Body Language Analysis No. 4087: Harrison Ford Accidentally Punches Ryan Gosling in the Face - Blade Runner 2049 - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling star in the recently released film, Blade Runner 2049. As you may have heard, Mr. Ford mistakenly punched Mr. Gosling during its filming. The image immediately below captures both of their faces a split-second after impact. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of this moment.

One very telling nonverbal signal is seen in this instant (less than a second after he received Harrison's punch) is Gosling's elevated right forehead and eyebrow. This dynamic indicates disbelief.

The actor's mouth is also in the initial stages of a surprise display - Gosling's lips are drawn in and protruding and we don't see any teeth. If we had another image from only 0.1 - 0.3 seconds later, his mouth opening would still be configured in an oval shape - only with tighter lips and with the long-axis of the oval oriented vertically.

Harrison Ford's mouth is also in the early stages of surprise - however, his mouth also has the overlying emotion of fear. As mentioned above, a mouth of surprise will display no teeth, lips oriented vertically (albeit very briefly) - but a mouth of fear orients more laterally - with each corner pulling back and downward. In this instant, these two emotions are competing against each other (with respect to the dynamics of Mr. Ford's mouth) - and the fear component is winning.

It's difficult to see the surface of his left eye - yet we can see enough to know that his eyelids are opened significantly wider than baseline. Both fear and surprise will cause widely opened eyelids.

Harrison's forehead is also very telling. A Central Forehead Contraction together with his particular mouth and eye expressions indicate that Mr. Ford is, in part, experiencing empathy for Mr. Gosling.

Significant physical pain will also result in a central forehead contraction - which Ford is certainly experiencing in his right hand (Note how he's holding/covering/rubbing his right hand with his left - as he's also doing months later as he re-lives the event on Norton's show). The retracted and protected positioning of his right shoulder and arm is highly characteristic of pain.

Although he may have been trying to be humorous, it's interesting to note that Graham Norton asks if Harrison Ford's expression is one of regret - and Ford says, "No, that's the face of 'Oh, Shit! I'm in deep doo doo.' "

Summary: When this accident occurred, each actor was transported back into the real world. Textbooks will often give the false impression that we experience feelings in an isolated and linear fashion. Yet the natural world is rarely so simple. Here we see both Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford - the people, not the actors - displaying classic examples of simultaneous and competing emotions.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4086: Donald Trump, Harvey Weinstein, and Access Hollywood Video

Body Language Analysis No. 4084: Senator Corker Reacts to Secretary Tillerson's Statement (and President Trump)

Body Language Analysis No. 4082: Brother of Stephen Paddock (Las Vegas Shooter)

Body Language Analysis No. 4079: Tom Price, Private Jets, and Nonverbal Disparity

Body Language Analysis No. 4051: Predicting Kim Jong-un's Behavior

Body Language Analysis No. 4058: Cara Mund, Miss America 2018

Body Language Analysis No. 4031: One Gesture to Never Use When Condemning Neo-Nazis

Body Language Analysis No. 3982: Bangkok Police Officer's De-Escalation Genius

Body Language Analysis No. 3965: Manspreading, Madrid, and a Business Faux Pas

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3839: Andrew Garfield, Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling - Embarrassment, Protection, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

During his recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Andrew Garfield recounted his kissing incident with Ryan Reynolds at the Golden Globe Awards (look in the upper left hand quadrant of the image immediately below). It's an entertaining story - but it also provides many classic nonverbal tells.

Perhaps the most dramatic of these body language moments was captured during the video's 1:15 - 1:16 segment (image below).

Note Andrew Garfield's nonverbal cluster display:

1. Whole Body Pointing away from Graham Norton - 'the instigator'
2. Legs crossed (with his right leg crossed over his left - away from Norton)
3. Leaning Backward
4. Arms pulled inward with both upper and lower arms held close to torso
5. Facial Touching
6. Dorsiflexion of Left Wrist

Despite the fact that Andrew Garfield is an excellent actor (e.g., he's a 2017 Oscar nominee for best actor) - when he's 'in his own skin' - he's no better at suppressing his body language then the average person.

