On Friday morning, Harvey Weinstein turned himself into the New York City Police. He was subsequently arrested and charged with rape, criminal sex act, sex abuse, and sexual misconduct. These allegations involve two women in separate events. Weinstein's bond was set at $10 Millon and he was released on $1 Million cash bail. He was fitted with a GPS tracking device which limits his travel to New York and Connecticut. The judge also imposed a temporary protective order against Weinstein requiring him to stay away from these two women. At least 80 women have allegations of sexual abuse against the former film producer.
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Harvey Weinstein as he exited New York City's 1st Precinct in handcuffs.
In this moment, Harvey Weinstein is displaying a Sincere Smile (Duchenne Smile) including:
• Partially Closed Eyelids
• Concave-up Furrows in Both Lower Eyelids
• Mouth Smile with only the upper Teeth Visible
• Upward Vectored Cheek Muscles
What are some possible reasons why any person would ever smile in such a scenario?
• Harvey Weinstein's experiencing a Psychotic Break
• He feels he knows something which we don't - and he believes this will give him a significant advantage (Thus a possible example of the phenomenon of Duping Delight)
• He's under the influence of significant amounts of Drugs or Alcohol
• He's Suicidal
SUMMARY: This is a profound example of Smiling Out of Context. Any time you see someone behaving in a manner so disparate from how the vast majority of people would normally behave - particularly jovially - and especially in such a serious circumstance - stop and re-evaluate the situation. Don't brush-off this behavior. If you haven't identified the specific reason, then you're absolutely missing something crucial.
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] Idon'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 Ωsymbol), 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.
Purportedly Mr. Weinstein was "escorting" Ms. Watson to their waiting car and he was "protecting" her from fans/onlookers.
SUMMARY: From a nonverbal perspective, this photo
captures a moment of fear on Emma Watson's face. Her eyes (eyelids) are
opened much wider than baseline. This is a physiologic response to a
fear-associated adrenaline surge.
Certainly not all people who have impulse control disorder are sexual predators - far from it - however, a very high percentage of sexual predators have impulse control disorder.
From a nonverbal perspective, Mr. Weinstein exhibits a profoundly important red flag. He CHRONICALLY displays a facial expression of contempt.
There
are several expressions of contempt, the most common of which, is
colloquially described as a "snarl". The area above the lip and below
the nose on one side of the face is contracted and it's accompanied by
the flaring of the nostril on that same side.
While we
all feel contempt on occasion, those individuals who experience it -
and thus make the face of contempt CHRONICALLY - will virtually all have
impulse control disorder. The same is true for the emotion of disgust.
All three of these facial expressions are examples of a contempt display.
Summary: Those individuals who display contempt and/or disguston a chronic basis have a very high incidence of impulse control disorder - and a high percentage of sexual predators will also have impulse control disorder.
The first question in the second 2016 Presidential Debate (9 October 2016) came from audience member and undecided voter, Patrice Brock.
Beginning at 1:15, Ms. Brock says, "Thank you and good evening. The last presidential debate could have been rated as MA, mature audiences per TV parental guidelines. Knowing that educators assign viewing the presidential debates as students’ homework, do you feel you are modeling appropriate and positive behavior for today’s youth?"
Hillary Clinton then answers first [omitted here], followed by
Donald Trump responding (beginning at 3:35), "Well I’ll actually agree with that. I agree with everything she said.... " Mr. Trump then spoke about multiple unrelated subjects for 2 min 03 seconds.
Anderson Cooper (beginning at 5:42): Thank you Mr. Trump. The question from Patrice was about ‘Are you both modeling positive and appropriate behaviors for today's youth?’ We received a lot of questions online, Mr. Trump about the tape that was released on Friday, as you can imagine. You called what you said ‘locker room banter’. You described kissing women without consent, grabbing their genitals. That is sexual assault. You bragged that you have sexually assaulted women. Do you understand that?
Trump: No, I didn’t say that at all. I don't think you understood what was said. This was locker room talk. I am not proud of it. I apologize to my family, I apologized to the American people. Certainly, I am not proud of it. But this is locker room talk. You know, when we have a world where you have ISIS chopping off heads, where you have them, frankly, drowning people in steel cages, where you have wars and horrible, horrible sights all over and you have so many bad things happening, this is like medieval times. We haven’t seen anything likes this. The carnage all over the world and they look and they see, can you imagine the people that are frankly doing so well against us with ISIS and they look at our country and see what's going on. Yes, I am very embarrassed by it and I hate it, but it's locker room talk and it’s one of those things. I will knock the hell out of ISIS. We are going to defeat ISIS. ISIS happened a number of years ago in a vacuum that was left because of bad judgment. And I will tell you, I will take care of ISIS. We need to get on to much more important and bigger things.
