Body Language Analysis No. 4355: Comparing Donald Trump and the Tree of Life Synagogue to Ronald Reagan and the Challenger Disaster - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

There's one crucial expression Donald Trump never once displayed during any of his statements regarding the recent mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh.

It's certainly an expression he should have made - for it's indicative of the emotions of sadness, grief - and importantly, the empathy one feels for other peoples' suffering. This is true regardless of whether their suffering is emotional, physical, or both.

First, look carefully at the image below. On the evening of 28 January 1986, Ronald Reagan gave a speech regarding the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (the video of the entire speech is included at the bottom of this article).

Note that the muscles of President Reagan's central forehead are contracted and vectored upward (an elevated central forehead contraction [CFC]). Simultaneously, his medial (inner) eyebrows are also elevated - while at the same time, his outer (lateral) eyebrows are lowered. The corners of his mouth are also down-turned. 

Regardless of your political affiliation, if you were watching President Reagan's speech that night, you had no doubt Ronald Reagan was truly grieving for the families and loved-ones of those seven Astronauts. It's also not surprising (to those with modest or high empathy quotients) that just by looking at a picture or video of another person who is sad, suffering, or grieving (without even knowing any specifics) - will engender those same emotions in the viewer.

Grieving is absolutely necessary for healing. When a leader grieves, they give both a momentary and historical personification to our collective grieving. It's in these moments when our grief is shared that perhaps we're most human.



SUMMARY: Donald Trump has never displayed any expression indicative of empathy, sadness, or grieving - associated with the deaths of eleven people and wounding of six others at recent Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting. Nor did the President display these expressions after the Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting, the Charlottesville Riots and the death there of Heather Heyer, the Texas First Baptist Church massacre, the Las Vegas mass shooting, or any other national tragedy.

Empathy, by definition, is never conveyed via a simple reading of a prepared statement. Empathy must be felt and must be displayed. Donald Trump has yet to publicly display any expressions of empathy, sadness, or grieving since he announced his candidacy on 16 June 2015.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4354: Mass Shooter at Pittsburgh Synagogue - Threat Assessment

Body Language Analysis No. 4352: Donald Trump, Mohammed bin Salman, and Journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Body Language Analysis No. 4350: Ashley Kavanaugh during Brett Kavanaugh's Swearing-in Ceremonies for the Supreme Court

Body Language Analysis No. 4348: Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings - Part II

Body Language Analysis No. 4346: Brett Kavanaugh's Fox News Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4343: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Anxiety, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4333: Ivanka Trump's response to Robert Mueller and Trump Tower Meeting

Body Language Analysis No. 4308: DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's most Telling Expression

Body Language Analysis No. 4289: A Royal Wedding, Suppression of Tears, and Meghan Markle's Mom

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Body Language Analysis No. 4343: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Anxiety, and Empathy - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (Video, Photos)

Idris Elba is by most all accounts, an excellent actor. But despite many accolades and awards, Idris, is of course, only human. During his recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show, he experienced a very human moment - and displayed a classic nonverbal tell.

Just after Graham Norton says, "... a-, but we have to say, it was a-, your American accent has not always been - that good."

As Idris says, "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm", he sucks his cheeks inward (1:06). Often times this MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) involves biting the insides of one's cheeks with a mild-to-moderate degree of force. This cheek-biting indicates significant anxiety.

It's important to note that this dynamic of biting the inner cheeks has the effect of pursing the lips forward - but this is a secondary effect - and does not carry the same meaning of a primary forward lip purse. Be careful not to mistake the two expressions.

A second later, his central forehead is contracted and elevated (along with his inner eyebrows). Mr. Elba's central face has grown tense. His nostrils are flared. Simultaneous with his inner cheek biting, Idris' lips take on an additional slightly sad configuration.

Kate Winslet then displays a bilateral full palm-of-hand (full palmar) contact with her upper sternum/heart region as well as her lower sternum as she says, "My insides ...".

Her nonverbal signal indicates both elevated empathy and high sincerity.

As she finishes her sentence, "... are constricting for you right now", Ms. Winslet, also physically constricts her fists.

SUMMARY: Despite being outstanding actors, when Idris Elba and Kate Winslet are not in-character (and just being themselves), their body language gives us glimpses into their psyches.

Idris Elba was experiencing significant anxiety which elicited similar feelings in Kate Winslet. Ms. Winslet displays considerable empathy and sincerity toward Mr. Elba.

