Body Language Analysis No. 4145: Steve Bannon stumping for Roy Moore (and against Mitt Romney) in Alabama - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Tuesday, Steve Bannon held a rally in Fairhope, Alabama for US Senate Candidate Roy Moore. During the gathering, Bannon was highly critical of 2012 Presidential candidate, Governor Mitt Romney.

On Monday, Governor Romney had tweeted, "Roy More in the US Senate would be a stain on the GOP and on the nation. Leigh Corfman and other victims are courageous heroes. No vote, no majority is worth losing our honor, our integrity."

Among Bannon's responses to Mitt Romney during his speech were:

"Judge Moore has more honor and integrity in a pinkie finger than your family has in its whole DNA,"

"By the way, Mitt, while we're on the subject of honor an integrity, you avoided service, brother,"

"Mitt, here's how it is, brother: The college deferments, we can debate that -- but you hid behind your religion. You went to France to be a missionary while guys were dying in rice paddies in Vietnam."

"You had five sons, not one day of service in Afghanistan and Iraq."

"Where were the Romneys during those wars? You want to talk about honor and integrity, brother, bring it. Bring it down here to Alabama,"

At multiple times during his speech, Steve Bannon held his right arm out - fully extended, with his palm down.

Bannon's gesture (Illustrator) is virtually identical to the Nazi salute.

Bannon is left-handed - yet he gestures with his right arm and hand. In conversation, speeches, television appearances, etc., an individual in a highly animated emotional state will preferentially gesture with their dominant hand.

But in multiple speeches, Bannon doesn't use his dominant hand - he uses his non-dominant hand. Why?

Because the Nazi salute is a right-handed salute.

Any person who speaks on frequently (e.g., any politician) will occasionally make a gesture which might resemble this one - but rarely ONLY with the right hand, arm fully-extended, palm-downward - and NOT anywhere near the frequency commonly displayed by Bannon. This is not a coincidence.

Summary: Steve Bannon displays a right arm, fully-extended, palm-down gesture with high frequency. He is displaying this gesture deliberately as a Nazi salute.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4144: Donald Trump Touching Mike Pence on the Knee in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4142: Donald Trump, "I feel badly for General Flynn"

Body Language Analysis No. 4141: Vladimir Putin and Michael Flynn in Moscow (Part II)

Body Language Analysis No. 4128: Roy Moore's youngest accuser, Leigh Corfman - Interview on "Today"

Body Language Analysis No. 4112: Donald Trump's Interview on Sharyl Attkisson's "Full Measure"

Body Language Analysis No. 4082: Brother of Stephen Paddock (Las Vegas Shooter)

Body Language Analysis No. 4065: The Murder of Laci Peterson - Scott Peterson's Red Flag

Body Language Analysis No. 4061: Pennywise,"IT", and Bill Skarsgård's Demonic Smile - Why is IT so Scary?

Body Language Analysis No. 3965: Manspreading, Madrid, and a Business Faux Pas


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3773: Dinner with Donald Trump - What was Mitt Romney Feeling? (Part II) - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

President-Elect Donald Trump and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney had dinner in Manhattan on Tuesday. The image above was captured during that occasion and has since become a bit viral.

Many have misidentified Mitt Romney's emotions in this moment.

From a nonverbal perspective, Mr. Romney's facial expression is highly characteristic for an amalgam of both Anxiety (which most people are able to discern) and Regret (which most people cannot detect).

What are the features on the Romney's face which indicate Regret? Which demonstrate Anxiety?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3772: Mitt Romney Meets with Donald Trump 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3770: Fidel Castro, Ed Sullivan and Mirroring

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3768: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3746: Alicia Keys, Questlove, Krispy Kremes and Connecting the Dots - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3733: The 3rd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - Part IV - The Turning Point of the Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3699: The Tulsa Police and the Shooting Death of Terence Crutcher

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3669: Jordan Spieth, Bill Murray and the Asymmetrical Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3612: Sam Querrey defeats Novak Djokovic at Wimbeldon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3557: Meghan Trainor Falls on Jimmy Fallon as She Finishes "Me Too"


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3772: Mitt Romney Meets with Donald Trump - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Mitt Romney dined with Donald Trump and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus last night at a restaurant in Manhattan. Afterward, Governor Romney gave a short statement to the press which is included in the above video.