Cooper: For the record, are you saying that what you said on the bus 11 years ago, that you did not actually kiss women without consent or grope women without consent?
Trump: I have great respect for women. Nobody has more respect for women than I do.
Cooper: So for the record, you’re saying you never did that?
Trump: Frankly, you hear these things. They are said. And I was am embarrassed by it. But I have respect for women -
Cooper: - Have you ever done those things?
Trump: - And they have respect for me. And I will tell you, no I have not. And I will tell you, that I’m going to make our country safe and we’re going to have borders which we don't have now. People are pouring into our country and they’re coming in from the Middle East and other places. We’re gonna make America safe again, we’re gonna make America great again but we’re gonna make America safe again and we’re gonna make America wealthy again. Because if you don't do that, it just, it sounds harsh to say, but we have to build up the wealth of our nation. Other nations are taking our job and they’re taking our wealth.
In this exchange there's an excellent example of a cluster of verbal, paralanguage and nonverbal behavior which is highly consistent with lying. Note the following characteristics:
1. Donald Trump doesn't answer the question from the Patrice Brock
2. Mr. Trump also doesn't answer the question when re-asked multiple times by Anderson Cooper
3. Trump changed the subject multiple times
4. His answer/non-answers of "I am not proud of it", "I have great respect for women. Nobody has more respect for women than I do. ", "I was am embarrassed by it", "And they have respect for me", "No, I didn’t say that at all. I don't think you understood what was said" etc. - all
are paralanguage examples demonstrating his attempts at answering
indirectly while steering clear of making a definitive denial on camera.
5. When he finally did answer, Mr. Trump did so using a non-contraction (he said, "no I have not" rather than, "no I didn't"). Using non-contractions when refuting an accusation is highly consistent with deception.
6. Donald Trump wasn't looking at Anderson Cooper (or Ms. Brock) during the vast majority of his explanation. His extended non-eye contact is very consistent with and a common pattern seen during deception.
7. When he finally did answer, Mr. Trump then looked at Mr. Cooper - however he immediately closed his eyes displaying an extended blink during the entire statement of: " no I have not ". This is another variation of non-eye contact.
Summary: The cluster of verbal, paralanguage, nonverbal behavior of Donald Trump's, in this segment, are highly consistent with deception.
Whenever an apology is made - whether during an everyday experience with a single individual, from psychological perspective or from a point of view of crisis management - several key elements must always be included if the apology is to interpreted as sincere.
The components (in no particular order of priority) of a Sincere Apology are: 1. An apology must be given by the person who committed the act - not by a manager, an attorney or other surrogate.
2. An apology must not be scripted. Although a person may use notes (provided they're not lengthy and we don't rely on them too much - for we all forget subtopics when we're nervous), apologies must be spoken from the heart.
3. An apology must be given either live with press access - or at least in a video-audio format
4. There must be an acknowledgement of responsibility (partial) - "I said it, I was wrong and I apologize" and "I’ve said some foolish things..."
5. A commitment to change must be made so as to prevent further infractions “I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down,”
6. An apology must include a repair offering
7. Asking for forgiveness is required with an apology
8. Regret must be expressed - "I've said and done things I regret"
9. The vocal qualities (tone, cadence, volume, etc.) must be congruent with sincerity
10.The facial nonverbals and other body language qualities must be reflect sincerity
On Friday, Donald Trump issued an 'apology' for the 2005 Access Hollywood video published earlier that day by the Washington Post (Just two days prior to the second of the thee 2016 Presidential Debates). This
statement by Mr. Trump can be seen in the video above. Here is the
transcript:
"I’ve never said I’m a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that I’m not. I’ve said and done things I regret, and the words released today on this more than a decade-old video are one of them. Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize. I’ve traveled the country talking about change for America, but my travels have also changed me. I’ve spent time with grieving mothers who’ve lost their children, laid-off workers whose jobs have gone to other countries, and people from all walks of life who just want a better future. I have gotten to know the great people of our country, and I’ve been humbled by the faith they’ve placed in me. I pledge to be a better man tomorrow and will never, ever let you down. Let’s be honest — we’re living in the real world. This is nothing more than a distraction from the important issues we’re facing today. We are losing our jobs, we’re less safe than we were eight years ago, and Washington is totally broken. Hillary Clinton and her kind have run our country into the ground. I’ve said some foolish things, but there’s a big difference between the words and actions of other people. Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims. We will discuss this more in the coming days. See you at the debate on Sunday."
