Body Language Analysis No. 4181: Ann Curry, Matt Lauer, "Verbal Sexual" Harassment, and NBC • Interview • Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Wednesday, Ann Curry was a guest on CBS This Morning. Among the subjects she discussed was Matt Lauer - as well as verbal sexual harassment at NBC. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Ms. Curry during this interview.

1:10 • Ann Curry displays a "Neck of Fear" with the contraction of both her Platysma muscle - and even more so her Sternocleidomastoids (all of these muscles are in the neck) as Norah O'Donnell said, "... and a lot has changed in the television landscape on morning television in the last three months ...". Despite her trying to steel herself - this was a moment of trepidation.

At multiple times during this interview, Ms. Curry displays a Unilateral "Hair Adjustment Behind Ear"(aka HABE). This can also be performed bilaterally. A HABE signals a person is Up-regulating (Dialing-up) their alpha qualities.

Although this is exhibited by all genders and personality variations - it's more common in women who already have alpha personalities, but who realize they need to "step it up" in a particular moment.

2:25 • The expression immediately above is a classic amalgam of both Anger and Disgust, after Ann Curry says, "... I'm not surprised by the allegations ..." (against Matt Lauer).

You may have noticed Ann Curry looking down to her right frequently during this interview. This is one direction many people will commonly gaze toward during moments of reflection when sadness and regret are the primary emotions.

Fascinatingly, this display not only tells us about the emotions of the moment - but people who do this frequently (whether for themselves or when hear about others' experiences/feelings) have both:

• Higher Sincerity Quotients
• Higher Empathy Quotients

3:19 • This classic Bitter-Regret expression is displayed just after Norah O'Donnell clarified Ann Curry's statement of "Verbal Sexual Harassment" at NBC.

4:02 • just after Gayle King said, "... but in the court of public opinion, many people thought that Matt Lauer was behind you leaving The Today Show" - we see Ms. Curry's eyes open wide - along with another episode of tightening of her neck muscles. Both of these displays are indicative of fear. Ann Curry doesn't want to talk about this subject.

4:05 • Only three seconds later, after Ms. King continued and said, "... I'd like to know what you feel about that. We've never talked about that ....", Ms. Curry's upper eyelids open extremely wide (her lower eyelids also open wider and tighten). This is primarily an expression of fear - although there is also an element of surprise. It's likely that Ann Curry was thinking, "I thought you weren't going to go there!"

4:19 • As she says, "... You should ask someone else - I'm not the one to ask about that ..." (if Matt Lauer was the person who got her fired), Ann Curry self-hugs herself in a beta moment of emotional discomfort.

Good Luck in your new show Ann Curry (We'll Meet Again).



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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4180: White House Press Briefing Re: President Trump's Physical - Dr. Ronny Jackson

Body Language Analysis No. 4178: Donald Trump, "I'm the Least Racist Person", DACA ... and Kevin McCarthy's Anxiety

Body Language Analysis No. 4176: Donald Trump's "Shit Countries" Comment, Emmanuel Mensah, and Alisyn Camerota

Body Language Analysis No. 4174: Donald Trump Regarding Meeting with Robert Mueller

Body Language Analysis No. 4170: Stephen Miller's and Jake Tapper's Confrontational Exchange

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. 4134: Hope Hicks, Emotional Intelligence, and Communicating Nonverbally

Body Language Analysis No. 4093: Fear and Harvey Weinstein - Emma Watson's Reaction

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


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Body Language Analysis No. 4138: Matt Lauer, Intimidation, and Aggression - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Anyone who has even casually observed Matt Lauer's behavior over the past twenty years should in no way be surprised by some of his female colleague's allegations of "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace".

Examine carefully each of these five photographs.
 
Anne Hathaway was on the Today Show in 2012 promoting her then recent film,  Les Miserables (for which she would go on to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress). Lauer initiated the interview bringing up the subject of an extremely embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. Moreover, he did so in a sexual manner, saying, "seen a lot of you lately".

