David Katz was in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday. He had traveled from his home in Baltimore to participate in a Madden video tournament. Tragically, and with motives yet unknown, a lone gunman - allegedly Katz, shot and killed two people while injuring ten others before taking his own life.
From a nonverbal perspective, the above image of Katz, captured last year after he won a tournament, is worth analyzing in greater detail.
Note that Katz's central forehead is both contracted and vectored upward. In nonverbal parlance, this is termed an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (Elevated CFC). In addition, Katz is displaying a simultaneous slight mouth "smile". However, this "smile" is no smile at all. It's insincere. It's a ruse.
Now, this particular combination of an elevated CFC, together with a partial mouth pseudo-smile is an expression we all exhibit - every emotionally healthy person - once in a while. On these relatively infrequent occasions, one (or more) of the following three emotions is being experienced:
• Arrogance
• Contempt
• Disbelief (more specifically, a Smug-Disbelief with Impatient-Dismissal)
It's important to stress that all three of these emotions may be conveyed with other facial displays. In addition, these emotions also may overlap. We all will, of course, experience these feelings from time to time but - hopefully not too frequently. So it follows that, now and again, we also will make this facial expression.
However, individuals who frequently display this facial expression, have a very high correlation with Antisocial Personality Disorder (Abbreviated as APD and includes both Sociopathy and Psychopathy [which are somewhat common/colloquial terms]).
Two key personality traits common to both sociopaths and psychopaths are:
• Very low or nonexistent Empathy
combined with:
• Low Sincerity Quotients (e.g., people who aren't
necessarily lying IN THAT MOMENT - but they have a strong pattern of frequent deception)
SUMMARY: The particular facial expression of an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction together with a Simultaneous Partial Mouth "Smile" (often suppressed and subtle) - when frequently displayed - has an extremely high correlation with Sociopathy and Psychopathy.
Low Empathy Quotients combined with Low or Absent Sincerity (Chronic Lying) -
are characteristics common to Sociopaths and Psychopathy (Antisocial
Personality Disorder).
Three years ago, Elizabeth Holmes was the newest Golden Child of Silicon Valley. Her company, which she started when she was just 19 after dropping out of Stanford University, had claimed to have revolutionized the practice of medicine by being able to perform testing on just a few drops of blood - from only a finger prick (only 1/100 to 1/1000 of that typically needed with conventional methods). Such a discovery would also dramatically decrease the costs of blood tests. Ms. Holmes also had quite a knack for convincing investors to bankroll her company - which they did to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
But in October of 2015, based on the work of
John Carreyrou of The Wall Street Journal, deep concerns as to the credibility of Theranos' technology were raised - and the facade failed.
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Ms. Holmes from this April 2015 CBS interview.
The aberrant behavior of Elizabeth Holmes' eyelids is striking. Note how widely they're opened. The "whites of her eyes" (sclera) are visible 360º around the colored portions (irides or irises) of both eyes.
Moreover, her eyelids are open to this extreme - not just for a second or two - but nearly continuously throughout this interview. This is extremely unusual.
Additionally, in the image immediately above (2:25), Ms. Holmes is also displaying a component of Disgust (note her tightened and forward-vectored mid and lower face - along with her nostril flaring and tightened lips).
You may have also noticed that Elizabeth Holmes blinks much less frequently than normal. This should immediately jump out to you as unnatural. This red flag is a behavior correlated with nefarious motives - so much so, that it's even been used in animations for decades.
Now, you may say that maybe Elizabeth Holmes' forehead had been treated with Botox - and you'd be correct. But although her forehead activity is somewhat diminished due to Botox - the dynamic movement captured
here (3:48) proves that it is still quite functional. Concave-up furrows are clearly visible on her forehead and her eyebrows are also momentarily elevated.
It's profoundly important to stress - that when a person's eyelids are opened wide during moments of verbal emphasis - there is almost always a simultaneous contraction and elevation of their forehead muscles too - as was imaged in this last example.
But the fact that such forehead contribution was rarely seen throughout this interview - that her eyelids were opened wide with a relaxed forehead - and this display was virtually continuous - is a tremendous red flag. It screams of deception. It also signals psychological pathology.
Intriguingly, although the frequency of Ms. Holmes' voice is quite deep - witnesses have documented that she's feigning. It's another affectation.
