In the midst of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s recent 24-hour-ish mutiny, Vladimir Putin gave a five and half minute address. During this speech, Putin displayed multiple examples of Anxiety, Self-Righteousness, Contempt, Disgust, and Anger.
All of these same emotions were displayed again today in a follow-up address to Russia (and the rest of the World).
However, a careful observer may have also seen Putin’s has a new and unacknowledged health problem. The Russian President has a Peripheral Cranial Nerve VII Palsy (aka the Facial Nerve) on his right.
While this Facial Nerve palsy is not severe (but mild-to-moderate), it’s definitely present.
Note the persistent incomplete closure of his right upper eyelids during blinking.
Also, the diminished forehead and eyebrow movement on Putin’s right (this finding is mild/mild-to-moderate and persistent).
In addition, Vladimir Putin’s right Nasolabial fold is significantly flattened.
There is, however, perhaps only a trace amount of drooping of the ipsilateral mouth corner. This lesser finding is sometimes seen in mild Cranial Nerve VII palsies.
More significant drooping of the corner of the mouth would be expected in essentially all moderate-to-severe Cranial Nerve VII palsies.
SUMMARY: Vladimir Putin has a mild-to-moderate Cranial Nerve VII Palsy on his right. It appears to be new. This may be isolated and idiopathic (i.e., Bell’s Palsy — always a diagnosis of exclusion) — or it may be secondary to another, underlying, more serious etiology.
Why isn’t Body Language taught much more widely in the medical field? If you’re a physician, nurse, therapist, counselor, etc., contact me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com to learn this crucial skill. Group, individual, in-person, and online instruction are available.
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This post and others accompanying it, serve as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts.
Vladimir Putin met with Chinese Defense Minister, Li Shangfu in Moscow this on Sunday 16 April 2023. Li is China’s Minister of National Defense. New to the office, it was Li’s first trip to another country in this role.
The above image of the meeting between Putin and Li was released by the Kremlin (Photo credit: Pavel Bednyakov). Putin’s body language screams in this moment.
*The corresponding descriptions appear below each of the following images.*
Note Putin’s position in his chair while meeting with Li. His buttocks are resting almost halfway forward (relative to backrest, compared with the front edge of the seat). Moreover he’s also leaning 20º-25º forward.
Putin is usually slouching backward (a backward angle to his spine), with his buttocks slightly away from the back of the chair (pictured here with President Biden in 2021). This configuration (along with Putin’s default facial expression) convey aloofness and arrogance.
… or (less often) Putin is usually sitting with his buttocks and back touching the back of his chair (spine relatively vertical, seen where with Donald Trump in July 2018).
…but not on this occasion. When meeting with Li, the body language cluster displayed by Putin (buttocks forward *and* leaning forward), is relatively unusual for him. It’s a strong indication that Putin needs/wants something.
Now look at Putin’s feet. Both of his feet are tilted inward (excessively pronated) to such a degree that the lateral aspect (outer portion) of each foot is elevated off the floor. This is extremely unusual for Putin, particularly on home soil.
Hyper-pronate your own feet in a manner similar to Putin’s right now. What does this do to the relative position of your knees? It moves the knees closer together — as are Putin’s (along with the adjacent portions of the upper and lower legs).
In both of the other examples shown above (Putin with Biden and Trump, respectively), Putin is sitting with his legs splayed wide (colloquially known as “Manspreading” — signaling dominance/hyper-dominance and/or masculinity). But not with Li.
Close your eyes. What effect does Putin’s specific leg-knee-foot configuration (as he is doing while meeting with the Chinese Defense Minister) have on your emotional state? Answer: It makes people feel lower confidence, unsure, and anxious. Knock-kneed and elevated outer edges of the feet = beta.
This leg-knee-foot cluster is profoundly telling. It’s highly indicative of a person feeling subordinate emotions. That this particular nonverbal signal cluster is being displayed by Putin toward Li Shangfu — especially while in the Kremlin, is simply staggering.
Now look at Li Shangfu. He’s also sitting with his buttocks forward his chair — but he’s *not* leaning forward. Li’s back is straight. His eyes, head, shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, hips, and legs are all pointing toward Putin.
Li’s body language is not hyper-alpha, nor is it projecting low confidence. Li is not acquiescing. Li is engaged and respectful in this moment. Li doesn’t need Putin (Russia). Putin needs Li (China).
Putin’s head, shoulders, arms, chest, abdomen, hips (and even his chair) are not pointing toward Li — rather they’re pointing straight ahead. Putin’s feet, however, while not fully directed toward Li, are partially turned to the Chinese Defense Minister.
Note that Li’s feet are flexed. He’s up on his toes, with his knees bent (legs flexed) approximately 40º backward, past the perpendicular.
