Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3459: Miscues on the Introductions to New Hampshire Republican Debate - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

As with all debates, there were literally thousands, if not tens of thousands of body language moments during Saturday night's Republican debate in Manchester - just three days before the 2016 Primary in New Hampshire.

Note: The original video has, since the original post, been removed from its online source. The images below however, were captured from this video.

Below are but four body language moments which occurred during the introduction. Apparently the applause was so loud, that several of the candidates didn't hear their names being called. Ben Carson was the first to make this mistake.

While waiting, Ben Carson made the profound mistake of standing in a configuration that no Presidential Candidate should ever do during a debate (or indeed anywhere with the rare exception of a religious ceremony, meeting a major religious figure, a wedding, a funeral, while at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, etc.).

As seen in this image, while waiting for his name to be called (and it already had been) - Dr. Carson is standing with his feet together while his hands are held in a fig-leaf variation. This stance carries with it an extremely beta emotional tone. Not only will this send signals of acquiescence to his opponents, but it also will down-regulate the all the alpha qualities of confidence, strength, assertiveness, etc., which are needed during a such a high level political debate (or any debate). It's impossible to believe any debate coach or body language expert ever recommended this behavior to the brain surgeon. The damage done by this nonverbal faux pas cannot be over-emphasized. There's simply no way a person who stands in this manner will ever win a high-level debate.

When Jeb Bush passes by Donald Trump, Bush of course, touches Trump's upper arm. Most of the candidates committed this or a very similar intimate space invasion - which in almost any other setting should be strongly discouraged - yet here it serves to help disturb their opponents and displace them from their emotional "game face" baseline.

Here the former Florida Governor displays a classic, Social Fear Face - which is nonverbally shouting, "I'm glad you guys screwed up and not me."

It's important to note that those who display this expression for others (even here, Bush for his own opponents) have higher empathy quotients.

After Bush passes him, Trump displays a classic contempt display with a component of regret.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3458: Marco Rubio and Donald Trump Shake Hands at Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3449: Natalie Portman's Hands 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2322: Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist? Body Language Red Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3434: Donald Trump and the Verbal vs. Nonverbal Disparity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3274: Chris Christie, Rand Paul, The Republican Debate and National Security

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3253: John Kasich Formally Announces His Candidacy for President

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3446: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Body Language

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1010: Rashida Jones - What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3314: Donald Trump's Town Hall Q & A in New Hampshire - Fails to Correct Questioner re: President Obama's Religion and Nationality (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Donald Trump once again made a highly controversial statement yesterday at a public question and answer session in Rochester, New Hampshire. What follows is a partial body language analysis.

Trump pointed [with an index finger, palm-down point with his left (non-dominant) hand] to a man in the audience and said: “Okay, this man. I like this guy.”

Man in Audience: “We have a problem in this country, it’s called Muslims. We know our current president is one [Trump nodding his head up and down]."

Trump [over-talking]: “Right [continues to nod]."

Man in Audience [over-talking]: "You know, he’s not even an American."

Trump [over-talking]: “We need this question [looks away, palm-up with opposite hand-arm asking for the audience's acknowledgement and approval]"

Man in Audience [over-talking]: "Birth certificate, man."

Trump [over-talking]: "This is the first question [laughing]”

Man in Audience: “But any way, we have training camps growing - where they want to kill us.”

Trump: “Um hmm,”

Man in Audience: “That’s my question: When can we get rid of them?” 

Trump [over-talking]: “We’re going to be looking at a lot of different things - and you know, a lot of people are saying that, and a lot of people are saying - that bad things are happening out there. We’re going to look at that and plenty of other things.”

Donald Trump has been widely criticized for not correcting the questioner as to President Barack Obama's nationality or his religion - as well as to the alleged presence of any "training camps" in the United States. Mr. Trump's campaign staff said that he didn't hear the question - yet there is not any type of nonverbal signal typically associated with any difficulty hearing. As can be clearly seen, Mr. Trump nods his head up and down in acknowledgement as well as making very overt verbal affirmations and even forms of celebrations - with laughter.

In the image below, eleven of the more dramatic facial expressions of various audience members have been captured and isolated (This was imaged from a different video which affords a more complete audience view. However the video above is slightly different and gives us lengthier capture, more audio, etc. Together they allow a more complete and accurate recounting of these moments).

A. Woman with mouth of fear

B. Man, eyelids open wide, slack-jawed. Surprise/Disbelief,

C. Woman, Eyes wide open, surprise with some fear component

D. Woman, Eyes wide open - fear and surprise, beginning of mouth of fear

E. Man, Disgust and Disbelief, recoiling with body, head and neck. Central eyebrows elevated.
    There's also a component of anger

F. Man, Anger, Eyelids wide open, central eyebrows lowered

G. Man, Disbelief, Shaking his head side to side, recoiling, narrow eyelid openings [see below]

H. Man, Prolonged and pronounced fear evident in widely opened eyes and classic mouth of fear

I. Man, Surprise-shock, eyes opened wide, slack-jawed

J. Woman, Some surprise, beginning fear-mouth [see below]

K. Woman, Similar to H, Widely opened eyelids with mouth of fear

Captured two seconds after the above image, this moment highlights two of the individuals seen above as their expressions evolve:

J. Woman, a more complete expression of fear with widely opened eyes and yet another classic mouth of fear

G. Man, A near complete eyelid closure, shaking his head side-to-side in disbelief of what he's just seen and heard. He's emotionally processing what's just transpired.


While there are other expressions here and some subtler changes seen in these video segments, this spotlighting demonstrates the surprise-shock, disbelief, disgust, anger and fear which some of the audience members were clearly were feeling. It also clearly shows that Donald Trump heard and understood the question clearly.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3312: Carly Fiorina's Retort to Trump - Best Moment of the Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2926: Baby Hears Lion's Roar for First Time - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2122:  Eyes White and Wide -  Three Body Language Examples with Two Different Emotional Causes 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3224: Jordan Spieth, the U.S. Open, and a Classic Fear Expression 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2274:  The Eyes & Mouth of Fear -  Body Language of Ahmed Dogan during  Attempted Assassination 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3147: Kentucky Loses to Wisconsin in Final Four - John Calipari

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3247: Barack Obama's Response to Question regarding Revoking Bill Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3210: Matteo Renzi, Christine Lagarde, Barack Obama and Up-Regulating Alpha Emotions

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