Notice Mr. Romney's tendency to speak out of the right side of his mouth many times during this entire interview. Whenever you see this particular nonverbal speech pattern over a prolonged period - you should immediately think of the following more probable causes:

1. Medical Condition - Such as injury, birth deformity, stroke, facial palsy or other similar condition.

2. A Smile - More typically an insincere smile, although a sincere smile may be asymmetrical, particularly while beginning or if being suppressed.

3. A small minority of individuals have a life-long pattern of continually speaking in an asymmetrical fashion regardless of the scenario (Habit/Tic-like Behavior/Idiosyncrasy).

4. Acquiescence/Resignation/Regret - this is extremely common and nearly as commonly it's not interpreted accurately.

5. Contempt or Anger - People can display contempt or anger (usually somewhat suppressed) over the lengthy exchanges.

6. Swagger/Machismo - This etiology is somewhat more common with men. It's also seen with those individuals who are comfortable asserting their (relative) alpha status, talent, power, etc., over others. It's a signal of high confidence and tends to be more common in celebrities, athletes and others whose professions' requires dominant and highly competitive emotional tones.

7. Deception/Insincerity - This is the most common cause on this list, and almost never understood when it's displayed.

To differentiate between all of these causes, one must carefully observe all the other nonverbal signals (as well as paralanguage) occurring simultaneously (or nearly so). Taking this into account, what is the associated etiology of Gov. Romney's asymmetrical speaking? (Hint: it's not the first four.)

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3771: Tom Hanks Reenacts Iconic Forrest Gump Scene

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3689: Times Square Kiss on V-J Day

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3769: Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3746: Alicia Keys, Questlove, Krispy Kremes and Connecting the Dots 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3527: North Carolina's Governor Pat McCrory Statement regarding His Order That "Clarifies" Controversial Gender Identity Bill - Body Language Faux Pas 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3532: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant and The Graham Norton Show

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3576: Marco Rubio's Endorsement of Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3761: Mitt Romney meets with Donald Trump - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The President-Elect met with former Presidential Candidate and Gov. Mitt Romney Saturday at Donald Trump's golf retreat in Bedminster, New Jersey. Trump has said that he is considering Mr. Romney for the position of US Secretary of State.  Given the recent bitter history between the two men, this statement surprised pundits and citizens alike .

The image above (from 0:12 in the video) was taken at the conclusion of their meeting as Gov. Romney was departing. Note the position of each man's feet. Trump's feet are pointed straight ahead, rotated 90 degrees away from Romney - and while Romney's feet are not pointed directly at the President-elect, they are rotated much more in his direction. Romney's feet, legs and hips are also much more in alignment (although he is mildly rotated). Trump's hips are rotated mildly relative to his feet - but his torso is considerably rotated. We "whole-body point" - and particularly point our feet at those people they respect and/or like.

Trump's right hand is pulling Romney's right hand and arm close to his lower torso - into his intimate space. Moreover, Trump's touching/gripping of Romney's right shoulder is a dominance display of power - as well as an example of feigned intimacy (feigned friendship). President Elect Trump should not shake hands in this manner as it is alienating, patronizing and intimidating (and thus rapport destroying).

Despite this second image taken from a fairly out-of-focus camera (during 0:16), we can also see that Gov. Romney is displaying either contempt (if primary involving the left side of his face) - or disgust (if both sides of his face were involved). He is also feeling some bitterness and regret.

Summary: Body Language analysis of Donald Trump's and Mitt Romney's brief on-camera interaction yesterday demonstrates that Trump does not respect Romney and will not pick him for his Secretary of State. Governor Romney also has disgust (or contempt) for President Elect Trump.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3760: Rory McIlroy's "Little Interviews"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3558: Mila Kunis Nixes Ashton Kutcher's choice regarding Their Baby's Name

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3756: Amy Adams, Anxiety and Hesitancy to Disclose

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3754: Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3710: Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte Compares Himself With Hitler

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3564: Kanye West, Ellen and Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego - Body Language Tells

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3474: Donald Trump, Handshakes and Narcissism - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Tonight in South Carolina, Donald Trump won the his second presidential primary. It's looking increasingly likely that the businessman will become the 2016 Republican Presidential Nominee. Back in February of 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada - when Mitt Romney was running for President, Donald Trump endorsed the former Massachusetts Governor who went on to challenge President Obama.

