Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3419: George Pataki, Asymmetry, Trust and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

And then there were twelve.

George Pataki ended his campaign for president of the United States today. From a body language perspective, the former Governor of New York has an idiosyncrasy which works against him. He speaks chronically out of the side of his mouth.

Normally when a person speaks with such mouth asymmetry, it is temporary. Depending on the other nonverbals and paralanguage with which it is clustered, such speaking out of the side of one's mouth can be a signal of bravado or acquiescence/resignation (and medical causes such as stroke and Facial Nerve Palsy must be excluded). Yet this is not the what accounts for the majority of this nonverbal mouth pattern.





















The human psyche is hard-wired to interpret this asymmetrical mouth configuration as dishonest. And while this facial appearance is by no means 100% indicative of deception (e.g., the above causes must be ruled-out) - there is a relatively high correlation with lying and insincerity while speaking out of the "corner of the mouth".

Yet for Governor Pataki, this is simply an idiosyncrasy. Of course, every politician lies - it's just that with Pataki, we cannot and should not use this particular signal when it comes to nonverbal deception detection. Nor should we use it to discern any bravado or acquiescent behavior (even though of course, he is withdrawing from the race today). He certainly experiences all of these thought-emotions, but we just can't use this sign to suss him out. Fortunately there area many other nonverbal tools we may use.

If George were to hop in his DeLorean and go back to 1985 however, he'd be well-advised to "unlearn" this facial habit - for it's profoundly important to emphasize that this certainly does NOT engender trust or sincerity.


 



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3418: Mayor Eric Garcetti, The Port of Los Angeles and a Body Language Mistake Leaders Commit Routinely

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3416: LeBron James Catches a Golden State Fan "calling" him a Cry Baby - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3410: Bernie Sanders Apologizes to Hillary Clinton for Data Breach at Democratic Debate - Body Language Faux Pas 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3402: UFC 194: Conor McGregor and José Aldo - Octagon Post Fight Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3393: Syed Rizwan Farook, Tashfeen Malik, San Bernardino Shooting and Predicting Violent Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3352: Donald Trump's Contradictory Body Language

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1267: John McCain, Sarah Palin and Bell's Palsy 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3142: Mike Pence - Governor of Indiana interview with George Stephanopoulos & the Religious Freedom Restoration Act - What Makes Gov. Pence Look Worse? 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2906: President Obama, "... We Tortured Some Folks ..." (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Friday, 1 August 2014, President Obama held a press conference. Among other issues he acknowledged that in the aftermath of 9/11, "... we tortured some folks ...".

Throughout the vast majority of this segment of this press conference, Barack Obama was leaning on the lectern with his right elbow. This is rare for a President - and President Obama in particular. It sends signals of a beta emotional tone, low confidence, low commitment, a lackadaisical mindset and low priority. Because of this posture, President Obama was only able to use his right hand minimally and it remained largely obscured to the audience and viewing public. The less we see of a person's hands - the less we trust them (e.g., held beneath a table during depositions, voir dire, interrogations, negotiations, during witness testimonies in court, etc.).

This is extremely poor nonverbal behavior for anyone to exhibit - especially a head-of-state - and particularly on such an important topic. It is indeed rare for Mr. Obama. He did display similar body language (see below) against Mitt Romney in the 2012 campaign during the first debate - and that was the one in which most agree Romney beat him hands down.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2137:  Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama - First Presidential Debate -  Barack's Bad Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2905: Paul George's Injury - a Common Body Language Signal of Emotional Processing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2150:  Body Language Advice for  President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2161:  Body Language of the Third Presidential Debate - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney -  What Did They Do With Their Hands  When They Weren't Talking?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2876: President Obama on Key Bridge regarding John Boehner's Lawsuit - "So Sue Me"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2807: Barack Obama at 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Body Language

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 337:  Low Confidence Stance - Michele Bachmann

 ________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2862: Eli Wallach, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Eli Wallach passed on yesterday. He was 98. Mr. Wallach was a great actor who continued his craft to the years of his long life. He is best known for his roles in "The Magnificent Seven", "The Misfits", "The Godfather Part III", "The Two Jakes" and "The Holiday". He was also known for his role as "Tuco" (aka "The Rat") in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" - which also provides some excellent nonverbal teaching points.

In this moment, just before the denouement, Tuco's (Wallach's) eyelids open widely. This nonverbal element is a primary component of and an accurate portrayal of the emotion of fear - which of course is expected within the context of this scene. And even though it takes place outside in the sunlight, in such an intense "life and death" moment his pupils would be significantly dilated. No one can voluntarily control their pupil size however. It would have been significantly more realistic if Sergio Leone (the director) would have dilated Wallach's eyes (and the others) medically (using eye drops) in this key scene of the film.

Here, another actor Lee Van Cleef, who plays "Angel Eyes" in the movie, displays eyelids which are partially closed (aka "eyes narrow"). In this cluster context - his eyelid configuration is consistent with mild to moderate levels of anger (not severe anger aka rage). As mentioned with Eli Wallach's eyes - his pupils are also contracted. This nonverbal cluster is not realistic for the body language seen in the scenario of a dramatic "flight, fight or freeze" struggle which is being acted out here.

Clint Eastwood - known as "The Man with No Name" or "Blondie" in the film - also has very narrowed eyes and small pupils - again inconsistent with fear and any realism.





The positioning of the Tuco and Angel Eyes within the clearing of the cemetery (and the fact that Eastwood's character knew that only one of the other men had bullets in his gun) engendered a "darting back and forth" of  both Tuco's and Angel Eyes eye's - which projects low trust, low emotional comfort and a beta mindset. Clint's were locked in on his enemy and didn't move - projecting a high alpha confidence

Rest in peace, Eli. Thank you.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2782: Hillary Clinton dodges a shoe - Body Language ... and Not

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2791: Sofia Vergara, Threesomes and Fear - Body Language & the Fading Gigolo

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2762: Pepsi Max's "Unbelievable" Bus Shelter Video - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2833: Edward Snowden & Neck of Fear - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2861: Ronald Reagan and Variations on Thumbs-Up Body Language
_________________________________________________________________________________