Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3492: Maria Sharapova Admits Failed Drug Test - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Monday, Maria Sharapova gave a press conference where she admitted to her ten-year usage of a newly banded substance. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had added Meldonium (also known as Mildronate) to its list of banned substances on 16 September 2015 which came into effect on 01 Jan 2016. The Tennis star tested positive in January at the Australian Open.

Meldonium is used by some physicians to treat ischemia (a relative reduction of blood flow) - particularly in cases of angina or heart failure. The drug is manufactured in Latvia and is used in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania as well as Russia, but its use is not approved in the remainder of Europe or in the United States.

Ms. Sharapova is very accustomed to being in the spotlight - yet not in this manner. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the five time grand slam winner's statement.

Throughout much of her appearance, Ms. Sharapova had her hands clasped on the lectern.

Although this body language configuration is very commonly used, the vast majority of the time it's ill-advised.

During 0:25, as she says the word "... doctor ..." (then immediately clarifies "... by my family doctor ...), Ms. Sharapova exhibits and increase in her Blocking Behavior as her left hand slides up her right forearm. This is an example of what in the nonverbal terminology is known as a "MAP" (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) and is a variety of Self-Touching. In this same second, she also exhibits a hard swallow with a very short-lived (a microexpression) mouth display of regret.

About a minute later Maria displays this same increased blocking behavior once again (this image captured during 1:25 as she says, " ... diabetes ...") with her finger sliding beneath her sleeve.

Once again, although not quite as pronounced, a third display of this MAP at 1:46 as Sharapova says, "... and I really hope that I'll be given another chance to play this game ..."

Here Ms. Sharapova was smiling very subtly (and in other, later portions of this clip it was more pronounced). This was a sincere although largely suppressed smile - and in this context it is a form of duping delight. Her joking regarding the carpet and what many thought may have been a retirement announcement serves as a decoy, e.g., - for it to be okay for the act of smiling out of context. This is a common subconscious and edge-of consciousness reflex behavior - and serves as camouflage during such smiling-out-of-context scenarios.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3492: Peyton Manning Retirement Press Conference

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3489: Margot Robbie wants Prince Harry

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3478: Donald Trump Jr Does Not Like his Father's Statement, "I Love the Poorly Educated"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3465: Hillary Clinton's Dominant Spider

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3469: Leonardo DiCaprio and Dame Maggie Smith on BAFTA Awards Kiss Cam - The British Academy Film Awards

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3073: Russell Westbrook - Execution Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1863: Sharapova's Lips of Anger 
 
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1901: Maria Sharapova's Anxiety

With her victory at Roland Garros, Maria Sharapova has regained the number one World tennis ranking (a position she has held four times before). She is as beautiful as any model, the highest paid female athlete on the planet, a savvy business woman and has now has the elusive career grand slam (only accomplished by five other women in the open era). Yet, like many people who have no apparent reason to be, she displays significant anxiety on camera.

Early in the video (0:09 - 0:11) when Mark Phillips asks, "Do you feel that you're hungry to achieve it still?" Sharapova reaches up with her left hand/arm to rub the opposite side of her neck (Then a few seconds later she persists with a similar gesture just below her right shoulder). This across-the-front blocking coupled with the MAP (manipulator, adaptor, pacifier) signals to us that the nature of this question has significant anxiety for Maria.

At 0:36 Sharapova suddenly displays another MAP - which is a beacon of verbal course correction - as she adjusts her hair/rubs behind her left ear with her left hand: "...So I think,....[here she changes her mind on what to say]....yeah,...it's just one of those things where you try and believe in what you have - and hope that what you have is good enough to win". 

The tennis star also can be seen in a similar configuration with her right hand to her right temporal-parietal region at 0:57 at the beginning of a question regarding comparisons to Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Steffi Graf - with respect to consistency in grand slam wins. Again, anxiety.

[Very demonstratively, during the 1:51 - 1:55 when Maria looks up to her right - visually constructing her future from the point-of-view of herself at seventeen (which is now her present and past). This body language (for the vast majority of right-handers) is highly consistent with sincerity and truth. Her words are highly congruent with her nonverbal displays. If you were picking a jury, you'd want a girl like Maria - at least based on this portion of the interview.]

All of the above referenced MAPs signal anxiety in Maria Sharapova. Again, she is extremely accomplished and has few obvious reasons for anxiety. As it often is the case, when a person is out of their element or for reasons which aren't visible to most - and many would doubt even exist - people at the top/in positions of power/alpha personalities have anxiety too. Being able to spot these moments allows us to know their Achilles heel and exploit it - or come to her aide - or perhaps back off - whatever and whenever we so choose in a highly nuanced fashion.

P.S. - Today during the first round of Wimbledon: Maria Sharapova def. Anastasia Rodionova of Australia 6-2, 6-3

See also:

Analysis # 1863: Sharapova's Lips of Anger

Analysis # 51: Dominance Display in a Couple - Sasha & Maria

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1863: Sharapova's Lips of Anger

Perhaps the most reliable body signal of anger is thinning of the lips. Here Maria Sharapova displays this highly characteristic nonverbal during her third round match of the French Open against Shuai Peng of China. The vast majority of the time the lips are pulled thin and laterally so that they take on a nearly straight line. Normally when interpreting body language, it is important premise of reliability to look for a cluster of two or three signals occurring simultaneously or within a short time. The thinned lips of anger are an exception to the rule - when you see them, you can be sure anger is present. The Russian star defeated Peng 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the next round at Roland Garros.

See also:

Flirting & Romance Secret # 51: Dominance Display in a Couple - Maria & Sasha

Analysis # 1167: Danica's Lips, Danica's Eyes 

Analysis # 336: Mitt Romney's Three Emotional Tells

Analysis # 925: Hemsworth's False Smile is Worthless

Analysis # 593: When there's Disparity between the Hands and the Face - What do YOU Believe?

Analysis # 531: Sarkozy's Mouth Tells Us What He's Thinking

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Flirting and Romance Secret # 51: Dominance Display in a Couple: Maria Sharapova & Sasha Vujačić

Tennis great Maria Sharapova and her Fiancé Sasha Vujačić of the Los Angeles Lakers (update - since July 2011 of the Anadolu Efes in Turkey), walk hand in hand for a Saturday Stroll. Although you can't quite see Maria's engagement ring in this photo, what you can see is that his hand is in front of hers. This is a dominance display. It is fairly uncommon to see the opposite - the woman with her hand in front. Many other body language signals and gestures display dominance - some in the world of  romance - and others in the world of business. Overlook them at your peril.

Congrats Maria and Sasha!

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