But he didn't stop there, Lauer went on to say, "Let’s just get it out of the way. You had a little wardrobe malfunction the other night. What’s the lesson learned from something like that?" One has difficulty imagining how he could he possibly get any more patronizing.

Note the manner in which Lauer is sitting - with his legs crossed (European style). Sitting this close to any guest - regardless of their gender is out of context behavior for an interview. If space was limited - and he had to be this close - he should not have crossed his legs. And if he still felt the need to cross them in such close quarters, he should have pointed his leg/foot away from Anne Hathaway - yet he invades her space.

He does the same with most all of his guests - particularly the women. Included here are other examples of this same behavior with Jennifer Lopez and Katie Holmes.

Lauer goes out of his way to encroach on each woman's personal space - more specifically, their intimate space. With the ample area available in a major television studio - and when this behavior is of a chronic nature - it strongly signals the presence of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (however this is only one of many narcissist behaviors).

Narcissists routinely enter into other's personal/intimate space in order to intimidate and exert dominance.

Moreover, this and similar nonverbal signs can carry the additional significance of sexual displays and sexual intimidation.

But note how Lauer sits when interviewing Donald Trump. He points his torso, legs, and feet away from the President (at an angle of about 80˚ - 90)˚- and in so doing affords his guest much more space.

The fact that Trump is an even greater narcissist than Lauer is not lost on us, however. The President routinely sits (regardless of the gender of his interviewer) in an extreme example of a "Seated crotch display" (colloquially known as "Manspreading"). He also, with high frequency, sits forward in his chair (with his butt away from the back of the chair) - in addition to leaning forward with his torso. This is an example of another hyper-alpha sitting posture. The President's status and his body language intimidates Lauer - making the hunter momentarily the hunted.

In this last image of Lauer interviewing Pete Carroll, the Seattle Seahawk's coach is sitting with his legs essentially parallel. Lauer again returns to his narcissist default position. While Carroll is not, in an absolute sense, in any way beta in this moment - he becomes a relative beta because of Lauer's hyper-alpha, invasion of Carroll's personal space.

Summary: Chronic invasion of another person's personal/intimate space signals their poor emotional intelligence and is a routine behavior of narcissists. Depending on the other accompanying nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior - it can also be a type of a sexual overture/display and a form of sexual intimidation and harassment.

These individuals will say, "I'm just comfortable this way" (or similar) - keep in mind this is only partially true. Translated, this really means that they're more emotionally comfortable only when they're asserting dominance, behaving aggressively, sometimes sexually (out of context) - and intimidating others.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4137: Matt Lauer's Duplicity - "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace"

Body Language Analysis No. 4135: What Makes Markle's Eyes Sparkle?

Body Language Analysis No. 4133: Vladimir Putin's Default Face

Body Language Analysis No. 4131: Michael Flynn's Clandestine Plans

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4063: The Murder of Laci and Connor Peterson - Scott Peterson

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3905: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, and Deep Joy


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Body Language Analysis No. 4137: Matt Lauer's "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Matt Lauer, long-time Today Show host, was fired from NBC this morning for allegations of "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace".

From a nonverbal perspective, one profound warning signal of insincerity is a "smile" (a feigned smile) that's asymmetrical - particularly when it's displayed chronically. One of Lauer's common go-to expressions is pictured in two examples here.

While sincere smiles can begin asymmetrically, they will then crescendo into symmetry and project other fundamental characteristics of true joy-happiness. Suppressed sincere smiles can also sometimes be curbed in a one-sided manner - but again, such attempts at stifling sincere smiles will also display the required facial signals.

To nuance one of Matt Lauer's default expressions even further - one side of his mouth (typically his right) vectors upward - while the other mouth corner is directed down (usually his left). At best this expression signals sarcasm - but very often it's outright duplicitous. If you see this type of feigned smile directed at you, take heed - for, with high probability, the person making this face has thoughts and emotions which are in direct contradiction to what they're saying verbally.



