Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3631: Donald Trump's Acceptance Speech at the GOP Convention - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Last night Donald Trump accepted his party's nomination as the 2016 Republican candidate for President. He gave a long speech (73 minutes) and there are thousands of body language signals to evaluate, however three in particular are analyzed here.

Beginning at 0:01 Trump says, "America is far less safe - and the World is far less stable, then when Obama made the decision to put Hillary Clinton in charge of America's foreign policy. Let's defeat her in November, 'K? [Tight Forward Lip Purse, Whole Body Turn Left, Lapel Pull] I am certain - that it was a decision that President Obama truly regrets ..."

During 0:50 we see Donald Trump configure his mouth and lips in what is termed a "Forward Lip Purse". This is an indication of a clandestine plan and/or a clandestine disagreement. It is displayed only by a person who perceives himself to be an alpha relative to the people with whom he is speaking/interacting. Moreover it also signals that he believes he has a relatively good chance of implementing and succeeding in his plan.

During 0:50.8 - 0:53, Trump rotates to his left and then back forward again.

 The Republican Candidate then pulls forward his lapels in a false straightening gesture (0:54 - 0:55). This is an example of a hyper-alpha body language maneuver. It has the same emotional tone as if he were patting himself on the back, flexing his muscles in the mirror and marking his territory - all at the same time. This is a truncated version of our distant cousins - a dominance display of a silver back gorilla pounding on his chest. It's a wonderful example of how nonverbal behavior is so deeply rooted in our brains (yes, all of us - both republicans and democrats).

The earlier tight forward lip purse, the brief sideways turn and the lapel pull are all clustered together - grouped, congruent and reinforcing.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3630: Ted Cruz Refuses to Endorse Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3628: Donald & Melania Trump's interview with Matt Lauer Prior to Her Speech at Republican Convention

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3621: Bernie Sanders Endorses Hillary Clinton 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3609: Emma Watson, Tina Turner, Ring Tones and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3385: Adele, "Hello" and SNL - Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3504: Raúl Castro Lifts Barack Obama's Arm at Press Conference

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3481: Gordon Ramsay Tries Girl Scout Cookies for the First Time

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3436: Is Hillary Clinton Intimidated by Donald Trump?


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3082: Bill Belichick, Deflategate & Lip Smacking (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Throughout his most recent press conference regarding "deflategate", Bill Belichick smacks his lips quite frequently. Lip smacking is a body language behavior only seen in people who believe they're alpha relative to whomever they're speaking (who at best they deem subordinates). It's highly indicative of a self-righteous mindset. Lip smacking also carries with it a large degree of subjectivity.

Intriguingly lip smacking is also very often clustered with an extended blink. In this cluster-context prolonged blinking is a contempt amplifier. This is best seen when viewed at 1/2 or 1/4 speed on the YouTube option settings (wheel-like icon).

Thus when someone is saying "all the right things" yet, yet they are smacking their lips - you can be very sure that he/she is far from emotional baseline and thus by definition not objective. Lip smacking indicates arrogance and a patronizing tone that may be otherwise somewhat or partially - or even mostly - camouflaged (again, they usually are "saying what they're supposed to be saying"). Yet there often are other signals of self-righteousness/arrogance present - but are simply dismissed, downplayed or not seen. What others do you see the Super Bowl bound coach exhibiting during this video? What are some body language signs of deception here?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3081: More Bill Belichick Body Language Deception Deflategate Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3078: Tom Brady, Deflategate, Deception and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2181:  Mitt Romney's Concession Speech -  and the Body Language of Lip Smacking

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2864: Mary Barra asked by Matt Lauer, Can you Run GM and be a good mom too?

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1181:  Helle Thorning-Schmidt & her False Praying Gesture

Negotiation Body Language Secret No. 554:  Ron Paul's Palms Down Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2048:  The Arm Grip, Shoulder Touch and Back Touch Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2718: Obama: "I can do whatever I want" Body Language with French President François Hollande

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2925: Governor Rick Perry's Mug Shot - What Emotions are Present? - Body Language Tells (PHOTO)

Rick Perry appeared at the Travis Count Justice Center today - for booking as well as having his mug shot taken. He is alleged to have committed two felonies in the abuse of power as Governor of Texas.

From a body language point of view, his mug shot displays an interesting mix of emotions. Politicians are used to having to try and smile when they are not truly feeling joy or happiness.

If we look at Governor Perry's eyelids - they are partially closed in addition to having concave-up dynamic furrows in each of his lower lids (more prominent on Perry's right side). Both of these eye findings are required in order for a sincere smile (Duchenne Smile) to be present.