Jennifer Lawrence will be playing Elizabeth Holmes in a 2019 film version of this fall from grace. It's to be titled Bad Blood and will be directed by Adam McKay (The Big Short).
SUMMARY: In the abstinence of a few medical conditions (such as Thyroid eye disease), when the eyelids are opened so widely, with such high frequency and long duration - coupled with a relaxed forehead (e.g., as is demonstrated in the first three images and during almost this entire interview), there's a very high correlation with:
• Deception
• Antisocial Personality Disorder (commonly referred to as Sociopath Behavior)
We all know of people (and perhaps we're one of them) who have an aversion to public displays of affection (colloquially referred to as PDAs). Yet, in private, these same people exhibit many affection displays - in the range of what most professionals would say classify as healthy and "within normal limits".
But the opposite pattern also occurs - when a person publicly displays affection such as hand holding, kissing, hugging, etc., - but does so much less frequently in private. This behavior pattern is an affectation. It's indicative of a person who wants to show "ownership" of their partner - but who's deficient in affection. Crucially it's also associated with low sincerity and low empathy. If you're at the receiving end of this behavior - you're being used.
A person with low sincerity and low empathy is, in a nutshell, a sociopath (Antisocial Personality Disorder).
Last week, the New York Times released a six and a half minute surveillance video of Stephen Paddock.
Paddock killed 58 people and injured 851 others perpetrating a mass shooting in Las Vegas on 1 October 2017.
Channel 13 KTNV (Las Vegas) recently asked me to analyze the video from a behavioral and body language perspective.
Included above is my extended interview regarding Paddock's behavior displayed in this particular NYT-released video (included below) in the days leading up to the shooting.
Channel 13 KTNV Las Vegas recently asked me to analyze the video released last week by the New York Times showing surveillance of Stephen Paddock.
Paddock was the perpetrator of the 1 October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas in which he killed 58 and injured 851. The surveillance video analyzed is included here (immediately above).
The image above shows Stephen Paddock, despite being alone in an elevator - felt the need to back into a corner (something he did on multiple occasions). Moreover, he chooses the corner where the camera would show the back/top of his head - rather than exposing his face.
With or without the presence of the camera, this behavior is substantially beta - revealing the need for defensiveness and protection. While it certainly does not show aggression or a predilection toward violence, it is out-of-context.
Immediately above, we see Stephen Paddock in a low-resolution image with the crucial facial expression of an:
• Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (Elevated CFC)
Simultaneous with a:
• Partial (Insincere) Mouth Smile
As I mentioned in the interview, every healthy human being makes this expression OCCASIONALLY - when they're feeling:
It's important to point out that all three of these emotions have other facial expressions with which they are more commonly manifested. And while normal, emotionally healthy individuals will make this expression from time-to-time - those people who make this expression often (about 4% of the population) will have:
Not coincidentally, these are also two of the primary pillars of Sociopathic Individuals (those with Antisocial Personality Disorder).
Rodney Alcala is sometimes referred to as the "Dating Game Killer". The above image of his (Elevated) Central Forehead Contraction together with a Partial (Insincere) Mouth Smile was a screen grab from his appearance on The Dating Game TV show in 1978. This television broadcast occurred while he was in the midst of a killing spree.
Alcala is a serial rapist and murderer who has been compared to Ted Bundy. He's been convicted of seven murders - but his true victim count remains unknown.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with the same Elevated Central Forehead Contraction combined with a Partial (Insincere) Mouth Smile.
Bruce McArthur is a serial killer - murdering at least six men in the Toronto, Canada area. The landscaper-gardener has a history of dismembering his victims and burying portions of their bodies' in planters and private gardens.
Martin Shkreli (here testifying to Congress) displays yet another CFC + Mouth 'Smile'. Mr. Shkreli, (sometimes sarcastically known as 'Pharma Bro') "is an American businessman, former hedge fund manager, and convicted felon. In September 2015, Shkreli received widespread criticism when Turing Pharmaceuticals (where he was CEO) obtained the manufacturing license for the antiparasitic drug Daraprim and subsequently raised the price by a factor of 56 ($13.50 to $750 per pill), leading him to be referred to by the media as 'the most hated man in America' and 'Pharma Bro'. Shkreli was convicted of two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiring to commit securities fraud in August 2017, and was sentenced in March 2018 to seven years in federal prison and to $7.4 million in fines." (Wikipedia)
The Elevated Central Forehead Contraction with a Partial (Insincere) Mouth Smile is a default expression of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Indeed, this is one of Putin's 'Living Masks'.
