Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3189: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang & U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry - Body Language - and Contrasts between Obama & Putin (PHOTOS)

Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang has met with United States Secretary of State, John Kerry the past two days (pictured above). Secretary Kerry has also met with Xi Jinping - the Chinese President. And while there is certainly contention on the issue of China's territorial claims and island-building in the South China Sea, the above two diplomats enjoy a good rapport. Note they are angled in towards each other - each with their torsos rotated and their far legs crossed over their near and pointed towards each other. They both are leaning towards the other (Li Keqiang more so) - as well as leaning forward - with their backs away from the chair.

Contrast this with the image below of Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin captured just outside of Moscow in July of 2009. This moment was, of course, well before the annexation of Crimea or the separatist movement in Ukraine came to a head and before the downing of the Air Malaysia Flight 17 over Ukraine - yet Putin's body language posture spoke/continues to speak volumes. His hyper-alpha "man-spreading"/seated crotch display is very much a body language expression of dominance. Moreover he's not directing his lower body toward Mr. Obama - in very deliberate non-acknowledgment of the then, newly elected American leader. President Obama is rotated both in upper and lower body towards Mr. Putin. Obama's back is away from the chair, leaning forward. Vladimir is having none of it. He's got his back against the chair and is slouching. This is very similar to what we would expect a defiant high-school boy being reprimanded by his principle/headmaster and (internally) saying, "I'm here because I have to be, but you are beneath me." Putin's elevated central forehead contraction with a trace mouth pseudo-smile is screaming incredulity, contempt, arrogance and dismissive emotional tones.


Both the Chinese and the Russians are shrewd diplomats - and certainly, one photo does not foreign policy make - yet body language does not lie. The Chinese will no doubt take a firm stand on the South China Sea and various other issues - however they want to get along. They want diplomacy. Vladimir simply doesn't care.

A Reminder: 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 or religious agenda.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3188: "Sending my friend into the wrong house" Viral Video - How We Hold Our Arms When We're Embarrassed ... and Running

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3134: Ted Cruz to Announce his Candidacy for 2016 Presidential Race - Why He Will Never Win - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2317:  "The Rescuing Hug" -  Body Language of Human Touch & Kangaroo Care

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2436:  Vladimir Putin next to Barack Obama -  2013 G8 - Body Language
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3094: John Kerry at the 51st Munich Security Conference - Mouth of Fear (PHOTO)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is shown here reacting during the "Chairman's Debate" at the 51st Munich Security Conference at the 'Bayerischer Hof' hotel in Munich, Germany on 8 February 2015.

John Kerry's mouth expression is that of fear ("Mouth of Fear"). No video of this moment is currently available - so it's not possible to put this in full context (although there are some hints - see below). This very probably was a very brief expression - possibly a microexpression. Notice how the corners of his mouth are pulled laterally and downwards - more so on his left. Also in this context, the wrinkling of his chin signifies that his neck muscles (his neck is minimally visible) are at least mild-moderately tightened in a concomitant "Neck of Fear". The Secretary's eye lids are also opened slightly wider than baseline along with a contraction of the entire width of his forehead. His hands are held out in front of his body in a protective configuration.

John Kerry's body language at this moment demonstrates a cluster of fear.

What else do you see in this photo that is not described here? You should be able to see a hint of another emotion - thus some emotional dissonance - which would give you a larger context for this moment.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3093: Brian Williams on David Letterman - Discussing Iraq War Incident - A Very Telling Facial Expression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2454:  NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman & a  Subtle "Neck of Fear"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2316:  Jennifer Lawrence's Response to Her Oscar Stumble -  Silver Linings Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2552: Tom Hanks, the Real Captain Phillips and Recalling the Emotion of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2517:  Bashar al-Assad Fears Over-Throw if U.S. Attacks,  Body Language Tell During Charlie Rose Interview  Part II


Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2306:  George W. Bush trapped in Room -  Body Language's Microexpression of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3061: Jimmy Fallon Blew a Chance to Date Nicole Kidman

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2909: John Kerry's Open Mic Gaffe, Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On 20 July 2014, during a commercial break on a Fox News interview, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made an open microphone gaffe when discussing plans for the Israeli-Gaza conflict. Several times he displayed a facial nonverbal indicative of regret. Two of the better examples of this emotional display are included in the screen captures below.

