Body Language Analysis No. 4263: Kellyanne Conway regarding James Comey's Interview - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today, Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to President Trump was interviewed by Chris Cuomo regarding James Comey's interview last night on 20/20. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of a crucial portion of that interview.

KELLYANNE CONWAY (continuing at 2:58): ... Ah, No, the Democrats are mad at Comey for lots of reasons, I mean they, they blame him for her loss - I lo- I saw, I saw Comey last night, and I said, 'This guy swung an election? I [feigned stammering] don't think so!' I mean [slurred] definitely took away from that - he struggled to even answer basic questions. He also admitted Ω that he as FBI director - injected partisan politics and, and his belief that, that person who lost the [stutter] election who should have won Chris...

Just after she said, "... He also admitted ...", Ms. Conway displays a Loose Tongue Jut (during 3:14, and notated by the Ω symbol). A loose tongue jut (not to be confused with a tight tongue jut or a wide open tongue jut) is a classic nonverbal display indicating the thought-emotions of:

• I've been bad
• I got caught
• I've just done a stupid thing

Note that simultaneously Ms. Conway displays a prolonged blink - which, although not required in this context, when clustered with a Loose Tongue Jut, this blocking phenomenon serves as an amplifier for these same feelings.

Summary: Kellyanne Conway's nonverbal behavior displayed here (a Loose Tongue Jut), indicates she is being deceptive. She does not believe her own statement(s) - before or after/during her Loose Tongue Jut:

More specifically, Kellyanne Conway is lying when she said:

• "... He also admitted Ω that he as FBI director - injected partisan politics ..."
(e.g., She believes James Comey did not admit this, or she believes he did not inject partisan politics into the 2016 election)

and/or with her prior statement:

• " 'This guy swung an election? I [feigned stammering] don't think so!' "
(That is, she DOES, in fact, believe that James Comey affected the outcome of the 2016 Presidential election). 


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4262: Wendy Vitter, the U.S. District Court, and Brown v. Board of Education

Body Language Analysis No. 4260: James Comey on Good Morning America re: Trump, Russia, and  and the Steele Dossier
 
Body Language Analysis No. 4258: Sarah Huckabee Sanders' reaction to the question: "Has the President at Any Time thought about Stepping Down?"

Body Language Analysis No. 4256: President Trump's Reaction to FBI Raid on Michael Cohen

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4237: OJ Simpson - The Lost Confession - Part I

Body Language Analysis No. 4087: Harrison Ford Accidentally Punches Ryan Gosling in the Face - Blade Runner 2049

Body Language Analysis No. 3948: The Manchester Bomber, Nonverbal Communication, Threat Assessment, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 3251: (REPOSTING) Donald Trump's Response to the question, "Have you ever asked God for Forgiveness?"

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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?

________________________________

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.


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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. 3969: Vladimir Putin Offers James Comey Asylum - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared James Comey to Edward Snowden. He also offered the former FBI Director political asylum. The video above shows this excerpt from his press conference.

Note at the very end of this clip, just after President Putin says, "By the way, if he faces any kind of prosecution in this regard, we will provide political asylum in Russia for him as well. He should be aware of that" - Putin briefly but forcefully retracts his jaw (during 0:51). This jaw retraction is shown below (the image above was about a second later and is included for reference).

Try retracting your jaw right now. When performed to this degree, it's uncomfortable.

Jaw retraction accompanying a declarative statement is a signal of regret. Of course, President Putin is a (hyper) alpha. He can say whatever he wants - and yet, in this moment, we see him momentarily slip into a beta emotional mindset. He immediately had regrets in making this statement and he believed he over-stepped.

Summary: Recognizing when an alpha personality slips into beta mode will expose to you their Achilles' Heel - and is a skill of profound value. Immediately after he made the statement, Vladimir Putin regretted offering James Comey political asylum.


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3968: The Grenfell Tower Fire, Empathy, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 3965: Manspreading, Madrid, and a Business Faux Pas

Body Language Analysis No. 3963: Donald Trump regarding James Comey and Loyalty

Body Language Analysis No. 3961: Mike Rogers' Testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee

Body Language Analysis No. 3959: Vladimir Putin - Megyn Kelly Interview, Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3896: Did Matthew Perry Really Beat Up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3872: "Fearless Girl" Statue in Manhattan's Financial District

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3861: Emma Stone, The Oscars and Sincerity

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1010:  What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye? - Rashida Jones


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Body Language Analysis No. 3964: What Donald Trump Really Thinks about James Comey - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

During yesterday's joint press conference with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, each man fielded the questions from the press. It surprised no one that the first query directed to Donald Trump was regarding what the American President felt about James Comey's Testimony the day before.