Although Garfield is embarrassed, this rather beta body language cluster is primarily indicative of low emotional comfort, low confidence level and high anxiety. It's also very protective - with all of his limbs drawn inward.

See also:

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. 3834: Rudy Giuliani Regarding President Trump wanting a “Muslim ban”

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2814: Claire Foy's recounting of Meeting Kate Winslet

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3787: Meghan Markle's Body Language - and some Ramifications for Prince Harry

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3760: Rory McIlroy's "Little Interviews"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3657: Abbey D'Agnostino, Nikki Hamblin and the Olympic Spirit

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3599: The Brexit, David Cameron announces his Resignation, Protection and Body Language


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3812: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone & La La Land - Backstage Interview Golden Globes 2017 - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

In this interview for the 2017 Golden Globes, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are being interviewed backstage after the awards. They each won best actress/actor for comedy or musical in La La Land.

Although it is rarely discussed, it's not unusual for several emotions to occur simultaneously. During 4:19 - 4:20 in the above video (captured in the image below), Ms. Stone and Mr. Gosling are both making similar expressions in response to an odd question (although Gosling's is a bit more subtle). On each of their faces we can see a mixture of dismay, disgust, critical evaluation ... and even a bit of anger. In common parlance, one may call this a "WTF?! Facial Expression".

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3811: Hayden Panettiere, Stephen Colbert and Personal Space

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3809: Horse Lays His Head On Coffin As He Mourns The Loss Of His Human Best Friend - Cross-Species Body Language & Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3807: Sarah Paulson's Fear of Flying

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3801: Marion Cotillard, Lip Syncing and Honest Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3738: Gary Johnson Loses His Temper

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3703: Debate Advice for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3637: President Obama's Speech at the DNC, Hillary Clinton and Anxiety - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3573: Angela Merkel, the G7, Destroying Rapport and Body Language


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3397: Close Encounter - Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong, Ryan Gosling - SNL - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Kate McKinnon, Cecily Strong and Ryan Gosling starred in a recent Saturday Night Live skit as victims of an alien abduction. The three are being interviewed by NSA special agents played by Aidy Bryant and Bobby Moynihan.

If you haven't watched this video, you must - if nothing else, you will laugh your A** off.

There is however, another reason to view this video. Most comedians will employ a nonverbal trick which lowers the audience's laughter threshold - they speak/perform while maintaining a partial sincere smile (e.g., Chris Rock does this very effectively). As human beings, when we see another person, laughing, smiling, crying, angry, disgusted, etc., - we will tend to feel the same emotions they are feeling - and then express these on our faces and bodies. This is known as mirroring behavior - and it's engendered varying degrees by empathy. Not surprisingly, the neurons which facilitate this are known as "Mirror Neurons" aka "Empathy Neurons".

The comedians in this hilarious SNL skit are acting however - as opposed to performing a monologue. When they break character - while sincerely trying not to (failing at suppressing their laughter) - it makes the already funny script/good acting much funnier. Many people will even get a high level of laughter watching this repeatedly. It's also interesting to note that the one professional dramatic actor (Gosling) has the most difficulty "staying in character".

Another very valuable distinction here - is that those who can reliably initiate and maintain a partial (but sincere) smile, will find it to be a profoundly potent mood-elevator.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3396: President Obama's Oval Office Address - Dialing up The Alpha - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3393: Syed Rizwan Farook, Tashfeen Malik, San Bernardino Shooting and Predicting Violent Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3390: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Henry Cavill is portraying what emotions? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3377: Holly Holm's post-fight interview after defeating Ronda Rousey 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3365: Carly Fiorina on "The View" - Destroying Likability and Lowering Charisma 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3392: Donald Trump to Republican Jewish Coalition   

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3321: John Boehner Announces Resignation During Press Conference - A Classic Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3353: Melissa Benoist's Body Language regarding Jeb Bush's Supergirl "Hot" comment  

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2265: Ryan Gosling pulls a woman from audience on Conan - His Classic Body Language Tell

In this hilarious clip from Conan, his guest Ryan Gosling pulls a woman from the audience. She ends up acting as a surrogate for his responses to O'Brien. This is full of great body language, but I want to call your attention to Gosling's mouth during the 1:09 - 1:10 segment. His mouth configures to an asymmetrical lip purse to his right side. This one-sided purse conveys a decision making emotional-tone. His body language is very clearly saying, "Who shall I pick?" Moreover, this asymmetrical lip purse usually is being made in a very open, non-clandestine manner. 

