Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2442: Nancy Pelosi's Subtle Contempt Display Body Language Regarding "Who Cares?" Retort (Video, Photos)

When asked about Michele Bachmann's (R-MN) opinion regarding the Supreme Court of the United States 5 to 4 decision to overturn the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded with, "Who cares?"

As she answers, Ms. Pelosi shows a subtle display of contempt. The image to the left and the one below were captured from the video above less than one second apart (both at 0:09 second mark). Here the former Speaker of the House's body language, paralanguage and word choice were all highly congruent. She is sincere in her feelings contempt - and thus not trying to hide it.

Of course, a huge fraction of the time people DO try to conceal their true feels - and in such scenarios most of those who are listening and watching will mistakenly put most or all of the weight on the words spoken while ignoring the nonverbal signals. Doing so is a big mistake.

So if someone is saying "all the right things" but their body language is disparate - always believe what their body language. The question is - can you accurately interpret what their nonverbals are saying?

We don't look directly at someone we don't like, don't trust or don't respect. Here the journalist asking the question is essentially acting as a momentary surrogate for Rep. Bachmann. Here Ms. Pelosi turns her head & neck while displaying a prolonged blink. These alone would indicate contempt - however the subtle snarl & lip elevation on Nancy's left (upper lip) leaves no doubt what she is feeling. Take note this movement has primarily an upward vector (in contrast to regret which is mostly lateral).

Although it is difficult to see, Ms. Pelosi's left nostril also momentarily flares.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2228:  Jay Carney's Body Language -  Contempt disguised as a Sniff ....  for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1890:  Eric Holder has (Emotional) Contempt toward Darrell Issa -  while Rep. Issa is Very Excited to be Seeking  "Contempt of Congress" against Holder

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 457:  Salman Rushdie's - and a Contempt Amplifier

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2350:  Contempt - both dramatic and subtle - Backpedaling and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2323:  Jodi Arias Murder Trial  The Body Language of Unilateral Regret vs. Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2373:  We Feel Contempt towards  Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev  What Does His Body Language Reveal?


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2415: Yanira Maldonado released from Mexican Jail What's Up with her Eyes? Atypical Body Language of White & Wide Eyes

Yanira Maldonado was recently released from a Mexican Jail yesterday. She had been falsely charged with possession of twelve pounds of Marijuana. She displays some unusual facial nonverbals here and in multiple other videos. One in particular is that her upper eyelids open very widely at multiple times.

Several emotions should spring to mind when you see this "White and Wide" appearance of the eyes. One is fear, another is severe anger (rage) and a third is surprise. None of these emotions are present here however. Another possible cause is medical - lid retraction can be a sign of hyperthyroid disease.

People also open their eyes extra wide when they are emphasizing certain points during conversation - but this rarely happens without a coexisting forehead muscular contraction (particularly so often). Such a forehead contraction only occurred twice during this video clip - once at 0:50 when she says, "...children..." and another time at 0:54 when she says "...you guys..." Even during these two occasions her forehead is considerably hypo-reactive.

The reason for Ms. Maldonado's prolonged, repeated and extreme eyelid opening is secondary to botox treatments to her forehead. While not a common side effect of botox, it is certainly not rare. When the forehead cannot move as it typically does, the eyelids will over dramatically over-compensate and open in this extreme fashion. This can give a very unusual appearance that most often people will describe as fear - but also angry or even "creepy".  Two additional examples are shown below.

What other unusual body language - facial expression do you see in this video which is another "False Fear" signal?

Michele Bachmann with a "False Fear" appearance secondary to Botox.

Callista Gingrich with a "False Fear" face secondary to botox.













See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2344:  Jillian Michaels Body Language - Neck of Fear & Mouth of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2402:  Partial & Subtle Expressions of Fear - Young Girls Saved From Drowning by Man & his Dog

Body Language Secret # 702:  Mouth of Fear,  trying to Smile and Forehead of Pain

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1106:  Subtle Fear Display of al-Assad

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1696:  George Zimmerman's Testimony - Fear, Incredulity, Regret & Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2297:  Rooney Mara on Conan O'Brien - Common Body Language Tell  Fear Apology Query Expression-Cluster 

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


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2116: Michele Bachman's Hands and Seeing between the lines

During the 0:14 - 0:18 segment and again at 0:19 of this video, Michele Bachmann (R-MN) points with both hands/index fingers at her audience. The two-handed index finger (aka forefinger) point is almost exclusively used in political settings - specifically where the speaker is in front of a crowd with similar ideologies. It is rare (and extremely unwise) to see it displayed when a candidate is trying to garner votes from the independently-minded. Forefinger pointing with even one hand (seen at 0:26) should never be used outside a highly partisan political audience scenario - as it is a cross-culturally and universally offensive gesture. 

