Body Language Analysis No. 4260: James Comey on Good Morning America re: Trump, Russia, and the Steele Dossier - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

James Comey's interview with George Stephanopoulos will be aired on Sunday night - however, a small portion of it was shown on Friday on Good Morning America. What follows is a nonverbal analysis.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (beginning at 1:49): You also said you were struck by what they didn't ask.

JAMES COMEY: Very much. No one, to my recollection asked, "So what, what's coming next from the Russians? How might we stop it? What's the future look like?" It was all - "What can we say about what they did and how it affects the election that we just had" Ω.

During 1:53, James Comey's right eyebrow and forehead elevate as he said, 'No one'.

Unilateral forehead/eyebrow elevation is a classic display of Disbelief. Mr. Comey is, to a degree, reliving the experience of the meeting with Donald Trump - and he's incredulous as to the lack of the President-Elect's response (along with his staff) to Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential Election. This moment of emotion is captured in the image immediately above (Please watch the video, as the still photo doesn't fully capture the nature of this dynamic).

During 2:08, as he finishes his sentence ("... It was all - "What can we say about what they did and how it affects the election that we just had"), and just as the camera fades away, Mr. Comey displays another classic expression - this one of Contempt combined with Disgust (shown in the image immediately above and notated by the Ω symbol).

Summary: Upon nonverbal analysis of the video segment included above, the sincerity quotient of the former FBI Director is high. More specifically, at no time in this interview was James Comey being deceptive. He's being truthful.

Additionally, James Comey expresses contempt, disgust, and disbelief toward then President-elect Trump.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4259: Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad 

Body Language Analysis No. 4257: Mark Zuckerberg Testifies Before The Senate

Body Language Analysis No. 4255: Roger Stone and Julian Assange

Body Language Analysis No. 4253: Tiger Woods at The 2018 Masters - Nonverbal Biofeedback, Sport psychology, and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 4249: Will Smith, Sophia the Robot, Robot-Empathy, and Responding in Context

Body Language Analysis No. 4246: Former senior KGB spy - says he was warned that Sergei Skripal and his daughter were in danger

Body Language Analysis No. 4206: Mike Pence regarding John Kelly's Handling of Rob Porter

Body Language Analysis No. 4138: Matt Lauer, Intimidation, and Aggression

Body Language Analysis No. 4055: What Does Jessica Chastain Feel For Matt Damon?

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Body Language Analysis No. 4244: Stormy Daniels' 60 Minutes Interview - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Stormy Daniels' (Stephanie Clifford's) interview on 60 minutes aired on Sunday night 25 March 2018. Her attorney, Michael Avenatti had Tweeted the following statement earlier that same day:

Thus, the whole interview was not broadcasted nor is it (at the time of this writing) available in its entirety online. However, based on her nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior of what is available during this 60 minutes interview, Stormy Daniels/Stephanie Clifford was telling the truth throughout the duration of this exchange. Specifically, at no time did she give any indication of deception - and her sincerity quotient was high.

The only abnormal finding regarding Ms. Daniels/Clifford was the size of her pupils. These were extremely dilated (9.5 - 10.0 mm in diameter). This is particularly noteworthy because the camera lights were quite bright. The etiology of this bilateral pupillary dilation - showing no reaction to bright light is most probably due to the result of systemic or topical medication/drugs. Disease, Trauma, and Surgical complications, while possible, are extremely unlikely.

Of course, we did not conduct a neurological exam, blood testing, etc. - so we can't be 100% sure, but if Ms. Daniels/Clifford were under the influence of systemic medication - enough to dilate her pupils this dramatically - we would expect to see other symptoms/findings/behaviors consistent with such usage.

What is a more likely a cause of bilateral pupillary dilation - particularly with pupils this widely dilated - in the context of otherwise normal behavior - is that Ms. Daniels/Clifford self-administered dilating eye drops (such as Atropine, Scopolamine, Phenylephrine, Tropicamide, Homatropine, and/or Cyclopentolate) in an effort to make herself more physically attractive and photogenic. A similar practice - although fraught with side effects (some serious and even life-threatening - e.g., a rapid heart rate) - for centuries has been practiced by women of some cultures (e.g., Renaissance Italy, parts of the Ottoman Empire, etc.). They dilated their pupils using an extract from the berries of Atropa belladonna in their pursuit of beauty.

