Body Language Analysis No. 3942: Donald Trump, James Comey, Contempt and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On 18 May 2017, President Trump hosted Columbian President Juan Manuel Santo. The video above includes the majority of their joint press conference.

From a nonverbal communication perspective, the event was laden with teaching examples - two particularly telling moments are highlighted here.

JOURNALIST (beginning at 20:13): Thank you, Mr. President. Ahum, in the light of a very busy news week, a lot of people would like to get to the bottom of a couple of things, give you a chance to - go on record here. Did you at any time urge former FBI Director James Comey in any way, shape, or form to close or to back down the investigation into Michael Flynn? And also as you look back - 

PRESIDENT TRUMP:  [over-talking] No.  No.  Next question.

JOURNALIST: Next question. As you look back over the past six months or year, ahum, have you had any recollection where you’ve wondered if anything you have done - has been something that might be worthy of criminal charges in these investigations or impeachment, as some on the left are implying?  

During 20:33, as Trump says the word, "... Next..." (shown above), and again during the later portion of "...question...", he displays two beautiful examples of extremely brief manifestations of contempt (Microexpressions).

And a few seconds later, during 20:34 - 20:37, as the journalist says, "... Next question. As you look back...", Trump then displays what is known as a "Subtle Expression". It's also one of contempt. As its name implies, it's somewhat difficult to detect (for most people) due to its low magnitude. They also typically last longer.

While nonverbal novices are more familiar with the phenomenon of microexpressions - and they get much more press - subtle expressions are just as important in nonverbal interpretation and behavioral analysis.

These examples, placed side by side, serve as an excellent contrast. Please view them several times at normal speed and again in slow motion.

Another intriguing moment comes a few seconds later (20:43 - 20:44) immediately after the journalist says, " As you look back over the past six months or year, ahum, have you had any recollection where you’ve wondered if anything you have done" - and then simultaneous with the journalist saying, ... has been something ...", Donald Trump blinks, then looks down to his right, then blinks again as he reestablishes his gaze upon the Journalist.

The vast majority of right-handed people will look down to their right during moments of high anxiety particularly when those feelings are linked to sadness or regret.

Blinking which punctuates the beginning and/or the end of gaze direction changes are longer in duration and are much more correlative with anxiety.


Summary: Donald Trump displayed contempt during a key question in today's press conference - most likely toward James Comey or for the journalist who asked the question. The President also showed signs of significant regret and anxiety when asked about recent past actions.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3941: H.R. McMaster’s Press Conference, Part II — Donald Trump, Russia & Classified Information

Body Language Analysis No. 3939: The Russians are Confident - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 3937: Mr. Lavrov Goes To Washington - “Was he fired? You’re kidding!” - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and James Comey

Body Language Analysis No. 3935: Donald Trump and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in the Oval Office

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3921: Kim Jong-un, North Korea, Alpha Status, and Clapping

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3871: Emma Watson's Old Habit, Harry Potter Outtake and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3864: Uber's CEO, Travis Kalanick Arguing with an Uber Driver regarding Falling Fares - Escalation v. De-Escalation, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3861: Emma Stone, The Oscars and Sincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3808: Felicity Jones' Sincere Smile - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3563: Ariana Grande, Lip Stick, Microexpressions and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The beginning moments this Ariana Grande guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! captures a fantastic example of a microexpression of fear superimposed over a subtle expression of fear.

At 0:12, Jimmy Kimmel continues: "... but you put such a dark -"

Ariana Grande: "Yeah."

Kimmel: "...almost blood-purply colored on your lips"

Grande: "Yeah."

Kimmel: "... with the bright red suite."

Grande: "It's a lot, but I think it's appropriate."

Kimmel: "It's fabulous."

0:16.2



















Microexpression of Fear (above) just as Kimmel says, "... blood purply colored ...".  Note her mouth corners pulled back (very brief) and Ariana's eyes opened wider than baseline

0:16.7


















In this second image we see another microexpression just before Kimmel says, "... lips ...". This is virtually identical to the example above, except that Ms. Grande's eyes are not opened quite as much (though still wider than her baseline).

The microexpression component is seen with the corners of her mouth pulling backwards twice (it may look like a miniature smile to some) - however it's very short-lived (please watch the video on normal speed and then on half speed to best appreciate this). Superimposed on this evanescent mouth nonverbal - we can see the longer duration change of Ariana's slightly widely opened eyes.