The two-handed point is used to try and demonstrate a super-alpha, highly assertive/aggressive stance - and here Ms. Bachmann is displaying it deliberately and consciously. To the casual observer it may appear that the congresswoman is highly confident here - but the truth lies in "reading" (seeing) between the nonverbal lines. Note that during 0:00 - 0:09, 0:18 - 0:19, 0:20 - 0:26 and 0:28 the Minnesota politician displays hand-to-hand touching. In body language nomenclature this is a form of a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier) and it is a strong indicator of beta behavior and low confidence. Indeed at the 0:20 - 0:26 and again at 0:28, Bachmann is actively massaging/rubbing/picking at the fingers on her right hand - a signal of considerable anxiety. Thus the conscious display (the double point) - indicates FALSE/FEIGNED confidence, while the UNconscious behavior body language (MAP, self-touching) indicates the TRUE emotional tone. 

See also:

Analysis # 2777: Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin, John McCain and John Boehner

Analysis # 337: Low Confidence Stance

Analysis # 1843: United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice in Response to Syrian Government's Houla Massacre

Analysis # 191: How to Lose Votes and Elections

Analysis # 913: Low Confidence, Low Trust and Demure

Analysis # 2046: Romney, Sincerity, Truth and Bain Capital

Analysis # 2033: Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

Analysis # 1869: One Body Language Signal a President Should Never Display
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2777: Hillary Clinton, Huma Abedin, John McCain and John Boehner

Hillary Clinton is not often on the same side of an issue as John McCain and John Boehner - however they are when it comes to Huma Abedin, Clinton's long-time aide and deputy chief-of-staff. After five house republicans called into question whether Ms. Abedin has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood because a possible association her long-deceased father may have had - all three came to her defense. 

During the 0:17 - 0:27 segment of this video, Secretary Clinton is praising McCain and Boehner while denouncing the McCarthyesque actions of those questioning Ms. Abedin's loyalty. Ms. Clinton uses the "Political Point" with her right hand along with an up-and-down chopping motion of her right arm. The political point is used in lieu of a traditional finger point (index finger/forefinger) or other similar nonverbals (the two finger point, pointing with a pen or pencil). As its moniker alludes to, this form of pointing is seen most often in the political arena and is a "softer" and friendlier way to point. 

The "index finger point" is a body language that is cross-culturally offensive and with rare exception should never be used. Often the thumb and forefinger are in a loose and nearly circular configuration - which is seen when the face, particularly the mid-face and mouth are more relaxed and void of anger and other negative emotional body language signals. Note however, that Ms. Clinton's digits are pinched together to form a tear-drop shape. When this variation of the political-point is seen, there is a more negative emotional tone present - which is often seen with corresponding facial tension. Ms. Clinton displays a subtle body language expression of contempt during this same ten second segment - which is directed at Huma Abedin's accusers - Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Trent Franks (R-AZ), Louie Gohmert (R-Tx), Thomas Rooney (R-FL) and Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA).

Thus the pinched-political point (tear-drop shaped) is a more assertive and aggressive variation compared to the circular, relaxed and relative-beta variety. Ms. Clinton's chopping motion of her arm further adds to these more alpha emotions. While to some these may seem nearly identical gestures, nuancing this difference will allow you a clearer view into others' psyches. If negative emotions are present - endeavor to see through the camouflage ... or you will be ambushed.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 337: Low Confidence Stance

All other things being equal - a person will project significantly greater confidence and be perceived as a superior leader and more successful - if they stand with their feet a bit apart. The ideal distance is about a shoulder's width for men and slightly less for women. Congress person Michele Bachmann, R-MN, shown here (Politico/NBC Debate held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA), is by most accounts a confident person. Earlier this year however, she enjoyed a top or near-top ranking in most polls for the U.S. republican presidential nomination. However, since mid-summer 2011 her poll ranking has precipitously dropped to single digit percentages. Her foot position here may be a by-product of this decline - indicating her own emotional tone about her relative lack of success of late; but it almost never should be displayed by anyone in a leadership position - certainly not a head-of-state or anyone seeking such office. 

If you stand like Representative Bachmann is, you will feel more beta, act more demure and with a strong tendency to acquiesce. Among other things this would be very poor debate-coaching advice. Your ability to "think on your feet" is significantly heightened by the more confident, feet apart Body Language. Incredibly this will even be reflected verbally in your word choice, volume, cadence, etc. Simply standing with your feet a shoulder's width apart (give or take) - will truly engender feeling, speaking and acting more alpha, more assertive and more confident - thus embodying the qualities we all want and need in our leaders.

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