Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3194: U.S. Senator Thad Cochran Marries Longtime Aide Kay Webber - Body Language (PHOTOS)

This Memorial Weekend, Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran married his longtime (since 1981) assistant, Kay Webber. Rose Cochran - the senator's former wife, passed away in December 2014 after 13 years in a nursing home where, unfortunately, she suffered from dementia. In his effort to gain election to the U.S. Senate last year, Cochran's republican primary challenger, Chris McDaniel, accused Cochran of having an affair with Ms. Webber - an allegation which Cochran then denied.

The above image was taken in 2008 and although we don't know the full context of the moment - from a body language perspective it is very telling.

Senator Cochran is trying to smile - and many body language novices may indeed call this expression a "social smile" - however there's a mild (approximately a 3 on a 1-to-10 scale) yet significant fear display on his face. Do you see the specific nonverbal component this subtlety?

In stark contrast, Ms. Webber's face displays moderate disgust (about 4 out of 10). The cluster of her mid-face tension (above her upper lip and below her nose) as well as the flaring of her nostrils is unmistakable. 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3193: Kim Jong-un, Submarine Ballistic Missile Test, Photoshop and Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3079: Tom Brady, Deflategate - Part Deux

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3187: Supergirl & Stanislavsky Skill - First Look - Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2390:  Charles Ramsey Interview & Cleveland Kidnappings -  Sarcastic Disbelief, Disgust and Exclamation 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2603: Sarah Palin's Body Language - She Feels Disgust toward Pope Francis and ... She Tells a Fib 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2421: Gov. Phil Bryant, Working Moms and Body Language - Deception and Fear(Video, Photos)

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant was recently featured on a Washington Post Live panel along with New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and Jack Markell - Delaware's top office holder. The event was centered around the topic of how to ensure good reading skills to children by the end of third grade.

Gov. Bryant was asked by the moderator, how America has gotten "so mediocre" with regards to education. He responded, "... I think - parents became - both parents started working - and the mom is in the workplace - it's not a bad thing - I'm going to get in trouble - I can just see - I, I, I - I can see those emails tomorrow!"

Below are three key images which tell us what Gov. Bryant was thinking-feeling. In the first image (0:21 - 0:22 in video) he is scratching about half way between his left eye and left ear - on cheek bone (zygomatic process of temporal bone). This is an example of a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) which indicates anxiety and more specifically in this particular cluster-context, it is a very strong signal that the Governor does not believe his statement. That is, he does not honestly believe that both parents working is the reason for mediocrity in American education.

What happened here is that he first tried to place the blame on both parents - here he was lying (because he thinks dads aren't guilty). However when he tells us that it's really the Moms' fault -while being truthful (from his belief) it was a bridge too far for political correctness ....

A moment later he realizes his big mistake and Gov. Bryant's face takes on a characteristic "mouth of fear" at the 0:28 mark in the video (below, second photo). He then momentarily suppresses it - only to have it re-emerge ("leak") and display it once again at 0:29 (third image below).

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2175:  Mayor Bloomberg, Body Language,  Hurricane Sandy and the NYC Marathon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2176:  James Carville's Body Language - Pennsylvania & Swing States

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2298:  Kylie & Kendall Jenner Do NOT Like Kanye West  Their Body Language Contradicts their Words -  Spells another Split-up in Kim Kardashian's Future

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033:  Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

Facial MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) indicative of anxiety-deception

First "Fear Mouth" (0:28) amplified by bilateral eyelid closure

Second "Mouth of Fear" at 0:29. This emotion leaks out for it was too strong for him to suppress it.
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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 772: Haley Barbour's Dominance

Yesterday, on his last day in office as Governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour pardoned, granted clemency or early release of 203 prisoners. Although some of these individuals have already been released, today a Mississippi judge has blocked any additional inmates from going free. In this image, we see Gov. Barbour a few years ago being visited by then President George W. Bush. Haley's Hand is rotated inwards about 40-45 degrees - and partially on top of Bush's hand, thus this is a subtle to moderate dominance display. It is obviously not as overtly dominant as the completely palm-down handshake used by so many alpha males of the political persuasion, but it's a definitive dominance display none the less. You can bet President Bush got the message. 

It is very possible that the highest office holder in a modestly populated southern state is accustomed to being very dominant to essentially everyone he meets and re-meets. Ergo, he may be oblivious to the dominance message he's sending to the President and leader of his own political party. It's also possible he's deliberately and very consciously doing so - although this is considerably less likely. Deliberately or not - negative repercussions still result - as the recipient is another human being with a very human brain, psyche and ego. It's one thing to project dominance to a subordinate or perhaps, in the right setting, someone you perceive to be a peer. It's quite another to send similar signals to your superior. Governor Barbour was probably very unaware he was "one-upping" President Bush. Being ignorant of your own body language and the signals you're sending can be very detrimental to your career. Bruised anyone's ego today?  

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