Li is alert and engaged with mild anxiety (normal for context). Li is not hyper-confident or arrogant but also he’s not in a mental/emotional mindset of weakness. Li (China) doesn’t need Putin (Russia).
Note the position of Putin’s and Li’s eyes. We have a poor angle/view of Putin’s eyes, but because his head is facing forward (relative to his body, not directed at Li), it necessitates Putin’s eyes to gaze somewhat laterally in order to look at Li Shangfu.
Since Li is ‘full body pointing’ at Putin, Li’s eyes don’t have to turn laterally in order to look at the Russian President.
Putin’s centrally-placed right (dominant) hand on top of his left hand is another attempt at looking calm, controlled, and in-charge — however, it’s actually an analog form of an elevated fig-leaf (indicating his mental-emotional vulnerability and relative weakness).
Putin is trying to ‘play it cool’ *above the table*. He’s trying to not look too needy — but we can see by the configuration of his lower body (particularly his feet and knees) that Putin is quite anxious about the ramifications of this meeting. Putin is off his game.
Li’s body language, in this moment, is quite typical of what we would expect from an engaged, alert, mildly anxious, *but not needy* government official in discussions with a head-of-state in a foreign capital (normal, given the context).
Note also Li’s statement regarding the meeting: “China is willing to work with Russia to make new contributions to the maintenance of world and regional security and stability”.
The components of Li’s multiple paralanguage tells are also quite noteworthy, nebulous, placating statement, and its non-committal language:
• “willing to work with” — is anything but an enthusiastic commitment or full-partnership.
• “to make new contributions to” — is classic ambiguous language. Li’s language is hedging.
• “the maintenance of” — Translation: “China is not going to improve Russia’s military situation or add anything directly to the equation — we’ll just maintain our relationship/maintain our current status”.
• “regional” — China does not consider Ukraine to be in its “region”.
• “security and stability” — Starting the largest war in Europe since WWII doesn’t equate to “stability”. Depleting one’s military whilst provoking growth of NATO does not enhance Russia’s “security”.
SUMMARY: Putin’s body language in this image indicates his low confidence, subordinate mental-emotional tone, his unsureness, and anxiety. He’s asking and feeling vulnerable and beta while meeting with Li Shangfu.
That Putin felt this soup of emotions while meeting with the Chinese Minister of Defense is highly telling of his vulnerability. Moreover, this meeting is on Russian soil — in the Kremlin. Red lights flashing, sirens blaring.
Putin does not think-believe (and feels vulnerable) that China will not enhance, in any meaningful way, Russia’s military or (from Putin’s POV) positively influence Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Li Shangfu was not sent to Moscow to give Russia weapons — only to maintain the current China-Russia status-quo.
Are you/your company/your organization interested in learning Body Language and using it to improve your personal and/or professional life — via one-on-one lessons, in-person lectures, or online group Zoom teaching? Email me (Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com).
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This post and other accompanying it, serve as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts.
On Monday 14 January 2019, President Trump addressed a press gaggle on the South Lawn of the White House prior to his travel to New Orleans. What follows is a partial nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage analysis of a crucial portion of this event.
KRISTEN WELKER (beginning at 3:15): Mr. President, yes or no, have you or are you now, have you ever worked for Russia? Yes or no?
DONALD TRUMP: I never worked for Russia. And you know that answer better than anybody. I never worked for Russia. Not only did I never work for Russia, I think it's a disgrace that you even asked that question - because it's a whole big fat hoax. It's just a hoax.
During 3:20, just as he says, "I" ("I never worked for Russia"), he closes both of his eyes. When people are denying an accusation - and they close their eyes while saying the pivotal word "I", it's highly correlative with deception. It's an attempt by the subconscious to distance itself from the lie.
Of profound importance is Trump's vocal emphasis as he says the word, "work" (during 3:26, "Not only did I never WORK for Russia"). Listen to him speak. An innocent person would have put the emphasis on the word, "Not" as well as "never". And also, importantly, an innocent person would have first answered, "No" - after all, the question was, "Mr. President, yes or no, have you or are you now, have you ever worked for Russia? Yes or no?"
Trump's emphasis on the word "work" is an example of his rationalization - e.g., Trump is trying to rationalize that he was/is not working for Russia - but doing something else - perhaps partnering with or conducting business.
Trump also may very well believe that he was not at all working with Russia - but with one man only - Vladimir Putin. Thus, he can deny the accusation.
Moreover, another crucial statement analysis tell is the word "for" ("I never worked for Russia" [twice], and "Not only did I never work for Russia"). In his rationalizing mind, Trump is saying, "I worked with Russia (Putin), but not for Russia (Putin) - I don't work for anyone except myself".
