Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3221: Gov. Nikki Haley Choking Back Tears - is She Sincere? Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

At the very beginning of this video (0:03), Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina briefly looks upward twice. Such an upward gaze is a rarely recognized yet very common and subconscious mechanism which is seen during moments when a person is trying to suppress their sadness and crescendo to tears. Some people have suggested that Gov. Haley's emotions here were insincere. They were very sincere. Of course this doesn't mean that every issue she will speak about regarding this shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston will all be directly from her heart - however this moment was indeed very sincere.

What other nonverbal signals seen in this video are indicative of sincerity?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3220: Charleston, South Carolina Shooter Dylann Roof - Social Media, Public Persona and Predicting Violent Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3099: Jon Stewart Announces he's Leaving "The Daily Show" - A Classic Body Language Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3192: Jimmy Kimmel Chokes-up in his Tribute to David Letterman - a Body Language Signal of Crying Suppression & Sincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2604: Obamacare Girl "Adrianna" on GMA - Body Language Harbingers of ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2404:  Internal Lip Roll and other Body Language  associated with Suppression of Sadness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2150:  Body Language Advice for  President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2383: Elizabeth Colbert Busch vs. Former Gov. Mark Sanford Body Language in Last Night's Debate

Last night Elizabeth Colbert Busch (Steven Colbert's sister) squared off against former Gov. Mark Sanford in their first and only debate for the U.S. House of Representative Seat for South Carolina's1st Congressional District. Some of the highlights are captured in the video above.

One moment in particular that is very illustrative from a body language perspective. Towards the end of this clip as Ms. Colbert Bush says, ".... I'm a fiscally conservative, independent, tough business woman ...." During this statement, Ms. Colbert-Busch shows several signals of anger. At the 2:32 mark in particular as she says "... independent ..." she shows a dramatic flash of anger that is very brief but just a bit longer than a microexpression. This nonverbal is fairly dramatic as her center eyebrows (only right side visible) moves downwards as her upper eyelids open wider. Her nasal flaring is dramatic and very telling as well. In addition, Ms. Colbert-Busch's jaw juts outward which is very easy to see in this side view (note her lower teeth are further forward than her upper teeth). A jaw jut is a signal significant of high levels of anger. Her lips are also pulled back tightly - significantly bearing both here upper and lower teeth - also very significant for anger.

Of course, this is not the entire debate, but in most other political settings this anger display would be ill-advised, however with Sanford's specific history it probably will result in a win.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2039:  Fight Outside Florida Courtroom -  Jaw Jut Prior to Violence

Negotiation Secret # 315:  Jaw Jut - Heightened Potential for Violence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2374:  Tom Cruise on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Body Language of Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1859:  The Prince is Angry at the Queen's Jubilee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2138:  President Obama's Anger-Frustration During Debate -  An Under-Appreciated Body Language Signal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1863:  Sharapova's Lips of Anger

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2371:  Barack Obama & Anger in the Rose Garden -  POTUS's Body Language & the Gun Laws

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2220: Harry Reid on Jim DeMint's Retirement -A Body Language Tell of Insincerity

In this video, Harry Reid (D-NV) comments on Jim DeMint's (R-SC) recent announcement of his intention to retire from the U.S. Senate. At two times the Senate Majority Leader comments on "believe" & "belief" which are contradicted by his body language. At 0:35, when Reid says, "...I personally believe", he gestures towards his sternum or manubrium (towards his heart) but never touches it. A few seconds later, at 0:36 - 0:38, he displays a similar nonverbal when he says, "...He does this out of a sense of real belief". In this second gesture, Senator Reid touches only with his fingertips. If these feelings of "belief" (the first Reid's own, the second which is implied empathy for DeMint) were sincere, we would have seen in both circumstances, a touching with the whole palm of the hand - aka a "Palmar Touch". This insincere body language signal is, of course, seen just as commonly in all political parties.

In this scenario a Palmar Touch would signify sincerity and empathy. Clustered with other nonverbals (not seen in or applicable to this context), it can also indicate affection, ownership and belonging.

It is intriguing to note that, from a paralanguage standpoint, the word "personally" in Reid's first statement, and "real" in the second, are not necessary if the feelings were sincere. They are a epiphenomena of compensatory behavior and also betray his true emotional tone.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2216: Senator Jim DeMint's Body Language - Lip Purse, Suppressed Smile, Duping Delight & Retiring Early

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1900: Palmar Touch of another Person, an Animal or Object

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1866:  Miley Cyrus & Liam Hemsworth are Engaged -  An Affection-Love Sincerity Signal
  
Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2183: Barack & Michelle Obama's Tweet - The Palmar Touch, Body Language and an Affectionate Hug

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1829: Dara Torres Interview with Piers Morgan - Embarrassment,  Visual Recall, Sexual Anticipation Lip Biting &  Sincerity Quotients

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2143: Meyers and Bailey Leonard - The Illini, The Marine & The Reunion -  Emotional Processing & Sincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2207:  Body Language, Sincerity and Mahmoud Abbas  United Nations grants Palestine "Nonmember Observer State" 
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2216: Senator Jim DeMint's Body Language - Lip Purse, Suppressed Smile, Duping Delight & Retiring Early

Jim DeMint of South Carolina announced his retirement today - less than two years into his second Senate term. The Republican - a Tea Party favorite, has accepted the top position at the conservative think tank, The Heritage Foundation.

