Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3779: Donald Trump Cover Shoot - Time Magazine's Person of the Year - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

On Wednesday Time Magazine announced it had selected Donald Trump as their 2016 "Person of the Year".

While some people may find Trump's pose"artsy" - from a nonverbal point of view, the image on Time's cover is particularly unusual in several ways.

We don't look directly at people who we don't like, don't believe or don't trust - and this body language is exemplified here in the extreme. Trump's lower body is pointed in the opposite direction. His abdomen is rotated a bit - and his torso a little more - yet they are still pointed approximately 90 - 100 degrees away from the camera.

On this cover we are getting Trump's proverbial "Cold Shoulder". And although such a hand position (as Trump shows here) is natural and common when rotating in a chair - it still conveys a closed-off emotional tone.

Mr. Trump's face is configured in one of his common default expressions - that of a combined anger and incredulity.

It's also very intriguing that Trump's chair is quite obviously worn and damaged. Although it's not part of him or his clothing - here the chair very strongly acts an extension of the President-elect. This is a visual metaphor, a nonverbal analog and most certainly is not accidental.

Summary: This pose, image and chair are very poor choices on the part of President Elect Trump. Its nonverbal message is: "I don't like you, I disrespect you, you're an afterthought and I've turned my back on you."


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3778: Steve Harvey Recounts His Miss Universe Mistake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3776: VP Elect Mike Pence Defends Trump's Claim of Voter Fraud

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3774: Luke Bryan Hits/Slaps a Fan For Flipping Him Off

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3763: Matt Smith, Claire Foy and Where NOT to be stung by a Wasp

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3745: Kris Bryant Smiles Throughout the Entire Last Play of Game Seven

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3736: Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly re: Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3687: Katy Perry Surprises Fan-Survivor of Orlando Nightclub Shooting on Ellen 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2331 Sheryl Sandberg on Time Cover - Magazine Brass Picked Completely Wrong Image - Her Body Language has the Opposite Message of the Article 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3152: Hillary Clinton First Campaign Ad - "Getting Started"


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3768: Cuban Leader Fidel Castro Dies - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Fidel Castro (Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz) died yesterday. Mr. Castro was a Cuban revolutionary leader and politician (a Marxist–Leninist and Cuban nationalist) who governed the Republic of Cuba - first as Prime Minister (1959 to 1976) and then as President (1976 to 2008).

Each of the two images included here show a very common nonverbal signal known as "The Double-L". It is one of many which characterizes the thought-emotion of "Critical Evaluation". The Double-L is named so because of the two simultaneous right angles (or relatively so) made between the thumb and the forefinger (index finger) - and another similar angle between the forefinger and the middle finger (although this configuration is not fully visible here in either photo).

In the image above, notice also Fidel is not looking directly at the person to whom he's speaking. His head is turned so that his eyes have to also turn in order to fixate on his subject. We often don't turn our heads (or bodies) directly toward a person we don't like, don't trust (believe) or don't respect. This cluster of body language behaviors (Head-Turn, Eye-Turn, Double-L) are all congruent and thus amplify each other.

Very often when the Double-L is used, there's a disparity between what is being said aloud - vs. the person's true thoughts and feelings. Thus it's helpful to think of this particular critical evaluation signal as saying, "I'm not buying what you're selling, but I'm not going to say so (or I might say it in an indirect manner)".

The image below is a study in contrast - as well as one of deception. Note that Castro is in the midst of blowing a kiss with his right hand - yet with his left hand he's configured in a Double-L. The act of blowing a kiss is a very conscious and affectionate (or feigned-affectionate) act, while the Double-L is nearly always subconscious (and signals negative emotions). Whenever there's such conscious-subconscious nonverbal disagreement - it's the subconscious body language which always telegraphs the true thought-feelings.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3767: Joseph Gordon-Levitt on playing Edward Snowden - but How Do Tom Hanks and Gemma Arterton feel?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3764: Donald Trump's "A Message from the President-Elect"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3762: Mike Pence responds to 'Hamilton' Cast Message

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3738: Gary Johnson Loses His Temper

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3693: Grace VanderWaal Wins America's Got Talent Season 11

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3654: Hope Solo Calls Swedish Team "Cowards" after US Loss in Rio

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2635: Raúl Castro and Barack Obama Shake Hands at Nelson Mandela's Memorial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3504: Raúl Castro Lifts Barack Obama's Arm at Press Conference


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3552: Hillary Clinton, Body Language and variations on the Pistol Steeple (PHOTO)

In this image of Hillary Clinton, we see a variation of what is known as the "Pistol Steeple". The pistol steeple is formed when the two index fingers (forefingers) are held with the flexing surfaces together and extended - and with the remaining digits together and flexed (and usually interlocked as we see here).

The pistol steeple is an alpha nonverbal and depending upon the other nonverbal signals with which it is clustered, it's often a hyper-alpha sign. It is called the pistol steeple because the person displaying it is metaphorically "shooting down" another person, group or their ideas, proposals or opinions. Thus it fits under the broader category of body language signals of critical evaluation.

