Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2406: Tight Lipped Breathing - Anticipatory Anxiety & Winning a Million Dollars

Jamie Bone, a mother of two, wife and real estate agent - recently learned that she won $1,000,000 in the Powerball Lottery. The video above - which captures the moment she found out definitively, is packed full of body language. One nonverbal in particular is fairly unusual to capture. During the 0:17 - 0:19 segment, note how Ms. Bone, brings her lips together to create a small opening an breaths shallow and rapidly. This variety of "Tight Lipped Breathing" is very commonly seen just prior to, and in anticipation of significant and consequential event. The situation may be negative or positive in nature - and the outcome for those whom are expressing this tell - is unpredictable from their point of view. 

Tight lipped breathing (TLB), as noted above, is characterized by increased respiration rate - which is usually composed of shallow breaths. It also is consistent with an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and adrenaline. The "Puffer Fish" which to the untrained eye looks somewhat similar to TLB - is also seen before, or more commonly after a stressful event - and is associated with a decreased blood pressure, respiration and heart rate. The puffer fish takes place during exhalation (although it may occur over several cycles of respiration) and has a calming effect - in contrast to the Tight Lipped Breathing nonverbal which increases anxiety.

See also:

Body Language Secret # 53: Charlie Rangel & The Puffer Fish

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1122: Tiger, Pebble Beach and the Puffer Fish

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2347:  Body Language, Jazz Hands and Powerball

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2396:  Ariel Castro Caught on Dash-Cam in a Traffic Stop in 2008 -  Body Language of Self-Disgust, Anxiety &  Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2399:  Matthew McConaughey on David Letterman and a  Very Common Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2368:  John Kerry & Xi Jinping in Beijing to Discuss North Korea -  Body Language of Anxiety & Assertiveness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2385:  Hillary Clinton & Henry Kissinger at  Atlantic Council's Leadership Awards  Her Body Language Betrays Anxiety at a Key Moment

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2340: Mayor "Sly" James' Microphone Hijacked During his Kansas City, Missouri's - State of City Address Body Language Tells - Not what you'd expect

Kansas City, Missouri's Mayor "Sly" James was interrupted this morning during the State of the City address. The as yet unidentified man was then wrestled to the ground and arrested for assaulting a police officer - with probable other charges to follow. No doubt the microphone hijacker's behavior was illegal, unacceptable and not part of what most people consider acceptable civil discourse in a reasonable society. 

From a body language perspective the mayor's reaction is intriguing. Many assassinations occur during speeches. Mayor James' lack of moving away from the intruder goes against natural instinct of the vast majority of people. Doing so would not have colored him in any negative light. On the contrary, protection of oneself is very human. The Mayor's personal space (and even his intimate space) was invaded - abruptly, in a potentially violently fashion and by a stranger - all in a particularly unusual setting. It is interesting to speculate if, had a similar event happened to him in another place where the Mayor was not acting as a leader or the alpha male, whether he would have retracted away from a potential assailant. The vast majority of people are "hardwired" to pull away - as part of our human self-preservation reflex. Thinking is not part of this. It's a reflex - even if he were a 10th degree black belt. To back rapid away when your personal/intimate space is compromised in such a rapid fashion is not cowardice, it is fully human.

Early on, the Mayor shows no signs of anger. In the first image below, his lips are pursed - which is a strong nonverbal indicator of a clandestine disagreement from a relative alpha who has the power and resources to pull of his plan. Of course seconds later, the mayor sees "his plan" fully exercised by his body guards.

Very often these same pursed lips expression are displayed in the calm of a business meeting. And in such settings the words being said are often relatively or even very friendly. Watch their body language instead though - for while those who give this facial signal are voicing little or no disagreement - while their thoughts and emotions are expressing huge disparity. Prepare for an "end run".

In this second image (below), Mayor James' is displaying nonverbal signals of anger.  The thinning of and tension in his upper lip and "mustache area" is particularly telling here. There is also significant nostril dilation. Note this occurs once the police officer grabs the interrupter - thus the Mayor feels less threatened.

Note it is also still pursed - so their are at least two emotions present.

The microphone hijacker however, has a distinct signal of emotional and/or physical pain on his face - most notably shown by the contraction of his central forehead muscles.

See also:

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

Invading Personal Space

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1212:  Invading Barack Obama's Personal Space

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 915:  Interpersonal Space of Candidates

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2330:  Body Language of Foot Placement on another Person's Chair

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1896:  IMF Managing Director - Christine Lagarde Pseudo-Prayer & Pursed Lips

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2072:  Jay Carney's Lip Purse while NOT commenting on  Mitt Romney's Visits to the U.K., Israel and Poland

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2094: Todd Akin - and Another Thing He Needs to Stop Doing

Here's another habit Representative and Senatorial Candidate Todd Akin (R-MO) needs to drop. Pointing with the forefinger (index finger) is a body language display that is universally offensive in all cultures. Do not commit this nonverbal faux pas.  It will even alienate those who are ideologically similar. Pointing at oneself is an exception to this principal - although a palm-of-hand contact to the left chest or sternum is significantly more sincere and signals much greater empathy. Another exception is pointing skyward - usually in a reference to God.

See also:

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

Analysis # 1918: Vladimir Putin - Pointing with Pen Surrogates - Sharp vs. Blunt

Analysis # 1705: Francois Hollande & the French Presidential Election - The Pistol Steeple and Emotional Dissonance

Analysis # 349: Pointing with Two Fingers (or more)

Analysis # 339: Don't Point at Me! I am not your child!
 

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1059: Santorum's Dominant Spider

This Hand Gesture Rick Santorum is using, is known as "The Dominant Spider". It tends to be used by primarily by alpha males and somewhat less frequently by alpha females. Although not as dominant or negatively received as the closed-palm or nearly closed-palm down gesture (see Secret # 222: Palms Down vs. Palms Up), it should be used sparingly and for very brief moments in order to assert authority and dominance. If over-used (which doesn't take much and is a strong tendency for the alpha-personality types to do), the audience (even an audience of one) will feel domineered and patronized. 

Tonight the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania is certainly feeling very dominant - so spiders abound. As of this writing, he is projected to win both the Minnesota Caucuses and the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary. It's still too early to call Colorado's Caucuses, but Rick may have just pull off the hat trick. 

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