This asymmetric, but not completely unilateral expression of regret is seen more prominently on John Kerry's left side of his mouth (image captured at the 0:42 mark in the video).

The U.S. Secretary of State's central forehead is mildly contracted here (CFC).

Here we see another expression of regret (captured at 0:48) - this one with better camera angle. Note also Mr. Kerry's central forehead is more prominently contracted.








Many people mistake the asymmetrical (and often nearly or entirely unilateral) expression of regret for that of contempt or an insincere smile. Do you know how to differentiate these nonverbal facial expressions?

What other highly significant body language is seen during this interview?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508: Anne Frank, Sincere Smiles and Emotional Comfort

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2746: John Kerry and Hugh Robertson - Eye Rub, Mouth Covering - Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2368:  John Kerry & Xi Jinping in Beijing to Discuss North Korea -  Body Language of Anxiety & Assertiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2586: Harrison Ford in "Ender's Game" - Microexpression and Macroexpression of Regret - Harrison's Brand and the Stanislavski Method

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2811: Jason and David Benham are Dropped from HGTV - Body Language of Subtle Contempt, Anger & Disgust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2724: Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Twenty Years Later

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2746: John Kerry and Hugh Robertson - Eye Rub, Mouth Covering - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This image shows U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (left) and British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugh Robertson at a meeting in Rome, Italy on 6 March 2014, during the Conference on International Support for Libya. John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also spoke in depth about the crisis in Ukraine.

Secretary Kerry is displaying a bilateral eye rub. While this of course can be performed when one is tired or suffering from allergies, by far and away the most common reason a person rubs both eyes simultaneously - it is a signal of emotional processing. This lets us know that that the person configured in this body language has an intellect that knows what has/is/must/will transpire - yet their emotional mind is still grappling and coming to terms.

Minister Robertson shows a nonverbal cluster of intertwined fingers, clenched hands in front of mouth, thumbs in front of mouth and touching nose, gaze down to his right, shoulders and neck forward, shoulders hunched and neck retracted (Turtle Neck aka Turtle Retreat), one (right) eyebrow raised. This cluster-context indicates that Hugh Robertson has a very low degree of confidence/low emotional comfort, high anxiety and a high level of incredulity towards that whatever proposal(s) being discussed will succeed.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2745: Vladimir Putin Deception regarding Crimea - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2647: Vladimir Putin regarding Edward Snowden, What Does the Russian Leader Think?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1705:  François Hollande & the French Presidential Election  The Pistol Steeple and Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2646: Does Barack Obama Want to Go to the Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics? What His Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2743: Liz Wahl Resigns on air from RT-America ("Russia Today") News Network - Body Language

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 913:  Low Confidence, Low Trust and Demure

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 481:  Interlaced fingers, Brief Thumbs and Hand Elevation - Vladimir Putin


 

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

The U.S. Secretary of State and his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have met quite often recently - most notably regarding the Syrian Civil War. In this image John Kerry is exhibiting a very telling nonverbal display of an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). The inward lip roll signals the psyche's attempt to down-regulate an emotional crescendo. These emotional escalations are usually negative in nature (anger, frustration, etc.) although sometimes they are seen in the context of laughter/joy suppression. So why the placing of a hand on Lavrov's left shoulder is a conscious display, the ILR is a subconsciously initiated. Thus this emotional dissonance heavily favors the feeling associated with the inward lip roll and tells us Mr. Kerry's true primary emotion. What other nonverbal clues are seen here which further differentiates the Secretary of State's mindset?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033:  Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1095:  al-Assad Feels a Weak Link with Russia

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1041:  Russia's Dominance over Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2507:  Secretary of State Kerry's Disgust  An Oft Overlooked and Camouflaged Body Language Signal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2368:  John Kerry & Xi Jinping in Beijing to Discuss North Korea -  Body Language of Anxiety & Assertiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2710: Microsoft's New CEO Sayta Nadella's Body Language vs. Bill Gates