DAVID BOWYER (beginning at 14:53): "Mr. President, ah, this morning, you were referring to the testimony of James Comey vindicating you. But, I wonder if you could tell us in person, Sir, why you feel that his testimony vindicated you, when it really boils down to his word against your word. And if you could also tell us sir, are, do tapes exist of your conversation with him?"

Donald Trump's eyes close as Bowyer says, "... vindicating you ...", then his torso, head, and neck begin to move backward, he inhales deeply, his nostrils flare. Then, during 15:03, as Bowyer says, "... us ...", he displays a classic Microexpression of Disgust mixed with Anger. Watch this several times at normal speed and then again at 1/2 and 1/4 speeds.

Then immediately afterward (15:04), when Mr. Bowyer says, "... Sir ...", the President displays another microexpression - a "Tongue Jut" - more specifically, a "Loose Tongue Jut". Do you know what this indicates?

Summary: Donald Trump feels significant disgust and anger for James Comey. This, of course, may not surprise you from a political point of view, however, it does show that the President, in this context, has a high level of personal motivation toward Mr. Comey, rather than one of relative objectivity.

Would you have seen these microexpressions - and correctly interpreted their meaning - if they were not pointed out to you? How skilled are you at seeing the moderate nonverbals, let alone the subtle signals - which are right in front of you all day long in your own personal and business life?


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3963: Donald Trump regarding James Comey and Loyalty

Body Language Analysis No. 3961: Mike Rogers' Testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee

Body Language Analysis No. 3959: Vladimir Putin - Megyn Kelly Interview, Part II

Body Language Analysis No. 3957: Sergei Gorkov, Jared Kushner, and Secret Meetings

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

Body Language Analysis No. 3944: Dwayne Johnson, The 2020 Presidential Election, and The Rock Dialing Up His Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3912: Keri Russell's Schadenfreude, Matthew Rhys' Fear, and a Hesitancy to Disclose

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3534: Taylor Swift's (Vogue's) Rapid-fire 73 Q & A Session

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3659: Ryan Lochte's "Today Show" Interview regarding Alleged Rio Robbery


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Body Language Analysis No. 3963: Donald Trump regarding James Comey and Loyalty - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today President Trump and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis held a joint press conference in the Rose Garden. Of course, the focus of the American press was the President's reaction to James Comey's testimony yesterday.

What follows is a portion of the dialog along with a partial nonverbal analysis.

JONATHAN KARL (beginning at 22:03): ... Mr. President, um, I want to get back to James Comey's testimony. You suggested he didn't tell the truth in everything he said. Ah, he did say, under oath, that you told him to let the Flynn, ah, you, you said, you hoped the Flynn investigation - you could let - he could let go of it

DONALD TRUMP (over-talking): I didn't say that.

KARL: So he lied about that?

TRUMP: Well - I didn't say that. I mean, I will tell you, I didn't say that. 

KARL: And, and did he ask you to pledge his loyalty?

TRUMP (over-talking): And there'd be nothing wrong if I did say it according to everybody that I've read today, but I did not say that.

KARL: And, and did he ask for a pledge of loyalty from you? That's another thing he said -

TRUMP: No he did not.

KARL: So he said those things under oath - would you be willing to, speak under oath to, ah, give your version of, of those events?

TRUMP (over-talking): One hundred percent.

KARL: And -

TRUMP (over-talking): I didn't say, "Under oath". I hardly know the man, I'm not going to say, "I want you to pledge allegiance". Who would do that? Who would ask a man to pledge allegiance under oath? I mean, think of it. I hardly know the man. It doesn't make sense. No, I didn't say that and I didn't say the other. 

KARL: So if Robert Mueller wanted to speak with you about that, you'd be willing to talk to him?

TRUMP (over-talking): I'd be glad to tell him exactly what I just told you Jim.  

This particular exchange was a bit bizarre for its dialog alone - for both men misspoke and President Trump misunderstood or worse.  Note that when Johnathan Karl asked, "and did he ask you to pledge his loyalty?" - What he had meant to say was, "Did you ask him (Comey) to pledge his loyalty to you (Trump)? Trump did not catch this crucial error, and Trump simply answered, "No he did not".

Moreover, when Mr. Karl was recounting on the specifics of Mr. Comey's testimony under oath (yesterday to the Senate), President Trump had misunderstood that Mr. Karl was asking about him (Trump) about asking Comey to take an oath of loyalty. This error seems to be than a simple misunderstanding.