Although this video has a multitude of body language tells, one in particular is highlighted here - Trump's and Romney's handshake. Note that during 1:55 - 1:58 and again at 5:53-5:55 of the above video, in both instances, Trump pulls Romney into his personal space (even into his intimate space). This is but one variety of a handshake which is hyper-alpha and highly narcissistic. Moreover, those who use this handshake are deliberately trying to intimidate.

In addition, men who shake a woman's hand in this manner have a very high rate of misogynistic and objectifying behaviors.

1:56

5:54


















See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3473: Adele's Tongue, Ellen DeGeneres and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3462: Donald Trump calls Ted Cruz a "Pussy"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3459: Miscues on the Introductions to New Hampshire Republican Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3455: Jerry Rice Undercover - Lyft Super Bowl 50 Commercial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1874: Bad Handshake - Political Prevalence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3431: El Chapo, Sean Penn, an Interview and a Handshake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3429: Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward met with Ammon Bundy 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3345: Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama and a Handshake at the U.N.

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


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2765: Obama, Romney, Russia and Facial Asymmetry - Contempt at The Hague (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Like most people, President Barack Obama has some degree of facial asymmetry. In this momentary and relatively neutral emotional moment, we can see that the nasal-labial furrow (which runs from the side of the nose down to the corners of the mouth) is more shallow on Barack's right side - however it runs down past his mouth corner. On his left - it is more deeply defined but stops at the corner of the mouth. This asymmetry (among other things) makes some nonverbal signals more difficult to interpret. One example of this phenomenon is that - to many Mr. Obama will seem as if he is feeling contempt when he is not. Below however are examples of two very subtle and very real microexpressions of contempt. 

During the 0:14 second mark in his speech yesterday at The Hague,  just prior to and just after "... Russia's ..." (during 0:19 shown in image below) when President Obama says, "..... With respect to Mr. Romney's ah, assertion that, ah ... Russia's, ah, number, our number one, geo-political foe ... " (highlighted with red).

Note that at both of these moments, the presidents eyelids are closed in a slightly extended blink.

This extended blink in this context serves as a "Contempt-Amplifier" - which is extremely valuable yet very  under-appreciated body language signal.




There are multitudes of additional nonverbal examples seen in this short video. How many did you miss?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2646: Does Barack Obama Want to Go to the Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics? What His Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2752: Barack Obama, Zach Galifianakis, Funny or Die - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2758: Barack Obama Regarding Further Sanctions to Russia for Annexation of Crimea - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2764: Embarrassment, Affection & Flirtation - Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher - Kiss Cam Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2727: "I am a Ukrainian" Video - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2745: Vladimir Putin Deception regarding Crimea - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2647: Vladimir Putin regarding Edward Snowden, What Does the Russian Leader Think? 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2591: Chris Christie on Romney's Campaign Vetting Leak, Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Chris Christie easily won re-election as Governor of New Jersey. In a state that is traditionally democrat strong hold, Christie won strong with ~60% of the vote.

During the 2012 Presidential campaign, when Mitt Romney's team was considering Christie for the V.P. slot, key personal vetting information was leaked. This occurred just after Christie was seen to be by many as trying to be over-friendly to President Obama in the days just after Hurricane Sandy - and just prior to the election.

Watch the video above first for your assessment of the Body Language Tells. A partial analysis of this video appears below.

Jake Tapper asks Governor Christie, "... If you were to ... look ahead, I can't help but think about this new book, 'Double Down', And I don't want to get into all the details, and I know you haven't read the book, but it seems very clear that when you submitted information, confidential information to the Romney campaign when they were considering you for Vice President - somebody violated that trust and gave information to the authors of this book. There'll be time later for you to address all those issues - but I wonder what you think about that - about the fact that - you trusted these people and, and one of them clearly betrayed you?"

During the 0:13 - 0:15 segment in particular, as Tapper says, "... confidential information ...", Gov. Christie's lips thin in a highly reliable nonverbal anger display. Although he does a good job at diminishing his anger after approximately two seconds, careful observation gives us a significant glimpse behind Christie's emotion curtain on this issue.

At 0:29, just after Tapper says, "... but I wonder what you think about ..." we see a subtle body language cluster of signals. There is once again a very slight thinning of Christie's lips along with a bit of nostril flaring, mild mid-face tightening and bilateral eyelid closure. All of these occur just as the Governor begins to reach for his tie and indicate anger-anxiety.