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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4136: Seminole Heights/Tampa Florida Serial Killer - Criminal Profiling

Body Language Analysis No. 4134: Hope Hicks, Emotional Intelligence, and Communicating Nonverbally

Body Language Analysis No. 4132: Drake's Tattoo of Denzel Washington

Body Language Analysis No. 4130: Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King regarding Charlie Rose

Body Language Analysis No. 4119: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit - Part II

Body Language Analysis No. 4104: Walter Cronkite Reaction to JFK Assassination

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4077: A Facial Expression Common to Both Bad Actors and Sociopaths

Body Language Analysis No. 4044: Kim Jong-un's Choreography


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Body Language Analysis No. 4130: Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King regarding Charlie Rose - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Charlie Rose, a veteran television host has been fired by CBS after the Washington Post published a story detailing his sexual harassment of eight women from the late 1990s through 2011.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of his co-hosts' responses - Norah O'Donnell and Gayle King - on CBS This Morning.

NORAH O'DONNELL (continuing at 0:12): I also want to say this - that this is a moment that demands a frank and honest assessment about where we stand and more generally the safety of women. Let me be very clear: there is no excuse for this alleged behavior. It is systematic and pervasive and I've been doing a lot of listening and I'm going to continue to do that. This I know is true Ω : women cannot achieve equality in the workplace or in society until there is a reckoning and a taking of responsibility. I am really proud to work at CBS News. There are so many incredible people here, especially on this show - all of you here. This will be investigated. This has to end. This behavior is wrong. Period. ∑


GAYLE KING: Ah, I, I, I certainly echo that. And I, I have to say, Norah, I really am still reeling. Ah, I got an hour and 42 minutes of sleep last night. Both my son and my daughter called me, Oprah called me and said, 'Are you OK?' I am not OK. Ah, After reading that article in the Post, it was deeply disturbing, troubling and painful for me to read. Ah, that said, I think we have to make this matter to women - the women that have spoken up, the women who have not spoken up because they're afraid. I'm hoping that now they will take the step to speak out, too. That this becomes a moment of truth. You know, I've enjoyed a, a friendship and a partnership with Charlie for the past five years. I've held him in such high regard and I'm really struggling because - how do you - what do you say when that someone that you deeply care about has done something - that is so horrible? How do you wrap your brain around that? I'm really grappling with that. Ahum §, that said, Charlie does not get a pass here. He doesn't get a pass from anyone in this room. We are all deeply affected. We are all rocked by this. And I, I want to echo what Norah said, I really applaud the women that speak up despite the friendship. He doesn't get a pass because I can't stop thinking about the anguish of the, of these women. What happened to their dignity, what happened to their bodies, what happened, a - maybe to even their careers. I can't stop thinking about that and the pain they're going through. I also find that, it's, it's - you can hold two ideas in your head at the same time - you can grapple with things. And I'm, to be very honest with you, I'm still trying to process all of this. I'm still trying to sort it out because this is not the man I know, but I'm also clearly on the side of the women who have been very hurt and very damaged by this..."

During 0:13, as Norah O'Donnell says, "... I also want to say this - that this is a moment ...", she displays a "Self Righteous Head Wiggle".

A Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (aka "High Confidence Head Wiggle"), is characterized by a rapid, side-to-side movement of the head and neck (sometimes isolated to, or in conjunction with an analog jaw and/or torso component). It's indicative of an alpha emotional tone - one of high confidence and/or self-righteousness. This particular SRHW/HCHW was quite brief.

It's important to emphasize that a SRHW must be viewed in the context of a video as a still image does not capture its dynamics.

The SRHW may also sometimes have as a component a simultaneous backward motion (when disgust, contempt, and/or disbelief are present). Alternatively, a superimposed forward motion may occur when there is an arrogance or condescending emotions are coexisting.

It's crucial to listen carefully too - for the vocal pitch grows higher during a Self-Righteous Head Wiggle - linking body language with paralanguage. Please re-watch/re-listen to this segment and for a moment you'll hear Ms. O'Donnell's elevate an octave or two.

"... This I know is true Ω : women cannot achieve equality in the workplace or in society until there is a reckoning and a taking of responsibility ..."