Mr. Trump deserves some credit for delivering this statement himself and not by a surrogate. It was performed via a release of a video - and not by phone or a full written statement.
It was however, very scripted - and read off a teleprompter. Such "apologies" are, by definition, never sincere. They must be freely spoken, never read.
Although Mr. Trump did acknowledge wrong doing - and importantly expressed regret, he failed to differentiate between the lewd language he used - and the acts (which if true fit the legal and medical definitions of sexual assault) he was describing. This distinction is of profound importance and each should be addressed.
Mr. Trump did not ask for forgiveness.
Mr. Trump did not say, "I'm sorry".
Mr. Trump did not offer to repair any wrongs done to the individuals whom he violated.
Mr. Trump's tone of voice (and other vocal qualities) at no time was even close to sincere. On the contrary, his voice was defensive and angry.
With respect to Donald Trump's Nonverbal Behavior - His face changed very little throughout his 90 second statement. He was in effect, wearing a living mask. This was of course particularly true of the top half of his face. Donald Trump's facial expression was locked in anger. At several times he also displayed contempt and at multiple times hubris.
Although some of Mr. Trump's shoulder movement were secondary to his (off camera) hand movements, he did display several partial shoulder shrugs are indications of the thought-emotions of: "I don't know", "I don't care", "What could I do?", "What does it matter?"
There was absolutely no facial expressions even remotely indicative of empathy, sorrow, regret or shame. This absence is most notable during 0:17 - 0:19 as he says, "I said it, I was wrong and I apologize".
Summary: Although Donald Trump's statement does meet some of the requirements of an apology, the majority of these criteria are omitted. At no time was Mr. Trump's body language congruent with a sincere apology.
This post and the associated website serve as reference sources for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed here 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 – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.
Yesterday the Washington Post dropped an October surprise on Donald Trump with the discovery and publishing of the above 2005 Access Hollywood video. In this hot mic incident, not only does Mr. Trump use multiple examples of lewd language, but he also describes (and brags about) his past behavior - which, if true, constitutes unsolicited physical contact of a sexual nature (sexual assault).
When we limit our observations to Trump's body language, can we glean anything further out of this video?
As he exits the bus and greets Arianne Zucker, note how he shakes Ms. Zucker's hand close to his lower torso/upper abdomen - with his elbow bent (but her arm/elbow is extended as he pulls her close to him). This is a chronic pattern of behavior for Donald Trump.
This image is from the first Presidential Debate vs. Hillary Clinton on 26 Sept. 2016. Note the same pulling-in action of Mr. Trump's handshake (with the additional component of patting her on her upper back [which he did twice] with his left hand).
On 2 February 2012, when then Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney was endorsed by the businessman, Trump committed the same body language faux pas.
In the context of a handshake, the act of pulling another person's hand close to one's torso (or abdomen) is not simply "bad form". Some men shake hands in this manner only with other men - while
shaking women's hands in a more conventional (and acceptable) manner. When a man (and this nonverbal signal is almost exclusively displayed by men) consistently uses this behavior when shaking another man's hand - it's very highly correlative with "Narcissistic Personality Disorder" as well as very low or absent empathy.
However when a man also consistently shakes women's hands in this way, it has further implications - for then it's also a strongly signal for objectifying behavior and the mindset of viewing women as "property".
Last Friday Brock Turner was released from Jail. His departure drew wide media attention and is shown in the video above. On 30 March 2016, he was found guilty of:
1.) Assault with intent to rape an intoxicated woman.
2.) Sexually penetrating an intoxicated person with a foreign object
3.) Sexually penetrating an unconscious person with a foreign object.
On 2 June 2016, Turner was sentenced to 6 months in Jail ([Not prison] 3 months after his trial in addition to time already served). Turner must stay
registered as a sex offender for the duration of his life. He was also sentenced to three years of probation and in addition to mandatory sex offender rehabilitation.
Many people were and remain outraged that Turner's sentence was so lenient.