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See also:


Body Language Analysis No. 4342: Alleged Jacksonville Shooter David Katz

Body Language Analysis No. 4341: Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, and Hush Money

Body Language Analysis No. 4339: Pre-Confession Interview of Murderer, Chris Watts

Body Language Analysis No. 4337: Donald Trump regarding Omarosa, "Lowlife. She's a lowlife"

Body Language Analysis No. 4335: Donald Trump Jr. Interview Six weeks after Trump Tower Meeting

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4298: LeBron James Walks Out of Post Game Press Conference after Game One Loss

Body Language Analysis No. 4276: Waffle House Hero James Shaw Jr. Meets His NBA Idol Dwyane Wade

Body Language Analysis No. 4078: Toddler Steals Prince Harry's Popcorn

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Body Language Analysis No. 4219: Ivanka Trump's Reaction to Question regarding Donald Trump's Sexual Assault Accusers - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Ivanka Trump, daughter and advisor to President Donald Trump, was interviewed today in South Korea. What follows is a partial nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage analysis of a crucial portion of that exchange (video above).

PETER ALEXANDER (beginning at 1:45): Do you believe your father's accusers? 

IVANKA TRUMP: [deep inhalation, Ω ] I think it's a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter - [deep inhalation] - if she believes [deep inhalation] Ahummm --- the accusers of her father when he's affirmatively stated that there's no truth to it. [deep inhalation] I don't think that's a question you would ask - many other - daughters. I believe my father. I know my father - so, I-, I think I have that right as a daughter [inhalation] Ummm, to- [inhalation], ah - believe my father. 

Just after Peter Alexander asks, "Do you believe your father's accusers?", during 1:48, as she deeply inhales (notated by the Ω  symbol), Ivanka looks down and to her right - while contracting and elevating her central forehead muscles (This forehead dynamic is somewhat difficult to visualize due to her heavy Botox usage). Simultaneously, her inner (medial) eyebrows also contract upward.

Looking down and to the right upon being asked a question with an accusatory nature is strongly indicative of guilt, shame, and sadness.

An elevated central forehead contraction (elevated CFC) in this same question-cluster-context indicates emotional pain.

During 2:04, as she says, "... I don't think ...", Ms. Trump displays the same elevated central forehead contraction (again, blunted by Botox).

This behavior is repeated once more, during 2:12, as she says, "... I think I have ..."

During 1:59 - 2:08, as she says, "... when he's affirmatively stated that there's no truth to it. [deep inhalation] I don't think that's a question you would ask - many other - daughters ...", Ms. Trump uses a  Pseudo-Prayer with a Hand-Chop followed by a Pseudo-Prayer in isolation. This display is somewhat obscured by the banner/chyron at the bottom of the screen.

Outside of the exceptions of some religious contexts and a few (primarily Asian) cultures, a pseudo-prayer projects a patronizing and condescending emotional tone. This is the meaning in most of the World's cultures. These feelings are amplified by the accompanying chopping motion.

As she says, "I believe my father. I know my father" and - so, I-, I think I have that right as a daughter [inhalation] Ummm, to- [inhalation], ah - believe my father", Ivanka Trump shrugs her left shoulder three times in succession - a movement is which is not mirrored by her right shoulder (Again, this movement is also partially obscured by the banner/chyron at the bottom of the screen).

These unilateral shoulder shrugs performed simultaneously with positive affirmations, (e.g. "I believe my father", "I think I have that right...", and "believe my father") are profoundly contradictory to her words.

In this context, a unilateral shoulder shrug is an example of what in nonverbal parlance is known as a Partial Emblematic Slip.

From a statement analysis/paralanguage point-of-view, Ms. Trump's, use of the word choice, "I think I have that right as a daughter [inhalation] Ummm, to- [inhalation], ah - believe my father" is an odd and telling one - implying that truth is a right to believe rather than an objective reality to be sought.

What's incredibly telling behavior is that Ivanka Trump never says, "no", "no, I don't believe these accusers", "no, absolutely not", etc. - rather she speaks about an "inappropriate question" and her "right to believe".

Her strongest endorsement of the President was when she says, "I believe my father" - however, this is a free-floating, nonspecific statement - not a definitive "no" - and again, she does this while committing the contradictory unilateral shoulder shrug. 

The word "inappropriate" is a highly subjective word which is used under the guise of objectivity. Its meaning is anything but objective. It's a red-flag word.

Summary: Ivanka Trump's verbal, nonverbal and paralanguage behavior indicates she believes at least some of the women who have accused her father, President Donald Trump, of sexual assault. 

