Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2878: Prince Fielder on ESPN Cover - Nude but What Emotion? (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Prince Fielder, the Texas Rangers' first baseman, appeared on the cover of ESPN today. In keeping with the sports magazine's body issue - he posed nude. Yet what emotion was on his face?

Many would misidentify his expression for a slight smile or even anger - yet it is neither. Fielder's nonverbal is contempt. There may be also an element of disgust present however the oblique angle of this image makes it impossible to discern.

How would you define the emotion of contempt (most people can't)? Remarkably, the display of contempt by your spouse/partner is the most reliable predictor of divorce/breakup. How many times in the past week did you misidentify this very telling and destructive emotion?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2877: Zac Efron and Michelle Rodriguez Dating - Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2769: Smiling Out of Context in a Mass Shooter - T.J. Lane's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2798: Donald Sterling, Prejudice and Body Language of Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile





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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication # 1203: Overcompensating Dominance Display

It is important to always interpret body language in context. This method of "holding one's bat" may be common in professional (or college, high school, etc.) baseball. However, the obvious phallic symbol is blatant, so over-the-top, one cannot simply say the behavior we see exhibited here is limited to just playing baseball. Men will use this and other nonverbal displays to suggest and project dominance - and have done so throughout human history (see below). In modern society - athletes in large measure, play the roles that warriors did in our more ancient cultures. If Ryan Braun or Prince Fielder posed this same way at the grocery store or anywhere else besides this narrow context, they would not be allotted the social latitude they enjoy on the baseball diamond. It is interesting to note that (with rare exception) women softball players don't position their bats in such a fashion.

Ryan Braun had tested extremely high for exogenous sources of testosterone last fall. However due to a chain-of-custody issue, a MLB arbitration panel overturned Braun's 50 day suspension. This is the first time a major league baseball player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty.

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