Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3017: Narendra Modi, Tony Abbott and Hugs at the G20 (PHOTOS)

Here we see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Tony Abbott hugging last week at the G20. In three photos taken from different angles in rapid sequence we can dissect the relative thought-feelings of each man during this hug/Abrazo.

In the top two images Modi's hand is cupped - preventing full palmar contact with the Australian's back - while Abbott's palm makes full contact. Abbott's hand also contacts for a longer duration.

Modi' is also "leaning into" the hug more while Abbott is standing with straighter back.

Abbott's eyelids are closed for part of the hug, while Modi's eyelids remain open.

In the final image it can be seen that Modi's disengages from the embrace quicker with the beginnings of a turning away/rotation of his torso.

Thus while this hug is certainly not the same kind of embrace seen with greater levels of intimacy, and is not meant to suggest so (e.g., The handshake which initiated this greeting is maintained during the hug and therefore keeps a greater distance between them) - there is still disparity in the level of affection displayed here - which is profoundly valuable to recognize. Mr. Abbott's eyelid closure, standing straighter during the hug, hugging for longer duration and his full palmar contact - vs. a lack of all these shown by Mr. Modi - tells us that Mr. Abbott trusts Mr. Modi, is emotionally comfortable with him and is generally more open in the context of leadership - while Mr. Modi is relatively diminished in these feelings towards Mr. Abbott and/or Australia.

Of course their body language disparity could be due to Mr. Modi's relative lack of exposure on the World stage vs. Mr. Abbott who has been at the game a bit longer .... or it may be for other reasons. It is, however, NOT due to their cultural differences and it is also NOT because Mr. Abbott is trying hard to be a good host (the G20 was held in Brisbane, Australia). It will be interesting to see how the relationship between these two men and their countries changes during their administrations.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3016: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and a Suppressed yet Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3014: Vladimir Putin - Odd Man Out Down Under at the G20 Summit

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2511:  Barack Obama & Vladimir Putin  Handshake at 2013 G20 Meeting

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3012: Tony Abbott No Shirtfronts Vladimir Putin at APEC - (yet he buttons-up) - Body Language Tells

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2260:  'Top Chef' host Padma Lakshmi regarding  New Delhi's recent gang-rape,  Indian Culture and Sexual-Physical Harassment - Body Language Nuance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2980: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Thinks Women Should Not Ask for Raises and should Trust in Karma 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3012: Tony Abbott "No Shirtfronts" Vladimir Putin at APEC - (yet he buttons-up) - Body Language Tells (PHOTO)

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Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is on record saying he would "shirtfront" Vladimir Putin regarding Russia's alleged involvement, albeit indirectly, in the missile-downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July 2014. The colloquial, "To Shirtfront", is an Australian Rules football term meaning "to head-on charge aimed at bumping an opponent to the ground" - and although Mr. Abbott was of course speaking metaphorically - it remains to be seen if something close to a diplomatic equivalent has been performed.

The above photo was taken at the APEC Summit four days ago in Beijing - and although it is a still image, much can be gleaned from Tony's and Vladimir's nonverbals. Mr. Abbott is in the process of buttoning his jacket, and although heads-of-state are always concerned with their image and thus being photographed - buttoning one's jacket during a conversation very often indicates a closed-mindedness and/or disbelief in what the other party is saying (e.g. If you're a sales person - it's one example of an absolute wrong time to attempt to close a sale). Also Mr. Abbott's eyebrows are lowered and although it's difficult to fully discern from this angle, appear to be somewhat drawn together. His nostrils are flared, there is mild mid-facial tension, and his eyelids are nearly closed. This nonverbal cluster-context indicates that whatever explanation the Russian President is giving him, Mr. Abbott is not buying it. He is feeling primarily incredulous with some significant anger component in this moment.

Mr. Putin's forehead is not fully visible, although a mild "Central Forehead Contraction" (CFC) is seen here. Together with a mouth smile, the CFC is consistent with incredulity, arrogance, contempt - or insincerity (depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered). This is very bad expression for any politician to adopt - and Mr. Putin is certainly not alone in such bad acting - for many politicians make this expression (from every single political stripe) while attempting to project empathy - yet almost no one can ever consistently and accurately "act" empathetic. Chronic insincerity together with low or absent empathy equals a sociopath personality.

The G20 Summit which has just begun in Brisbane will undoubtedly bring some more telling body language.

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No 2893: Petro Poroshenko - Downed Malaysia Air MH17 - like 9/11 & Pan Am Flight 103

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2892: Alexander Borodai - Donetsk's People's Republic Prime Minister (Pro-Russian Separatist Leader) interview with Chris Cuomo regarding Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3011: Jennifer Lawrence on David Letterman - Tongue-in-Cheek Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3009: Vladimir Putin, Chivalry and China's first lady Peng Liyuan

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

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

The hunt for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 has captured much of the World's attention during the last three weeks. Yesterday Tony Abbott, the Australian Prime Minister, spoke again on the issue and his country's commitment to leading the search.

