Body Language Analysis No. 4238: OJ Simpson - The Lost Confession (Continued, Part II) • Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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


This is the second analysis of OJ Simpson from the recently aired The Lost Confession. The interview was conducted in 2006. What follows is another analysis of a few key moments of this exchange.

JUDITH REGAN (beginning at 46:52): You park in the alley -

OJ SIMPSON: Yeah

JUDITH REGAN: And - you put on - a wool cap and gloves -

OJ SIMPSON: Ahhh - in the hypothetical, I put on a cap and gloves - yeah

JUDITH REGAN: Right. And, ahum - you reached under the seat for -

OJ SIMPSON: Ahhh - a knife. I always kept a knife in that car for the crazies and stuff - 'cause you can't travel with a gun ...

As he says, "Ahhh - in the hypothetical, I put on a cap and gloves - yeah", Simpson first smiles (47:01) - sincerely but partially suppressed -

And then very briefly laughs (47:02)

Then, during 47:04, we see Simpson display another sincere smile. Note that teeth do NOT have to be exposed in order for a smile to be sincere (but when teeth ARE showing, the vast majority of times, it should only be the upper teeth [exceptions include when there is a crescendoing to - or decrescendoing from sincere laughter, a downward tilted head/neck, and/or an elevated camera/viewing angle]).

The other components of a Sincere Smile (aka Duchenne Smile) - and all displayed here are:

• Relaxed (noncontracted) Forehead Muscles
• Partially closed eyelids
• Concave-up, dynamic furrows in the lower eyelids
• Contracted Cheek Muscles (Zygomaticus major)
• Upward-Vectored mouth corners

Two components which are not required for a sincere smile, but are often simultaneous - and are also displayed here include:

• Dimples: The majority of times, those individuals who form dimples will do so during sincere smiles - but this is not always the case.
• Blushing: Although not required for a sincere smile, when blushing occurs in the presence of a smile, the smile is ALWAYS a Sincere one - and here it betrays Simpson's Embarrassment, Deception, and Guilt.

During 47:05, Simpson then displays an evanescent but crucial expression - a Forward Lip Purse (not to be confused with a Lateral Lip Purse). Because this is so brief, it's also classified as a Microexpression.

A Forward Lip Purse is one profoundly important nonverbal example of Hesitancy to Disclose - more specifically, it signals a Clandestine Disagreement and/or a Clandestine Plan.

Notice too, that Simpson is still suppressing his smile - while continuing his blushing.

Moreover, OJ Simpson also blinks frequently during 47:04 - 47:06. Blinking more frequently (above a person's baseline rate) is a non-specific signal of Anxiety.

During 47:06, we see another brief nonverbal display - this time of Anger (although here, it's not short-lived enough to be classified as a Microexpression) - as Simpson's eyebrows are lowered and also drawn together.

During 47:07, Simpson then contracts his lips (more so his lower lip) over his teeth in a classic Tight-Lipped Display.

This is another nonverbal signal of a Hesitancy to Disclose. The term "Tight-Lipped" is an idiom which is believed to have been coined by one of the most astute observers of human nature in history - William Shakespeare.

Duping Delight (Ekman) is a term used to describe one form of a Suppressed Smile - when the Smile is Out of Context - and during the perpetration of a lie. It signals the emotional dissonance of a person who's experiencing true joy-happiness in the belief that they perpetrating a lie - but not getting caught - and yet the simultaneous desire to not smile too much (lest they disclose their deception).

At times OJ Simpson seemed not to care about smiling and laughing out-of-context. At other times he tried (unsuccessfully) to suppress his smile. 

Summary: This brief nonverbal cluster of OJ Simpson shows him displaying various degrees of sincere smiling - and blushing - yet highly out of context. In addition, Simpson displays several signals indicating his hesitancy to disclose information. In this setting, such behavior is highly correlated with deception.

Chillingly, Simpson is taking pleasure in an action which few other people would find joyful - attempting to hide and/or believing he is hiding his guilt in the murder of two people - Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.



See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4237: OJ Simpson - The Lost Confession - Part I

Body Language Analysis No. 4235: Beware the Ides of March • Donald Trump removing H.R. McMaster

Body Language Analysis No. 4233: Donald Trump Regarding His Firing of Rex Tillerson

Body Language Analysis No. 4231: Sam Nunberg Interview (Part III) • Diminished Impulse Control, Frustration, and Anxiety

Body Language Analysis No. 4222: Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird, and Embarrassment Anxiety

Body Language Analysis No. 4209: Emma Gonzalez, Florida HS Shooting, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4198: Lupita Nyong'o, Black Panther, and Attention to Detail

Body Language Analysis No. 4189: Tom Cruise, a Broken Ankle, and Rebecca Ferguson

Body Language Analysis No. 4088: Kit Harington's April Fools' Prank on Rose Leslie


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Body Language Analysis No. 4237: OJ Simpson - The Lost Confession - Part I • Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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


The above video includes excerpts and is centered around an interview of OJ Simpson in conducted in 2006 in association with his book, If I Did It. The book was canceled/never released - however, 400,000 physical copies of had been printed and its contents have been leaked online.

