Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3614: Daniel Radcliffe, Imperium and a Subtle Body Language Tell (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the upcoming film, Imperium, Daniel Radcliffe plays the part of undercover FBI agent trying to prevent a Neo-Nazi terrorist group from deploying a bomb.

Many actors get subtle expressions wrong. They very often put on a more extreme expression where more moderate or subtle examples would be more contextual and proportionate to many scenes. What follows however are several specific examples where Radcliffe triumphs at these more mild expressions.

0:32



















Radcliffe's character (Nate Foster) is pictured here sitting in a vehicle.  His mouth is slightly opened in a variation of a "slack jawed" configuration (indicating emotional shock).

Note that his head/neck is tilted down. Radcliffe is staring forward and down - and more specifically focused on the middle distance. This is focusing past or looking through near objects also indicates emotional shock and emotional processing. The actor is showing us that his character's mind knows has just gleaned some shocking information, but his emotional brain has yet to fully grasp the ramifications.

This nonverbal cluster/facial expression is under-utilized by many actors and directors.

1:00





















In the image above we see exemplified a subtle Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (elevated CFC). Very few actors are able to display this crucial nonverbal signal - although in the real world this slight facial dynamic (often short lived as well) speaks volumes about the presence of physical or emotional pain (either felt directly or experienced secondarily via empathy).

Slicing this expression even thinner, what specific emotional pain emotion is Radcliffe acting in this moment?

1:03



















Three seconds later, Radcliffe's elevated CFC is more pronounced - perhaps a 6 or 7 (on a zero to 10 scale). Although more developed than the image at 1:00, this example is still somewhat less developed than many actors express (It's as if they only have a "full on" or "full off" forehead contraction).

1:18




















In this last photo, Daniel Radcliffe's elevated CFC is even more subtle that the first example. Also look at the actor's eyes. His head is looking forward/slight to his left and yet his eyes are moving to his right. When we don't look directly at person, but only tract with our eyes - it's a signal that we don't like, don't respect or don't believe/don't trust the person at whom were looking.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3612: Sam Querrey defeats Novak Djokovic at Wimbeldon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3248: Daniel Radcliffe Temps as a Receptionist at Nylon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3387: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, The Graham Norton Show and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2996: Daniel Radcliffe Raps Blackalicious' "Alphabet Aerobics" on Tonight Show/Jimmy Fallon

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2993: Fight in Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport - Passengers Break Up Homophobic Attack

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

Nonverbal Communication No. 3201: Nazi War Criminal Oskar Gröning - Dissecting Body Language in Court

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2750: Oscar Pistorius, Reeva Steenkamp and Lies


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3522: Felicity Jones in New Star Wars Trailer: "Rogue One" - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Felicity Jones is new lead actor in the next Star Wars film - Rogue One. It will be premier on 16 December 2016. Ms. Jones' character is Jyn Erso and the first trailer was released today.

The following images capture two different moments which are particularly good examples of acted fear.


Felicity's acted fear (0:28) is well displayed in this moment. Note her upper eyelids are opened mildly (her right side) and moderately wide (her left) with increased tension in both of her lower eyelids. There is also tension in her "mustache area" with a mild-to-moderate amount of nostril flaring. In addition, a slight down-turning and pulling back (laterally) of the corners of her mouth can be seen. 

During 0:42 a similar but not identical example of acted fear can be seen. Note Jones' upper eyelids are opened more symmetrically in this example. We see her eyebrows pulled slightly together (medially) by the action of the Corrugator supercilii muscle. Her nostrils are not as flared (vs. the earlier image) and Felicity's mouth is not quite as fearful in this example.

Dramatic and full blown emotional displays are more rare in real life - while subtlety is much more common. Learning to recognize these subtle expressions - and many others (in other people as well as in ourselves) in real-time is crucial to achieving a higher level nonverbal skill (and thus a more emotionally healthy life).

Well done Felicity.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3521: Woman Mistakes Kevin Hart For Chris Rock

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3030: Rashida Jones, Jimmy Fallon, Twin Peaks, Toy Story 4 ... and a Rarely Recognized Meaning of the Inward Lip Roll

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1010: Rashida Jones - What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3247: Barack Obama's Response to Question regarding Revoking Bill Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3395: President Obama's Oval Office Address, ISIS and the Split-Finger Fastball

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3300: Vladimir Putin, Narcissism and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2935: David Cameron and ISIL-ISIS-IS

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1916: Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise are getting a Divorce (2012) - What Body Language Metric could have Predicted this Back When They Were Dating?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3390: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice - Henry Cavill is portraying what emotions? (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Henry Cavill as Superman along with Ben Affleck as Batman - are both shown in this brief trailer-teaser. The Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice trailer shows Superman entering a prison of sorts where along with others, Batman is chained.