It's also possible that Ms. Daniels/Clifford's ophthalmologist dilated her eyes as part of a routine examination prior to this event. In the context of such a profoundly important interview however, this is quite doubtful.

It's crucial to point out that if Ms. Daniels/Clifford were under the influence of any systemic medications with Brain/Central Nervous System effects (the eyes are part of the Central Nervous System) - this would have made any attempt at deception easily discernible (e.g., Think of the obviousness of a person who's intoxicated). Because Ms. Daniels/Clifford's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior showed no evidence of deception - as well as her other normal behaviors - this indicates with high confidence (yet does not prove) that her large pupillary dilation was secondary to the use one of the eye drops listed above.

Sometimes, cosmetic contact lenses may be fashioned so as to give the appearance of larger pupils, and although Ms. Daniels/Clifford is wearing contacts - viewing with the modest resolution of this video, they appear to be conventional contact lenses for a routine refractive error.

Although there were many, one of Ms. Daniels'/Clifford's nonverbal displays which carries a high degree of sincerity occurred during 0:33 - 0:34, as she says, "... And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter ...", Ms. Daniels/Clifford leans her torso, while twisting/turning her head and neck - as she is recounting the actions of the man who she said had confronted and threatened her in a parking lot in Las Vegas.

Such physical/body language mirroring of her verbal description is highly consistent with her re-living the event. It indicates honesty - and suggests a higher empathy quotient. It also indicates she's more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress from this threat. This display would also be an action which would be much less likely if the cause of her pupillary dilation were from a systemic drug(s) (other than eye drops).

Another of the many sincerity tells came at the end of the interview at the end of the interview, when Anderson Cooper asks, "The President watches 60 Minutes. If he's watching tonight, what would you say to him?"

Stormy Daniels/Stephanie Clifford responded, "He knows I'm telling the truth." During this short sentence, Ms. Daniels/Clifford displayed a Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (2:07 - 2:08).

"Self-Righteous Head Wiggle" (aka "High Confidence Head Wiggle") is a typically relatively rapid, side-to-side movement of the head and neck. On occasion, this movement may also involve the torso - and even a similar motion of the jaw.

The duration of a Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is sometimes quite short (thus a microexpression or near-microexpression) but other times it lasts much longer.

As its name describes, the Self-Righteous/High Confidence Head Wiggle is indicative of emotions of self-righteousness and high confidence - displayed by individuals during hyper-alpha moments - who are far from their emotional baseline - but who are NOT being deceptive. It's a form of sincere, nonverbal confidence-swagger. Please view the video, as the SRHW/HCHW can't be captured with an image. 

Summary: Stormy Daniels'/Stephanie Clifford's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior indicate she was telling the truth during her 60 minutes interview. Most importantly, this indicates that her allegations of a confrontation and the physical threat made against her - did actually occur.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3642 (Reposting): Did Donald Trump Know Vladimir Putin Prior to The 2016 Election?

Body Language Analysis No. 4242: Cambridge Analytica, Alexander Nix, and Deception (Part II)

Body Language Analysis No. 4240: Cambridge Analytica's Alexander Nix (Part I) 

Body Language Analysis No. 4236: Andrew McCabe, Jeff Sessions, James Comey - and Sincerity 

Body Language Analysis No. 4222: Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird, and Embarrassment Anxiety

Body Language Analysis No. 4207: Stoneman Douglas High School shooting (Parkland, Florida), Donald Trump, Ronald Reagan, and Empathy 

Body Language Analysis No. 4158: Michelle Williams regarding Kevin Spacey - "All the Money in the World" 

Body Language Analysis No. 4093: Fear and Harvey Weinstein - Emma Watson's Reaction 

Body Language Analysis No. 4037: Charlottesville Protester Quits Boston University after Death Threats

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Body Language Analysis No. 4155: Luis Elizondo Interview - Former Military Intelligence Official Who Ran AATIP (The Pentagon's Secret UFO Unit) - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Luis Elizondo was the head of the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP) - which began in the US Defense Intelligence Agency in 2007 and operated until 2012. He resigned from his position at the U.S. Pentagon in October 2017 to protest both the government's secrecy as well as government's opposition to the AATIP. In his resignation letter (to U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis) he stated that the program was not being taken seriously.