Mr. Abbott's nonverbals in this video provide some very illustrative and valuable lessons. Of the two examples discussed here, one is a false signal - oft misinterpreted, and the other is a rarely recognized microexpression. What follows is a partial body language analysis:

At multiple times throughout this video, Mr. Abbott's central forehead and left forehead muscles can be seen to be contracting - while Mr. Abbott's right forehead remains relaxed. This is most probably due to old trauma damaging a portion of the P.M.'s right facial nerve (Cranial Nerve VII) or some other cause of facial nerve palsy (e.g. a partially resolved  idiopathic cause aka Bell's Palsy).





It is also possible (although doubtful in this example) that a significantly asymmetrical forehead contraction be secondary to uneven administration of Botox.

This asymmetry can often lead to the erroneous impression that Mr. Abbott is doubtful or in frank disbelief of his own or others peoples' statements (e.g. if he displayed this same expression while he was listening).

Great care must be taken is such circumstances to avoid this false-incredulity nonverbal.

Beginning at 0:49, Mr. Abbott continues, "... We are searching a vast area of ocean, and ah, we are working on, ah, quite limited information. Never the less, the - best brains in the World - are applying themselves to this task, ah, all of the technological mastery that we have, ah, is being applied and brought to bear here [deep inhalation with downward distant gaze] .... so, [microexpression of regret at 1:14] ... if this mystery IS solvable, ah, we will solve it. But I don't want to underestimate just how difficult it is..."

Note how the left corner of Mr. Abbott's mouth evanescently contracts laterally in this example of a microexpression of regret.

In distinction to the first example in this post, an important distinction to see here is how only Mr. Abbott's central forehead is contracted (CFC) in this instant. Coupled with his left-mouth microexpression of regret, his downward, distant gaze and slightly downward directed inner (medial) eyebrows, this cluster is highly correlative for significant emotional pain - most significantly expressing empathy for those lost on MH370 and their loved-ones.

There is a multitude of other body language in this video. What other signals did you notice?

See also:

Negotiation Body Language Analysis # 991:  Australia's Aboriginal Angst and Julia Gillard's Hands

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2457:  Surfer Gets Knocked Unconscious by Whale  Body Language Basics from Bondi Beach

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2227:  Sincerity and Insincerity regarding  Suicide Death of Jacintha Saldanha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2261:  Mom pulls Python off of her 2 year old daughter -  Body Language & Microexpression of Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2414:  Sen. John McCain after his Trip to Syria -  Body Language of Regret and Contempt  ... and Facial Nerve Palsy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2770: Oscar Pistorius and Contrasting Confidence Levels - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2150:  Body Language Advice for  President Obama and Governor Romney in Tonight's Debate

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Negotiation Body Language Analysis # 991: Australia's Aboriginal Angst and Julia Gillard's Hands

Australia Day, 26 January, marked the 224th anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet of British colonies to disembark in the land down-under.

Australia's Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, and many others were at an award ceremony yesterday, in relative close proximity to the longstanding "Tent Embassy" of indigenous-rights supporters (which itself was celebrating an anniversary - it's 40th - on Thursday as well). Chaotic protest and some violence ensued as the two ideologies clashed - although it certainly could have been much worse. What follows is a brief analysis of some of Ms. Gillard's body language.

At the 1:49 - 2:01 segment of this video, when Ms. Gillard's security expresses his concern to the PM, Julia shows us a high-anxiety/low confidence MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier - See another MAP example in Secret # 199: When a Lie is Told, Heard or Visualized ... by Vladimir's Eye) of interlaced fingers and arms held close to her lower chest. As the concern for increased violence crescendos, so do nonverbal indicators of anxiety. Gillard's classic nonverbal signal of the wringing her right hand with her left, exemplifies this nicely (from 2:13 - 2:19).

Earlier today, when the Prime Minister was asked about the incident, she showed two brief expressions of genuine empathy for those deserving of the planned awards, as the ceremony was disrupted and those to be honored were not fully recognized. Ms. Gillard's central forehead contracted briefly - indicating emotional-pain-empathy, with a microexpression at the 3:15 mark (very evanescent) and a macroexpression of the same from 3:17 - 3:19.

It is rare to see Heads-of-State in a potentially violent situation. Yet this reminds us how emotions are constantly displayed and readily available for others to use or abuse. The vast majority of people are completely unaware of just how much information they transmit. Their face and body are open books - constantly on exhibit for others to read.

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