There's a specific nonverbal display of the President's which warrants highlighting here - and it's a beta display. 

Beginning at 22:44 and continuing until 22:56, as he said, "... hardly know the man, I'm not going to say, "I want you to pledge allegiance". Who would do that? Who would ask a man to pledge allegiance under oath? I mean, think of it. I hardly know the man. It doesn't make sense ...", Donald Trump held his upper arms very close to his torso, while rapidly moving each of his forearms and hand back and forth, side to side. This is a significantly low confidence display. If he were feeling more confident, Trump would have held his upper arms further out, such that his elbows were 4 - 6 inches (sometimes more) from his torso and also, crucially, he would have slowed down the motion of his arm and hand gestures.

Generally speaking, during alpha behavior displays, the limbs are positioned further away from the body. Conversely, with beta behavior, the limbs are drawn in, giving the body greater protection. And while gesturing too slowly is certainly to be cautioned against, moving too quickly signals anxiety.

Trump's quick and tight arm movement betray his anxiety and low emotional comfort and was also an example of nonverbal leakage - true feelings leaking out through a facade.

Alpha personalities, even though they try to maintain their dominance displays, are only human. They're not always successful at maintaining their personas - and will often slip into moments of beta behavior. The observant among us will catch these nuances and thus discover their opponent's Achilles Heel - giving themselves great advantages.

Summary:

Despite his words, Donald Trump has a low confidence level regarding the "loyalty exchange" he had with James Comey.


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3962: James Comey's Testimony

Body Language Analysis No. 3960: James Comey, Critical Evaluation, and The Side-Eye

Body Language Analysis No. 3958: Vladimir Putin interview with Megyn Kelly

Body Language Analysis No. 3956: Keri Russell's Tongue

Body Language Analysis No. 3937: Mr. Lavrov Goes To Washington - “Was he fired? You’re kidding!” - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and James Comey

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3917: American Airlines Stroller Incident - Anger, Contempt and Escalation (vs. Deescalation)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3860: Ian McKellen, The Oscars and a spot-on Maggie Smith Impression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3835: Beauty and the Beast – Official Final Trailer

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3802: Amanda Nunes, Ronda Rousey and UFC 207


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Body Language Analysis No. 3962: James Comey's Testimony - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The day of James Comey's long-awaited testimony finally arrived today. From a nonverbal communication perspective, one (of many) quality teaching moments occurred as Senator Mark Warner was questioning the former FBI Director.

What follows is a portion of their dialogue along with a partial body language analysis.

WARNER (continuing at 52:00): Now, you’ve had extensive experience at the Department of Justice and at the FBI. You’ve worked under presidents of both parties. What was it about that meeting that led you to determine that you needed to start putting down a written record?

COMEY: A combination of things, I think — the circumstances, the subject matter and the person I was interacting with. 

Circumstances first: I was alone, ah, with the president of the United States — or the president-elect, soon to be president.  

The subject matter: I was talking about matters that touch on the FBI’s core responsibility and that relate to the president — president-elect personally.  

And then the nature of the person: I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, and so I thought it really important to document.  

That combination of things, I’d never experienced before, but it led me to believe I’ve got to write it down, and I’ve got to write it down in a very detailed way.


Beginning at 52:40 until 52:45 as Mr. Comey said, "And then the nature of the person - I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting...", Comey displayed an extended "Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" (SRHW).

The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is a side-to-side moving of the head and neck - sometimes there's also a similar accompanying motion of the torso - or even the jaw (mandible). It can vary in duration - on occasion being extremely brief - ergo, a microexpression or near-microexpression - and at other times it's of longer duration. The amplitude and frequency also vary (In this example, Comey's SRHW lasts for about 5 seconds and is of relatively high frequency but low amplitude).

The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is displayed during moments when the person is feeling high alpha emotions - and particularly high confidence when expressing such strong feelings (thus it's also on occasion referred to as a "High-Confidence Head Wiggle"). There is sometimes an element of accompanying swagger or smugness (although this component is not present here in Comey's display).

On occasion, the SRHW may also be coincident with an additional forward motion during moments when simultaneous arrogance is present. It can also have an accompanying backward motion - when contempt, disgust, and/or disbelief are being felt. However, neither of these variables (or feelings) are present in this segment.

Yet, an additional overlying movement which is seen here - is a repeated shoulder-shrug. In this context, a shrug indicates the thought emotions of: "What choice did I have?" or "What else could I do?"

These nonverbal displays are not able to be captured with still images. Please watch the video several times to appreciate the subtleties of these dynamic nonverbal signals.