The expression on Cavill-Superman's face is characteristic of two primary and often overlapping emotions.

In this moment there is a mixture of roughly 60% anger and 40% disgust. Of course these are qualitative estimates.













In this moment a few seconds later, Cavill-Superman is displaying approximately 70% disgust and 30% anger.









While Cavill is certainly not Superman, making this expression can truly engender the very human feeling of disgust, where a moment before it was only an actor's intention.

Human beings commit many acts of violence when they are reactionary and angry - for moments, hours and days. Both disgust and contempt also tend to be relatively short-lived. Yet when violent behavior and maliciousness are perpetrated over longer time periods (e.g., months, years, etc.), there is almost always a primary emotional driver of CHRONIC disgust and/or contempt - while anger takes on a smaller role.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3389: Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama meet in Paris - Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2435: Amy Adams, Henry Cavill & Russell Crowe on Graham Norton - Four Different Sitting Positions - Different Body Language Meanings 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3232: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announce Divorce - a Body Language Signal of Diminishing Affection  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3323: Matt Damon on Graham Norton reflecting on Winning Oscar - Blended Expressions 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2603: Sarah Palin's Body Language - She Feels Disgust toward Pope Francis and ... She Tells a Fib 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3262: Donald Trump, Breast Pumping and Donald's "That's Disgusting" - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3276: Word Blurt with Kristen Stewart & Jimmy Fallon - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2462: San Diego Mayor Bob Filner - Sexual Harassment, Body Language and Foreheads  


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3246: Suicide Squad - What Makes Jared Leto's Joker so Frightening? Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The trailer for "Suicide Squad" was published on YouTube yesterday. The film is due to be released on 5 August 2015. And The Joker is getting scarier and scarier. But what's the primary reason Jared Leto is so frightening? It's not his green, greasy hair (yet still a bit unnerving). It's not the metal in his mouth (though this certainly adds to his "freak factor"). It's not even his lipstick (a bit heavy though, don't you think?). It's his nonverbal signals.

What is extra creepy regarding the body language of Jared's Joker? Specifically two key components send strong signals of theatrical sickness - his widely opened eyes and their coexistence with a mouth smile.

Take detail notice of Leto's upper eyelids - they're open very wide - so widely in fact as to show the "whites of his eyes" (the sclera) between the edge of the central upper eyelids and the irises (aka irides or the colored portion of the eyes). This little strip of white is sometimes referred to as "scleral show". At physiologic and emotional baseline the margin of the upper eyelid should be ~ 2 mm below the upper margin of the iris - yet his are 1-2 mm higher (a net difference of 3-4 mm). This measurement may sound subtle, yet human brains (and many animal brains) are designed to recognize this nuance without conscious thought (though our conscious and edge-of-consciousness minds' often rationalize this warning sign away - discounting it thus adding danger and disadvantage).

What are the main emotional conditions which cause the eyes to be opened widely?

1. Mild to moderate anger the eyelids are partially closed - yet in severe to extreme anger (rage) they open widely.

2. Surprise

3. Fear

4. As form of emphasis (often an edge-of-consciousness action)

Sometimes joy-happiness follows surprise - and on such occasions a mouth smile can be seen with widely opened eyes. Also during moments of emphasis (more common in the context of melodrama, manipulation or hyperbolic personalities) the eyelids can also be open wider with mouth smiles. Yet in these scenarios the two facial components don't appear together for but short moments - ergo number five ....

5. When these two components of emotion (eyes widely opened with a mouth smile) are both seen together repeatedly or they're observed to coexist for longer durations - one should strongly suspect a sociopath (Antisocial Personality Disorder).

Another helpful way to think about this combination of facial expressions (a facial cluster) is that it feels contradictory to the observer - and thus it also feels creepy. As mentioned, with relatively rare and evanescent exception - a mouth smile does not appear commonly with widely opened eyes. And it doesn't make those people seeing it feel normal - and it shouldn't. It immediately sends up alarm bells in our psyche - yet surprisingly it doesn't do so as often as you may think. Here lies the danger - for here there be dragons.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3245: Gov. Scott Walker Jumps into the 2016 Presidential Race - Body Language Amplifiers and Misdirection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2959: The Hunger Games Mockingjay - What makes Donald Sutherland (as President Coriolanus Snow) look so Evil? Body Language Trailer Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2355:  Adam Lanza's College ID and the  Body Language of Eyes Chronically Wide Open

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3149: Edward Snowden on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Government Surveillance (HBO) - Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication No. 3110: Scarlett Johansson gets invaded by John Travolta - An Awkward Moment from the 2015 Oscars 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3156: Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The second teaser for the upcoming "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens", was released today. And although the plot is known but a few, there is a moment in this trailer which is spot-on.