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4218: Dana Loesch, Threat Assessment, and Warning Signs

Body Language Analysis No. 4216: NRA's Dana Loesch's Reaction to Sheriff Scott Israel at Stoneman Douglas HS Town Hall

Body Language Analysis No. 4214: Donald Trump's Listening Session on Preventing School Shootings

Body Language Analysis No. 4211: Donald Trump Feels The Need To Dial-up His Alpha

Body Language Analysis No. 4193: Hope Hicks, Sexual Attraction, Armpits, and Elbows

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4155: Luis Elizondo Interview - Former Military Intelligence Official Who Ran AATIP (The Pentagon's Secret UFO Unit)

Body Language Analysis No. 4116: Carey Mulligan and American Accents

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

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Body Language Analysis No. 4207: Stoneman Douglas High School shooting (Parkland, Florida), Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, and Empathy - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

There was a profoundly important facial expression Donald Trump never displayed during his statement on Thursday in response to Wednesday's School shooting at Stoneman Douglas HS (Parkland, Florida) - he never projected any expression of empathy for others' suffering.

The ability to feel and show empathy is fundamentally necessary to be fully human.

In this context, particularly, empathy is absolutely an emotion the President should have felt - and displayed - yet he did NOT show any expressions of empathy. The emotions of grief, anguish, and deep sorrow - and the shared experience one feels for other peoples' suffering are some of the most powerful feelings possible. The facial expression displayed in such contexts is identical whether their suffering is physical, emotional, or both.

Contrast this recent event with another national disaster. On the evening of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (28 January 1986) President Ronald Reagan gave an address and consoled the World.

Notice carefully how the muscles of President Reagan's central forehead are contracted and vectored upward (thus termed an elevated CFC). Simultaneous, his medial (inner) eyebrows are also elevated - while, at the same time his lateral (outer) eyebrows are lowered.

Crucially, the corners of his mouth are at the same time also turned downward (the entire speech is included below).

Regardless of your political beliefs, if you were watching his reaction that day, you had no doubt President Reagan was truly feeling grief for the families and loved-ones of those seven Astronauts. It's also not surprising (to those with moderate or high empathy quotients) that just by looking at a picture or video of another person who is sad, suffering, or grieving (without even knowing any specifics) - will engender those same emotions in the viewer.





Summary: Grieving is absolutely necessary for healing. When a leader has the ability to grieve - and displays their grieving - they give both a momentary and historical personification for our collective emotions. And it's in the moments when our love and our grief are shared that we're most human.


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis 4206: Mike Pence regarding John Kelly's Handling of Rob Porter

Body Language Analysis No. 4204: Sarah Huckabee Sanders regarding Rob Porter and the Leaking of Classified Information

Body Language Analysis No. 4202: Saoirse Ronan, Ed Sheeran, and Galway Girl (Galway Grill)

Body Language Analysis No. 4200: Mike Pence re: Rob Porter and Why It Seems Pence is "Out Of The Loop" on Major News

Body Language Analysis No. 4193: Hope Hicks, Sexual Attraction, Armpits, and Elbows

Body Language Analysis No. 4190: Serial Killer Bruce McArthur - and a Common Nonverbal Pattern of Sociopaths

Body Language Analysis No. 4173: California Mud Slides - Rescue and Surprise

Body Language Analysis No. 4166: Logan Paul's Apology

Body Language Analysis No. 4111: Selena Gomez, Francia Raisa, and a Kidney Transplant


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Body Language Analysis No. 4104: Walter Cronkite Reaction to JFK Assassination - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday, under President Trump's direction, the US Federal Government released thousands of previously classified documents pertaining to the investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Some of the documents which were to be released are being held back pending further review and will possibly be made available to the public in April 2018. This last-minute change came in response to requests made by the FBI, CIA, and other intelligence agencies.

Although the majority of Americans weren't yet born or old enough to remember President Kennedy's assassination, those who watched the news that day have the events forever etched in their memory. Walter Cronkite was an American broadcast journalist and anchorman at CBS Evening News from 1962 - 1981. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Walter Cronkite's live broadcast reaction on 22 November 1963 to President Kennedy's death.

During 1:11 in the above video, as he is handed the news of Kennedy's death, Mr. Cronkite scratches his mustache area. Facial touching is a universal signal of anxiety, and more specifically, this signals Cronkite's disbelief. While his logical brain knows what's occurred, his emotional brain has yet to fully process the events of the day.