When, in the act of refuting a lie, if the
accused gestures with a Finger-Point-Hand-Chop - it's a nonverbal signal
which is highly correlative with guilt. This body language is exactly what President Trump displayed when responding to Kristen Welker's question.
There's even further nuance embedded in Trump's gesturing. Note how his elbow, shoulder, and wrist all remain bent. During his finger-point-hand-chop at Ms. Welker, none of the joints achieve anywhere near full extension. If Trump had believed his own words, he would have straightened his arm much further in this moment. Instead, the President, lacking confidence in his retort, keeps his arm close to his torso. The President often exhibits such camouflaged acquiescing behavior.
(Did you notice his eyes were again closed at this key moment?)
Another telling nonverbal display (seen during 3:34) is what is known as a Lip Curl as Trump says, "hoax" ("It's just a hoax"). Note how his lips are flaring and curled outward in this instant (captured in the image above).
He then Thrusts his Jaw outward, tilts his head-neck back, while rotating his head away from Ms. Welker, to his left and then back again to his right while staring into the middle-distance (3:35).
Like any person who is guilty, but attempting to look strong and
in-control, Trump is oscillating back-and-forth between alpha and beta
emotions.
Jaw-Thrusting-Head-Tilting is a sign of an adrenaline surge and indicates the thought-emotion of defiance. Intriguingly, this dynamic is extremely common in mug shots (e.g., "I'm going to beat the rap").
Trump then looks back to Ms. Welker as he displays a Loose Tongue Jut (3:37). This microexpression/near-microexpression tongue movement signals Trump's thought-emotions of:
• I've been caught
• I've been bad
• I've done a stupid thing
A split-second later (also during 3:37), Trump's chin again extends outward, but this time his head does not tilt back. This is also associated with an adrenaline surge, however, this indicates Anger (Did you notice the increased tension in his lower eyelids?).
Mr. Trump then displays strong Contempt toward Ms. Welker as his right mid-face contracts dramatically - while his jaw is still jutting forward (still during 3:37).
Another key feature of this entire exchange, is that President Trump
never turns fully toward (he never Body Points) to Kristen Welker. While
his head and eyes are turned toward the journalist - his shoulders and torso do not (and by inference - neither do his hips or feet). This is another sign of his beta behavior - and that the President does NOT have the
confidence to fully confront this question/his accuser.
Moreover, two days earlier, during a phone interview on Fox News - when Jeanine Pirro asked Donald Trump, "Are you now or have you ever worked for Russia, Mr. President?", the President never answered the question. His failure to directly deny such accusations - even on a network that is extremely Trump-friendly, is particularly telling.
SUMMARY: Donald Trump's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior displayed during this key moment earlier this week, all indicate that the President is lying - and that he did indeed "work for Russia" (Putin).
President Trump routinely retreats into beta mode while wearing an alpha facade. He's an ostrich pretending to be a T-Rex.
On Wednesday, 28 November 2018, an interview with Ivanka Trump aired on Good Morning America. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of a crucial portion of that interview.
DEBORAH ROBERTS (continuing at 2:30): How concerned are you about the Mueller investigation?
IVANKA TRUMP: I'm not.
DEBORAH ROBERTS: You're not?
IVANKA TRUMP: I - I know the facts as they relate to me - 'nd - and my family - annnd [sic] I have nothing to be concerned about.
DEBORAH ROBERTS: Do you think it should continue?
IVANKA TRUMP: I think it should reach its conclusion. I think it's been a long time - that this has been ongoing - but, I want it to be done in a way in which nobody could question - thaaat [sic] it was hurried or rushed - and I think after this lonnng [sic] period of time, we're well beyond that point. So I think that it absolutely should reach its conclusion.
and a bit later ...
DEBORAH ROBERTS (continuing at 3:23): But many people say that your father is doing nothing to heal - if, if anything he's creating more of a climate for hatred and for fear mongering. What do you say to that?
IVANKA TRUMP: I reject that. I think that he is - creating policy that's going to lift all Americans - annnd [sic] - that's - what his number one role is. But we need to have this dialog - annnd [sic] sometimes the expressions of anger and resistance arrre [sic] the moment before you really start to engage in earnest, and, and we are looking to do that.
DEBORAH ROBERTS (continuing at 4:00): But his tone doesn't reflect that and there 're people who are wondering as a White House advisor, do you advise him on his tone?
IVANKA TRUMP: [deep inhaling] He's - my father and he's my boss ...
During 2:33, just after Deborah Roberts asks, "How concerned are you about the Mueller investigation?", Ivanka Trump looks straight down and forward. Her mouth is slightly tightened as the area just above her upper lip and below her nose tightens. This is an expression of fear-sadness.