During 0:34, just after she says, "This I know is true ...", Ms. O'Donnell displays an expression of contempt. More specifically, this is a microexpression of contempt. It's a quick and subtle contraction of the region adjacent to and above her left mouth corner. Watch this several times at regular speed and again at 1/2 and 1/4 speed. It's helpful to think of this as a fast, slight, snarl.
 

 




















"This will be investigated. This has to end. This behavior is wrong. Period. ∑ "

Just after she says, "... Period." (during 1:00), Ms. O'Donnell turns to Ms. King with a combined expression of Disgust and Anger.

We can see the region above her upper lip evanescently tighten along with flaring of her (left) nostril. Her laterally-vectored tightened lips projects her anger. Ms. O'Donnell's partially closed eyelids - while not a required component of either anger or disgust - here serves to amplify both emotions.

During the vast majority of the time Ms. King was speaking, she was displaying an expression of Grief. More specifically, her Central Forehead was contracted and Elevated - combined with a simultaneous "Mouth of Sadness".

It's crucial to emphasize here, that when the Central Forehead Contraction is Elevated combined with even a slight upward turning of the mouth corners (e.g., those of a pseudo-smile, smirk, contempt, regret, etc. - none of which are seen here) - the emotion is completely different.

The image immediately above was captured during 1:05, as Ms. King said, "... I have to say, Norah, I really am still reeling..."

On multiple occasions during Ms. King's statement, you'll notice she displayed some intense clusters of very rapid blinking. Some particularly good examples occurred when she said, "... I'm really (1:39) struggling because - how do you - what do you say when that someone that you deeply (1:45) care about has done something - that is so (1:49) horrible? ..."

In this context (with her other concomitant nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage displays) these rapid blinking clusters signify the phenomenon of Emotional Processing. The intellectual brain knows what has occurred - but her emotional brain is still trying to digest the events and the ramifications. Fascinatingly, Gayle King even gives verbal evidence of this same emotional-intellectual incongruity when she says, "... How do you wrap your brain around that?...", "... I also find that, it's, it's - you can hold two ideas in your head at the same time - you can grapple with things...", and "... I'm still trying to process all of this..."

During 1:55, just after she says, "... I'm really grappling with that, ahum § ...", Gayle King displays a classic display of Regret superimposed on her Sadness. This regret display - a directly lateral vectoring of the right mouth corner - is technically a bit too long-lasting to be a microexpression (ergo, a "near-microexpression").

Summary: We remember such moments of sincerity - when those professionals who, while reporting the news, also display their humanity. And whether it's in joy, sadness, or disbelief - it's in these rare, sincere times when we are most emotionally connected.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4129: Charles Manson's Crazy Eyes

Body Language Analysis No. 4127: Al Franken, Leeann Tweeden, and the Mea Culpa Face

Body Language Analysis No. 4125: Michael Flynn, Trick Arrows, and Suppressing Strong Emotions

Body Language Analysis No. 4123: Jason Momoa, Aquaman, the Quindent, and a Secret

Body Language Analysis No. 4110: Yuli Gurriel "Apologizes" to Yu Darvish for a Gesture of Prejudice During The World Series

Body Language Analysis No. 4093: Fear and Harvey Weinstein - Emma Watson's Reaction

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

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

Body Language Analysis No. 3947: Benjamin Netanyahu's reaction to Donald Trump's statement, "I never mentioned the Word or Name 'Israel' "


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Body Language Analysis No. 4093: Fear and Harvey Weinstein - Emma Watson's Reaction - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Accusations of sexual harassment, assault, and rape continue to accumulate against Harvey Weinstein. Although not currently associated with these allegations, this particular incident is quite telling. The image was captured in 2011, as then 20-year-old Emma Watson was grabbed from behind by Harvey Weinstein as they exited a BAFTA event in London. That evening they were among those at a gathering honoring the film, The Kings Speech.

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.

Media Inquiries and Group Appearances 

One-on-One and Online Courses Available 

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

702-239-8503

See also:


Body Language Analysis No. 4092: Rex Tillerson responds to Bob Corker's "Castration" Comment

Body Language Analysis No. 4090: Harvey Weinstein, Sexual Assault, and Impulse Control Disorder

Body Language Analysis No. 4088: Kit Harington's April Fools' Prank on Rose Leslie

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

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4072: "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!"

