Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3841: Tom Brady's and Roger Goodell's Handshake after Super Bowl LI - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Many people anticipated, that if the New England Patriots won Super Bowl LI, the handshake between Roger Goodell and Tom Brady would be both interesting and emotionally uncomfortable. Well, of course the Patriots did win - and the handshake was indeed "awkward".

Unfortunately, the best camera angle view (capturing the optimal teaching example of the body language) does not always coincide with the video that's available. This is one of those occasions. And although a good view of their handshake can be seen via this link (Please take a moment to view it several times), there is no quality video which is also able to embedded here.

Roger Goodell initiated the handshake. In the first image (above), Goodell has just got Brady's attention by tapping him on his left elbow - and Goodell has extended his hand but Brady has not yet grasped it.

This second image (immediately above) is a bit less than one second after their hands make contact. Note that how, even though Goodell initiated the handshake, his body is pointing very obliquely to Brady. Goodell is also leaning far into the handshake putting most of his weight on his leading (right) foot-leg. Thus his feet are further back and not beneath his center-of-mass.

In distinction, Tom Brady's is leaning only slightly forward. His feet are directly beneath his body - and he's not off-balance. Brady is beginning to turn (rotate) toward Goodell.

In the next moment (the 3rd image, immediately above), the NFL Commissioner is speaking to the Quarterback. Note that here Goodell not only shakes his hand, but also pulls Brady's hand-arm toward himself. Tom Brady has rotated more toward Goodell - while Goodell maintains his body pointing orientation obliquely to Brady.

In this next moment, Brady has fully turned toward Goodell. His feet are directly beneath his body - and he's not off-balance. Moreover, Brady is now "Whole Body Pointing" toward Goodell - while Goodell has rotated even further away from Brady.

This represents the most dramatic moment of the handshake, as Goodell pulls Brady's hand and arm again - to even a greater degree.

Summary:

We don't "Body Point" toward another person who we don't like or we don't respect - and of course, Goodell's and Brady's dislike for each other is common knowledge.

In addition, leaning far into the handshake - with the feet further away from the other person - also demonstrates a dislike as well as a low emotional comfort with the other person. This is very much akin to leaning far into a hug - with the feet further away and the torsos barely touching.

It's a profoundly important distinction that the "Puller" of another person's hand and arm during a handshake is exhibiting an example of hyper-alpha behavior. It's a very deliberate nonverbal display of power - very much saying, "I'm 'stronger' than you are [perhaps not physically, as is the case here, but via other modalities] - and don't forget it". It also is highly indicative of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3840: Donald Trump regarding Vladimir Putin: 'We've Got A Lot of Killers. Do You Think Our Country Is So Innocent?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3838: Kellyanne Conway's Statement Regarding the "Bowling Green Massacre"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3836: President Trump nominates Judge Neil Gorsuch for The Supreme Court

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3829: Mary Tyler Moore - Flirtatious, Sexy, Alpha Female Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2812: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone & La La Land - Backstage Interview at 2017 Golden Globes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3798: Elle Fanning, Channing Tatum and Dialing Up the Alpha 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3558: Mila Kunis Nixes Ashton Kutcher's choice regarding Their Baby's Name

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3717: Creepy Clowns, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2945: Roger Goodell's Interview regarding Ray Rice - Denies NFL saw Video before Monday - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

During his interview regarding Ray Rice's assault on his then fiancée (now wife), Janay Palmer (Rice), NFL commissioner Roger Goodell displayed several significant nonverbal signals indicating insincerity and others, more specifically that he is lying regarding whether someone in the NFL - either he or a subordinate - had seen the (second) newly released tape, where Rice is seen hitting and knocking Ms. Palmer unconscious inside the elevator. What follows is a partial body language analysis.

 During this entire video with Norah O'Donnell, Goodell's forehead was constantly contracted. We of course all contract our foreheads and it is important to recognize there are different varieties of this forehead contraction. Yet it is a strong indicator of insincerity when a person's forehead is constantly contracted. This behavior is akin to a child who places an exclamation mark (or two or three) at the end of every sentence. It is an example of over-compensatory behavior when the spoken word lacks conviction, truth and sincerity.

At 1:17 Goodell displays a subtle "Duping Delight. This is a very minimal and rapid suppressed smile indicating a form of joy/pleasure being experienced (and leaked) in the pulling off of a lie.

This is best seen in the dynamic context of a video. Please watch it several times. This is no way a context for smile.

Goodell's blink rate was very high throughout this interview - and although we don't know his baseline blink frequency his is significantly above normal - which is a very reliable sign of elevated anxiety.

One time in though is particularly of note - at 1:23 Norah O'Donnell asks, "So did anyone in the NFL see the second video tape before Monday?"

"No." answers Goodell.

Ms. O'Donnell then clarifies, "No one in the NFL?"

Goodell answers, "No one in the NFL [stutters] to my knowledge and I've been asked that same question and the answer to that is no."