Grande is fearful that her lipstick wasn't the right color.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3562: Police Officer Tim Purdy, De-Escalation and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3547: Kate Middleton on Cover of Vogue's 100th Anniversary Issue

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3543: Donald Trump, "It Felt Like I Was Crossing The Border Actually"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3509: Bernie Sanders meets Birdie Sanders 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3487: Scott Pelley to Hillary Clinton, "Have you always told the truth?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3481: Gordon Ramsay Tries Girl Scout Cookies for the First Time

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3451: Angelique Kerber defeats Serena Williams in Australian Open

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3416: LeBron James Catches a Golden State Fan "calling" him a Cry Baby

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2964: Eric Holder Interview After Announcing Resignation - Microexpressions and other Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The day after he announced his resignation as U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder gave an interview with Pete Williams. The above video includes a brief portion of this interview and provides significant insight into the thought-emotions of Mr. Holder as he answered these questions. What follows is a partial body language analysis.

During the 0:48 mark, we see a microexpression of fear as he speaks about situations similar to Ferguson, Missouri.

"I think part of it has to do with, um, the lack of knowledge on the part of, [fear microexpression] ah, certain communities - communities of color, to understand the fear ...."

(continued dialog from above)
"....that police officers have - in just being on the streets ...."

As he says "... have ..." (at 0:53) his mouth movements are exaggerated.
Melodramatic mouth movements are highly significant for the speaker believing that they have dominance over those viewing them.



Note this "pecking order" point-of-view often is NOT congruent with the words being spoken (or what others may believe/think about who is in charge). Such a disparity is always a red flag - for when the verbal and the nonverbal signals are in disagreement, the nonverbal is always representative of the true thought-emotions.

"... when it comes to certain police officers, the notion of implicit bias - looking at people and having stereotypical reactions to them."

More hyperbolic mouth motion is seen as Mr. Holder says, "... reactions ..." (at 1:02) again signifies his belief/knowledge in his relative alpha status.

"Well I think the, the level of vehemence that has been directed my way I think has been perhaps a little different than, um, I have seen, ah, other attorneys general have to, have to deal with."

When he says, "... little ..." at 1:25, Mr. Holder displays a classic microexpression of contempt.

(1:40 - 1:45)

".... and I don't like the idea that I'm necessarily leaving before the end of his term - but it's ah - it's the right time for me to go."

This is a moderate, intermittent nonverbal expression of regret - and is completely congruent with the verbal message.



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2963: Barack Obama at the United Nations General Assembly regarding ISIS/ISIL, 24 September 2014 - Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2769: Smiling Out of Context in a Mass Shooter - T.J. Lane

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1890:  Eric Holder has (Emotional) Contempt toward Darrell Issa -  while Rep. Issa is Very Excited to be Seeking  "Contempt of Congress" against Holder

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2528: Sen. Ted Cruz, Obamacare and Filibusters - Differentiating Ego vs. Other Motives with Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2801: Adam Silver Bans Donald Sterling for Life - Alpha Body Language Tell  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2871: Kate Middleton, Andy Murray and Wimbledon - Body Language of Empathy-Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2771: Australian PM Tony Abbott regarding Malaysian Airlines MH370 Search - Body Language Misinterpretations and Regret

 
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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2682: Sperm Donor Switch and a Body Language Example of .... (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In a bizarre turn of events worthy of a movie, Annie Branum, an Astrophysics major at University of Texas San Antonio, has discovered that the man who she believed to be her father is not related at all. He shares none of her DNA - a fact she discovered last year. Her mother Pamela Branum has a strong interest in genealogy and the ability to discover more about the family's lineage led them to undergo genetic testing. What they found out was shocking.

Tom Lippert, and ex-employee of the Reproductive Medical Technologies Inc., and who is now deceased, was the true sperm donor. It is not yet known whether this occurred via lab error or if the sperm deliberately switched. Lippert, who plead guilty to kidnapping in 1975, is now deceased. The lab is no also longer in business.

In the video above, and exampled in the image below, Annie Branum displays multiple microexpressions and subtle expressions of contempt. Note while there is some lateral movement of one side of the mouth, it's also significantly vectored upward in what is often described as a snarl - although many often mistake it for a variation of a subtle smile. There is also a tightening (contraction) of the tissue between the upper lip and nose as well as a flaring of the nostril on the same side and a deepening of her (left) nasal-labial furrow (which runs from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth).