Further evaluation of this moment shows Secretary Clinton's face turned away from the person with whom she's listening and/or speaking.  We don't look directly at people we don't like, don't respect, don't agree with or don't believe. The former Senator of New York's eyelids are also partially closed displaying a mild tension of her lower lids - as well as of her mid-face.

It's crucial to point out here, as with all nonverbal behavior, very often a person's words may be relatively or very agreeable. Yet when their body language is in conflict with their verbal language - it's the body language which always tells the truth (but of course you must know what to look for).


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3551: Donald Trump, Body Language and an Alpha-Beta Hybrid

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3152: Hillary Clinton First Campaign Ad - "Getting Started" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3548: Reince Priebus at White House Correspondents' Dinner

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3538: Barack Obama, David Cameron, Number 10, Brexit and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3540: Johnny Manziel's Ego

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3518: Donald Trump's Feminine and Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1705: François Hollande & the French Presidential Election - The Pistol Steeple and Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3510: Lindsey Graham - The Senator Picks His Poison: Ted Cruz vs. Donald Trump 


________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2894: Maria Kirilenko, Alex Ovechkin and Subtle Body Language of .... (PHOTOS)

Maria Kirilenko has called off her engagement to Alex Ovechkin. Although in this image, the Russian tennis professional may not be directing it at her then Hockey Player (Captain of the Washington Capitals) fiancé - she is feeling anger. Note that her eyes and face are not directly facing the object of her anger. When we do not like, do not respect or do not trust another - we tend to not direct our feet, our torso, our head or our eyes directly at them.

Ms. Kirilenko's jaw is clenched and simultaneously slightly jutting forward (ergo "Jaw Jut") - both nonverbal signals of anger.

Maria's mouth is foreshortened as her lips are thinned - particularly her upper lip. These signs are also significant for anger.

The area above Kirilenko's upper lip and her nose (termed the "mustache area" in both genders) is contracted and tense. This tension co-exists with nostril flaring.

What other very slight signals of anger are seen on Ms. Kirilenko's face?

Maria's face does not have a full expression of anger. There are other components of this emotion which are not present here. Moreover, nonverbal signals of all emotions may exist for fractions of a second (microexpressions). These subtleties of both proportion and time are only two reasons why many don't see emotions displayed right in front of them - and thus suffer their ramifications. How many emotional displays have gone unseen by you this week?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No 2893: Petro Poroshenko - Downed Malaysia Air MH17 - like 9/11 & Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie Bombing)

Flirting and Romance Secret # 51:  Dominance Display in a Couple:  Maria Sharapova & Sasha Vujačić

Negotiation Secret # 131:  When the eyes are "White and Wide" - Marion Bartoli

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2563: President Obama's Subtle Anger - Body Language of Government Shutdown & the Debt Ceiling

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2599: Spotting Subtle Signals of Arrogance - Tiger Woods and Rachel Nichols

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2870: Cate Blanchett and a Subtle Body Language Signal of Insincere Laughter 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2858: Hope Solo, Domestic Violence, Arrests and Wedding Rings - Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2880: Bowe Bergdahl & Badruddin Haqqani Photo - What Does Body Language Tell Us?

_________________________________________________________________________________

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

Prince William is a good bit unhappy at the moment of this photo. It was taken yesterday at the festivities for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. While Kate is sporting a good social smile, note the Prince's inward lip roll. The "ILR" is a lip configuration wherein the lips are rolled inward and gently bitten/compressed together between one's teeth. It's a strong body language signal of increased anxiety (and a common expression for him). More specifically it is a sign the psyche is trying to control-suppress a more outward display of negative emotions - usually anger.

See also:

Analysis # 377: Inward Lip Roll with a Bitter Smile

Analysis # 1439: Central Forehead Contraction with Inward Lip Roll - Devon Davis & April Davis

Secret 311: Megan Fox's Lips

Analysis # 531: Sarkozy's Mouth Tells Us What He's Feeling

Take note of the Prince's hands as well. They are in tight fists. When there is tension in the mouth and mid-face area, as Wills' so clearly exemplifies, it is extremely commonly mirrored in the hands. Conversely, when the face is joyful and relaxed - so are the hands. The next time you're angry, see what your hands are doing - most likely they will be tense. If care is taken to relax them, it becomes much easier to do the same with your face. 

William's head is turned slight to his right and down-turned - not looking directly at the person(s) of his discontent - thus his eyes are gazing left. We often tend to not look directly at someone we don't like, don't respect or don't believe/trust.

I'm certainly not aware of all possible princely protocol; however it's a safe bet that royal etiquette does NOT include walking in front of one's wife. This is another nonverbal signal of anger, anxiety and not being "in the moment". The Prince is not self-aware. Emily Post wouldn't approve either.

See also:

Analysis # 1139: How NOT to Build Rapport

Analysis # 336: Mitt Romney's Three Emotional Tells

Analysis # 1995: Barack Obama, Social Darwinism ant the Political Point

Analysis # 1446: Tension in Hands - Tension in Mouth

Analysis # 1815: California Governor Jerry Brown's YouTube Address - Taxes, Cuts & State Budget

___________________________________________________________________________________