During the 0:30 - 0:32 segment, the possible 2016 Presidential Candidate displays a "Tie Stroke". A tie stroke is an example of a nonverbal MAP-surrogate. A MAP (manipulator, adaptor, pacifier) in short is a form of self-touching. Here Christie's tie is an extension of his body (thus a surrogate). MAPs are typically seen during times of increased anxiety. Depending on the other nonverbals with which they are clustered, MAPs can have different and more specific meanings.

A tie stroke is a less overt subconscious substitute for another body part, wherein the front, long portion of the tie is falsely adjusted, held, lifted, caressed or groomed during times of elevated anxiety - rather than touching a body part.

One common female analog for this behavior is adjusting or touching a necklace. 





There are many other significant nonverbal signs in this short video. What others did you see on a second viewing which you didn't spot the first time?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2521: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jimmy Kimmel and the Tie Stroke  Mumford and Sons, Groupie Behavior and  Body Language Tells

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1449:  Dr. Who, Jenna-Louise Coleman and Necklaces

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2053:  Strong Signal of Fear-Sadness Anxiety -  Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1209:  Even Putin has Anxiety -  False Tie Adjust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2538: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language Tells regarding Shutting Down the Government and Telling us He’s Running for President in 2016 

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 331:  Corzine's False and Bitter Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2172:  Governor Chris Christie's Body Language of Contempt -  Microexpressions and Subtle Displays

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2208: President Obama & Mitt Romney in the Oval Office - Multiple Body Language Tells

Mitt Romney visited President Obama yesterday at the White House. In this image above, there are several nonverbal tells which betray both of their emotions and (although it was a private meeting) - we can be pretty sure weren't expressed by their words. 

Barack's left (and dominant) hand is in his hip pocket (of course, handshakes are by custom performed with the right hand). This body language display tells us that he really doesn't want to be meeting with Mitt. It's nearly always misinterpreted as a signal of nonchalance or relaxation - however it's a reliable nonverbal signal of non-engagement and mental-emotional withdraw. Think of this as a turtle with his head in his shell. When you see it, emotional dissonance should come to mind. The President really doesn't want to be there - and yet he said he would meet with Romney. His emotions are split.

Romney's hand position during the handshake shows that he's still trying to display dominance - a poor concession for not having that Oval Office for his own. His dominant "hand on top" configuration is a strong alpha nonverbal. The President's acquiescence by taking the submissive, beta position in this context is congruent with his hand-in-pocket configuration (a "gimmie") - neither of which he did in any of their three debates.

Although this is not a high resolution image, Mitt Romney's "smile" is clearly not a true smile at all - but a poor attempt at a "social smile". The thinned upper lip with essentially horizontal morphology indicates an emotional tone of anger. There is also a bitterness component seen here. If any of us were in Mr. Romney's shoes, we'd all probably have a similar mouth display - and his facial display is not a surprise here. But it does serve as a good teaching example when we have clear insight into his emotional tone.

See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1510: Handshakes, Statesmanship and Dominance -  Manmohan Singh & Asif Ali Zardari

Negotiation Secret # 379: Dominant Handshake Tendencies

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1131: Romney's Handshake, Santorums Bicep's, and Dominance 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1859: The Prince is Angry at the Queen's Jubilee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2138: President Obama's Anger During Debate - An Under-Appreciated Body Language Signal

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 831: Santorum's Hands and the Alpha-Beta Hybrid

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2074: Mitt Romney and Senator Kelly Ayotte - What Body Language Tells?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2192: Senator Elect Ted Cruz - "So by the third debate, I’m pretty certain Mitt Romney actually French-kissed Barack Obama" A Body Language Red Flag

In a speech today at the Federalist Society's Annual Conference, Senator Elect Ted Cruz (R-TX) demonstrated an ominous body language warning sign. Not that either party has a monopoly on this or other negative nonverbal emotional tells, for they are seen in abundance in both democrats and republicans - indeed in across all humanity. 

Though out the majority of this 1:27 video, the soon-to-be freshman Senator's central forehead muscles are contracted (CFC). The CFC is seen when there is significant physical or emotional pain - either felt directly for oneself, or for another person(s) or animal via empathy. HOWEVER, when the central forehead is contracted in the presence of these emotions, the remainder of the face should be congruent with these emotional-mental states - particularly the mouth. In this video Senator Elect Cruz's mouth is not

It's always a red flag when someone over-uses their forehead muscles, especially the central forehead - and even more-so in the presence of anything that resembles an attempt at a "smile". These are never true smiles though. All such smiles (with any forehead contraction) are false smile and indicate insincerity - for an absolute requirement for a sincere (Duchenne) smile is that the forehead must be relaxed. This is physiologic absolute.