Whenever an outstretched hand is offered in assistance - it is nearly always offered palm-up. Indeed, if one desires the other person to truly take one's hand - (literally or metaphorically) - offering it palm-upwards will dramatically increase the odds of such help being accepted.

When a hand is offered, the other person will very often look at it as if had the momentary value of a human face - and with intensity. It's almost as if in these rare moments, the hand acts as surrogate face - and the opened, face-up palm is evanescent equivalent of a smile. The expression on the offering person's face (which cannot be seen on Daisy Ridley's character's [Rey] here) should always be one of sincerity - if it is not sincere (or does not "feel" sincere) - this is a huge red flag - take heed.

Yet this is not the only crucial body language take-hone point in this moment. John Boyega's character's facial expression (Finn) is one of quizzical-urgency. His mouth is agape in a "slack-jawed" configuration of shock (again, the plot is not known here, but if Boyega [and the director - J.J. Abrams] gets it correct, Finn was certainly NOT expecting Rey's help). His eyebrows are vectored downward and drawn together - which is often confused with anger - yet there is no tension in his lower lids, thus Finn is thinking, "WTF!?, Why is she offering to help - I thought she would was going to kill me!"

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3155: Aaron Hernandez found Guilty - gets Life Sentence without possibility of Parole - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3116: Leonard Nimoy and Disbelief - Body Language of Spock

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2683: Alice Eve, Craig Ferguson, Kierkegaard and Free Will, Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3103: Dr. J's reaction to Zack LaVine's "Space Jam" Slam Dunk - Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2360:  Bill Clinton and the Body Language of a  "Loose Hand, Palm Up Point"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2818: The Caring Hand, Palms Up and Building Rapport

Negotiation Body Language Secret No. 554: Running for President - Paul's Palms Down Faux Pas

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3102: Movie Portrayal of "Christian Grey" is a Sociopath or Worse - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Throughout much of the film, Fifty Shades of Grey, the actor who portrays Christian Grey - Jamie Dornan - uses facial expressions consistent with a sociopath or psychopath. Note in the image below, his right eyelid is opened slightly more than a resting eye - while his left is closed slightly more. With mild to moderate levels of anger, the eyelids partially close - and with greater anger (e.g., rage) they open wider (exceptions of course for some medical conditions). His eyebrows are also displaced downward (especially the inner aka medial brows) while they are also being drawn together - also is transmitting signals of anger. Thus in this image - just looking at Dornan's/Grey's eyelids we see two different levels of anger - and should instinctually bias us to interpreting this as an anger crescendo.

Grey's lower face seems a contradiction though - here displaying a mild "mouth smile" (This smile is far from sincere though). This disparity between his mouth and eyes should send up a red flag for most everyone - yet a high percentage of people mislabel this expression. Unfortunately this facial configuration has been largely indoctrinated by Hollywood for some type of swagger or romantic expression. There is no romance here. And while some may feel alpha/assertive/powerful when using this face, those who use it often are absolutely to be avoided.

We're all human - and from time to time we all express the full gamut of emotions and their nonverbal signals. Yet people who display this particular facial expression frequently are sociopaths or psychopaths. Run don't walk.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3101: Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jada Pickett Smith and "Focus"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2259: Game Show Killer Rodney Alcala Gets Two More Sentences - His Body Language Warning Signs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3063: Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell Sentenced to Two Years for Corruption

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2231:  A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2656: Threat Assessment during Robbery - Body Language of Perpetrator

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3085: Olivia Munn Doesn't Like Johnny Depp - Just Listen to Her Body Language (Not Her Words)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3047: Ethan's Christmas wish comes true - Emotional Processing of Joy-Happiness

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2986: Fury (2014 Film) - Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Acting & Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Too often we give actors a free pass because of their fame, the accomplishments of the director, the plot of the film, the level of action, the realism of the set/props, etc. "Fury" starring Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal, Michael Peña, Jason Isaacs, and Scott Eastwood - was released yesterday in U.S. theaters. What follows is a nonverbal analysis from just two moments of the movie. Does the body language of the actors fit the context? Are they accurate and proportional to the scene?