Another co-existing expression is seen during 52:42, just after Comey says, "person" - he displays a classic expression of regret (image below).

Summary: James Comey's nonverbal displays during this testimony are indicative of both high confidence and high sincerity. There is no deception present.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3961: Mike Rogers' Testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee

Body Language Analysis No. 3959: Vladimir Putin - Megyn Kelly Interview, Part II 

Body Language Analysis No. 3957: Sergei Gorkov, Jared Kushner, and Secret Meetings

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3921: Kim Jong-un, North Korea, Alpha Status, and Clapping

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3894: Michael Flynn and Russia - "When are given immunity, it means you probably committed a crime"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3856: "Belle" Clip - Beauty and the Beast

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3809: Horse Lays His Head On Coffin As He Mourns The Loss Of His Human Best Friend - Cross-Species Body Language



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Body Language Analysis No. 3960: James Comey, Critical Evaluation, and The Side-Eye - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

This recent image of James Comey displays a classic nonverbal grouping aka "Cluster" of signals.
Note that the former FBI Director's head and neck are turned relative to his torso - and yet they are still rotated about 45 degrees from the person at whom he's looking. We have a strong tendency to not "face point" or "body point" directly at people who we:

• Don't like/have strong dislike for
• Don't believe/don't trust
• Don't respect

Thus when we're looking at such individuals - and our torso, head, and neck are only partially turned - our eyes must turn even more laterally to make "eye contact".

Although Comey's eyes are turned to the side, the colloquial/slang of "Side Eye" is more typically used in the context of open contempt and/or deliberate disbelief (not trying to hide their judgement) - and thus their facial expressions are more extreme and different than what is seen in this example.

Notice also that the entire width of both of Comey's eyebrows are vectored downward.

The crucial placement of his thumb and finger - separated by 2-3 cm while holding chin is significant for critical evaluation.

Summary: Taken as a whole, James Comey's nonverbal cluster says he is:

• Critically Evaluating - more specifically, he doesn't like, doesn't trust, and/or disrespects the person whom he's watching
• Highly focused
• On alert/on guard
• Actively and sizing-up the situation
• Deciding on a course of action

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

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3959: Vladimir Putin - Megyn Kelly Interview, Part II

Body Language Analysis No. 3957: Sergei Gorkov, Jared Kushner, and Secret Meetings

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

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

Body Language Analysis No. 3951: Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, and The Paris Agreement

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3808: Felicity Jones' Sincere Smile

Body Language Analysis No. 3943: Donald Trump hugs James Comey

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Body Language Analysis No. 3945: Donald Trump's Anxiety - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

This image was taken recently of Donald Trump in the White House. Below is a cropped, close-up view of the same photo.

As a nonverbal exercise, while alone in a quiet room, replicate the President's expression. Proceed in the following order:

1.   Thrust your jaw mildly-moderately forward
2.   Tighten the back (posterior) portion of your jaw muscles (masseter)
3.   Hold your upper and lower teeth about 3-4 mm apart (~1/8 - 1/6 inch)
4.   Draw the corners your mouth inward - pursing your lips ever so slightly -
      but don't push your lips forward - just pull them together
5.   Push your tongue forward, touching with moderate pressure
      on the back sides of your front, lower teeth
6.   Lower the entire width of both of your eyebrows
7.   Slightly elevate your central forehead - this will pull up your inner (medial) eyebrows,
      while leaving your side (lateral) eyebrows lowered (as per no. 6)
8.   Look down to your left
9.   Fixate your gaze at something in the middle distance (e.g., 3-6 meters away)
10. Slightly defocus your eyes
11. Stand up
12. Bend (flex) your neck forward about 15 - 20 degrees
13. Slightly bend your upper back forward ('hunching your back' - in a kyphosis-like rounding)
14. Slightly elevate your shoulders and foreshorten your neck

Now review to be sure you're performing all 14 items. What is the emotion that best describes how you feel?

Adopting this combination of postures and facial configurations will make you feel anxious, hesitant - and quite beta. Thus, not only does a worried person subconsciously morph his or her body language to reflect the way they are feeling in that moment - but the reverse also is true - adopting these nonverbal positions will make you truly feel the emotions that your body is signaling to your brain. The same is true for any feeling. You have the control panel. You're at the helm. You're steering the ship.