When he says "... NFL and during the stutter, his eyelids blink very rapidly a flutter. This nonverbal is highly consistent with deception.

When evaluating for truth vs. deception as well as sincerity vs. insincerity - one should always ask if the verbal content, vocal qualities (paralanguage) and nonverbal are all congruent. It they are - then truth and sincerity are present - when any one of these becomes divergent insincerity and/or deception is present. All three of these qualities diverge during this interview. What other body language signals do you see? How many examples of deceptive statement analyses do you hear in this exchange? There are several beauties.

Taken in toto, Mr. Goodell has clear signals that he is not coming clean here. While he may not have seen this second video until Monday - he had prior knowledge of someone who had viewed it at an earlier date.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2944: Derek Jeter Answers Reporter's Cell Phone - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2904: Roger Goodell's Defending the NFL's Punishment for Ray Rice - Bad Crisis Management & Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2902: How Sincere was Ray Rice's Apology?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2438:  Sincere Surprise Body Language  Three Year Old Receives Brain Stem Implant and  Hears for the First Time

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508: Anne Frank, Sincere Smiles and Emotional Comfort

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2459:  Was Eliot Spitzer Sincere?  Apology, Sincerity and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2855: Hillary Clinton, 2016 Presidential Race and Duping Delight - Body Language Tells

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2904: Roger Goodell's Defending the NFL's Punishment for Ray Rice - Bad Crisis Management & Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In this video, Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner makes a statement and answers some questions from reporters defending his very mild punishment handed down to Ray Rice. Mr. Rice stands accused of assaulting his fiancee (and now wife), Janay Palmer.

Although he has apologized and for his actions, Ray Rice, a running back for the Baltimore Ravens, has yet to be convinced.

In this video, you will note the virtually constant contraction of Goodell’s central forehead (thus called a “Central Forehead Contraction” or CFC). The central forehead contraction, when co-existing with a congruent mouth expression, is seen when there is physical pain or emotional pain – either for oneself by direct experience or for another person, group of people (or animal[s]) - secondarily via empathy.

The overuse of the CFC is seen routinely in those who are insincere (e.g., such as bad actors, most newscasters, pundits, many politicians, etc.) and who are trying to convince others of their “sincerity”. They are trying too hard – but they are acting (and very poorly).

If a person is apologizing - during those moments of remorse and empathy for those who have been wronged – the central forehead does indeed contract (this can even be seen in all but the most heavily Botox-treated foreheads – if one knows what to look for). Again – the simultaneous mouth configuration must be congruent with if sincerity is truly present. Yet the CFC is almost never present constantly during an apology.

Note Ray Rice’s apology yesterday (Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2902: How Sincere was Ray Rice's Apology?). Rice never displays a CFC during the video. During 1:00 - 1:00 his left and central forehead and left eyebrow become elevated (indicating doubt/incredulity). And Mr. Rice also has extended periods when his eyebrows are drawn together and downward – but not his central forehead. When a CFC is present – there is an elevation (not a downward vectoring) of the central forehead and central eyebrows.

Mr. Goodell’s forehead is contracted nearly the entire time he is making this statement. Goodell does NOT believe what he, himself is saying. He is trying too hard to convince us.

In summary, when a person has constant or nearly constant contraction of the central forehead – always consider the following:

1. Extreme grief (for themselves or others via empathy) – must have a consistent mouth expression
2. Considerable pain (for themselves or others via empathy) – must have a consistent mouth expression
3. Bad Acting
4. Insincerity (Same as No. 3, simply in another context)
5. Deception

What other emotional states/psychological conditions are consistent with an extended-display CFC?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424:  Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien  Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and  Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2724: Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan Twenty Years Later

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2405:  Anthony Weiner's Running For Mayor of New York  His Body Language & His Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2441:  Paula Deen's Apology - What Does Her Body Language Say?

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1236: Unsaintly Emotions ... Unsaintly Behavior

Greg Williams, is shown here. He was until January of this year, the Defensive Coordinator for the New Orleans Saints. He has since taken up that same position with the Saint Louis Rams. News broke today, that under Williams there was a "Bounty" program on the Saints, wherein players received financial rewards for causing injuries to opponents. The Washington Post has also just reported that he had instituted a similar program while at the Washington Redskins.

Mr. Williams is displaying two emotions on his face in this image. Funny thing - those same two emotions are currently being felt across the country by all who are first hearing this story: Incredulity and Contempt.

Williams' left eyebrow is classically elevated with corresponding contraction of his forehead musculature. This nonverbal signal of incredulity is often called by its colloquial, the "Skeptical Eyebrow". His right sided, asymmetrical (false) "smile" with nostril dilation on that same side is a classic body language for contempt.

Update: 5 April 2012: An Audio Recording of Greg Williams calling for very deliberate and malicious injuries: "....kill Frank Gore's head ....we want his head sideways .... he becomes human when we f***ing take out his (Michael Crabtree's) outside ACL ....", etc.

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