Every human being occasionally wears the same expression that Senator Elect Cruz did in this video. It's interesting to note though, that the majority of people fall into a true dichotomy here (rather than a typically seen continuum of behavior) - they either rarely display this body language-facial expression or they wear this nonverbal often. Stay away from the second group. They are displaying a strong signal of insincerity. 

Any politician or "leader" of any type should be aware of such displays - for while this will be invisible to those who are sycophants - you will never win over independents or build any bridges during negotiations, campaigns, sales, conversation, etc. - any interaction which requires rapport. And it will destroy personal relationships. Others will rarely be able to quantify or qualify any facial expressions. They will simply be left with an (strong) uneasy feeling of insincerity.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2171:  Charlie Bit My Finger!  One Body Language Signal Always Seen With Significant Pain 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2140:  Joran van der Sloot's going to be a father -  Body Language Signs of Chronic Insincerity

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1439:  Central Forehead Contraction & Inward Lip Roll  Devon Davis & April Davis 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2115:  Prince Harry in Afghanistan -  Incredulity & Contempt 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2041:  Michelle and Barack Obama  Open Consideration, Tolerance "Smile" and Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2042:  Syrian Government Defector  Nawaf al-Fares

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2181: Mitt Romney's Concession Speech - and the Body Language of Lip Smacking

In this abbreviated/edited segment of Mitt Romney's concession speech, there are great examples of a display with is both paralanguage and nonverbal in nature. Lip Smacking. Because of the background noise and the camera occasionally pointed in other directions, it is difficult to tell for sure - however in this 1:44 video, the 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate gives eight lip smacks. Although for an occasional person, this can be very habitual and in these settings can be thought of as a form of facial tic, such is not the case here for Governor Romney. 

Anyone who fought as hard as he did would (and many would say should), during his/her concession speech feel some degree of self-righteousness - otherwise why would they have run for office? There is no exception here and we may very well have seen this body language-paralanguage signal if Barack Obama would have lost. And although depending on the other nonverbals and paralanguage with which it is clustered it can be indicate other emotions - in his concession speech, Mitt Romney's multiple lip smacking display is a signal of a self-righteous emotional tone. He believes he is the best choice. He feels - naturally - that he and his ideas represent a superior way to run the country. All around us, many times a day - in our personal and professional lives, while the words say one thing - the nonverbal gives us another message. If you know what to look for - always trust the nonverbal.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2164: Mitt Romney's Disgust Display regarding President Obama's Relationship with Putin and Russia - ".... I'll give you more flexibility after the election ...."

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2179: Mitt Romney & Barack Obama - Sincere Hugs and True Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2155: Body Language Tells at the Second Presidential Debate - Mitt Romney at Attention & President Obama's Disapproval-Subtle Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2177: "I'm Tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney" - We're all Abigael Evans - Dialing up her Alpha

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?  
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2179: Mitt Romney & Barack Obama - Sincere Hugs and True Affection

One key requirement of a sincere hug is closed eyes. If the eyes aren't closed the hug is not sincere. Period. Ninety percent of our sensory input and forty percent of the mass of our brains are dedicated to the visual system. When we close our eyes, the blood and nutrients and neuro-activity are slightly shunted to areas of the brain which serve the other four senses - as well as the cognitive and emotional centers. Thus when we close our eyes we "amp up" these other areas of our brains. If we are sincere - we instinctively want to experience the entire affection of the hug - thus we close our eyes.

Mitt Romney (hugging his grandson) and Barack Obama (hugging his daughter Malia) are both, of course, exhibiting this fundamental body language sign of sincerity.