BBC Journalist, Steve Rosenberg recently asked Russian President Vladimir Putin, "Is Russia behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal?" What follows is a partial analysis of President Putin's nonverbal response.
The above image of Vladimir Putin (from 0:02 in the above video) shows the Russian President with an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction - simultaneous with a partial (mild/subtle) mouth smile.
This is an expression every healthy and psychologically normal person displays (just not very often). It's significant for the emotions of:
• Arrogance (we're all allowed to feel arrogant once in a while, but hopefully not too often)
• Contempt (again, on occasion we all feel contempt, but hopefully it's a rare experience)
• Disbelief (more specifically, a Smug-Disbelief with Impatient-Dismissal)
It's crucial to point out, that the emotions of arrogance, contempt, and disbelief all may be conveyed by other facial configurations.
However, a relatively small fraction of the population (approximately 4%) displays this expression frequently - those individuals with a combination of:
• Low (or nonexistent) Empathy
combined with
• Low Sincerity Quotients (e.g., those individuals who are not necessarily lying IN THAT MOMENT - but they have a strong tendency toward deception
People with low Empathy Quotients combined with low or absent Sincerity - are characteristics common to Sociopaths/Psychopathy (Antisocial Personality Disorder [APD]).
This particular facial expression - an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction with a simultaneous Mild Mouth Smile (often partially suppressed) -WHEN DISPLAYED CHRONICALLY - has an extremely high correlation with Sociopathy/Psychopathy/Antisocial Personality Disorder.
This is one of President Putin's default facial expressions - essentially it's a Living Mask.
A moment later in this same video, President Putin displayed both Disgust and Contempt. This is a remarkably telling moment - for these were his real feelings, which leaked through his mask.
Contempt - displayed above during 0:14
Disgust being displayed during 0:16
A Very similar phenomenon occurs when actors come out of character: Actors were pretending - but once they stop acting, their real emotions are suddenly exposed - and for a brief moment, these released emotions are often hyperbolic (and can't be masked).
When the emotions of Contempt, Disgust, and/or Anger are temporally juxtaposed (as we see here) with the Elevated Central Forehead Contraction/Partial Mouth Smile Expression - a profoundly Dangerous Red Flag has been raised. You're in Danger.
Summary: President Vladimir Putin's CHRONIC display (a living mask) of the specific facial expression of an elevated central forehead contraction with a partial/subtle mouth smile (first image, above) has an extremely high correlation with low (or absent) empathy combined with low (or absent) sincerity (chronic deceptive tendencies) - as well as a very high likelihood of Sociopathy/Psychopathy/Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Donald Trump has accepted Kim Jong-un's invitation to meet in person. No sitting US President has ever met with a North Korean leader.
Dictators, tyrants, strong-men - are sociopaths (aka Antisocial Personality Disorder). They all follow similar patterns of behavior - and this certainly includes their nonverbal nature. With such personalities, a common trait is a significantly limited variety of facial expressions. Kim Jong-un is no exception.
Consider this thought experiment: Imagine, for a moment, that you had never heard of the DPRK leader. You would very likely think Kim Jong-un's 'smile' is a good one. You may think it to be a sincere smile - yet you'd be wrong. His 'smile' is a feigned. It's quite insincere.
Included here are three examples of one of Kim Jong-un's default expressions - a false-smile. He displays a small variety of other default faces - and he's more skilled than most people at reproducing these expressions on-demand. But with such a low variability and routine use of a small number of facial expressions - these are essentially, Living Masks.
Notice that Kim Jong-un's bottom teeth are visible. While the lower teeth are indeed often revealed during sincere laughter, he was not laughing in these examples. A true, sincere smile of joy-happiness never exposes the lower teeth - but, as with most people, the North Korean leader is fond of exposing them when he's feigning a smile.