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2576: Chris Brown's Body Language - a Signal of Psyche's Suppressing Emotions ... and Anger and ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2652: Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live - Trying to Suppress the Laughter

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1706: Amanda Knox Interview after Guilty Verdict - Body Language Tells

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2507: Secretary of State Kerry's Disgust - An Oft Overlooked and Camouflaged Body Language Signal (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

United States Secretary of State John Kerry made the rounds on the Sunday morning talk shows this morning. The War in Syria, the Syrian government's recent use of poisonous gas on its own people and how the U.S. will respond to this act is of course of great urgency. President Obama announced yesterday that he will seek congressional approval for military action. What follows is an analysis of one particular of the Secretary's nonverbal signals.

Note: The original video has, since the original post, been removed from its online source. The images below however, were captured from this video. 

Beginning at 0:07 in the video above, Major Garrett asks John Kerry, "Now Mr. Secretary, I know you believe the President's decision to seek congressional authorization is courageous, but isn't it bowing to a political reality that had been communicated to the President later ... late this week, that there would be significant congressional backlash if he didn't give Congress in a role - and that backlash, in part, reflected the inability of the administration to make its case this past week?"


This image captured at 0:23 is shows  the beginning milliseconds of a microexpression of disgust. This emotion is hidden within the disguise of a nose sniff and thus it's almost never recognized as such. This nonverbal signal occurs just after Mr. Garrett says the word, "... backlash ..." for the second time (during 0:23 and underlined above). Note the tightening (muscle contraction) of the area above his upper lip and below his nose (aka the "mustache area"). Both of Secretary Kerry's nostrils are also flared (dilated).

This photo is captured a fraction of a second after the one shown above. There is significantly increased nasal flaring as well as more tension in the mustache area.

The corners of Kerry's mouth are slightly depressed in this moment as is his lower lip (both consistent with disgust).

His thinned upper lip also is strongly suggestive of the presence of a component of anger.

It is a very common phenomenon that in the split second just prior to, during or immediately after a display of disgust, contempt or anger - that the eyelids shut for an extended or prolonged blink.

An increased rate of blinking is a different but related body language tell.

These subtle but significant nonverbals act as body language amplifiers. Here they amplify disgust and to a lesser degree anger.


It is also important to note that the Secretary's right upper eyelid is "droopy" (see first two images and video). This condition is known as "ptosis" and is most probably age-related. This change is separate and distinct form the other eyelid dynamics described above. It is advisable, particularly because of his importance on the World stage, that Secretary Kerry has this condition surgically corrected - as it will influence the way others interpret the diplomat's emotions.

Mr. Kerry is clearly disgusted in this moment and the timing of his expression strongly implies that the source of his disgust is the "backlash" directed at President Obama of which Mr. Garrett speaks (Although it is very possible that his disgust may directed towards the events in Syria, the news anchor himself or the manner in which he asked the question).

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2504:  Former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez and a  Commonly Missed Body Language Signal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2443:  Kristen Wiig's Disgust & Fear Face -  Graham Norton, Chris O'Dowd and Fly Eating 

Negotiation Secret # 72 & 73: Christine Lagarde's Disgust & Incredulity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2449:  Jessica Korda Fires Her Caddie &  Recruits her Boyfriend  Body Language at Women's U.S. Open

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2286:  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo's Body Language on Dr. Phil's Interview - The Voice and Mind of "Lennay Kekua" - Part I

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2045:  Disgust in New Delhi

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1841:  Disgust in Response to Rep. Barney Frank's "Hoodie" Joke

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2368: John Kerry & Xi Jinping in Beijing to Discuss North Korea - Body Language of Anxiety & Assertiveness

As you may have heard, Kim jong-un and others in the North Korean Government are creating a bit of tension for South Korea, the United States, China and Japan. John Kerry has recently made multiple visits between Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing in an effort to show American strength & support - as well as to bring a more united front in an effort to solve the problem.