Although the eyebrows do lower slightly in a sincere smile - it is very subtle and usually not visible. Here, Perry's eyebrows are significantly lower and also are drawn together (note the vertical furrow between his eyebrows expending upwards). These changes are indicative of anger.

Looking at the Governor's lips we see that they are straight (nearly) horizontal and stretched thin - particularly his upper lip. This mouth configuration is highly correlative with the emotion of anger.

The "mustache area" on Perry's left side is slightly tighter than on his right - there is also a trace downward and a bit more lateral vectoring of left side of his mouth. His left nostril is also flared. This indicates contempt.

Governor Rick Perry feels a self-righteous variety joy-happiness, mixed with anger and contempt during this mugshot.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 346:  Rick Perry Forgets:  8 Republican Presidential Hopefuls Debate in Detroit -  60 seconds of Oops, Body Language and Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2879: Barack Obama, Governor Rick Perry and the Crisis at the Southern Border

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2924: Michael Brown, Captain Ron Johnson, Church Rally and Ferguson, Missouri - Body Language Tells

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 394 & 496:  Rick Perry's Nonverbal Mistakes in Iowa

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2563: President Obama's Subtle Anger - Body Language of Government Shutdown & the Debt Ceiling

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 353:  Brad Pitt's Smiling Eyes -  Sincere and Insincere Smiles

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2682: Sperm Donor Switch and a Body Language Example of ....

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2510: NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, "Stop and Frisk" Policy & Tongue in Cheek Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Ray Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner was recently on "Face the Nation". In the video interview included above he spoke about the city's controversial "Stop and Frisk" policy. At the 3:56 mark he begins, "...We just had a 'Center for Disease Control' study come out that said, 'New York City has the lowest ratio of teenagers carrying guns than any city in ah, in America ... so....' "

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


Just after he says, "...so...", during the 4:08 mark, Kelly displays a classic "Tongue and Cheek" body language. This expression can have several different meanings depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered. In this context it indicates an alpha level of confidence, a smugness, "I just won", "I just caught you" or gotcha emotional tone.

Though none are present here, in other body language context-clusters it can signify an attempt at self-soothing associated with anxiety, deception, anger and even sexual provocativeness.

Do you know how to differentiate these subtypes?

Although many don't necessarily think of it as such, the tongue-in-cheek display is a specialized variation of self-touching or MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) body language and is 99.9% of the time it is initiated and used subconsciously.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2233:  Body Language, President Obama, 20 Children  and the Tongue-in-Cheek

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2434:  Brad Pitt's Tongue-in-Cheek regarding  Reasons for Choosing to Work on "World War Z"

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153:  President Obama's Tongue in Cheek and the "Birthers"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2352:  Mila Kunis' Tongue in Cheek  Graham Norton Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2215:  Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio Joke and Hint regarding the  2016 Presidential Race - "Tongue-in-Cheek" Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2462:  Rachel Jeantel responds to Critique of Juror  George Zimmerman vs. State of Florida  Tongue in Cheek Body Language
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2461: Jen Psaki, Egypt & The U.S. State Department - Pseudo-Prayer Faux Pas (Video, Photo)

Jennifer Psaki, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State announced today (in video above) that the United States will continue to supply Egypt with $1.5 Billion of annual aid despite section 508 of the Foreign Assistant Act, which states: "None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available pursuant to this Act shall be obligated or expended to finance directly any assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup or decree."

Given the fact that Mohamed Morsi, the first freely elected President of Egypt, was ousted in a coup d'état on 3 July 2013, Ms. Psaki would naturally expect some resistance to the Administration's stance.

A particular body language signal that Ms. Psaki uses in this press conference should be strongly avoided in all but the rarest of times - the mid or lower held Pseudo-Prayer (when held higher, particularly over the mouth it has a completely different meaning). Displayed several times in the final quarter of this video, the pseudo-prayer is strongly patronizing and self-righteous. Outside the setting of a kindergarten class room, a religious setting, or a higher held example (see above and below cross references) and a few culture-specific scenarios the pseudo-prayer is a body language gesture which should not be used unless one's goal is to destroy rapport and send signals of blatant arrogance. These emotions are amplified when an up-and-down chopping motion is added (seen briefly here at the 1:29 mark).

Close your eyes and listen to this video after you have watched it once. Pay close attention to Ms. Psaki's tone of voice. How would you characterize it? Is her tone, volume, cadence and staccato rhythm congruent with her nonverbal signals?

It is rumored that Ms. Psaki is being groomed to replace Jay Carney as The White House Press Secretary. Her body language and paralanguage is strongly suggestive that such a promotion or a lucrative private sector position will come is in her near-future.