After putting his glasses on only eight seconds before, Walter Cronkite removes them again (1:19). This action is a subconscious stalling maneuver, giving the psyche additional time to process the emotional news. The glasses also act as an extension of the body, and thus touching them serves as a MAP surrogate (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) and a tactile outlet for his anxiety.

As Cronkite begins to put his glasses back on (1:26) his jaw thrusts forward (an adrenaline surge) as the corners of his mouth vector laterally with a tightening of his mouth/lips in a classic expression of bitterness and regret.

Here we see Walter display a "Tight Tongue Jut" in a display of strong Disdain and Disgust (1:27). This is a signal of his mind emotionally rejecting the event.

His jaw then tightens dramatically during another adrenaline surge in an effort to suppress his tears (1:29).

A Tongue-In-Cheek is a common nonverbal maneuver to dampen tears and/or prevent an expression of sadness and crying (1:31).

His voice cracks as he says, "... Vice President Johnson ...", and Cronkite then clears his throat (1:33).

Cronkite then adjusts his glasses before removing them once again (1:36) - an additional attempt at down-regulating his anxiety.

As he says, "... thirty-sixth President ...", Mr. Cronkite blinks rapidly in a common display of anxiety (1:46).

Summary: Even with skilled professionals, suppressing strong emotions is almost impossible - and then only for very short durations. Signals always "leak" through. In this situation with Walter Cronkite, with our 20/20 "retrospectroscopes", it's easy for most people to see his nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage signals. In our everyday worlds', these are just as detectable - if you know the tells.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4103: Las Vegas Shooter, Stephen Paddock's and His Brother's Common (Behavioral) Denominator

Body Language Analysis No. 4101: Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson - Interview on Good Morning America

Body Language Analysis No. 4099: Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, and Jim Leavelle

Body Language Analysis No. 4097: Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, and a Tennis Tongue Tell

Body Language Analysis No. 4081: Catalonia's Referendum vs. Spain's Control

Body Language Analysis No. 4064: The Murder of Laci Peterson - Part II - A Red Flag Conspicuous by its Absence

Body Language Analysis No. 4026: Aubrey Plaza, Ingrid Goes West, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 4002: Justin Trudeau Meets His Namesake

Body Language Analysis No. 3974: Elle Fanning, Robert De Niro, and Easter

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Body Language Analysis No. 4018: Alexis Bledel and "The Handmaid's Tale" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Alexis Bledel was recently a guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers. During her appearance, she revealed she's going to be a regular character on the second season of The Handmaid's Tale. Her nonverbal displays during this moment are analyzed below. 

SETH MEYERS (continuing at 2:45): "And this is really exciting, we were talking back stage - you are going to be a season regular for season two which is great."

ALEXIS BLEDEL (over-talking): "Yes - I'm so excited."

SETH MEYERS: "And - it's especially, ah, great, b-, but not only because I was so invested in your character, but a lot of characters on this show don't - they're not going to make it to season two."

2:51 - Just after she says, "... I'm so excited", Alexis Bledel displays a classic and strong expression cluster. The corners of her mouth vector laterally (not upward) which signals the emotion of regret. This expression is amplified by her jaw jutting, chin dimpling, and the elevation of her central forehead.

2:52 - Alexis briefly looks down to her right. This is the quadrant to which we look when we're experiencing significant sadness and/or regret.

2:53 - Ms. Bledel displays a second strong mouth component expression of regret. This is a microexpression and our view immediately cuts to another camera.

2:54 - Alexis bites her lower lip - which is an indication she's trying to suppress her strong emotions. Additionally, this is one method our psyche use in an attempt to re-establish a more contextual emotional baseline.

She also is opening her upper eyelids open very wide. This is a signal of an adrenaline surge. Alexis Bledel realizes her negative feelings are probably detectable - and she very much doesn't want to show her cards.

2:55 - Here we see dramatic mid-facial tension, jaw clenching, and nostril flaring. These are further signals a high adrenaline moment. This is immediately followed by a hard swallow (2:56), which does not capture well on a still photo, and is a nonspecific signal of anxiety.


Summary: Alexis Bledel has strong feelings of regret and sadness about being a regular in the second season of The Handmaid's Tale. We have insufficient information to say exactly why she feels this way.

Despite the fact that she's a very accomplished actor, when Alexis is not "in character" - and just being herself, she is no better at acting than anyone else. This display of body language, of course, is not just limited to her - and it's a fantastic example of how emotions "leak out" in all of us.

Do you think Seth Meyers sensed his guest's regret, sadness, and anxiety? What other important nonverbal signals does Ms. Bledel display?