During 2:35, just after Ms. Robert's asks again, "You're not?", Ivanka Trump displays a classic Microexpression of Regret - as Ms. Trump's left mouth corner makes a very quick movement laterally. You may describe this as a "twitch". Watch this at regular speed, then at 1/2 speed, then at 1/4 - and again at full speed. Repeat this several times and then review this segment in this same manner multiple times a week. This practice will help you to become more adept at discerning microexpressions.
(Bear in mind, that regret is one of many emotions which may be projected via a microexpression).
Just after she says, "I - I know the facts as they relate to me - ", Ivanka looks down to HER right (2:38). This is the quadrant to which people will often look when they're feeling emotions of guilt, shame, and/or sadness - all feelings which commonly occur during deception. Ms. Trump's eyelids are opened wider in this instant - a manifestation of fear.
Three seconds earlier (during 2:35), Ivanka closed her eyes for a prolonged duration. Both this extended blink and her previous directional gaze - down and to her right - are each forms of diminished eye contact which are seen during deception.
Notice also, Ivanka says, "I - I know the facts as they relate to me - 'nd - and my family - annnd [sic] I have nothing to be concerned about."
She stutters, stretches out her words, and, crucially she separates herself, "I know the facts as they relate to me" - and then includes her family. She also says, "I have nothing to be concerned about" - rather than "We have nothing to be concerned about".
In statement analysis terms, these are examples of distancing behavior. She is verbally creating a protective space - between herself and the others - Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump - and her husband, Jared Kushner. This paralanguage behavior is a profound red flag.
During 2:59, just after she says, "... and I think after this lonnng [sic] period of time...", her knee raises after she raises up on her toes. While her hand movement here was voluntary and well-practiced (Ivanka has better nonverbal skills than her father, brothers, or husband), her leg movement was involuntary and betrayed her heightened level of anxiety.
Then, during 3:01 - 3:04, as she says, "So I think that it absolutely should reach its conclusion", Ivanka Trump then places each hand on the front portion of the seat of her chair with elbows locked and straightened. This hand-arm configuration is a significant anxiety tell.
During 3:34 - 3:35, as she says, "I reject that", Ivanka Trump displays what is known as a Self-Righteous Head Wiggle.
A Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is characterized by relatively rapid, side-to-side movements of the head and neck - and is often accompanied by a similar movement of the torso (and sometimes by shoulder shrugs, which are seen here).
Sometimes the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (SRHW) will be very short-lived (a near-microexpression) - however in this example, although still relatively brief, it's of a longer duration (about a second).
The SRHW is commonly displayed by individuals who are in the midst of hyper-alpha moments of particularly high confidence while expressing especially strong opinions - ergo its synonyms of High Confidence Head Wiggle or the Hubris Head Shake.
The SRHW is virtually always subconsciously generated and very rarely feigned. It's somewhat helpful to think of it as a form of nonverbal swagger.
It's also crucial to emphasize that the dynamics of a SRHW are not captured in a still image and must be viewed in motion (please view the video several times).
In this example, the SRHW also has an additional overlying backward motion component. This extra movement is displayed when contempt, disgust, and/or incredulity are also present (in this example all three are seen) - or a superimposed forward motion (when condescending emotions coexist).
Fascinatingly, the vocal pitch grows higher during the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle - providing an outstanding example of the congruity between paralanguage and body language. Please re-watch this and listen to Ivanka Trump's voice momentarily increase a half an octave.
Two seconds later, during 3:35 - 3:36 as she says, "I think that he is ..." (and just prior to her saying, "creating policy that's going to lift all Americans"), Ivanka looks down and to her right again (guilt and shame) while she simultaneously displaying a Jaw Jut (signifying a surge of adrenaline). This is a profound moment of emotional dissonance as she's rationalizing her father's behavior.
Just after she says, "... annnd [sic] that's - what his number one role is.", Ivanka Trump displays a feigned smile. If it were sincere, we would see classic temporary, concave-up furrows in each of her lower eyelids and we would not see even a hint of her lower teeth. In such moments of insincerity - the corners of the mouth pull out laterally (to the sides as is seen here) versus much more upward vectoring (as is seen with sincere aka a Duchenne Smile).
Furthermore, in a general sense, smiling (albeit insincere) in this moment is significantly out of context. Attempting a smile when the social situation seems incongruous with joy-happiness is always a red flag.
Just after Deborah Roberts asks, "... a White House advisor, do you advise him on his tone?", Ivanka Trump inhales deeply and displays another Self Righteous Head Wiggle (4:08) - this one much more extreme than the example cited above - then saying, "He's - my father and he's my boss ..."
SUMMARY: Ivanka Trump is indeed worried about Robert Muller's investigation. She has significant anxiety about her family's association with Russia - and she's attempting to distance herself from President Trump, her brothers, and her husband.
Ivanka Trump also displays a high level of hubris and self-righteousness - emotions which fundamentally overlap with, and are byproducts of, self-deception.
