Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego - Body Language Tells (PHOTO)

A grand jury in Dallas, Texas has indicted Johnny Manziel on a charge of assault. Colleen Crowley, Manziel's ex girlfriend, is alleging the former NFL quarterback of threatening, restraining and hitting her - causing her to lose hearing in one ear.  The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner has denied hitting Ms. Crowley. The indictment accuses Johnny Manziel of "intentionally and knowingly and recklessly (causing) bodily injury to" Ms. Crowley.

Be careful here to observe specifically the prominence of the lower lip (compared with the upper one). Moreover, it's crucial to note that this lower lip pout is also accompanied by a jutting forward of the jaw (Jaw Jut). The lip prominence largely camouflages the jaw's movement. It's an attempt of the psyche at misdirection. Every human being makes this expression from time to time - but those who display this expression chronically have personalities with a higher incidence of egocentric behaviors and narcissistic qualities as well as poor impulse control.

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. 3539: Conspicuous by it's Absence - Donald Trump's Missing Expression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3522: Felicity Jones in New Star Wars Trailer: "Rogue One"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3517: Before His Walk Back, Donald Trump "There Has To Be Some Form of Punishment" to Women who have Abortions 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3510: Lindsey Graham - The Senator Picks His Poison: Ted Cruz vs. Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3367: Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3490: Conor McGregor, being a Plumber and LeBron James

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3481: Gordon Ramsay Tries Girl Scout Cookies for the First Time 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3467: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Dies 

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3038: Johnny Manziel's first NFL Start - a Representative Body Language Moment (PHOTOS)

Johnny Manziel - or as he became known from his college days at Texas A & M, "Johnny Football" - had his first NFL start today. To many fan's disappointment though, under his leadership, the Cleveland Browns were shut out 30 - 0 against their rivals the Cincinnati Bengals (Manziel completed only 10 of 18 passes for 80 yards with 2 interceptions).

In this context and moment Manziel is seen with a combination of three emotions - the beginnings of Emotional Pain (Elevated Central Forehead Contraction - but this CFC must be accompanied by a congruent mouth expression) with Fear (mouth corners are in the initial fractions-of-a-second of being pulled laterally and downward). What third emotion is present in this moment?

Note his central forehead is contracted and elevated further an instant later as Manziel's emotional pain increases.

This facial expression - one of extreme emotional pain and fear - is what we would expect to see in a person of high empathy watching a high impact car accident or a similar tragedy. This of course is only a football game though ....








See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3037: Angelina has Chickenpox and will not be able to attend some events for the opening of her movie, "Unbroken" - Body Language Tells

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1106:  Subtle Fear Display of al-Assad

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2274:  The Eyes & Mouth of Fear -  Body Language of Ahmed Dogan during  Attempted Assassination

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2338:  Why Does Keit Pentus-Rosimannus feel Fear?  Body Language of Estonia's Minister of Environment 

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1439:  Central Forehead Contraction & Inward Lip Roll  Devon Davis & April Davis

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2922: Evacuating Yazidis from Iraq's Mount Sinjar - A Daughter's Anguish, Empathy and Mirror Neuron

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3035: John Wall, Miyah Telemaque-Nelson - and Grief, Empathy & Emotional Pain 


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2221: How NOT to Pose if You Want to Project Confidence -Heisman Body Language

While this is possibly an example of Nonverbal Mirroring, Johnny Manziel, Manti Te'o and Collin Klein were almost surely told to deliberately stand in this pose. Whether mirrored or deliberate, hands clasped over the lower abdominal region (known as the "fig leaf" or "genital guarding") is, in most settings a signal of low confidence. It can also signal reverence or respect - such as in a religious ceremony or in the presence of a dignitary, etc. And while these men have great respect for the Heisman Award and their nominations, this is a body language position which sends message of non-engagement, low confidence, demure and beta behavior. In this setting, they would have been much better advised to stand with their hands loosely clasped behind their backs (with feet a shoulder's width apart) - which projects the alpha emotions of confidence, assertiveness and strength. 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1563: Geithner and Holder  In Deference to the President - One Occasion to Use the Fig Leaf

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 441:  Bill Clinton's Rapport and His Temporary Universe

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1873: Hillary Clinton & Kofi Annan on Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2155: Body Language Tells at the Second Presidential Debate  Mitt Romney at Attention &  President Obama's Disapproval-Subtle Contempt

Leadership Secret # 99:  One Body Language configuration a leader should (almost) never adopt - Steven Harper

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1865:  Five Presidents Standing in the Oval Office - Who has the Lowest Confidence?  Who is the Least Emotionally Comfortable? 

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