Fascinatingly, individuals who routinely "wear" behavioral facial masks are not only being insincere in that particular moment - they also exhibit strong insincere behavior over the course of their entire lifetimes'.
Moreover, people who commonly display behavioral masks also have another profound personality flaw - they have a strong tendency to think in false-dichotomy World-views.
Summary: Kim Jong-un's routine display of a small number of facial expressions are examples of behavioral facial masks. Included here three images of one of his default faces - an insincere smile. This low-variety of facial expressions is a pattern common to dictators, tyrants - and sociopaths - as well as those who view the World in false dichotomies.
On Thursday, while in Japan, Vice President Pence was asked about the allegations against Rob Porter, the now-former staff Secretary for President Trump. On Wednesday it was made public that both of Mr. Porter's former wives have accused him of physical and emotional abuse. Jenny Willoughby, his second wife, sought and received an emergency protective order against him. Mr. Porter has denied the allegations and yesterday, after these reports became public, he resigned as President Trump's Staff Secretary. Mr. Porter had been dating Hope Hicks, the White House Communications Director, at the time of his resignation.
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Vice President Pence.
FIRST JOURNALIST (beginning at 0:00): Going to turn back to home Ω- there ah - I was wondering if you could ah, comment on the allegations against Rob Porter the ah, President's Staff Secretary. Ah, when were you made avail, ah, aware of those allegations and how - and then, additionally there are reports now that General Kelly and others at the White House had been aware of these allegations for several months and have been trying to deal with them and p- protect him ∆. Do you believe the President is being well served by his senior staff?
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: Well let me say, we're standing in Yokota Air Force Base in Japan - we're on our way to The Olympics. Um, and um, I, I learned as I a, awoke this morning - of those developments - and so we'll - we'll comment on any issues affecting the White House staff when we get back to Washington.
ASHLEY PARKER (Second Journalist) : Can I just briefly follow-up on that and ask, this ah, now a number of times when you found out ab- you're the Vice President - you're number two in the administration - where you found out about something very late - after a number of other senior staff below you - even in the West Wing have found out about it. Again, I understand - we're standing in here, but can you comment on why you often seem a little bit out of the loop on some of this major news?
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: ah, you know it's a great honor for me to serve as vice president - and President Trump [shaking head no] has been incredibly generous with the responsibilities and opportunities he's given me to serve - representing the United States on the foreign stage as we have here in Japan - as we will later today in South Korea 'nd - 'course at The Olympics - and also being involved in the legislative process and I'm [deep inhalation] I'm very grateful for that and um, but we'll, we'll leave those White House staffing matters for when we get back to Washington.
During 0:01, just after the first journalist says, "Going to turn back to home" - the Vice President displays an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). An Inward Lip Roll (notated by the Ω symbol) is an attempt to prevent strong emotions from escalating - both inwardly and from being expressed outwardly.
During 0:18, just after the first journalist says, "... that General Kelly and others at the White House had been aware of these
allegations for several months and have been trying to deal with them
and p- protect him...", Mike Pence's mouth temporarily takes on a classic regret expression. This is notated by the ∆ symbol.
He also displays an extended blink - in a subconscious effort to dismiss and/or block the comment/thought.
More than any other high-level politician currently in Washington, the Vice President makes the expression captured in the above image:
• Elevated Central Forehead Contraction
simultaneous with a
• Partial Mouth Smile
We all - every human being - makes this expression from time-to-time. It indicates the thought-emotions of:
• Arrogance
• Smug Incredulity
• Contempt
It's crucial to note that all three of these emotions have other expressions.
However, when a person makes this expression often - as Mike Pence does indeed do - it's a highly reliable signal of a:
In this context, either possibility is ominous. Moreover, the two populations overlap considerably.
The Vice President displays a Hard Swallow (during 0:55) as Ms. Parker says, "... Again, I understand - we're standing in here, but can you comment on why you often seem a little bit out of the loop on some of this major news?"
(Please watch the video, as this dynamic is not captured with a still image)
Just after Ms. Parker says, "... out of the loop ..." (during 0:58), the Vice President displays both:
• Disgust
• Anger
Watch this several times at full and then 1/2 speed. Concentrate on his mid-facial region - specifically between his upper lip and nose - as well as his nostrils.