Good luck tomorrow gentlemen. May all your actions be embraced with sincerity.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2087: Mitt Romney's Sincerity - Shaking Hands and Kissing Babies

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 2091: Sincere Smiling and Laughing Reduces Anxiety and Heart Rate, Boosts Immune System and Relieves Pain

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2052: Dialing Up Empathy and Sincerity - Mitt Romney's & Barack Obama's Response to Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

Nonverbal Intelligence Quiz-Analysis # 2110: Pizza Guy - Scott Van Duzer's Bear-Hug Encounter with President Obama - Staged or Real?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1855: Sincere Kisses & Closed Eyes
   
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2046: Romney, Sincerity, Truth and Bain Capital

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2157: Al Smith Charity Dinner - Barack Obama's & Mitt Romney's Smiles - Sincere or False?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley - Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future (accurately predicted 5 days prior)

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2177: "I'm Tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney" - We're all Abigael Evans Dialing up her Alpha

We're all Abigael Evans. We're all sick of campaign commercials. Abigael was listening to NPR in the car just before her mom captured this video (already over 7,500,000 hits on YouTube). There is a teachable body language moment here as well. Note during the 0:14 - 0:16 segment she displays a classic "Hair Adjust Behind Ear" (HABE) nonverbal. This MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) is a strong indicator of anxiety - which although extremely obvious here - it is very commonly seen in adults who are not crying and show no other signals of anxiety. Moreover when you see the HABE, it's an indication that the psyche is trying to be more assertive and increase the alpha qualities - while dialing down the beta qualities. Of course we can easily put this in context here - a four-year old whose mother is comforting her and who is trying to stop crying.

The HABE is seen more often in women and gay men (and although straight men may exhibit it too - there are more common male HABE analogs). Its display gives you a glimpse of the relative emotional tone of that moment and is extremely valuable in the board room, court room, a deposition, law enforcement, negotiation or sales scenario.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 345: Sharon Bialek - Dialing Up Her Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1770: White House Correspondents' Dinner - Lindsay Lohan's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1411: Dana Perino - Dialing Up Her Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2096: Canadian Tenors, Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen) and Celine Dion

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1901: Maria Sharapova's Anxiety

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2167: Colin Powell Endorses President Obama - His Body Language Display of Anxiety, Contempt & the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle

Colin Powell appeared on CBS This Morning on Thursday 25 October and in that interview by Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell, he endorsed Barack Obama for President. There are a lot of Body Language examples here, but here is a particularly interesting nonverbal tell: 

Probably the most interesting signal occurs at 0:31 - 0:32 when Colin Powell bites his right lower lip just before he endorses President Obama. Interpreting lip biting is very contextual and its meaning depends on the other signals present in the "nonverbal sentence" - thus an example of a "Nonverbal Homonym". At the 0:32 he also displays a bilateral eyelid flutter (very rapid opening and closing). This nonverbal cluster is a outward display of anxiety. The former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is a very accomplished and highly experienced professional - yet he is still human. And for some reason this endorsement or proclaiming it on T.V. makes him nervous. We cannot know the precise reason for his anxiety, but we can be absolutely sure he experienced it here.

Colin Powell's mouth is noticeably asymmetrical when he speaks - this is his baseline. Such asymmetry makes some nonverbal interpretation more difficult. However at several times he displays subtle microexpressions of contempt. Examples of these are seen at the 2:42 and 2:47 speaking with reference to his recent conversations with Mitt Romney and again at 5:11 when speaking about the need for a country with the U.S.'s size and wealth to have universal health care. All these mouth-lower face, unilateral, contempt displays are on Powell's left.

Colin Powell also displays multiple "Self-Righteous Head Wiggles" (SRHW) and similar analogs in this interview -  well exemplified at 3:28 - 3:29 (when speaking about his view of Mitt Romney's foreign policy) and again at 4:55 - 4:56 (when he said,  ".... you have to fix some things in that plan ...." in reference to Obamacare).

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1806: Hot, Homonyms, Clusters & Context - Interpreting Body Language Accurately

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 411: Lip Biting with Intense Physical Activity

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 531: Sarkozy's Mouth Tells Us What He's Feeling

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 30: Lip Biting on a Defensive Tackle

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 813: Ask Osama Bin Laden Appeasement

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 351: Never Let 'em See You Sweat

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2164: Mitt Romney's Disgust Display regarding President Obama's Relationship with Putin and Russia - ".... I'll give you more flexibility after the election ...."

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2146: Biden vs. Ryan Vice Presidential Debates - Both Candidates Displayed Body Language of Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2102: The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle and the Conventional Steeple vs. Basketball Steeple

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2158: Kennebunk Maine, Alexis Wright, Prostitution & Spotting the Body Language of the Self-Righteous

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2148: Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan and the "Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" in the Vice Presidential Debate

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

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