What other body language faux pas does Jen Psaki display? What nonverbals did she use to her advantage?

See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1083:  Brewer's MAPs Flag Foreboding

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1896:  IMF Managing Director - Christine Lagarde Pseudo-Prayer & Pursed Lips

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1181:  Helle Thorning-Schmidt & her False Praying Gesture

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2293:  Eric Cantor, the New House GOP Agenda and  One Body Language Signal that  A Leader should NEVER display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2367:  North Korea, Jay Carney and  Body Language Tells from the White House Press Room

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1555:  Ann Romney Hits it Back Over the Net to Hilary Rosen

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1138:  Jennifer Hudson's Whitney Houston Tribute

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2278: Diane O'Meara (the "face" of Lennay Kekua) on the Mantei Te'o "Girlfriend Hoax" Part 2

The interview earlier this morning on the "Today" show, Diane O'Meara, the face of Manti Te'o's allegedly faked girlfriend, Lennay Kekua (fraudulently orchestrated by Ronaiah Tuiasosopo) provided additional material to assess Ms. O'Meara's truthfulness. This video corroborates yesterday's body language analysis of Ms. O'Meara - she is not lying and her overall sincerity index is high. 

The following are some nonverbal highlights:

0:31 Sincere, but suppressed smile

During 0:45 - 0:54, Ms. O'Meara is very sincere and truthful reply when she denied ever knowing, talking to or meeting Manti Te'o.

0:55 Lip Compression - this subtype of lip compression is a generalized anxiety signal. Ms. O'Meara displayed this several times throughout the interview.

1:06 Disgust begins (subtle)
1:08 Disgust (subtle) continues with an extended blink

1:12 Incredulity (mild). Note the slight rise of left eye brow, this is more easily seen in the video.













1:32 - 1:33 Self Righteous Head Wiggle. Please see video as this is a dynamic process with significant motion. See also: Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2277: Diane O'Meara, Lennay Kekua,  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo & Manti Te'o - O'Meara's Body Language

1:20 - 1:23, Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression (R2E2). She is trying to engender belief, rapport and understanding in her relatively friendly audience.









See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1143: Santorum Video Analysis  R2E2 and other Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2193: Keira Knightley interview re: "Anna Karenina" - Body Language of "R2E2" Facial Expression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2097: Mitt Romney's "No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate" defense - Body Language of Rationalization, Rapport and Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2148: Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan and the "Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" in the Vice Presidential Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1923:  Hillary Clinton's Body Language re: Syrian Government -  The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1552: The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle & The Buffett Rule

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2277: Diane O'Meara, Lennay Kekua,  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo & Manti Te'o - O'Meara's Body Language - Part I 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2286:  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo's Body Language on Dr. Phil's Interview -  The Voice and Mind of "Lennay Kekua" - Part I

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2287:  Ronaiah Tuiasosopo on Dr. Phil Interview -  Part II - A Body Language Signal that's a Red Flag

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2280: Manti Te'o's interview with Katie Couric Manti isn't telling us the whole truth -  Te'o's Body Language of Duping Delight

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2233: Body Language, President Obama, 20 Children and the Tongue-in-Cheek

In the video above of President Obama's eulogy for those innocents killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting, he names off all twenty of the children, "...Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeline, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Emily, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Benjamin, Avielle, Allison ....", he then says, "God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on, and make our country worthy of their memory ..." Just after the President says, "memory" (above at 1:15 and imaged at bottom of post) he displays a "Tongue-in-Cheek" nonverbal on his left side. 

The tongue-in-cheek is a facial expression-body language which, when clustered with nonverbals not seen in this example, will indicate other emotions - such as self-righteousness, smugness, "I just caught you" (e.g. gotcha!), "I just won", telling a lie, anger , alpha-dominance and a variation can even signify a sexually provocative display. None of these apply here though. In the nonverbal cluster-context seen in this Newtown address, this display is associated with anxiety and is an act of self-pacifying/self-comforting. Indeed it is a body language form of a MAP (Manipulator, Pacifier, Adaptor) or "self-touching". For most people, delivering a eulogy can certainly be an anxiety provoking experience - even if you're the leader of a country. After such an emotionally wrenching shared-experience that this mass murder was - we all need to be comforted and reassured.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231: A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2215: Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio Joke and Hint regarding the  2016 Presidential Race - "Tongue-in-Cheek" Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2093: Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye - Matt Lauer's Classic "Tongue-in-Cheek" and Duplicitous Smile

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153:  President Obama's Tongue in Cheek - in Response to the "Birthers"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2085:  Dina Eastwood - Tongue-in-Cheek Variant - Sexually Provocative

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2232: Vicki Soto, a Hero, Body Language and a Mother's Love & Affection  - Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229: President Obama and a Body Language Signal of  Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions 


The Complete Eulogy can be viewed below.