In the above image, Senator DeMint displays a cluster of several body language-facial displays. Though he shows no teeth, his smile is a sincere one. True Joy is present. Notable here is his bilateral partially closed eyelids with the concave-up furrows present in each lower lid. These particular eyelid findings are absolutely required for the smile to be sincere (along with his non-contracted, relaxed forehead). And yet, this smile is not so "cut-and-dry".

The South Carolinian's mouth is configured in what is known as a "Lip Purse". In short, a lip purse, is a signal of disagreement. Not just any disagreement though - a clandestine one. When this highly specific nonverbal is seen, the verbal message is often muted and softened compared to what is being felt & thought. Indeed, there may even be complete verbal agreement. When the lip purse is displayed though - there is either partial or full disagreement in the mind. The words are a ruse. The body language is where your attention should be. 

Simultaneously, this lip purse acts to contribute to a "Suppressed Smile" appearance - though not a typical one.

A lip purse is always made by someone who holds a relative alpha position. He or she, republican or democrat, right or wrong - believes, at least at for the moment, that they are holding the cards and that their plan will succeed and they have the means to make it work. They are telling you one thing, but be prepared - at least in part - for something(s) else.

So while Senator DeMint's smile is sincere in the above photo - and he is in no doubt joyful here - his joy is not your joy. Thus, this particular eye expression in combination with the lip purse is a variation of a Duping Delight (Ekman) expression.

See also:

Nonverbal Communications Analysis # 1715:  Jay Carney's Lip Purse  Bin Laden is Dead & General Motors is Alive

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1055: The Very Subtle Lip Purse

Negotiation Secret # 9a : Nancy's Pelosi's Not-so-Subtle Lip Purse

Negotiation Secret # 9b : Lip Pursing Redux- Condoleezza Rice

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2072: Jay Carney's Lip Purse while NOT commenting on  Mitt Romney's Visits to the U.K., Israel and Poland

Negotiation Secret # 140: Duping Delight Microexpression

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication # Analysis 1492: Ben Bernanke's Duping Delight & Partial Emblematic Slip

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2187: Paula Broadwell with Hearsay on Benghazi Attack -  Excerpt from University of Denver Speech and a Body Language form of "Duping Delight" ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2050:  George Zimmerman's Interview on Fox -  Microexpression of Contempt and  Duping Delight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2188: Paula Broadwell on Petraeus Relationship - Body Language of Prolonged Blink, Hard Swallow and More Duping Delight


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2099: Nikki Haley & Sarah Palin - Governors in Contrast

Nikki Haley, the current Governor of South Carolina (left) and Sarah Palin, the previous Republican Vice Presidential candidate and past Governor of Alaska are pictured here at a campaign event. Haley has a sincere smile although it was held too long and thus her bottom teeth are beginning to show. Note also her partially closed eyelids, the concave-up furrows in each lower eyelid, and her relaxed forehead - all required of a sincere, Duchenne smile (Ekman).

Palin's face is one of moderate disgust. This is characterized by her tight and raised upper lip, the tightened area above the upper lip (aka the "mustache area" regardless of sex), her flared nostrils and her mildly wrinkled chin. Palin's facial expression is in strong dissonance with her "friendly" (feigned) waving nonverbal as well as Haley's body language. Sarah's hand waving is conscious and deliberate act while her facial expression - is unconsciously displayed and betrays her true emotional tone.

See also:

Analysis # 2019: Sarah Palin's "Co-Hosting" on the Today Show - She Fears Romney's Candidacy 

Analysis # 1267: John McCain, Sarah Palin and Bell's Palsy

Analysis # 54: The Manubrial Touch Betrays Our Feelings - Sarah Palin's Mistake

Analysis # 703: Bad Handshake? Let me count the ways!

Analysis # 1841: Disgust in Response to Rep. Barney Frank's "Hoodie" Joke

Analysis # 1496: Tiger Woods' Disgust & Biofeedback

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

Analysis # 353: Brad Pitt's Smiling Eyes - Sincere and Insincere Smiles

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 793: The Finger Point - A Rare Exception

During the Republican Presidential Debate yesterday in North Charleston, South Carolina, Newt Gingrich committed the all-too-common nonverbal gaffe by gesturing at the audience using the conventional and very adversarial index-finger point, at the 1:08 to 1:15 mark in this video. Pointing at the audience in this manner is virtually always a major faux pas. 