Body Language Analysis No. 4055: What Does Jessica Chastain Feel For Matt Damon? 

Body Language Analysis No. 4037: Charlottesville Protester Quits Boston University after Death Threats 

Body Language Analysis No. 3992: Angela Merkel's Eye Roll for Vladimir Putin's Mansplaining 

Body Language Analysis No. 3971: Elon Musk, Amber Heard, Affection, and Ownership

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2643: Is this Hug More Sexual or Affectionate? Student Suspended One Year for Hugging a Teacher (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Sam McNair, a 17 year old student, was recently given a one-year suspension for hugging a teacher. The senior at Duluth High School in Gwinnett County, Georgia - like everyone should be very aware of just how entering any other person's interpersonal space will be interpreted. It is very possible that an innocent hug can be interpreted as one with sexual motives. It appears that this is one of those cases.

When the phrase "innocent hug" is used, what is usually meant is that there was affection present - but no sexual intent or other motive. Of course a person can have affection for a person to who he or she also has sexual attraction. In the same respect, every encroachment into another person's personal space is not (nor should be treated) as one with sexual motives. Affectionate displays are not sex.

At the 0:01 mark in the video, McNair approaches primarily from the teacher's right side and slightly from behind (not from behind as was stated in the video).

 At 0:06

A very crucial nonverbal cue that the intent of this hug was not sexual is that his feet stop approximately six inches or so from the teacher and "he leans in". The exact amount is impossible to determine from this video, however the "leaning in" body language can be clearly seen. Sexuality is expressed when the feet of the hugger come close to the other person.

Thus McNair's mid-section/lower abdomen is not in contact with the side of the teacher's torso. When the intent of the hugger is primarily sexual, the lower abdomen/groin is in contact with the "huggee". And while it is possible that such lower abdomen/private area contact is also seen when there is strong affection present, if sexual expression/desire is the primary driver, the genital area of the hugger will make contact with the person being hugged. 

Note also that McNair's Face defaults to the back of his teacher's neck. In the context of a hug, this nonverbal component also speaks to less sexuality as a primary emotional driver of his behavior. The head/face/neck contact does indicate a high level of affection McNair has (had) toward his teacher. The teacher said that his lips came in contact with her - and of course this is possible and even probable, but this is not sexually driven (She did not say a kiss occurred, and while a kiss would not recommended in such a context - they can and often are affectionate). Indeed with any hug where significant levels of affection are present, the lips will always be very close to the huggee while the heads will always make contact (unless significant suppression is being expressed also, e.g. embarrassment).

McNair's higher arm configuration also has less sexual propensity.

Image at 0:08

The teacher is pushing McNair away.

Image at 0:09

It is also important to note, that hugs with a significant sexual component have a strong tendency not to be initiated from the side as seen in this example.





In summary, while it is very important for any person to always respect the social and legal codes as well as others' personal biases, this hug has a very low likelihood to be driven by sexuality and a very high probability to be driven by the emotion of affection. Affection may very well be unwanted, and even "inappropriate" (thus always subjective) - but be very careful with labeling affection as sex.

Affection and sex may of course coexist in some relationships, yet they are two very different things. Affection is not sex.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2319:  Dennis Rodman Hugging Kim Jong-un ...  Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2317:  "The Rescuing Hug" -  Body Language of Human Touch & Kangaroo Care

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1898:  Heat, Hugs & Head Surrogates

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2108:  Rihanna's and Chris Brown's Kiss and Hug  What are they REALLY feeling?

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1423:  Head First Affection &  Head Surrogate Hugs 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2:  Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley  Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2474: Mayor Bob Filner's False Smile - Insincerity, Body Language and San Diego (Video, Photo)

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner recently announced he's going to undergo therapy for his alleged sexual harassment behavior. At least seven women have accused him of unwanted sexual advances. This is a second post regarding Mr. Filner's Forehead - however today article showcases a key aspect common to one variety of an insincere smile.

