Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3030: Rashida Jones, Jimmy Fallon, Twin Peaks, Toy Story 4 ... and a Rarely Recognized Meaning of the Inward Lip Roll (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Throughout most of this video segment, Rashida Jones lets Jimmy Fallon and us know she "can't talk about it". Peggy Lipton's and Quincy Jones' daughter is involved with or has insider knowledge of a bunch of Hollywood projects for which she must keep secrets. Is her verbal language and body language (along with her paralanguage) highly congruent during this interview segment?

At 1:06 Jimmy continues, "... and I heard a rumor that 'Twin Peaks' is coming back and they're getting the whole gang - back together ... and everyone's going to be back - for the new 'Twin Peaks' ..."

Between 1:09 - 1:11 (coincident with red text above) notice Rashida's "Inward Lip Roll" as she tries to keep her secret about the revival of "Twin Peaks". Nonverbally she is telling us the truth while verbally Rashida is playing coy. An inward lip roll (ILR) is a highly significant signal that a person is at least moderately far from their emotional base-line and is attempting to suppress a crescendo of both inward growth as well as outward manifestation of that emotion.

Another body language signal which screams very loudly here, is Rashida's head keeps on "nodding yes" to the rumor of the new Twin Peaks after using this same signal acknowledging that her mom was in the original version of the show. Without a doubt, the revival of Twin Peaks is definitely in works.

In everyday life we rarely have the opportunity to view and re-view a video of our conversations. Of profound importance is that very often - a person will be telling a bold-face lie or a lie of omission (e.g., deliberate lack of full disclosure/holding back on key information) - and people don't see the lie (They instead hear the false words and believe them). In these scenarios their body language and verbal language are in disparity - sometimes subtly and often times dramatically - in which case the nonverbal interpretation is always correct. Such behavior is very common and extremely valuable to recognize - and yet these signals routinely go unnoticed by the masses.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3029: Dwayne Wade interrupted by Gabrielle Union in Post-Game Interview 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3028: Chris Rock's (and other Comedians) Body Language Trick that Gets You Laughing Easier

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

Negotiation Body Language Secret No. 552:  Another Course of Action &  Rashida Jones' Mouth

Negotiation Secret No. 146: Anthony Weiner's Inward Lip Roll

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2404:  Internal Lip Roll and other Body Language  associated with Suppression of Sadness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2268:  Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kathryn Bigelow & Jessica Chastain - Body Language at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2626: Rashida Jones's Anxiety regarding YouTube Awards on Jimmy Fallon (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The multi-talented Rashida Jones was on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" on Thanksgiving. Among other subjects, she recounted her 'crash-like' behavior during the recent YouTube Music Awards. Spike Jonze who had directed the awards, had her give two babies to the Award's hosts - one each to Jason Schwartzman and Reggie Watts. Many felt this to be a bit bizarre. Rashida herself felt significant anxiety about it and she describes this to Jimmy Fallon above.

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




The accomplished actress who's very accustomed to being on-camera, displayed multiple nonverbal anxiety tells in her recounting of the incident. Below are just three such examples.

In this image (1:56 - 1:57), Rashida can be seen displaying an "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR) which is a significant indication of anxiety - and more specifically the psyche's attempt in suppressing both the inward and outer manifestations of an emotion.

She is of course reaching for her neck in this image as well.

Here Ms. Jones is rubbing her neck (1:57 - 1:58) - a very common body language signal of anxiety. A deep exhalation can also be heard here (1:58).

Here Rashida strokes both sides of her long locks (2:39 - 2:46). It's relatively unusual to see a person used to being on camera display this nonverbal bilaterally - another significant anxiety indicator.






See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2408:  Sen. Kelly Ayotte's Anxiety & Regret via  Senators Graham & McCain -  Republican Body Language in Response to  President Obama's National Defense University Speech

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2621: Matt Smith (11th Incarnation of 'Dr. Who'), Anxiety and American Psycho

Nonverbal Analysis # 1820: What Causes David Beckham's Greater Anxiety -  Barack Obama Teasing Him About His Age or His Underwear?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2281:  Inaugural Luncheon Anxiety  Barack Obama's Body Language  Michelle's Mirroring

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2493:  Jewel in Disguise at Karaoke Bar,  Body Language Cues to Lack of Nervousness 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2530: Tom Coburn, Obamacare and Anxiety - Body Language Tell on a Senator's Face 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2601: "Governor Christie, Are You a Tea Party Republican?" Why His Answer Tells Us Whether or Not He Will Run for President in 2016


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

What makes the Twinkle in Her Eye? This is not a straightforward answer - as there are several components behind the "twinkling".