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2215: Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio Joke and Hint regarding the 2016 Presidential Race -"Tongue-in-Cheek" Body Language

In the above video, former U.S. Vice Presidential Candidate, Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) alludes to the 2016 Presidential Race. Mr. Ryan's body language exemplifies several "Tongue-in-Cheek" displays at 0:19 (subtle), 0:20 - 0:21 (overt) and again at 0:23 (difficult to see).

The Tongue-in-Cheek nonverbal in this body language context indicates a self-righteousness or smug emotional tone. It is a body language seen when a person, in a specific context, views them self as an Alpha. And although not the case here, depending on the other nonverbals and parlanguage with which it is clustered - it can also be indicative of Telling a lie, "I just won the game" or "I gotcha". In these settings it can be considered a form of "duping delight". Depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered, the tongue-in-cheek can have other meanings, such as part of a sexual attraction display cluster or occasionally as a pacifying anxiety indicator. Can you tell the difference? Are you sure?

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2085: Dina Eastwood - Tongue-in-Cheek Variant

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2093: Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye - Matt Lauer's Classic "Tongue-in-Cheek" and Duplicitous Smile

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153: President Obama's Tongue in Cheek

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2181: Mitt Romney's Concession Speech - and the Body Language of Lip Smacking

In this abbreviated/edited segment of Mitt Romney's concession speech, there are great examples of a display with is both paralanguage and nonverbal in nature. Lip Smacking. Because of the background noise and the camera occasionally pointed in other directions, it is difficult to tell for sure - however in this 1:44 video, the 2012 Republican Presidential Candidate gives eight lip smacks. Although for an occasional person, this can be very habitual and in these settings can be thought of as a form of facial tic, such is not the case here for Governor Romney. 

Anyone who fought as hard as he did would (and many would say should), during his/her concession speech feel some degree of self-righteousness - otherwise why would they have run for office? There is no exception here and we may very well have seen this body language-paralanguage signal if Barack Obama would have lost. And although depending on the other nonverbals and paralanguage with which it is clustered it can be indicate other emotions - in his concession speech, Mitt Romney's multiple lip smacking display is a signal of a self-righteous emotional tone. He believes he is the best choice. He feels - naturally - that he and his ideas represent a superior way to run the country. All around us, many times a day - in our personal and professional lives, while the words say one thing - the nonverbal gives us another message. If you know what to look for - always trust the nonverbal.

See also:

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 ...."

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2179: Mitt Romney & Barack Obama - Sincere Hugs and True Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2155: Body Language Tells at the Second Presidential Debate - Mitt Romney at Attention & President Obama's Disapproval-Subtle Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2177: "I'm Tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney" - We're all Abigael Evans - Dialing up her Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2161: Body Language of the Third Presidential Debate - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney - What Did They Do With Their Hands When They WEREN'T Talking?  
 

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1224: Two Handed Index Finger Point

The Two-Handed Index Finger Point is an excessive, nonverbal signal of grandiosity speakers will use only in front of a crowd they know is already on strongly on their side. With rare exception, in a political context, you will only see it when a candidate is stirring up his/her political base. People use this gesture when they want to foster a self-righteous emotional tone in the audience. If used in front of a neutral or negative audience - such body language would cause people to boo, leave or it may even incite violence.

If the two-handed index finger point (aka double pointing) is used often, particularly in different settings, it can be a signal of narcissistic tendencies (I don't mean to suggest this applies to Mr. Romney, he uses it rather sparingly as politicians go).

Mitt Romney won both the Arizona and Michigan Republican Presidential Primaries tonight. Michigan in particular was considered crucial for the former Massachusetts Governor. He was born in the Great Lake State and his father (George Romney) was a three term Governor there as well as CEO of American Motors.

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153: President Obama's Tongue in Cheek

United States President Barack Obama displays a fantastic example of the "Tongue-in-Cheek" nonverbal in this image. Like all body language, this signal has different meanings depending on what other signs with which it is clustered. In this specific body language context - particularly the concomitant configurations of his mouth, eyes and forehead - it has the meaning of "I gotcha" or a self-righteous, "I know I'm correct and I've just won 'The Game'. " It is not uncommon to see someone make this expression, betraying their true emotions & thoughts - and yet their words would lead you down another path. When the verbal and nonverbal are in disparity - always believe the nonverbal.

President Obama made this facial expression as he joked about his birth certificate. Even though this expression is made in a context of a joke, the President feels that he has "one-upped" the Birthers.

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