Note Bob Filner's contracted forehead muscles. The deep furrows are evidence of this and it is important to distinguish these from passive forehead wrinkles that most everyone has to some degree after middle age. There is no mistaking the dynamic and dramatic example in the above photo though. Whenever the forehead is actively contracted the smile is NEVER a sincere one. Never. Regardless what the mouth looks like or if the eyes are also consistent with smiling. Always look to the forehead and make sure it is relaxed with no dynamic contraction present. If it is, it means that in that moment - sincerity is NOT present.

Another important distinction to remember is that EVERYONE displays false smiles. These are also known as social smiles. This does NOT mean that the person as a whole is insincere - but it means in that moment at least, the person feels the need to "push out" a fake emotion of joy. As pointed out previously however, chronic displays of a contracted forehead muscles carries significant diagnostic weight as to an overall insincere personality pattern.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2462:  San Diego Mayor Bob Filner -  Sexual Harassment, Body Language and Foreheads

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2157:  Al Smith Charity Dinner  Barack Obama's & Mitt Romney's Smiles  Sincere or False?

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2424:  Giada De Laurentiis on Conan O'Brien  Beautiful Teeth but Insincere Smiles and  Some Body Language Signals of Waning Love

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 367: Insincere Smile - Van Rompuy needs some Acting Classes 

Sincerity Secret # 55: Sincere Smile or is it Insincere?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2040:  Never Trust a One-Sided Smile - Ex-Lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1912:  Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye  Matt Lauer's Insincerity

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Body Language Secret # 731: Sharon Bialek Isn't Telling the Whole Truth

While in no way I want to minimize the idea or the act of sexual assault or harassment, and while I cannot at this time comment on Herman Cain's other three alleged accusers, I feel strongly that Ms. Sharon Bialek, at the least is not telling the whole truth and may be fabricating most of the events she alleges took place in July of 1997. For me this is not a republican or democrat issue, this is a truth/deception issue. My inquiry is based on Ms. Bialek's (and Allred's) nonverbal communication as well as on statement analysis. Sexual assault and unwanted sexual advances are very serious matters and should not be taken lightly.

The overall emotional tone of Ms. Bialek is completely inconsistent with someone who has been mistreated sexually. Ms. Gloria Allred's inappropriate attempt at humor at the 3:49 mark in the first video, when she says, "...his idea of a stimulus package...." (note Ms. Allred is speaking out the side of her mouth, highly consistent with insincerity), is met with Ms. Bialek's partially unsuccessful  suppression of a smile. Ladies, if you were truly sexually assaulted/or experienced aggressive uninvited advances, you would not want to be fodder for such a public joke; and you would not laugh, smirk or smile at the moment of such a joke. In her jesting, Ms. Allred trivializes sexual crimes and Ms. Bialek betrays her true thoughts and emotions.

At the 4:00 mark in the above video when Ms. Allred says "...written statements under oath from the doctor...." (Bialek's then boyfriend) and again (but less so) at the 4:23 mark when Allred says, "....and engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior with her..." - Ms. Bialek takes a significantly deep breaths. While these do not prove deception, their timing indicates marked anxiety and are suspicious in this context.

At several times, Ms. Bialek indicates she is visualizing and mentally constructing future events when at the 4:37 mark Allred says, "...she will explain..." and at 4:52 when she states "...she will face public scrutiny...". At both of these times, Bialek looks up to her right. With these two examples, we have normed her (established some baseline, nondeceptive behavior). Ms. Bialek looks up to her right when visually constructing something that has not yet happened which is extremely common for right handed people (something that she is visualizing to happen in the future or something that she is having to falsely visually construct). This is significant because at several times (e.g. at 4:33) when Allred said "....when she told the business man that Mr. Cain had been aggressive with her...." - she again looks up to the right. If she had been recalling visual events from her past, she would have looked up to her left instead. Ms. Bialek has been "normed" and been found wanting.

