Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2394: Three Brothers from Cleveland Onil, Pedro and Ariel Castro - Kidnapping, Innocence, Guilt & Body Language (Video) (Photos)

Although initially all three Castro brothers were taken into custody (from left to right on the image above, Onil Castro, Pedro Castro and Ariel Castro), Onil and Pedro have been released and at the time of this writing charges have been filed only to Ariel.

This photo reveals a wealth of nonverbal information. Both Onil and Pedro have their head & neck tilted slightly back, which can indicate either arrogance, anger, pride and determination. Their eyes are opened in a normal resting state. Both also have their jaws slightly jutted out (forward) as well - a highly reliable anger display. Onil's upper lip and "mustache area" are tightened in another definitive nonverbal tell of anger. If you look at each of their left eyebrows' - they are raised in indications of disbelief. Their necks, upper chests and garments are open - and style aside, is a body language display of their relative confidence and lack of clandestine tendencies. Both of their shoulders, particularly Pedro's are squared and pulled backwards - more confident, alpha & innocent behavior.

Compared to his brothers, Ariel Castro is a nonverbal study in contrast. His head and neck are bent forward with his closed eyes directed downwards. His mouth is covered with the same clothing that cloaks his upper chest & neck. No one doubts the malicious allegations against him - and neither does he. Ariel's neck is foreshortened - like a turtle trying to escape into his shell. His shoulders are hunched up, forward and rounded. His closed, covered and foreshortened neck, closed eyes and forward flexed head & neck are a highly reliable cluster of shame, guilt and psychological blocking. It's not only that he does not want to be recognized - but most importantly his psyche is trying to wipe his mind clean. His intellectual brain knows what is transpiring - however his emotional brain is trying to process the recent events and it cannot - it's playing catch up.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2307:  Oscar Pistorius in Court, Body Language and the  Bilateral Eye Cover

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2055:  Three Wise Monkeys - Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil - Body Language Interpretation vs. Traditional Symbolism

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2122:  Eyes White and Wide -  Three Body Language Examples with  Two Different Emotional Causes

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 385:  Lack of Eye Contact in the Context of Guilt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1711:  Charles Taylor, Sierra Leone, Blood Diamonds  and the Double Shhh! Sign

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2393:  Cleveland Kidnapper Ariel Castro's daughter Angie Gregg -  Body Language of Sincere Emotional Pain & Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2390:  Charles Ramsey Interview & Cleveland Kidnappings -  Sarcastic Disbelief, Disgust and Exclamation

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2393: Cleveland Kidnapper Ariel Castro's daughter Angie Gregg - Body Language of Sincere Emotional Pain & Empathy (Video) (Photos)

Throughout this entire interview Angie Gregg, the daughter of Cleveland Kidnapper Ariel Castro, exhibits a central forehead contraction (CFC). For the duration her mouth displayed either a neutral mouth or one of sadness. When the central forehead is contracted without a mouth smile (even a subtle one, e.g. partial or social smile) the person exhibiting it is most probably feeling physical or emotional pain - either being directly experienced or secondarily via empathy for another person(s) or other living thing(s). In such cases the mouth almost always takes on morphology consistent with pain, fear, sadness or combinations thereof. Here Ms. Gregg is in tremendous emotional pain - for herself, her family and Michelle Knight, Georgina "Gina" DeJesus and Amanda Berry - as well as Berry's daughter, who were kidnapped, beaten, chained, sexually assaulted and held captive for nine to eleven years.

Ms. Gregg nonverbal signals demonstrate that she is going through a tremendous amount of sincere, direct and indirect emotional pain. 

Whenever you see another person's central forehead contracted (with the sides of the forehead relaxed) in the absence of even a subtle smile (very important), ask yourself the following questions: Is there physical pain being experienced? Is there emotional pain of any type here (emotional or direct)? If the answer to either of these questions is yes - then the nonverbals are in context, congruent and expected. However, if the answer is a confident no, then they are probably trying to project false empathy. Such a body language-facial expression is a very common manifestation of insincerity. And if a CFC is seen in the presence of even a subtle smile - it signals insincerity, incredulity, arrogance or worse. Red flag time - stay away. If a CFC is seen chronically (and it is usually seen with a subtle smile) there is a high likelihood of narcissistic personality disorder or sociopathic behavior. 

What are some other body language signals of sincerity? Insincerity?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2377:  Coachella 2013 & Lie Witness News - Hilarious and a Valuable Body Language Lesson

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2310:  Oscar Pistorius' Body Language in Court - Part II, Central Forehead Contraction, Frown & Pupil Dilation ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2259:  Game Show Killer Rodney Alcala Gets Two More Sentences - His Body Language Warning Signs

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2115:  Prince Harry in Afghanistan - Incredulity & Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2171:  Charlie Bit My Finger!  One Body Language Signal Always Seen With Significant Pain

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2335:  Ted Cruz & Dianne Feinstein - Gun Control, Body Language and Condescending Signals

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