Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3156: Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The second teaser for the upcoming "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens", was released today. And although the plot is known but a few, there is a moment in this trailer which is spot-on.

Whenever an outstretched hand is offered in assistance - it is nearly always offered palm-up. Indeed, if one desires the other person to truly take one's hand - (literally or metaphorically) - offering it palm-upwards will dramatically increase the odds of such help being accepted.

When a hand is offered, the other person will very often look at it as if had the momentary value of a human face - and with intensity. It's almost as if in these rare moments, the hand acts as surrogate face - and the opened, face-up palm is evanescent equivalent of a smile. The expression on the offering person's face (which cannot be seen on Daisy Ridley's character's [Rey] here) should always be one of sincerity - if it is not sincere (or does not "feel" sincere) - this is a huge red flag - take heed.

Yet this is not the only crucial body language take-hone point in this moment. John Boyega's character's facial expression (Finn) is one of quizzical-urgency. His mouth is agape in a "slack-jawed" configuration of shock (again, the plot is not known here, but if Boyega [and the director - J.J. Abrams] gets it correct, Finn was certainly NOT expecting Rey's help). His eyebrows are vectored downward and drawn together - which is often confused with anger - yet there is no tension in his lower lids, thus Finn is thinking, "WTF!?, Why is she offering to help - I thought she would was going to kill me!"

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3155: Aaron Hernandez found Guilty - gets Life Sentence without possibility of Parole - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3116: Leonard Nimoy and Disbelief - Body Language of Spock

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2683: Alice Eve, Craig Ferguson, Kierkegaard and Free Will, Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3103: Dr. J's reaction to Zack LaVine's "Space Jam" Slam Dunk - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3040: Mourning after the Sydney Hostage Crisis - Sincerity & Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2360:  Bill Clinton and the Body Language of a  "Loose Hand, Palm Up Point"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2818: The Caring Hand, Palms Up and Building Rapport

Negotiation Body Language Secret No. 554: Running for President - Paul's Palms Down Faux Pas

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

Zac Efron and Michelle Rodriguez are seen here on a sail boat while vacationing off the coast of Sardinia, Italy. After several weeks of rumors, the Hollywood couple have confirmed they are dating.

In the image above, Efron is subconsciously showing us several distinct nonverbal signals. The most obvious one is his "Arms Akimbo" configuration - however he is displaying a variety less common in men - with his thumbs forward and fingers backward.

Thumbs forward arms akimbo signals some assertiveness - yet significantly less so compared to the more common fingers forward variation (thus not highly alpha and not highly beta - but what is known as an "alpha-beta hybrid"). It signifies an elevated level of emotional support for those in whom one's attention is directed - as well as that of a quizzical mindset. A person displaying a thumbs forward arms akimbo always has an elevated level of emotional comfort. Thus if you note a person changing from a thumbs forward to a fingers forward akimbo stance - this is a very reliable signifier that their emotional comfort has dropped (much like a deer raising its tail when it goes to a higher level of alertness). This significant (while subtle to some) shift in hand-arm position will be virtually always accompanied by elevated facial anxiety indicators (can you name some?).

From a body language nomenclature perspective, the thumbs forward arms akimbo is classified both a subtle "emblem" as well as a nonverbal "MAP" (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier).

What other nonverbal sexual attraction signals (and others) do you see in this image?

What additional beta signals? What alpha signs?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2876: President Obama on Key Bridge regarding John Boehner's Lawsuit - "So Sue Me"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2034:  Even Physicists have Body Language -  Beta behavior at Higgs Boson Conference

Dating & Romance Secret #227:  Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake - Are You Comfortable Around Your Ex?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2174:  President Obama, Hurricane Sandy,  Body Language and Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo

Negotiation Secret # 89:  Opposite Facing Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2577: Bill Clinton and Terry McAuliffe - Alpha and Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2749: President Obama, Ukraine's Interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and an Alpha-Beta Hybrid - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2827: Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy - She was the Alpha, He was the Beta 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2548: Confused, Quizzical and Disbelieving Body Language from Eric Cantor's Colleagues (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the above video, Eric Cantor is shown speaking regarding the U.S. government shutdown and partial funding via separate bills. He is shown with several of his colleagues. Behind the House Majority Leader and to his left is the Majority Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Between McCarthy and Cantor is an as yet unidentified woman.

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

At 1:13 in the video, Cantor continues, "And so I would ask my friends in the media to, to look at the votes we've taken. Fifty-seven democrats have voted with us in a bipartisan way on all these bills, ah, in fact unanimously today to ease the pain of the shut-down. I would implore my friends in the media to ask majority leader Reid, why is he not bringing up any of these bills. Because I think there is a majority of Senators to support these bills to ease the pain on the American people while we continue to wait for the President to join us, ah, in these discussions to work out our differences."

Kevin McCarthy reaches for his nose at the same time as the unidentified woman between him and Cantor and tilts her head to her right. This occurs at 1:17 just after Cantor says (the first time) "...my friends in the media...".

In this context, this nonverbal connotes that Rep. McCarthy cannot believe that Cantor referred to the media as "my friends". Of course in Washington when members of the government refer to someone as "my friend" it means the complete opposite. Perhaps McCarthy thought that this was a bad tactic or even perhaps that he believed that Cantor meant to say "... my (Democrat) friends in the Senate...".

Here Rep. McCarthy rubs his nose even more vigorously. No doubt his nose really itches. Anxiety causes releases neurotransmitters known as "natriuretic polypeptide b" (Nppb) to be released. This creates the real sensation of an itch and therefore it is subsequently scratched or rubbed.

The bilateral eyelid closure in this context is consistent with his cluster of disbelief. His psyche is trying to "make this mistake go away"

This image, a close-up of the first one above shows this immediate head tilt signifying her critical-quizzical mindset. She too is wondering virtually the same thing as McCarthy.

This head tilt is well recognized by some, although its sudden presence often does not elicit clarification. It often is accompanied by a partial eyelid closure - more often in one eye (exemplified on her left).

When it has a particularly critical slant to it, this expression may also be simultaneous with a head-neck retraction (away from the speaker) and a simultaneous contempt or disgust expression (neither present here).

It is interesting a how often those in the backgrounds, who are not speaking, but who are supposed to be presenting a unified front, let their own feelings slip via their body language. What other nonverbal signals do you see in this video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2542: Chuck Schumer Doesn't Believe Harry Reid - Body Language and a possible U.S. Government Shutdown

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2293:  Eric Cantor, the New House GOP Agenda and One Body Language Signal that A Leader should NEVER display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2461:  Jen Psaki, Egypt & The U.S. State Department -  Pseudo-Prayer Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2279:  Hillary's Tears and Senator Barrassso's Contempt & Disbelief- Body Language at Benghazi Hearing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2390:  Charles Ramsey Interview & Cleveland Kidnappings -  Sarcastic Disbelief, Disgust and Exclamation

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2479:  Alex Rodriguez Press Conference 2 August 2013,  A-Rod's Body Language Tells Part I, Anxiety Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2349:  Barack Obama, The Miami Heat & Chicago Bulls -  POTUS's Body Language 

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