Brian Williams' Apology - Was He Sincere? - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3115: Giuliana Rancic apologizes to Zendaya Coleman comment made regarding her dreadlocks at the Oscars - that she "smells like patchouli oil and weed" on "Fashion Police" - Is She Sincere?





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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2336: Jodi Arias "Secret Video" Jury Will Not See - Extremely Out of Context Body Language

As psychologist Dr. Michael Brannon says, there are many things which are obviously incongruous in the above edited video of Jodi Arias. It was filmed when she was alone on the day she was arrested and charged with first degree murder of her former boyfriend Travis Alexander. Standing on one's head is obvious and could arguably be (as was also stated here) a form of exercise/meditation to cope with the stress. 

From a body language perspective, when Ms. Arias says to herself, "You should have at least done your make Jodi. Gosh." - her hands preen her hair and her elbows stick out laterally (in strong distinction to and sends a completely different message from when the elbows are pointed forward). This is a nonverbal signal of very high confidence and specifically says she is thinking of herself in a sexual context. This configuration puts breast on display, indicates high vitality, engenders the release of pheromone-like substances (vomodors) and also exemplifies a self-preening behavior. 

To be thinking of oneself in a sexual context in the midst of an interrogation on the day of an arrest for first degree murder of her former boyfriend is extremely incongruous for normal behavior. This is particularly true given her later admission of killing Alexander in self-defense. It also indicates that Jodi Arias had, at that time at least, a high level of confidence that she would be found to be innocent of murder.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2325:  Mila Kunis' interview with Chris Stark on BBC Radio 1, re: Oz the Great and Powerful -  Body Language, Sexual Attraction and Mirroring

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2313:  Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel -  What Her Body Language Tells Us ....

Romance and Dating Secret # 231:  Eva Longoria and a Classic Female Sexual Display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2323: Jodi Arias Murder Trial - The Body Language of Self-Contempt-Regret

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 882:  Bashar al-Assad's Chronic Insincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1911: Preening as a Signal of Affection-Attraction

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1805: The Most Beautiful Woman in the World  What Makes Her Even More Alluring?  Aishwarya Rai

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 882: Bashar al-Assad's Chronic Insincerity

Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, displays in this video a great nonverbal example of insincerity. Whenever the central forehead muscle is contracted (furrowed) - two sincere emotions should immediately spring to mind: physical pain and emotional pain. These emotions may be either directly experienced or felt indirectly via empathy. In these cases there should also always be displayed the corresponding and congruent nonverbals of the mouth for sadness, pain or even fear. In other words, a forehead that is expressing sadness, pain or empathy for others should have a mouth that matches these emotions. But if an emotionally neutral mouth or smile occurs with the central forehead contraction  (even a subtle or very brief smile) this is incongruent with pain-sadness-fear empathy or physical/emotional pain. Al-Assad displays this particular facial incongruity throughout this video and many others.

Beware of those who are often or continuously insincere - particularly when they are "significant others", employers, business partners, "leaders" or .... heads-of-state.

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