Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3468: GOP Debate, Antonin Scalia, John Dickerson and Ted Cruz on Supreme Court History - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

 

Last night during the Republican Debate in Greenville, South Carolina, there was a moment of disagreement between Senator Ted Cruz and the debate moderator, John Dickerson. regarding Supreme Court appointments by presidents in the last year of their final term. This subject was brought to light because of the death of Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia announced earlier in the day. This segment exemplified a particular nonverbal illustrator, which in this example, is fairly subtle. As you study body language in increasing detail, you will be well-served to notice these subtle tells - for it's these signals which will give you a profound advantage.

Here is a partial transcript of the above video segment of the debate as well as a partial nonverbal analysis:

CRUZ: Well, we have eighty years of precedent of not confirming Supreme Court justices in an election year. And, and lemme say Justice Scalia —

DICKERSON: Just, I’m sorry to interrupt, were nomina -, ah, ah, appointed in an election year? - or is that just there were eighty years happening — 

CRUZ: Eighty years of, of not confirming. For example, L.B.J., nominated Abe Fortas. Fortas did, did not get confirmed. He was defeated.

DICKERSON: But Kennedy was confirmed in ‘88.

CRUZ: [Long pause, inhaling, then further pausing] At, No — Kennedy was confirmed in eigh, -‘87.
 
DICKERSON: He was, he was appoin -, he was appointed in ‘87, confirming -.

CRUZ [Over-talking] He, he was appointed in '88—

DICKERSON: That’s the question, is it appointing or confirming, what's the difference?

CRUZ: In, in this case it’s both. But if I could, could answer it [inaudible]—

DICKERSON: Sorry, I want to get the facts straight for the audience. I apologize. [Audience Booing]. 

This image was captured during 0:27, just as the Senator from Texas is beginning to say, "... And, and lemme say Justice Scalia ..."








During his preface we can see very good yet subtle example of a what is termed a "Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" (SRHW). The video must be watched to appreciate the dynamics of this display.

A Self-Righteous head wiggle is characterized by a relatively rapid side-to-side head movement - and often includes other body parts such as the torso and the jaw. Here its duration is about a second, so it's classified as a near-microexpression. As mentioned, this example is relatively subtle as well. At other times a SRHW will be displayed for longer periods and with considerably more amplitude. The SRHW is always expressed by those individuals who are relative alpha personalities - and particularly during times of strong opinions and extra high confidence.

Often times, when more extreme, many will describe a feeling of deliberate smugness is being transmitted. Think of the SRHW as a form of nonverbal swagger.

It's also very important to note, Sen. Cruz's prolonged blinking as well as his elevated central forehead contraction (CFC), his elevated inner eyebrows, together with a partial mouth smile. These all constitute a nonverbal cluster which acts as an amplifier to the SRHW - increasing its potency.

What other body language clusters often accompany the self-righteous head wiggle?


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3467: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Dies

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3243: Bryan Cranston's Body Language at the 2015 Comic-Con

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3075: Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son) Blasts Duke University for Muslim "Call to Prayer"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3452: A Ted Cruz Rapport Destroyer

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3448: Ted Cruz's Challenge to Debate Donald Trump One-on-One; Cruz's Default Facial Expression

Romance, Flirting & Dating Body Language Secret No. 1893: Nonverbal Communication of the Facial Platter

Dating & Romance Body Language Secret No. 2020: The Art of Looking Flirtatious 

Romance, Marriage and Dating Body Language Secret No. 424: 'Til Death Do Us Part....Fossilized Love

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2850: Hillary Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor and Costco - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Sonia Sotomayor (yes, the Supreme Court Justice) was shopping at Costco today and dropped by to say hello to Hillary Clinton who was there for a scheduled book signing. Mrs. Clinton is on a nation-wide tour promoting her new book, "Hard Choices" - which most speculate is itself a pre-campaign for the 2016 U.S. Presidency.

Mrs. Clinton has not formally announced her bid for the White House. However this brief interaction serves as good body language lesson addressing one of the weaknesses the former Secretary of State's has in building rapport with the electorate.

Note: Since the original writing of this post, the source video has since been deleted from YouTube.

While it Sonia Sotomayor's appearance certainly seems to surprise the former First Lady (Video of event above with photos below), the hug she gave was across a table approximately 30 inches (0.76 meters) wide. Mrs. Clinton was criticized in 2008 for being too business-like as well as for not being warm, approachable and a less-than-friendly version of the "every-woman". In fact, when she teared up at a campaign event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (7 January 2008 - Video Below) - it was a key moment in her campaign - as she enjoyed a significant boost in the polls. People felt much more connected with her during such a sincere moment of emotion. Here, Mrs. Clinton should have stepped out and around front of the table - walking to Sotomayor and gave her a sincere hug. This would have built significant rapport with Sotomayor - and (more importantly) vicariously with every single person who watched it - now and in the future. Hugs and handshakes should never be given over a table - unless of course you want to destroy rapport.

A few seconds later (after the hug) Clinton and Sotomayor display a forward leaning, hands wide, on-the-table nonverbal. While some of this is residual from the low quality hug, this body language is more significantly a dominant and alpha configuration by two of the most powerful women in the country.

While it is common knowledge that a candidate's "likability" is the primary component to winning over the middle third of the electorate - most politicians don't realize (nor do their campaign managers) that the largest component of a candidate's "likability" is their body language. Elections are won and lost based on nonverbals. Ignore them and lose.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2849: Netherlands Victorious Over Spain, Vicente Del Bosque, Negative Self-Evaluation and Regret - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2783: Hillary Clinton asked again about 2016 - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2564: Hillary Clinton Stumping for Terry McAuliffe ... but Did She Hint at Running in 2016?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2473:  Anthony Weiner & Huma Abedin Part III  When Shoulder-to-Shoulder is broken

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2392:  Zoë Saldaña on Jimmy Kimmel -  Rapport Builders, Alpha Behavior & Dominance Displays

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2669: Sara Bareilles and the Body Language of the Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2523:  Hillary Clinton, Body Language and the 2016 Presidency -  Rapport Builder vs. Rapport Destroyer




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