Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3040: Mourning after the Sydney Hostage Crisis - Sincerity & Empathy (PHOTOS)

As with any tragedy, in the aftermath of the Sydney Hostage Crisis people are mourning - and most of them don't know the victims.

In these three still images we see body language examples of hand coverings of the mouth, mouth-nose, and mouth-nose-eyes to varying degrees

The causes of these nonverbal behaviors is not from any type  embarrassment of public display of emotions - rather it is a natural and common (though not ubiquitous) reaction during moments of a dissociation between what is known by the intellect and what is being felt by the emotional brain. The mind is trying to process the emotions and catch up with what the rational brain already understands.

Of course these are three still images and not a comprehensive assessment of any of these scenes or the people in them. However those who display these nonverbal signals upon seeing, thinking of, hearing about, etc. another person's/peoples' suffering - indicate higher empathy and sincerity quotients vs. those who do not exhibit such body language. There are of course many nonverbal signs of sincerity and empathy.



My condolences to the family and loved-ones of Ms. Katrina Dawson and Mr. Tori Johnson.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3039: Selfies and Smiling at the Sydney Hostage Crisis 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3038: Johnny Manziel's first NFL Start - a Representative Body Language Moment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3037: Angelina has Chickenpox and will not be able to attend some events for the opening of her movie, "Unbroken" - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3036: Angelina Jolie runs into Amy Pascal after email Hack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2982: Politicians Should Never Do This If They Want To Be Elected - Hillary Clinton's Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3039: Selfies and Smiling at the Sydney Hostage Crisis (PHOTOS)

When asked about the great lessons of life, a 99 year-old patient of mine once said, "It's never about you. Even when you think it's about you, it's not about you."

The tragic deaths of Katrina Dawson, 38, and Tori Johnson, 34 at the hands of a deranged gunman, Man Haron Monis, in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney, Australia only a few hours ago should remind us all of the sanctity and fragility of life. Yet a few people turned this into an opportunity to take "selfies" and proceeded to post them on various social media.

Of course everyone is entitled to feel joy-happiness of varying degrees for whatever reason they wish - however this does not make it healthy behavior.

Taking photos of tragic events is very difficult to perform if one is emotionally healthy - just ask any photojournalist.
Yet taking images of oneself in association with others' suffering demonstrates a very low (or absent) empathy quotient and moreover is narcissistic and very often is sociopathic.


Another way to frame this, is that smiling out of context always raises a red flag and should cause you to dig deeper. It may be just signaling who took the last cookie - or as in the above examples, considerably worse.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3038: Johnny Manziel's first NFL Start - a Representative Body Language Moment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3007: Man Flags Down Reporter, Confesses to Shooting, Carjacks Reporter's Vehicle, then Crashes it into a Gasoline Tank - Smiling Out of Context

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2769: Smiling Out of Context in a Mass Shooter - T.J. Lane's Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3027: Janay Rice interview on "Today" regarding Ray Rice's Assault

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2972: Rachel Respess, Destrehan High School Teacher Arrested and Smiling Incongruent with Emotional Context

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2733: A Neuroscientist who's a Psychopath - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3010: McStay Family Murders - Body Language Signs of a Sociopath


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