Ms. Bialek state of high animation and excitement for the press conference is not consistent with the actions of which she accuses Mr. Cain. If she truly experienced the events she alleges, she should have done a lot less reading and more speaking from her memory. While this is indeed a less controlled environment for a rookie at a press conference, Ms. Allred should (and does) know that reading from a script is a considerably less believable.

Sharon Bialek was overly theatrical when she said three particular statements:

     "When are you running for President?"

     "Herman seems to think highly of you!" (with a microexpression of contempt displayed) and

     "Why... are... you ... here?"

This level of drama is not consistent with someone who is the victim of unwanted sexual advances. It is consistent with a novice's attempt at acting and/or narcissistic behavior. The microexpression of contempt is also an interesting display. It is not clear whether she has contempt for Herman Cain, herself, or her old boyfriend.

Ms. Bialek's dramatic and repeated over use of her forehead (contraction thus wrinkling of her forehead muscles) and repeated eye brow elevation is an attempt to add emphasis. If the events were in fact true, no emphasis would be needed. More importantly, a person telling such a story would feel the facts speak for themselves. Ms. Bialek's subconscious doesn't allow her to feel this way - so up goes her forehead & eyebrows. This is analogous to a forth grader writing a English homework assignment with exclamation marks at the end of every sentence.

When Allred states, "...under the penalty of perjury...." at and around the 6:15 mark in the first video, Ms. Bialek's eyes open wider than normal. This "white and wide" appearance is consistent with fear.

Sharon Bialek also performed a Body Language signal, that while it does not prove lying, it is highly consistent with deception, especially in this context (which occurs at the very end of the first video). She itches her nose during the following sentence: "I thought that we were going to go into the offices (itch) so that he could show me around." There is a high probability that a significant fact/set of facts is being left out of this portion of Ms. Bialek's story.

When Ms. Bialek described the moment of the alleged sexual advance (second video BELOW), she makes a  swallow (consistent with anxiety-deception) at 0:13, takes a deep breath (anxiety...at 0:17 mark) - alleged under the skirt advance and when she said "...reached for my genitals..." (at 0:18) there was an inward lip roll. An inward lip roll is consistent with anxiety and often seen when there is a negative emotion when the person is calling on increased emotional control.

It is also very striking to hear Ms. Bialek reading (not recalling) what she allegedly said to Mr. Cain at the time of the alleged groping, "What are you doing?"... "...you know I have a boyfriend...". Again, she is not remembering - Bialek is reading this ... in a robotic, unnatural voice for someone who is claiming to have had the experience. In addition, the statement about a boyfriend is an odd thing to say. What about, "Stop!", "Hey!", "Help!", a scream,  etc?

It is extremely suspicious that Ms. Bialek told two men that Mr. Cain had been, "...sexually inappropriate with me..." and yet she stated outright that "....I didn't tell them details....". In particular, when one of these men was her boyfriend at the time, why leave out the details? I also find it odd that Ms. Bialek didn't tell any women friends, just two male friends. This is also highly atypical. It is much more common to tell women friends such incidents and not tell men.

At the end of her statement, when Ms. Bialek is recalling a recent time when she saw Herman Cain, she tends to look up much more. This is consistent with true recall of an event, rather than the near constant looking down and reading which she did for most of her statement. Indeed, when she has the most consistent eye contact with the audience is when she adds a political twist at the very end. Her true passion has betrayed her. 

After Bialek's statement, and Allred begins to speak again, Sharon Bialek laughs, gives a big smile and says, "....I just had a .... (inaudible).This is a very inappropriate time to laugh and in this context is consistent with narcissistic behavior (see: Negotiation and Dating Secret # 111: The Great Phone Tell, for another Nonverbal signal which can be a sign of narcissism).

Ms. Bialek's sincerity quotient is very low. She very much enjoys the limelight and has looked for and found her 15 minutes of fame and apparently has found it.

Once again, Sexual assault, unwanted sexual advances and sexual harassment are serious matters. I do not wish to minimize or trivialize these crimes. False accusations are also serious matters. I cannot comment on Mr. Cain's other accusers, but there is a very high probability that Ms. Bialek's statement has a significant component of deception.

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