Intriguingly, McKayla Maroney (one member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Gymnastics team) during a medal ceremony at the London Olympics made a longer lasting and less subtler version of this expression which was widely misinterpreted the World over as "not impressed", a pout, scowl, contempt, disgust, anger, etc.

There is no attempt at keeping secrets being contemplated here in Gosling's (or Maroney's) body language - although one subtle change (not seen in either example) would convey a covert emotional mindset. Do you know what this other nonverbal is?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2088: McKayla Maroney's Expression - Everyone Got it Wrong 2012 Olympic Vault Silver Medalist 

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 551: Jay Cutler - Openly Weighing a Decision

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2172: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language of Contempt -  Microexpressions and Subtle Displays

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2260: 'Top Chef' host Padma Lakshmi regarding  New Delhi's recent gang-rape,  Indian Culture and Sexual-Physical Harassment - Body Language Nuance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1890: Eric Holder has (Emotional) Contempt toward Darrell Issa - while Rep. Issa is Very Excited to be Seeking  "Contempt of Congress" against Holder

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2164: Mitt Romney's Disgust Display regarding President Obama's Relationship with Putin and Russia -  ".... I'll give you more flexibility after the election ...."

Negotiation Secret # 389: Muammar's Constant Contempt

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Negotiation Secret #593: Projecting and Detecting Confidence

Projecting confidence through Body Language is a incredibly valuable life and business skill. This photo is obviously posed for the new film "Ides of Mach". Left to right are Marisa Tomei, George Clooney, Evan Rachel Wood and Ryan Gosling. Let's forget for a moment that this is a promotional photo and pretend it's "real world". Contrasting the two males, who projects the most confidence? Mr. Clooney does and here's why:  His upper body is aligned toward the camera while his lower body is slightly turned. While the seated male crotch display is often a dramatic turn off to nearby women (especially in a business setting, but even in personal life; see Negotiation Secret # 401: Male Dominance Display - Faux pas), George is not overdoing it here - a moderate stance is achieved. He's projecting confidence and possibly attraction to Ms. Wood. George's unilateral left arm akimbo is another good example of some confidence/dominance while not overdoing it with his right arm as well. How much confidence display is too much? Just ask Clooney. He's confident without being a narcissist.

Ryan Gosling on the other hand is sitting with his knees much closer together and his feet are probably almost touching (If his knees were any closer, it would be considered by most to be a bit effeminate. Again, this is a promotional photo - Gosling's being told how to pose - or how to ill-pose). Moreover, his hands are crossed in a variation of the seated "fig-leaf" - this too projects low confidence. He's is the only one whose body is not pointed at the camera as well. Gosling is clearly acquiescing to the Beta male position in this group, while Clooney is the clear Alpha.

Even Clooney's and Gosling's leather jackets demonstrate the Alpha-Beta contrast. In study after study, men are always rated much higher when dressed in black (or navy blue if we were also including sport coats/suits) vs. lighter colors. This is true in professional as well as personal life. The best example I can site here is the Nixon-Kennedy Debates (see "A Watershed Body Language Moment: Nixon - Kennedy Debates, 1960) Kennedy wore a dark navy suit which contrasted well against the background of the stage, while Nixon wore a significantly lighter color and blended into the background. Thus their clothes became a visual-metaphors for how well defined they were as men and candidates. For the majority who watched this first televised U.S. Presidential debate, Kennedy was the clear winner - while those few who listened on the radio, called it a draw or gave Nixon the edge. 

How would those around you rate your confidence? Alpha or Beta? Narcissist or just right? Are you sure?

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