This interview is both sickening and astounding.

From both a nonverbal and Statement Analysis/Paralanguage perspective, it's a treasure trove of classic teaching material. Many hours could be spent dissecting it.

What is absolutely striking - as well as quite damning - is, throughout most of the interview, OJ slips back and forth between the first person memory of recalling actual, experienced event - to a "theoretical" (fictional) point-of-view, in which the book was supposedly written. The majority of the time, OJ spent was in memory-mode of recalling real events.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis focusing primarily on one particular nonverbal tell that OJ Simpson displays repeatedly - called The Jaw Confessional.

A Jaw Confessional is a nonverbal signal which involves a rapid and short-lived lateral (sideways) movement of the mandible (jaw). It indicates shame, regret, embarrassment - and if in the context of a verbal answer/explanation - often indicates an accompanying confession. 

To fully appreciate this nonverbal behavior, please watch the videos (on full and 1/2 speed). Here are just a few of the many examples:

Beginning at 45:53, OJ says, "This is very difficult for me to do this, ah, very difficult for me because it's hypothetical ...".

At 45:56, as he says, his second "very" of this sentence, Simpson displays an excellent example of a Jaw Confessional. Because of its extremely short duration, this nonverbal dynamic is also considered a Microexpression.

Beginning at 46:17, "Ah, this guy Charlie shows up, a guy who I had recently become friends with, and ah, Ω, I don't know why he had been by Nicole's house, but he told me, 'You wouldn't believe what's going on over there'."

During this sentence, at 46:22 as he says, "ah", and again just afterward, during 46:23 (notated by the Ω symbol), Simpson displays another Jaw Confessional.

A bit further on, beginning at 47:36, Simpson says, "I go to the front and I'm lookin' to see what's goin' on - ah, and I can see that Ω, it appears - like Nicole had ..."

During 47:42 - 47:43,  just after he says, "that", he displays another Jaw Confessional (notated with another Ω symbol).

Fascinatingly and simultaneously, Simpson also looks up to his left (both with his head/neck - but more importantly, gazing with his eyes). This is the quadrant to which the vast majority of right-hand dominant people look when they are recalling a visual memory (Simpson is right-handed). In contrast, when constructing a fictional visual scenario (or a yet to be experienced future event) - they will look up to their right. Thus, this specific nonverbal dynamic, in this context, shows us, with high probability, that Simpson is recalling a real, remembered event.

Another two Jaw Confessionals are exhibited during 48:05 and 48:06 (the first of these is captured immediately above) as he was describing his initial encounter with Ron Goldman that day, "... but I really didn't recognize him to be anyone [deep inhale] and ah - and Ω, I's [stutter] in the mood I was in, I started having words with him ..."

As he was describing bloody murder scene OJ displays another Jaw Confessionals as he said, "Yeah, I, I Ω (50:13) it's hard for me to describe it..." 

In addition, the left corner of Simpson's mouth displays a regret component.

Notice too, how Simpson is looking down and to his right. This is the quadrant to which most people look during highly emotional moments of sadness, shame, and regret.

Another Jaw Confessional is seen as he says, "... I'm telling - I don't think any two (during 50:16) people could be, ah, murdered the way they were ..."

And yet another Jaw Confessional when he says, ".... without everybody (during 50:21) been covered in blood".

Summary: This video is profound. It's utterly full of both nonverbal as well as statement analysis (paralanguage) displays indicating OJ Simpson indeed murdered his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. OJ Simpson is, very much, giving an open confessional in a not-so-camouflaged manner wrapped in the ruse (excuse) of "fiction".


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4236: Andrew McCabe, Jeff Sessions, James Comey - and Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 4234: Donald Trump's Reaction to Question Regarding Whether He Fired Rex Tillerson because the SOS called him a "Moron"

Body Language Analysis No. 4232: Betsy DeVos' 60 Minutes Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4230: Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump, and the Home Field Advantage

Body Language Analysis No. 4224: Greta Gerwig's reaction to Guillermo del Toro's Best Picture Oscar Speech

Body Language Analysis No. 4219: Ivanka Trump's Reaction to Question regarding Donald Trump's Sexual Assault Accusers

Body Language Analysis No. 4183: Aly Raisman, Larry Nassar, and USA Gymnastics

Body Language Analysis No. 4125: Michael Flynn, Trick Arrows, and Suppressing Strong Emotions

Body Language Analysis No. 4061: Pennywise,"IT", and Bill Skarsgård's Demonic Smile - Why is IT so Scary?


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