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4017: Elisabeth Moss, Anthony Rizzo, and a Signal of Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 4015: Reince Priebus' First Post-Resignation Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4012: Anthony Scaramucci's and Reince Priebus' First (and Last) Photo in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4010: Lisa Murkowski Responds To Donald Trump's Criticism

Body Language Analysis No. 4000: Garbiñe Muguruza, Wimbledon, and Sincerity

Body Language Analysis 3988: Kim Jong-un, ICBMs, False Joy, and Fake Laughter

Body Language Analysis No. 3979: Ivanka Trump, "I Try to Stay Out of Politics"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3862: Oscars Mistake - "La La Land" erroneously named Best Picture over "Moonlight"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3861: Emma Stone, The Oscars and Sincerity


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3843: 84 Lumber Super Bowl Ad - "The Entire Journey" - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Of all the Super Bowl ads this year, the most watched was 84 Lumber's 90 second one titled, "The Journey Begins". At its end, the viewers are directed to a longer version (above) named, "The Entire Journey" (nearly six minutes) via a company website, Journey84.com. Initially, this sight crashed from the extreme volume of those interested in seeing its conclusion.

The mother and daughter who travel far, mostly on foot, much of it through desert wilderness, end up coming to an immense wall - which of course, is implied to be Donald Trump's proposed wall along the US-Mexican border.

Of course, the mother and the daughter are actors - and yet, particularly with the actor portraying the mother, her performance is so strong that she suspends our disbelief - and we for a moment think-feel-believe we're watching a documentary.

From a nonverbal perspective, what to many was the most emotionally evocative moment, was when the mother, taken by surprise, looks up and first sees the wall. We feel crestfallen when we, like her daughter, see her face. The reason for felt this way was her particular facial expression.

In short, what jumps out at us is the combination of her forehead-eyes and her mouth. The elevated central forehead (in the context of simultaneous "sad mouth") is what Charles Darwin called "The Grief Muscle". Along with the forehead, the central (medial) eyebrows are drawn upward. Note the specific subtleties coexisting with her mouth expression - its corners down-turned and the lips full and forwardly vectored. In addition her nostrils are also flared. Indeed, she looks morose - as if she is about to cry and never stop.

When most people (yet intriguingly not everyone) see this expression, it evokes a very strong mirroring effect both on our faces and in our psyches. We feel her sadness, sometimes relatively deeply and suddenly - even if we don't know her or the source of her pain (Her daughter looks up to her and exhibits this exact behavior). This phenomenon is observed whether the cause of the pain is emotional or physical.

SUMMARY: This actors expression strongly engenders empathy in others. Very rapidly, "Their journey becomes our journey". We all can be distracted or preoccupied - however in those individuals who consistently do not feel empathy for others when they see this particular facial expression, will tend to have lower empathy quotients (over-all, a lower life time empathy potential and practice).

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See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3842: Bill Belichick and Julian Edelman 

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. 3835: Beauty and the Beast – Official Final Trailer

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2816: Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3799: Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia - Full Lips and Lip Pursing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2297: Rooney Mara on Conan O'Brien - Common Body Language Tell - Fear Apology Query Expression-Cluster

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3627: Donald Trump regarding President Obama & Shooting of Baton Rouge Police Officers, "But you just look at the body language - there's something going on" (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Tragically yet another mass shooting has occurred. Yesterday, Gavin Eugene Long, of Kansas City, Missouri shot six Police Officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Three of these officers were killed and three were wounded, one critically. Long was also killed at the scene in a shootout with police.

President Obama delivered a statement shortly afterward. The Official White House YouTube video of this is included above.

This morning, Donald Trump - the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, made a phone-in statement on "Fox and Friends" which seems to imply conspiracy on the part of Barack Obama against law enforcement. Trump then seemed to back-pedal when the Steve Doocy pressed him.

The video (which includes the audio of Trump's call-in) is shown below.






Beginning at 3:29 in the Fox News video, Trump says, "... I mean, ah, you know, I watched the president and sometimes the words are - okay. But you, you just look at the, the body language. There's something going on. Ah look, there’s something going on and - the words are not often okay, by the way."

Doocy [over-talking]: "What does that mean, there’s something going on?"

Trump: "There's, there's just bad feeling, and a lot of bad feeling about him - I see it too. Ah, there's a lot of bad feeling about him."

Mr. Trump alleges that the President's body language is suspect. Is this the case? Was there something  wrong or inconsistent with the Barack Obama's body language?