Here Pitt's character (Don "Wardaddy" Collier) just learns about a new assistant driver for his tank crew (Norman "Machine" Ellison - played by Logan Lerman).

This image shows Pitt in a moment of combined frustration and anger. The mouth alone has several components. Note the how thinned his lips are - this is highly characteristic of anger. Pitt's teeth are clenched - otherwise we would be additionally seeing a full Inward Lip Roll (ILR) - this is a partial one because of his clenched teeth. A full ILR expression is a nonverbal which is unfortunately very rarely utilized in acting. Pitt's jaw is also jutted forward along with nostril flaring. His bilateral near-complete eyelid closure signifies a highly emotional processing of new information and its associated anger-frustration. The additional MAP (manipulator, adaptor, pacifier) of Pitt wiping his hand tightly backwards over the top of the head is highly correlative to frustration-anger.

Pitt's Nonverbal Grade in this acting moment: A

Here Lerman's character is firing his machine gun. His character initially hesitated because of fear and that is what emotion he's trying to project. However higher levels of fear are difficult for most actors to replicate accurately.

One thing that is nearly impossible to for any actor to perform is to consciously make their pupils dilate - as they would in moments of great fear. Photoshop/CGI can be used to replicate this, but great care must be used so as not to misplace or eliminate the corneal reflections.

Pupils aside, Lerman's eyelids should be opened wider than we see here. His nostril flaring is being performed well (accurate for this level of fear) - however his mouth's morphology is not acting nearly as good. The corners of his mouth, while they are being pulled back here and somewhat downwards - are a bit off. When the mouth corners are pulled backwards but primarily the upper teeth are exposed - with little or no exposure of the lower teeth, this is consistent with lower levels of fear (such as social embarrassment). However when the fear is dramatic (such as for the very high levels of fear as would be occurring in this moment of life and death), the lower lip is pulled down much more so - thus we should see no upper teeth - but his lower teeth should be dramatically exposed.

Logan Lerman's grade for this moment: B-

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2985: Penélope Cruz is Esquires's 2014 Sexiest Woman Alive - Body Language of Flirting

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 353: Brad Pitt's Smiling Eyes - Sincere and Insincere Smiles

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2434:  Brad Pitt's Tongue-in-Cheek regarding  Reasons for Choosing to Work on "World War Z"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2983: Shia LaBeouf on His Arrest on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1858:  What the Eyes Do - Transitioning from Mild to Severe Anger

Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2869: Barack Obama's Executive Action on Immigration Reform, The Rose Garden 30 June 2014 - Sincere or Insincere?

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2874: Truck Driver Calls Out Cop for Speeding and Talking on Cell Phone

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2979: "Tomorrowland" Trailer-teaser, Britt Robertson and Stanislavski - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

When it comes to body language, most actors get the dramatic emotional scenes fairly accurate - however the more moderate and subtle nonverbals are often off target. Not so here. Britt Robertson is shown in the above "Tomorrowland" Trailer-teaser and her facial expressions are spot-on.What follows is a partial analysis:

0:14 Subtle Sadness expressed in a slight lower lip pout and a distant stare.

At 0:21, she displays a great mouth configuration of regret, just after the officer says, "One money clip ...."

At 0:39 we see a combined anger and disgust (irritated) expression. Her eyebrows are slightly pulled together and downwards, her midface is tightened and her nostrils are slightly flared.

Still during 0:39, eyelid closure - amplifies both anger and disgust.

During 1:10, after Robertson's character (Casey Newton)
shows a fantastic expression of both sincere and curious disbelief. How does this differ for the nonverbal of sarcastic incredulity?







Although we can't be 100% sure, this accuracy and consistency of facial expressions suggests that Britt uses the Stanislavski method. Hope the plot is just as good.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2978: Elon Musk's Suppressed Smile - a Signal of a Tesla Fully Electric Car in the $20 - $25 K Range?

Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2967: George Clooney & Amal Alamuddin Wed in Venice - All The World's a Stage - Sincerity level of Smiles

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2846: Shailene Woodley Set Interview - The Fault in Our Stars

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2655: Edward Snowden's Alternative Christmas Message 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1874:  Bad Handshake - Political Prevalence 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2942: Vladimir Putin's & Recognizing Duplicity in Body Language

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2971: Not Giving Good Actors an Easy Pass - Interstellar Trailer - When the Body Language is Not Congruent with Real Life (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

You have to love Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain. They're all fantastic actors and Christopher Nolan is an outstanding producer. Excellent Sci-fi is rare and timeless - and I'm very much looking forward to seeing "Interstellar" next month. Even special effects, in a very real way, have become another actor. Yet we should not give any of them a free pass.