In the video above, the U.S. Secretary of State is shown adjusting his left shirt cuff (0:53 - 0:54). Such "False Cuff Adjusts" are common nonverbals which demonstrate anxiety. More specifically these are signals of an increase in assertive emotions. When you see this MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) - know that the psyche of the person displaying it is "dialing up their alpha". John Kerry is obviously an alpha male, however there are times when all alphas need to amp it up.

See also:

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

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1459: Geithner Gets His Alpha On

The false cuff adjust is predominantly a male body language display. Alpha females in traditionally male roles will exhibit it as well. A more common female analog example (also seen in gay males) is the "Hair Adjust Behind Ear" (HABE).

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1770: White House Correspondents' Dinner - Lindsay Lohan's Body Language

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 345: Dialing Up Her Alpha

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1411:  Dialing Up Her Alpha -  Dana Perino

A few seconds later, Xi Jinping, is shown with a dramatically high blinking frequency. Blink rates vary from person to person and should always be gauged against pre and post lower stress moments & contexts. The important take home point here is that a relative and substantial increase in blinking should raise your body language alarms. During the 0:55 - 0:58 segment, the President of China's blink rate is significantly high by any standards and although depending on the other nonverbals present (as well as verbal and paralanguage tells) other emotional tells may be gleaned - here it is a general indicator of anxiety.

See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1149:  Who was More Nervous in Last Night's Debate?  Santorum, Romney, Gingrich or Paul?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2230:  Susan Rice's Interview Immediately after Withdrawaling from Secretary of State Consideration - her Body Language and her Sincerity Quotient

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2214: John McCain Jokes - sort of .... and John Kerry senses Deception

In the video above, John McCain (R-AZ) jokes with the audience and his colleague from across the aisle, John Kerry (D-MA) while calling the Massachusetts Senator, "Mr. Secretary" - alluding to the well-known speculation that Kerry has been for some time, on President Obama's short-list to replace Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State - although he is probably not Barack's first choice. The recent controversy regarding Susan Rice has made Kerry's nomination for this post somewhat more likely. Some have suggested that the republican attacks on Ms. Rice have the ulterior motive of vacating Kerry's U.S. senate seat for a potential republican spot in a special election, should Rice's nomination not pass the Senate - and Kerry is nominated and approved instead. Chess on the Senate floor.

Significant body language tells are displayed in this segment - with several different underlying emotions. Just after Senator McCain springs his joke, Senator Kerry rubs his lower forehead/upper brow and to briefly covers both eyes. This nonverbal indicates emotional processing, and a wanting to "wipe it from his mind" - he is saying to himself, "I can't believe he just said that". 

Very shortly after the above noted bilateral display, Senator Kerry rubs his left eye only. This body language of a unilateral eye rub indicates that, after the initial surprise, Kerry believes that there was something deceptive transpiring. As suggested above, he is most probably questioning Senator McCain's motives.

In the real world, emotions rarely occur in isolation and they also happen in rapid sequence. After Kerry says, "See, this is what happens when you get two losers up here", while their laughter and smile are sincere, Kerry's evanescent grabbing and shaking of the back of McCain's head/upper neck (just prior to one-armed hug) indicates more than a hint of a reprimand and scolding and is also an alpha display.

See also:

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

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

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

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

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

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 387: Extended and Interwoven Fingers

This is United States Senator and former Presidential Candidate, John Kerry, D-MA. He is pictured here during a recent meeting of the "Super Committee" (The United States Congress Joint Selection Committee on Deficit Reduction). He is one of its twelve members.

The tension in his mid-face, the thinning of the lips, the clenching of Kerry's jaw and the lowering of his eye brows are all consistent with anger.  I want to draw your attention to his hands however. Notice his fingers are intertwined and extended. This is a great nonverbal tell of stress. When the fingers are extended and interwoven in this fashion - there is a significant component of anxiety present (Navarro). In an interview or meeting setting, it is very likely that the question which was just asked or the issue which was just raised - evoked this anxiety. You would be well advised to slow down the conversation, dig deeper and use the Socratic method to get to the root of this great body language tell.

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