A fundamental principle in nonverbal communication is that whenever assessing for sincerity vs. insincerity (and truth vs. deception) - the paralanguage, the body spoken words and the body language should all be in congruent. When any one of these three key parameters are disparate - a red flag is raised (Paralanguage includes the tone of voice, rhythm, cadence, volume, pitch, crescendo, decrescendo, etc.).

If we go back to the video of the President's statement and analyze it, we can see that his vocal qualities, his words AND his body language were all in agreement. Note that the President did not use a teleprompter - he used notes instead. For him, this is typical in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy and is highly recommended in such scenarios. This of course "feels" more natural and it also necessitates an occasional downward gaze which is reverent and respectful.

As was pointed out in a recent post (see below), the President's use of hand gestures were quite minimal - as were Speaker Ryan's - when each addressed the Nation after the killing of the five Dallas Police Officers. This is also more respectful and in keeping with the solemn setting when discussing recent deaths. In the video above, Obama's hands are very often placed centrally on the lectern ("folded") and his arms are held close to his torso - both of which are contextual and proportional in a time of mourning.

At 1:19 as Mr. Obama says, "Most of all [heavy exhalation] our hearts go out to the families who are grieving. This heavy exhalation at 1:20 is indicative of the sincere sadness he is describing.

The President does not usually alternate his weight from one foot to the other with the frequency he is doing during this statement. This is indicative of his anxiety consistent with such an event. Such nonverbal behavior is also seen when people stand with their feet too far apart or too close together.

Note that during 2:05, President Obama bites his left lower lip as he references the Dallas officers who died last week. In this context, this nonverbal display is indicative of the anxiety of sadness and it's often seen with the suppression of tears.

It's noteworthy that a no time did the President touch his face (Facial touching, particularly when coupled with key statements or vocal tone can be indicative of deception).

Another very common signal of insincerity or lying is frequent contraction of the forehead muscles. Did you notice Obama rarely used his forehead muscles? These were relaxed throughout all but a few occasions in this speech.

Summary: Mr. Trump is mistaken. President Obama's body language, spoken language and vocal tones are all highly congruent and are indicative of sincerity. All three of these crucial communication components are contextual and proportional to the setting of discussing and reflecting on recent sudden deaths and mourning.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3617: President Obama and Speaker Ryan regarding the Dallas Shooting - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3626: Mike Pence's Wikipedia Profile Picture says "WTF"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3567: Donald Trump's Most Common Social Smile (Pseudo-Smile) Variant - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3508: Batman V Superman - Sad Affleck? (NOT!)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3331: Mila finds out Adam Levine got married - Rapid Transitioning of Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2483: Alex Rodriguez's Subtle Sadness Signal - Body Language, PEDs and A-Rod

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3363: Chris Christie's Viral Video - Why do even Democrats love it?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3531: Helen Mirren, Subways, Sincerity, Empathy and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3491: Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan and Sincere Affection

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3331: Mila finds out Adam Levine got married - Rapid Transitioning of Emotions (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Most any parent will empathize with this moment. In this short, but viral video, Mila learns that Adam Levine (her first crush) is now married and thus we are witnesses to several classic, and rapidly transitioning facial expressions.

Quizzical with some hesitancy

Anticipation with mild anxiety

Awaiting Mom's announcement

Adam Levine got Married

Mouth drops open (significant vertical component), slack-jawed in surprise

Eyes are open wider than baseline
(although they could be wider)

Surprise transitioning to Anger

This emotional mixture is extremely short-lived

Eyes wider opened

Significant Sadness-Grief

Note Central Forehead is Contracted and elevated

Eyelids partially closed

Although the resolution is poor, we can see Mila's inner (medial) eyebrows are directed upward (although we can only directly visualize her left eyebrow)


Anyone who is sincerely sad or truly grieving will have an elevated central forehead contraction - but they also will have (and must have) a congruently-sad mouth expression. Many times of course, these facial components are much more subtle than they are exampled here. But if emotional pain or physical pain is being experience (either directly or for another via empathy) - these two nonverbals must always be present. Learn to see the subtle signals - they surround you.

Of course, few (if anyone) would doubt Mila's sincerity in this moment - yet she provides for us a fantastic body language teaching moment.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3330: Vladimir Putin on 60 Minutes - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3190: Taylor Swift's Body Language of Feigned Surprise

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2997: Halloween Haunted Houses - Transitioning from Expressions of Surprise to Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2393:  Cleveland Kidnapper Ariel Castro's daughter Angie Gregg -  Body Language of Sincere Emotional Pain & Empathy

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