What is great acting? It is when the words, the paralanguage (tone of voice, pitch, cadence, pauses, crescendo, volume, etc.) and the body language are congruent with the emotion and context of the scene. When one (or more) of these qualities are in disparity - the actor is not replicating "real life" and doesn't suspend our disbelief as much. 

In this moment when astronaut Amelia Brand, played by Anne Hathaway says, "We're not gonna make it!" as a kilometer high wave is approaching, her face is not at all reflective of fear - particularly the profound fear she would have at this moment. Even the great Yuri Gargarin or the unflappable Neil Armstrong would, if they had been in her spacesuit, have their eyelids dramatically more widely open. However Hathaway's are not. Indeed her eyes in this moment are more consistent with sadness and puzzlement. Facing the immediacy of an unanticipated physical threat and of the fear of sudden death - the adrenaline surges and the eyes would take on a classic "white and wide" appearance.

And even with gracious allowances made for the fact she is speaking, Hathaway's mouth has a much lower level of fear displayed here. With high levels of fear the corners of the mouth pull backwards and the lower teeth are significantly more exposed. Of course we can't see her neck, but in the scenario of real fear - the neck muscles become very tented and tensed.

Still .... it makes me wish we had a wormhole.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2970: Benjamin Netanyahu & Barack Obama at the White House - What Netanyahu Really Feels

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2740: Matthew McConaughey Tells Us What He REALLY THINKS about the Motion Picture Academy - Body Language, Ear Screws and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2268:  Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Kathryn Bigelow & Jessica Chastain - Body Language at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2191: Anne Hathaway's Impersonation of Katie Holmes on SNL - "Norming" Katie and Variations on a Theme

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2862: Eli Wallach, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Body Language

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2899: Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss Everdeen, "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part I" Trailer and Recognizing Facial Components of Fear-Surprise (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Most people would say that Jennifer Lawrence is a very talented actress. Although her appearance in this trailer for "The Hungergames: Mockingjay - Part I" is brief - it is has significant impact.

It is amazing the percentage of people who are unable to recognize moderate facial expression - let alone mild or subtle scenarios. The image below is captured during the 0:52 mark of the trailer. Ms. Lawrence's eyebrows are drawn together and subtly and centrally elevated. There is also a subtle central forehead contraction (CFC) present.

What is particularly noticeable in this moment are Lawrence's upper eyelids - for they are moderately retracted - and in this fear-surprise cluster they are the strongest component.

Katniss Everdeen's nostrils are mildly flared and her "mustache area" (the area in between the nose and the upper lip and termed so regardless of gender) is mild-moderately tense. Her jaw is tensed and stiff - with her lips configured in a mild surprise.

Although in most "real-life" scenarios, one would expect more forehead contraction and eyebrow elevation, Jennifer Lawrence does a very good job projecting the emotion of fear-surprise.

When a person is judged to be a "good actor" - what we really mean is that they deliver their lines with great vocal qualities (aka paralanguage - such as pitch, cadence, rhythm, volume, crescendo/decrescendo, pauses, etc.) - along with spot-on body language. All three of these components must be in unison and consistent with the emotion and scene. Too often these ingredients are considerably disparate - and yet they pass for "acting".

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2898: Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman, a Suppressed Smile and ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2316:  Jennifer Lawrence's Response to Her Oscar Stumble -  Silver Linings Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2267:  Body Language at the 2013 Golden Globes The Influence of Color on Human Sexuality - Claire Danes, Zooey Deschanel & Jennifer Lawrence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2314:  Naomi Watts Pre-Oscar Interview and her  Body Language of the "Jaw Confessional" and the Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2397:  Angelina Jolie on Motherhood & Her Own Mom  Body Language Tells ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2292:  Mercedes Benz CLA Super Bowl Commercial "Soul"  Willem Dafoe's Body Language as the Devil

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2897: Fifty Shades of Grey - Part II - Warning Signs & Threat Assessment 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2897: Fifty Shades of Grey - Part II - Warning Signs & Threat Assessment (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This is the second post regarding the recent movie trailer release of "Fifty Shades of Grey". Dakota Johnson is casted as Anastasia "Ana" Steele - and she does a very good job in this trailer portraying a naive college woman. In stark contrast, Jamie Dornan, who plays Christian Grey, as pointed out in Analysis No. 2894 - has the body language of a sociopath in this trailer.