Who else displays contempt in this video?

In addition to Annie Branum, who also displays a significant asymmetrical mouth expression? What is its body language significance?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2442:  Nancy Pelosi's Subtle Contempt Display Body Language Regarding "Who Cares?" Retort

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2350:  Contempt - both dramatic and subtle - Backpedaling and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2228:  Jay Carney's Body Language - Contempt disguised as a Sniff ....  for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2681: What Did Barack Obama Really think of Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2680: Chris Christie's State of the State Address - Body Language Swagger and Sincerity 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2679: Tina Fey & Amy Poehler - Body Language of Suppressed Smiles, The 2014 Golden Globe Awards and Variation on a Theme 

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. 2669: Sara Bareilles and the Body Language of the Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2402: Partial & Subtle Expressions of Fear - Young Girls Saved From Drowning by Man & his Dog (Video)

A couple months ago six year old Krymzen Sunshine and her ten year old sister Samara broken through the ice and would have drowned if it were not for the heroics of Edmonton's Adam Shaw and his dog Rocky. Adam pulled Krymzen out of the icy North Saskatchewan River and moment later when the current had taken Samara down river and further out - Rocky went in to save her as well.

The story is reported in the video above. There is a great nonverbal example of a subtle and partial display of fear as Edmonton Fire Chief Ken Block thinks of & feels about the very close call and near-drowning of Samara and Krymzen.

Longer in duration than a microexpression, however just as reliable of a nonverbal signal - the left corner of Chief Block's mouth pulls back and slightly down as he re-lives the close call in his mind and expresses the emotion of fear. Captured in this still image, this facial expression occurs several times during the 1:55 - 2:04 segment of the video above.

A split second after the above image, Ken Block's mouth is still displaying this partial (left side only) and subtle (not fully expressed) example of a "Mouth of Fear" (1:57. Clustered along with this is a slightly prolonged blink (extended bilateral eyelid closure) which signifies that his psyche is trying to wipe the negative image of two drowned little girls from his mind's eye. Intellectually he knows this hasn't happened, but because he's seen similar disasters before, such an scenario is strong in his mind and this psychological blocking behavior helps to erase the negative emotional tone.

Three cheers for Adam Shaw and Rocky!

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2344:  Jillian Michaels Body Language - Neck of Fear & Mouth of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2338:  Why Does Keit Pentus-Rosimannus feel Fear?  Body Language of Estonia's Minister of Environment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2381:  Jessica Paré of Mad Men on Jimmy Fallon  Body Language of Mrs. Don Draper

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2297:  Rooney Mara on Conan O'Brien  Common Body Language Tell  Fear Apology Query Expression-Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2031:  Tina Fey arriving at Alec Baldwin's Wedding,  Fear-Empathy with a (partial) Sincere Smile - Emotional Dissonance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2306:  George W. Bush trapped in Room - Body Language's Microexpression of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2274:  The Eyes & Mouth of Fear -  Body Language of Ahmed Dogan during  Attempted Assassination

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Nonverbal Communication Intelligence Quiz # 2118: Princess Kate's Subtle Emotions - What do YOU see?

Maybe you've heard. Princess Kate is at the center of attention. Again. Photographs have been published in a French magazine, Closer and the Irish Daily Star (an Irish tabloid) of her sunbathing topless. Monday morning an Italian magazine Chi says it will publish more - despite a lawsuit by Britain's Royal Family. Closer and Chi both are published by Italian media group, Modadori - which is owned by the former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. What would you be feeling if you were in her shoes? In the above (very recent) image, which emotion is the Duchess of Cambridge's body language displaying? 

What's your Nonverbal I.Q. tellin' you?

A. Anger
B. Pride
C. Guilt
D. Sadness
E. Excitement
F. Happiness
G. Satisfaction
H. Shame
I. Disgust
J. Contempt
K. Amusement
L. Embarrassment
M. Surprise
N. Relief
O. Fear
P. Pleasure

See also:

Analysis # 2117: The People of Libya - Recognizing Subtle Emotions

Analysis # 1515: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney's Numerous Microexpressions and Subtle Displays of Contempt

Analysis # 2111: Mitt Romney on Libya Embassy Killings - Multiple Displays of Contempt

Analysis # 1077: We Remember the People of Hama

Analysis # 83: The Subtle Turn-Away

Analysis # 2115: Prince Harry in Afghanistan - Incredulity & Contempt




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