During 1:03 - 1:04, as the Vice President says, "... President Trump ...", Pence shakes his head side-to-side in a classic NO illustrator. The next words (the rest of the sentence) out of Pence's mouth are:
"... has been incredibly generous with the responsibilities and opportunities he's given me to serve..."
This side-to-side head shake (NO), prior to his verbal statement, indicates Pence's true feelings contradict the words (Pence, in fact, does NOT feel President Trump has been incredibly generous with the responsibilities and opportunities Trump has given him).
(Please watch the video, as this dynamic is not captured with a still image)
Summary:Vice President Pence displayed anxiety, disgust, anger, and deception during this video segment. His chronic display of an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction coupled with a Partial (Suppressed) Mouth Smile is an ominous pattern of behavior in anyone - particularly by such a high-level elected official.
Bruce McArthur, a 66-year-old resident of Toronto, Canada is a grandfather - and was a self-employed landscaper - as well as a Santa Claus at a local mall. He also stands accused of committing at least five murders.
From a nonverbal perspective, there's one facial expression which Sociopaths (those with Antisocial Personality Disorder) display frequently. Bruce McArthur is making such an expression in this image. It's components are:
• Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (elevated CFC)
• Mouth Smile (Usually partial or even slight [as is seen here] and simultaneous with the CFC)
It's profoundly important to stress that we all - all 7.5 Billion of us - make this facial expression from time to time. Most of us (about 96%) however don't make it that often. We may all display this expression when we're feeling:
• Arrogant
• Disbelief (a special subset of disbelief - more specifically, when we're feeling a Smug Incredulity)
• Contempt
As normal human beings - we're all allowed to feel these emotions - but not too often if we're emotionally and mentally healthy.
It's also very important to stress that all three of these emotions can be manifested by other facial expressions.
But Sociopaths (Antisocial Personality Disorder), bad actors, and TV pundits will display this facial configuration with much greater frequency compared with the general population.
If one thin-slices this behavior, it's fascinating to note that within the acting profession - men (both straight and gay) display this behavior mistake much more often than women. However, a common denominator of both sociopaths and bad actors - is indeed bad acting. While sociopaths are fair-to-good actors - they're almost never great actors (of course, there are occasional exceptions). If you know what to look for, you can suss them out.
Summary: An elevated central forehead contraction (CFC) coupled with a simultaneous mouth smile (usually only a partial [often somewhat subtle] smile, and by definition an insincere, mouth smile) - and WHEN IT'S DISPLAYED FREQUENTLY - is behavior which has an extremely high correlation with antisocial personality disorder (sociopathic behavior). If frequent, this is an ominous Red Flag. No psychologically healthy individual will display this facial expression frequently.
Watch this video with no audio. What facial expression does Zac Efron display with a very high frequency? - An expression which he uses much more often than is seen in the general population?
These images above are but three of many examples: an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (elevated CFC) simultaneous (or nearly simultaneous) with a partial (Insincere) mouth smile.
Now, of course, we all exhibit this same expression on occasion. These include the emotional displays of:
We're all allowed to feel these emotions - once in a while. As long as these feelings don't occur too frequently - they are part of the normal human experience. It's also important to note that all three of these emotions may be manifested via other facial expressions.
But Sociopaths (Antisocial Personality Disorder) and bad actors (can you name any other groups?) will display this facial configuration with much greater frequency compared with the general population.
Intriguingly - if we nuance this behavior further within the acting profession - men (both straight and gay) commit this theatric faux pas much more often than women.
What should immediately strike you is the common denominator of these two groups. For sociopaths are, to a large extent, actors. They're not great actors - but most of them, for at least small segments of time, are fair-to-good actors (exceptions exist of course). And to be clear, I'm NOT saying Zac Efron is a sociopath (however, in this "Vogue 73 Questions" interview, he WAS acting - he wasn't simply being "Zac").
No one who is psychologically healthy will display this facial expression too often. Thus, if you're an actor or an acting coach - eliminate it. And, for everyone else - be on guard.
Summary: When it's displayed frequently (not just within a single conversation) - an elevated central forehead contraction together with a simultaneous/nearly simultaneous mouth smile (usually just a partial smile, and by definition an insincere, mouth smile) - has a very high correlation with antisocial personality disorder (sociopathic behavior). Take heed.