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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3944: Dwayne Johnson, The 2020 Presidential Election, and The Rock Dialing Up His Alpha

Body Language Analysis No. 3942: Donald Trump, James Comey, Contempt and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 3940: National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's Press Conference regarding President Trump's Sharing of Classified Intelligence with the Russians

Body Language Analysis No. 3938: Donald Trump regarding asking James Comey for his Loyalty

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3903: Rex Tillerson Disagrees with Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3873: Brie Larson's Eyes, The Bachelor, and the Edge of Consciousness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3864: Uber's CEO, Travis Kalanick Arguing with an Uber Driver regarding Falling Fares - Escalation v. De-Escalation, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3707: The Presidential Debates Part III - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton and Sniffing


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Body Language Analysis No. 3943: Donald Trump hugs James Comey - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the video above, Benjamin Wittes, a and friend of James Comey (and senior fellow at The Brookings Institute) - recounts the former FBI Director's interaction with Donald Trump just two days after his inauguration. There were many moments of this exchange worthy of nonverbal nuance.What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.






The second video (immediately above) is the same event, only unedited.

In the image above we see the two men a fraction of a second after their initial, hand-to-hand contact.

Here is a closeup cropped image of that same instant. Although it's a lateral view, this very brief facial expression (microexpression) is in complete agreement with Mr. Wittes' description of Director Comey's Disgust. It's certainly present here - the flared nostril, the tightening of the tissue below the nose and above the upper lip, and the angle of the corner of his mouth. If we were to view his face from a forward angle, Comey's nose would be "wrinkled".


Now - let's go backward a few seconds.

As Donald Trump says, "Oh, and there's, um, [hyperbolic air kiss/pucker, arms extended, hands tilted primarily upward] James [pause]. He's become more famous than me [audience laughter]. Director Comey."

The President's melodramatic/false air kiss/pucker, extending his arms with his palms upward - was very much a pseudo - "Come to Daddy" nonverbal cluster. It's a significantly patronizing gesture - asking/demanding the then FBI Director to walk across the room to him.

As James Comey walks across the room to the new President, he keeps his fingers intertwined - both vestigially from a moment before - in deference to the Office of the Presidency (note most everyone else in the room is in a fig-leaf or similar configuration) - but also largely reflecting his hesitancy to shake Trump's hand.

Upon grasping James Comey's right hand, Donald Trump pulls him in, close to his torso. This is Trump's default handshake choreography. When it's a behavior displayed over time, it also is highly correlative with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Trump then transitions into a hug - which, as Mr. Wittes observes, is one-sided. Director Comey turns his torso to his left (and very probably his feet were pointing to his [Comey's] left too) - already rotating away from Trump in an effort to minimize the torso contact - which allows Trump to whisper in Comey's ear (both poor etiquette and further patronizing).

Note Comey's left arm - the upper portion (humerus) is posterior to his torso - distancing himself from Trump - yet the lower arm/hand held in readiness should it be needed to insulate further from any proximity to Trump.

In this last image, we see a beautiful example of a well described nonverbal phenomenon known as a "Partial Emblematic Slip". You'll notice that Trump's forefinger, ring finger and pinky finger all partially contracted - however, his middle finger is extended.

Breaking down the nomenclature - this is an "Emblem" - because an extended middle finger recognized widely for its meaning. It's "Partial" - due to the fact that it's not held high, finger pointed up, in a fully expressed manner. And it's a "Slip" because it's not consciously initiated - rather it driven by the subconscious. Trump's psyche is flipping Comey off.

This nonverbal profanity display, albeit subconscious, is congruent with new allegations published today - that President Trump told Sergey Kislyack and Sergey Lavrov - in the Oval Office earlier this month that the firing of James Comey, had alleviated “great pressure” on him. Trump also allegedly told the Russian's, "I just fired the head of the F.B.I. He was crazy, a real nut job" - and that he (Trump) "faced great pressure because of Russia. That’s taken off.”

Summary:

As was told by Comey's friend, Benjamin Wittes - James Comey did indeed feel disgusted toward Trump in this moment. And not only was Donald Trump very patronizing toward the FBI Director - Trump's subconscious flipped Comey the bird too.


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3942: Donald Trump, James Comey, Contempt and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 3940: National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's Press Conference regarding President Trump's Sharing of Classified Intelligence with the Russians - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 3938: Donald Trump regarding asking James Comey for his Loyalty

Body Language Analysis No. 3936: Donald Trump's first interview after Firing James Comey

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3931: Marine Le Pen's Default Configuration (and What it Tells Us)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3918: The Image of Kim Jong-un He Most Prefers the World to See

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3860: Ian McKellen, The Oscars and a spot-on Maggie Smith Impression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3809: Horse Lays His Head On Coffin As He Mourns The Loss Of His Human Best Friend - Cross-Species Body Language & Emotional Intelligence


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