Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3112: John Travolta Chin Holding and Face Touching Idina Menzel at the Oscars - What Makes it Extra-Creepy (PHOTOS)

John Travolta was given a chance at the Oscars to redeem himself for his last year's mispronunciation of Idina Menzel's name. Yet this time he gave everyone the creeps. Indeed, if this video isn't difficult to watch - you have an empathy deficit (no exaggeration). What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.

Note angle of Idina Menzel's back vs. Travolta's. Also compare their necks - Idina's neck has to be pretty much straight up because of the considerable angle of her back - yet Travolta's head/neck is tilted towards her. Menzel feels invaded and is doing a fairly good job at disguising it (yet all her smiles are feigned) - however for those who know what to look for, her body language can be seen sending beacons of discomfort.

Travolta does not want to let her go - he holds on to her, repeatedly pulling Ms. Menzel close.

And Travolta continues ....

This is so very uncomfortable to watch. Touching another person in such a public context when there is no close relationship. 

Idina Menzel turns away from Travolta - both because of the grand stage and context of the Academy Awards, the camera, etc. - but also because she is emotionally uncomfortable. 

Travolta's hand has also moved up to her cheek and temple region. This is very intimate. Touching in this area is reserved for only those with whom we have affection and love.

Major. Red. Flag.

Menzel continues to look towards the audience, yet Travolta's faux pas continue ...

Travolta then reaches for Idina's chin again to manually rotate it back to HIM - (e.g. "don't look at the audience and the hundreds of millions of viewers, look at ME!)

Chin Holding - Part Deux 

Idina turns away, yet Travolta still holds on ...

Travolta finally lets go of Idina's chin
(this time holding it for 7 seconds)

He still feels the need to touch Ms. Menzel's upper arm - while Idina's fingers are interlaced wtih anxiety.

Now Travolta's hand has moved to Idina's lower back (perhaps even her upper butt).










Face touching - and particularly chin-holding as Travolta did here, when there is no close and loving relationship and basis for true affection - is three (or more) standard deviations removed from normal behavior. These are varieties of false-intimacy. Outside the context of sincere affection, chin and face holding indicates an objectification and even a de-humanizing emotional mindset. Search your memory - such nonverbal signs have even been used in film to underscore evil characters and their malicious motives. Creepy.
See also:

Nonverbal Communication No. 3110: Scarlett Johansson gets invaded by John Travolta - An Awkward Moment from the 2015 Oscars - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3111: Dakota Johnson rips into her Mom, Melanie Griffith at Oscars

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2268:  Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kathryn Bigelow & Jessica Chastain - Body Language at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2314:  Naomi Watts Pre-Oscar Interview and her  Body Language of the "Jaw Confessional" and the Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2993: Fight in Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport - Passengers Break Up Homophobic Attack - Threat Assessment Warning Signs

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1212:  Invading Barack Obama's Personal Space  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2203:  A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection -  How Do YOU cuddle?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2831: "Walking Contest", Anxiety, Mirroring and False Intimacy

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Nonverbal Communication No. 3110: Scarlett Johansson gets invaded by John Travolta - An Awkward Moment from the 2015 Oscars - Body Language Tells (PHOTOS)

John Travolta provided a very awkward moment at the 2015 Oscars.

From a body language perspective there were two huge faux pas by the two-time best actor nominee when he encountered Scarlett Johansson.

Never approach a person from behind. In all but very few scenarios, such a maneuver is rarely endearing and even those who love us other will often become rapidly unnerved. Of course if there is no true affection, such an action is even more offensive.

Not only does he spring a sneak-attack, Travolta also touches Johansson on her mid abdomen. This is of course an intimate area for which Travolta had no invitation - and particularly true in such a public setting as the Academy Awards and when Scarlett recently had her first child.

Johansson's face reveals more than a little bit of anger here. Can you spot its subtle signs?

Those who are skilled and have a good amount of mindfulness can sometimes not react or at least slow down with their response with their arms or hands for a few moments in these and similar social situations. It's very difficult to do though. Such adept arm and hand control in turn tends to engender more control of the rest of the body. Yet even the untrained eye can look at Scarlett Johansson in these photos and feel their back stiffen along with hers.

Because of the rapidity and clandestine nature of Travolta's sneaky kiss & semi-embrace, Johansson did not really have much time to turn her head. Yet she could have responded more (her stomach was touched first providing a warning). A "Side-Eye" is telling. We do not look directly at someone who we don't respect, don't believe or we dislike.

Notice Johansson's head is also tilted away from Travolta. This subtle signal is a definite distancing phenomenon and is often seen in couples months or years prior to a break-up or divorce.

If you look carefully, you can also see Scarlett's lips and jaw shifting away from Travolta.

Given the context, John Travolta's action tends to strongly suggest narcissism (Surprise).



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3109: Why Chris Christie Will Never Win The White House in 2016 (or the Republican Nomination) - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1779:  Girl with a Pear Earring, Johannes Vermeer, Scarlett Johansson & Emotional Dissonance - Pain & Concern mixed with Flirting, Sexuality & Attractiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3105: Joe Biden, Ashton Carter & Stephanie Carter - Vice President Encroaches into New Defense Secretary's Wife's Intimate Space

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2995: 10 Hours of Walking in NYC as a Woman - Catcalls, Street Harassment, Body Language, Personal Safety & Threat Assessment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2563: President Obama's Subtle Anger - Body Language of Government Shutdown & the Debt Ceiling

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2894: Maria Kirilenko, Alex Ovechkin and Subtle Body Language of ....

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3068: John Boehner Kissing Nancy Pelosi
 
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