Mama always told us not to point. But....there's exceptions to almost everything ....and here's one.

At the 2:10 to 2:22 mark in this same video, Gingrich points again - however this time at CNN's debate moderator, John King. In a debate setting, the moderator is, of course, not the audience and so Gingrich plays off the very positive feedback he had just received from them to further advance his cause and thus he nonverbally prosecutes and convicts King, his network and other big media as the real criminals. 

This is a rare exception to the "No Finger Point Rule". Such pointing should not even be directed towards the other candidates. 

Later in the video, at the 2:38 to 2:43 mark, Speaker Gingrich gestures to the other presidential hopefuls in the very friendly  palm-up manner, briefly engendering an artificial solidarity with his adversaries. This is how Gingrich should have pointed to the audience at the beginning of his answer (see paragraph one, above). Who would have thought that Newt's second ex-wife could be such an asset? Talk about a "Backfire". On the eve of the South Carolina Presidential Primary, several polls show the former Speaker of the House in the lead. If Gingrich goes on to win the Republican nomination, this may very well be the moment we look back on as the turning point in his campaign.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 831: Santorum's Hands and the Alpha-Beta Hybrid

Where to put the hands? Well, this topic is very context related. It is NEVER a "one sized fits all" scenario. However, here Presidential hopeful, Rick Santorum, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania shows us a great "Alpha-Beta hybrid" with regards to his hands. Santorum has both hands in his back pockets, and while this is not a configuration you should hold for the duration of any speech or presentation, 20 to 30 second portions of this body language sprinkled throughout an appearance conveys an approachable and open personality. 

This variation of the Arms-Akimbo nonverbal is a good compromise between the prototypical ALPHA thumbs-backwards-hands-on-hips arms akimbo (see Confidence Secret # 14: High and Low Confidence Drivers: Arms Akimbo and Assertive Attitudes) and the BETA thumbs-forwards-hands-on-hips arms akimbo (see Dating & Romance Secret # 227: Are You Comfortable Around Your Ex?). They're difficult to see, but Santorum has his thumbs positioned forward and outside, while his fingers are inside of his pockets. This thumbs-forward is a BETA nonverbal. However, the elbows/arms sticking out (laterally) from the body is an ALPHA body language signal. Hands in the pockets is a BETA beacon. But his thumbs out of pockets shifts the sign to a bit more in the ALPHA direction. 

Rick Santorum's feet are an intermediate distance apart - which is also a good ALPHA-BETA mix in the right setting. Here however, I'd recommend the former Senator stand with his feet a bit more apart. For a Presidential Candidate, his foot-to-foot distance is a bit too demure. He'd look a bit more like Ronald Reagan or John Wayne with his feet a shoulder width apart. On the eve of the South Carolina Presidential Primary, Santorum needs a little more "Gipper".

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 919: How Newt Stands Influences Voters

There are times when a presidential candidate should stand with his or her feet together .... but this is NOT one of them. Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich is seen here at a Town Hall meeting in Florence, South Carolina and while he's gesturing confidently with his hands, his feet position do NOT transmit confidence - ergo emotional dissonance is present and being conveyed here. South Carolina's Presidential Primary is Saturday, 21 January 2012.

Presidents and candidates for any head-of-state position should stand with their feet together at funerals, weddings, religious ceremonies, when they are former office holders - standing next to currently highly ranked elected leaders, visits with the Pope, Dalai Lama and other religious leaders, when attending ceremonies honoring those who have fallen in battle, during the Pledge of Allegiance/Star Spangled Banner (or another country's anthem), and perhaps a few other exceptions - otherwise, standing with one's legs and feet this close together conveys lower confidence. Shorter people have a tendency to do this - particularly when behind a lectern/podium, as they are attempting to be at their maximum height. What is rarely considered though, is how standing in this lower confidence formation will influence the manner in which one speaks - their word choice, tone, cadence, ability to recall information, etc. In short, a confident stance engenders true confidence in action and performance. Ideally, Mr. Gingrich and other males should stand with their feet a shoulder's width apart, while women should stand with their feet slightly closer together (about 85 - 90% their shoulders' width).

Thus, emotions causes us to adopt a specific body language consistent with the current specific feeling(s) - but what's just as true is, maintaining a nonverbal signal causes an emotion to begin and/or persist. Nonverbal communication works in both directions - what often gets very overlooked is that our bodies and faces are, among other things, control panels for our emotional states.

See also:  Secret # 719: When to Stand with Your Feet Together

See also:  Secret # 103: High Confidence vs. Low Confidence, Who's Leading Who?

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