The first requirement for a twinkle in the eye - is that the smile must be sincere. A smile with a "high sincerity quotient" must have the eyelids partially closed. Without partial eye closure, there is no sincerity. This is an absolute. However, not all partial eye closure equates with sincerity -  think of subtle to moderate anger - a' la Clint Eastwood. In order for a sincere smile and thus true Joy-Happiness to be occurring, there must be the dynamic of a very subtle lowering of the eyebrow (very difficult to see) and a highly characteristic concave-up furrow in the lower eyelid (very easy to see - e.g., here on Rashida Jones). See also: Secret No. 353: Brad Pitt's Eyes - Sincere and Insincere Smiles.

The primary reason why the eyes "twinkle" is that when there is a momentary partial closure of the lids - this squeezes the tear film (the very thin layer of a highly specialized fluid on the surface of our eyes) into a smaller space - thus this swallow layer of fluid gets "deeper" for a few seconds. This extra "depth" reflects light more effectively - so the eyes appear to twinkle. If you look carefully at the lovely Ms. Jones, you can see two light reflection in each eye - one near (over) the center of each pupil - and a second one below just a fraction above each lower lid (where the tear film is a fraction of a millimeter deeper) - ergo more "twinkle"!

As far as the mouth goes, with sincere smile - as the gorgeous "Parks and Recreation" Star exemplifies, only the upper teeth should be visualized. If the lower teeth are showing (with the exception of laughter) there is a component of a forced or posed smile - ergo insincerity. There are exceptions to this, as one can suppress the mouth component of a smile - which of course is termed (go figure...) a "suppressed smile". This is still a sincere smile, but may be easily confused with other emotions and nonverbal nuance.

Now back to the eyes. When the pupils are larger, the "background" for the light reflection contrasts greater with the "foreground" twinkle - and makes the twinkle more visible (a light color against a dark background is simply easier for your eye to see). What causes larger pupils? When a person is sexually or affectionately (e.g., without a sexual component - such as a parent to child or vice versa) attracted to another - pupil diameter will increase. More attraction equals more twinkle. Of course, a darker environment will also cause pupils to become larger. This is one instinctive reason why dimly lit restaurants are considered more romantic. Rashida does not have larger pupils in the example above.

The angle of the light source-to the subject also plays a role. To give the greatest twinkle, it must be positioned behind the viewer (e.g. You). The source of the light may certainly influence the twinkle as well. If it is too bright - as very often is the case - it will cause the pupils to contract - thus detracting from the "twinkle".  A candle's light source has the advantage of being dim (so as to engender larger pupils) and dynamic. This constantly changing flicker adds considerably o the twinkle-effect. And you wondered why candles were romantic?!

Love must not be excluded as a cause of a "twinkle" in the eye. Since a "twinkle" is subjective - like beauty - it ultimately depends on the perception of the beholder. So if you love another, or you believe they love you - this very much colors your perception.

In summary, the perceived and real components of the "twinkle" in the eyes are caused by:

    1.  Partial eyelid closure component of a sincere smile -
         causing a deeper tear film on the surface of the eye.
         This leads to more reflectivity as well as a second reflection in each eye.
    2.  The mouth component of a sincere smile
    3.  The type and angle of the light source
    4.  Larger pupils
    5.  Love and/or affection: are they present?

Just in time for Valentines Day ....

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 552: Another Course of Action & Rashida Jones' Mouth

The beautiful and talented Rashida Jones, shown here as Ann Perkins in "Parks and Recreation" gives us a mouth configuration that, at first glance, is similar to that exemplified in an earlier post regarding Chicago Bears quarterback, Jay Cutler. The difference is quite significant though. Jay's mouth had demonstrated open consideration (a mind not yet made up, in an open non-secretive manner), but Rashida's (Ann's) mouth is closed and her mid-face is tightened. Her lips are also thinned - particularly her upper lip. This takes on a negative and critical-evaluation quality. It's very possible that a few moments before Miss Jones mouth was identical in appearance to Mr. Cutler's - but in the midst of a decision making process, something has pushed her character in the negative direction. There are certainly more extreme examples of this nonverbal (this is moderate), however I'm continually amazed by the educated, experienced and otherwise successful people who cannot detect moderate, let alone subtle body language signals. To give yourself an huge advantage, you must see the nuance - when others miss, gloss over or discount it.

On a side note, understanding nonverbal communication well completely changes the way you appreciate acting and gravitate towards movies and television (and all human interaction). It's and educated guess - but it's very probable that Rashida is a method actor - anyone know? Most everyone can memorize a line, but great acting matches the words, the paralanguage AND the body language into a congruent communicative art and suspends our disbelief. Thank you Miss Jones.

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