To reiterate somewhat, the central forehead contraction (aka "CFC" - even when seen in trace amounts) when seen simultaneously with any degree of "mouth smile" is consistent with contempt, incredulity or arrogance. This is not the only nonverbal consistent with these three emotional states. Moreover every human being feels these from time to time. However when the CFC is together with any degree of a "mouth smile" is seen chronically - this is consistent with sociopathic behavior. It also signals very low (or nonexistent) empathy and insincerity. Be warned.

Another nonverbal signal that is present in this very brief segment of this film - are eyelids that are opened wider than normal on a chronic basis. Like everything in the world of body language, specific body language signals must never be interpreted in isolation. Eyes that are opened wider than what for that person is considered baseline (and of course the heights of the upper eyelids varies from person to person and with age) may be seen with higher levels of anger (rage), surprise, shock, and fear. They also can be seen during moment of emphasis during conversation and in such context are a type of nonverbal "illustrator".

Some eyelids are opened wider than normal on a chronic basis however, either very frequently throughout the day or even nearly constantly. This is even indoctrinated in Hollywood from the mad genius (think "Doc Brown" on the "Back to the Future" movies) as well as in almost innumerable animations. Curiously though, this sign is largely ignored in the medical community - even though most would call the appearance "creepy", "weird", or "scary". There are of course some medical conditions which cause the eyelids to be retracted and have this "white and wide" appearance (such as hyperthyroid conditions). These are relatively easy for a physician to exclude however. When a physiologic or other traditional medical condition cannot be found - physiological diagnoses should be diligently sought.

Christian Grey - the character portrayed by Jamie Dornan - is of course a young, wealthy entrepreneur. He is not entitled to be crazy or chronically angry however - nor is anyone of course regardless of their financial status. Note Grey's/Dornan's upper eyelids are opened wider than what is normal. Of course this is only an actor playing a fictional character - but if you see this nonverbal signal displayed chronically or outside the setting of anger (rage), surprise, shock, fear or illustration of emphasis - consider it a red flag. You've been warned. Stay away.

Ted Bundy

James Holmes

Marshall Applewhite

Adam Lanza



























See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2747: Adam Lanza's Warning Sign - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2503:  Fort Hood Shooter and his Tell-Tale Body Language  Common to many Mass-Killers -  Nidal Malik Hasan gets the Death Penalty

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2828: Elliot Roger, Isla Vista/U.C. Santa Barbara Mass Shooting & Threat Assessment - Body Language and Threat Assessment

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2895: "Fifty Shades of Grey" Trailer - If Christian Grey was a real person ..... Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

The Movie Trailer for "Fifty Shades of Grey" was released today. Dakota Johnson (who plays Anastasia "Ana" Steele) is a good actress. Jamie Dornan (who plays Christian Grey) does a good job playing a sociopath. His body language screams it loud and clear. 

Whenever the central forehead is contracted (even subtly), aka a "CFC", and is simultaneous with a mouth smile (even a very small one) - a red flag should immediately be raised in your mind.

This CFC with a subtle or moderate smile is seen in every human being from time to time. Examples of such scenarios include arrogance - for we are all arrogant once in a while (although this is by no means is the only nonverbal signal of arrogance) - with incredulity (while there are certainly other body language signs of disbelief) - and contempt (again, contempt also has other nonverbal signals).

However when the Central Forehead is contracted frequently (in about 4% of the population) - it is a strong signal of a sociopath.

Regardless of the precise psychological profile of the fictional character "Christian Grey" - Jamie Dornan is portraying a sociopath. A person who chronically displays the CFC with a subtle/moderate (or even dramatic) mouth smile has both low sincerity and a low empathy quotient. This is a very reliable nonverbal cluster indicative of this sociopathic. Of course, such people are to be strongly avoided.

Another warning signal added to the mix here is a component of anger. Note how Dornan's eyebrows are both lowered and drawn together (Along with another sign of anger ... do you see it?) Of course this is an actor playing a fictional character - yet if you were to come across this person in your business or personal life - keep clear.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2656: Threat Assessment during Robbery - Body Language of Perpetrator 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2894: Maria Kirilenko, Alex Ovechkin and Subtle Body Language of ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2658: Misidentifying Emotional Expressions - Greece's Golden Dawn Party Arrests - Body Language and Threat Assessment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231:  A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool 

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