Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3752: Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's Handshake - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday the President met with the President-Elect at the White House. Barack Obama and Donald Trump met for about 90 minutes and afterward they each made brief statements.

From a body language point-of-view, their handshake was particularly interesting.

Barack Obama initiates the Handshake - which is almost always wisest in terms of projecting dominance and authority.

The handshake lasted for about 2.2 seconds.

The second image (immediately above) was captured from a slightly different angle, while the other four still images here were screen-grabs from the video included at the top of this post.

Mr. Trump rapidly adopts a rather strong expression of regret. He also lacks any eye contact with President Obama during the handshake.

In this second image, the President begins to disengage from the handshake and look away responding to the reporters. At this time Barack Obama also manifests an expression of regret - although it's quite subtle. Trump's regret continues to be strongly manifested as he looks up - yet he's still not making eye contact with the President - rather he's focusing in the distant, looking past Obama.

If Trump wanted to project leadership, strength, to build rapport - or even if he were trying to intimidate Obama - he should have made eye contact. It's utterly dumbfounding just how often, otherwise very worldly and educated people (and "leaders") don't practice good eye contact (especially during handshakes).

After the handshake is complete, Trump's regret expression is maintained as the President responds to reporters.

Mr. Trump's arms and hands then adopt a (low) pseudo-prayer configuration (as he repeatedly separates his fingers and brings them back together). This is a beta body language configuration and is indicative of considerable anxiety.

President Obama's posture - with his thighs at a significantly greater angle, with his palm-down on his thigh and his forward torso lean and tilt - is a nonverbal cluster indicating alpha status, high confidence and emotional comfort.

Conclusion: Both the President and the President-Elect expressed regret during their handshake yesterday at the White House - although Mr. Trump's level of regret was much greater. In addition, Donald Trump exhibited significant anxiety and relatively low emotional comfort - while Barack Obama projected high confidence and greater emotional comfort. This is one of the few times you'll see Mr. Trump assuming a relative beta status to anyone in his close proximity.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3744: Donald Trump - "Stay on Point", Hats, Eye Contact and Trust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3720: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3705: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debate - Trump: I'm 'smart' for paying no taxes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3672: Jessica Alba, Swass, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3636: Donald Trump, Hillary's Emails, Putin and Russia

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3610: Star Swain sings The Star-Spangled Banner at the Lincoln Memorial - Why Do Singers Close Their Eyes?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3383: Barack Obama and Francois Hollande Shake Hands - Body Language (PHOTOS)

Today François Hollande was a guest of Barack Obama. The French President is visiting Washington D.C. in an effort to build a stronger coalition in the fight against Daesh (aka Islamic State, ISIL, ISIS). Yesterday he met with David Cameron, Wednesday he will meet with Angela Merkel - and on Thursday the Mr. Hollande will meet with Vladimir Putin.

In the above image, Hollande and Obama are shown in a Handshake-Hug Hybrid. Note that although the two men are touching (and thus within each other's personal space - and more specifically, their intimate space) - and of course their heads are also quite close together - in contrast, their eyes are directed away from the other man.

The vast majority of the time - when we enter another person's personal space, our gaze naturally and rapidly averts. One exception to this strong tendency is with close family members or with others for whom we have considerable affection. Can you name any other nonverbal scenarios where this rule doesn't apply?


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3382: Donald Trump's Mask

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2354: Rutgers' Basketball Coach Mike Rice - Body Language of Averting Gaze 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2678: French President François Hollande, Valerie Trierweiler and Julie Gayet - Of Affairs, Affection and Body Language Tells  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2935: David Cameron and ISIL-ISIS-IS, Body Language Tells 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2533: Angela Merkel's Low Steeple "Trademark" - A Major Body Language Mistake  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3325: Vladimir Putin, the United Nations, Russian Soil and Confidence Levels  
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3191: Prince Charles and Sinn Féin Leader Gerry Adams Shake Hands - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today Prince Charles shook hands and met with Gerry Adams. Adams is an Irish Republican Politician and President of Sinn Féin. He is the first member of the British Royal Family to meet with leadership of Sinn Féin while in the Republic of Ireland.

This image captures Prince Charles as he is approaching Mr. Adams. While it may very well have been tea time and the Prince may have desired some caffeine - here his hands should have absolutely not been holding anything. This moment was most certainly highly choreographed - however on the chance that Mr. Adams was standing in an unanticipated location, Prince Charles should have immediately handed the cup and saucer off - so that both hands were empty upon initiating any greeting or handshake. Holding any object in front of the chest or abdomen upon meeting another person is an example of a MAP surrogate (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) - and indicates a low degree of emotional comfort. The drink and its container act as an insulator/blocking agent from that which gives the Prince anxiety. Moreover it also telegraphs disrespect and a low priority nature to the meeting.

Gerry Adams is displaying body language known as a "Fig Leaf" or "Genital Guarding". In this context it is indicative of either lower emotional comfort - or respect shown to a recognized alpha by a self-acknowledged beta (e.g. a former U.S. president would also stand similarly next to a current president during a speech - or me, if I were also meeting Prince Charles). Thus on occasion (a small minority of the time) the fig leaf is an example deliberate, conscious etiquette behavior. What other nonverbal displayed here by Mr. Adam tells us which of these two is correct in this moment?

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2258:  Prince Charles worried about Harry?  What his Body Language Says

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2348:  Prince William, Alpha Personalities & Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2494:  Prince William Interview on Fatherhood and Baby George Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2202:  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and the  Body Language of the "Fig Leaf"

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