Body Language Analysis No. 4259: Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (Photo)

It's no secret that Bashar al-Assad is beholden to Vladimir Putin - and we don't need nonverbal skills to figure this out. Yet this image provides us an utterly classic display of the Syrian President's beta body language bowing to the Russian President's alpha status.

What's most obvious in this moment is the angle formed by Assad's legs - his entire legs are held almost straight, with his knees slightly closer together than his hips. His feet are also parallel (even slightly toed-in). He looks quite uncomfortable.

Now look at Vladimir's legs - his upper legs are angled outward. Even though he is 7 inches (17.8 cm) shorter than Assad, Putin's knees are about 50% further apart than his Syrian subordinate. His lower legs are angled even further apart - with Putin's feet about 2.5x further than Assad's. Moreover, his feet are not pointed straight, but splayed outward. Putin's seated crotch display ("manspreading") is an overt dominance display.

Bashar al-Assad's hands are configured in what is known as a Seated Fig-Leaf. In this context, such genital guarding is a profound display the low confidence and vulnerability he feels in Putin's presence. But former KGB officer's hands are not in protection-mode. Specifically, note that Putin's wrists are flexible and laid-back - while Assad's nervousness doesn't allow him this luxury.

Bashar's feeling of beta-ness is further exemplified by the position of his upper arms - for, along with his elbows, they are drawn in, touching his torso. He's not using his armrests - not even touching them. In contrast, President Putin's arms are relaxed. Unlike Assad, his right elbow is taking up much more space - leaning on his armrest.

Summary: Assad's nonverbal behavior is nervous, weak, and acquiescing - while Putin, the puppet-master, is relaxed, projecting his power.


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See also:

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3002: How NOT to sit in the Oval Office - Mitch McConnell ... your Beta is Showing (PHOTO)

Mitch McConnell (R - KY) is poised to snatch the Senate Majority Leader position away from Harry Reid if the mid-term elections favor the republicans tomorrow as many pundits and poles are predicting.

The above image was captured recently in the oval office. From a nonverbal perspective, Mitch McConnell, seated here with John Boehner and Barack Obama, is displaying a variation of a "Seated Fig-Leaf". The body language of a good leader - political or otherwise, projects assertiveness and strength - and a person who is emotionally comfortable. However the Kentucky Senator is transmitting none of these qualities here. In this moment McConnell is feeling intimidated and demure. Such a configuration should never be displayed by any leader unless perhaps meeting with a major religious figure or attending a similar ceremony, funeral, etc. By bearing his beta emotions to President, he projects emotional weakness and places himself and himself at a profound political disadvantage.

Although this photo does not give us an optimal viewing angle, along with the primary components of a fig-leaf (hands clasped or nearly-so over the groin, though here Sen. McConnell seems he is perhaps trying, unsuccessfully so, to project a low conventional steeple), his feet are too close together, his upper arms are touching his torso, his shoulders are hunched and neck foreshortened. This nonverbal cluster shouts "I feel weak".

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2999: Chris Christie to James Keady "Sit Down and Shut Up" - Body Language Congruent with ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2246:  Harry Reid vs. Mitch McConnell on the Senate Floor -  Their Body Language Betrays How they Feel about  Probability of Fiscal Cliff Deal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1892:  Harry Reid, "That's a Clown Question Bro!" -  Tongue in Cheek

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2947: Governor Rick Perry - Beta Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2896: Hillary Clinton - Vladimir Putin Bears Some Responsibility for the Downing of Malaysia Air Flight MH17

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