From a nonverbal communication perspective, the above video captures an excellent example of what is known as "duping delight". Duping delight is an expression of a suppressed smile (partial and frequently subtle) which, when observed, often appears to be out of context. It can occur when a person feels true joy-happiness from a perceived victory in the act fooling a person or group of people (if may be for something small and innocuous or monumental and harmful).
The image below shows Turner during the 0:06 segment of the video above. Just glance at this photo for a fraction of a second and close your eyes. You should see a trace of a smile. While it is subtle, it's definitely there - a smile.
Summary: During his release from jail, Brock Turner once again displayed "Duping Delight". This example of nonverbal behavior is a manifestation of Turner feeling true joy-happiness in his belief that he has "beat the system".
Is this smile sincere? Absolutely not. We have become normalized and desensitized to his expression here because he is famous and has been seen on television for years.
A smile can never be sincere if the forehead is contracted - never. And although Cosby's upper eyelids are a bit droopy from age (mild age-related ptosis) his eyelids are not partially closed in active muscular contraction as is ALWAYS required when a smile is sincere.
Moreover there is no dynamic, concave-up furrowing of Cosby's lower eyelids - none at all. The absence of this crucial nonverbal signal alone precludes any sincerity of his "smile" (ergo a false-smile).
It is not necessary that any teeth be exposed in order for a smile to be considered sincere. A sincere smile can have a suppressed mouth component - yet that is not at all what's seen here. While most of Cosby's mouth is slightly concave upward - there is very little over-all upward vectoring as there would be in a fully expressed, sincere smile (Rather, most of it is directed laterally). Notice also that although the center of his mouth is mildly concave-up, the mouth corners are down-turned. In addition, Cosby's "mustache area" is tense and stretched.
Cosby's arm-gripping, arm-cross - as well as his elbows and upper arms in-close to his torso - is a very beta nonverbal cluster and not at all natural looking when attempting to smile. This added arm/hand/torso configuration is a very posed component in this over-all cluster (and thus of course posed) - it's in an attempt to say, "I am safe" - yet this directly contradicts and is betrayed by his facial expression.
In summary: In no way does this "false smile" come anywhere close to projecting sincerity. This photo is representative of Cosby's long-term acting persona - which may very be similar to or identical to his real personal - and it shouts insincerity and patronizing emotional tones. If he was not a famous actor and we were to see this expression on anyone walking down the street this expression would have a very high "Creepiness-Factor". That's not a coincidence.
Jameis Winston, Florida State University quarterback and the 2013 Heisman Trophy Winner is shown in this video during a press conference earlier this week. Winston spoke here when he (and everyone else) thought he was going to be suspended for the first half of the Clemson game. Last night FSU's interim President Garnett Stokes and athletics director Stan Wilcox signed an email indicating their new decision that Winston was going to be suspended for the full game citing the results of a "continuing investigation" for Winston's behavior this past Tuesday of standing on a table and yelling obscenities. Jimbo Fisher, FSU's head coach signature was not included in this email.
What follows is a partial analysis of Winston's Body Language:
0:11 seconds
Tongue Jut signaling, "I've been bad", "I got caught" or "I've got away with something".
In other nonverbal contexts it can be part of excitement or a self-deprecating cluster (not applicable in this cluster-context).
0:23 seconds
After saying "...I'm not a 'me person' ...", Jameis Winston tilts his head back with his chin forward in a clear nonverbal display of arrogance and defiance. In this moment, Winston's verbal message is highly contradictory to his nonverbal behavior. Whenever these two are in disparity, the nonverbal is always indicative of the true thoughts-emotions.
0:27 seconds
A display of "I regret it, but I disagree".
Another clear signal of insincerity.
0:28 seconds
A shrug indicates, "I don't know", "I don't care" or "What does it matter".
0:31seconds
An "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR) tells us that Winston is trying to suppress an emotional crescendo as well as a more overt nonverbal display.
Inward lip rolls may suppress any emotion but they are most often seen with negative ones (e.g. anger, sadness, frustration, etc.)
0:36 seconds
Another Inward Lip Roll
0:39 seconds
Third consecutive ILR
0:40 seconds
Another Shoulder shrug
0:42 seconds
Extended exhale
This is indicates relief after a stressful event and is similar to the "Puffer Fish" nonverbal - yet his cheeks never bulge very much because of his jaw simultaneously jutting forward (signifying a persistent anger component now waning) preventing any significant cheek puffing.