Mr. Elizondo was interviewed on Monday 18 December 2017 by CNN's Erin Burnett. A portion of that interview is included in the above video. What follows is a partial transcript of their dialog as well as partial nonverbal analysis of crucial portions of this interview.

ERIN BURNETT (beginning at 0:09): ... tell us what the purpose of the program was, and why it was so secretive.

LUIS ELIZONDO: Sure, Ahum - the purpose of the program, ah, Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was really designed to do just that - ahum - from a national security perspective - identify those things that we see, whether, ah, we see them electro-optically, we see them with radar, we see the ah, as ah, as eyewitness reports, ahum, through a myriad of different ways and avenues that we receive the information - and try to ascertain and determine if the information is a potential threat to national security Ω - in a nutshell.

During 0:46, just after he says, "national security", Mr. Elizondo displays an expression of Bitter-Regret.

ERIN BURNETT: So - what did you find?

LUIS ELIZONDO: Well we found a lot - ahum Ω ∆ - I think ah, I think it's probably been a little bit mischaracterized in some of the, the, th-, the social media you see ....

During 0:52, as he says "ahum" and for a split-second afterward, Mr. Elizondo again displays bitter regret Ω. Additionally, he closes his eyelids in a prolonged blink ∆ - which, when coupled with this mouth expression, is a regret amplifier.

It's profoundly important to stress that the Bitter-Regret expression is a nonverbal signal NOT seen DURING the telling of a lie.

Later in the interview:

LUIS ELIZONDO: (beginning at 3:16): ... when, when I ran this program, I was fundamentally looking at - my colleagues looking at two things:

ERIN BURNETT: Yeah?

LUIS ELIZONDO: 'What is it and how does it work?' Ahum, we have deliberately stayed away from going down the rabbit hole of 'Who's behind the wheel and what are their intentions?'

ERIN BURNETT: Yep

LUIS ELIZONDO: Because that - th- a lot of people have a lot of f, feelings toward that, and, and are very emotional about that, and what I wanted to do was - to allow the data to speak for itself and then use that data to inform leadership, senior DOD leadership, about the potential threat that, that, these type of, of technologies pose to national security - 'specially over any type of controlled airspace that we might have - ahum §- so I'm not trying to be evasive, ah, in any way, or vague your a-, with your answer but -

During 3:52, Mr. Elizondo displays a "Tight-Lipped" configuration - particularly true on his upper lip - as he says, "ahum" and just before he says, "... so I'm not trying to be evasive, ah, in any way, or vague ...". This Tight-Lipped nonverbal signal transmits a hesitancy to disclose - telling us that Luis Elizondo was withholding some information. His momentary gaze down and to his right, along with his elevated medial eyebrows and central forehead contraction (CFC) and amplifies this thought-emotion.

Summary: Luis Elizondo's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior shows he's clearly hesitant to reveal - and is indeed withholding some key findings of the Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program.

Mr. Elizondo also has bitter-regret regarding either the ramifications of the discoveries made by the AATIP and/or the manner in which the government has dealt with these findings.

Luis Elizondo also believes he's being truthful and sincere when he implies that via the research performed by the AATIP, intelligent extraterrestrial craft have - and are continuing to visit Earth (This doesn't necessarily prove ETs have visited Earth - but Mr. Elizondo believes it to be so).

Media Inquiries and Keynote Appearances 

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4154: Donald Trump's Two-Handed Drinking

Body Language Analysis No. 4152: Ruby Rose and her Mother's (Overgrown) Pig

Body Language Analysis No. 4150: Was Omarosa Fired or Did She Resign?

Body Language Analysis No. 4148: Kayla and Roy Moore's Antisemitism

Body Language Analysis No. 4140: Michael Flynn Pleads Guilty

Body Language Analysis No. 4136: Seminole Heights/Tampa Florida Serial Killer - Criminal Profiling

Body Language Analysis No. 4099: Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, and Jim Leavelle

Body Language Analysis No. 4065: The Murder of Laci Peterson - Scott Peterson's Red Flag

Body Language Analysis No. 4021: Stephen Miller and Jim Acosta

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Body Language Analysis No. 4101: Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson - Interview on Good Morning America - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On 4 October 2017, Sgt. La David Johnson, along with three other US soldiers - Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson,  Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright - as well as five Nigerien soldiers, were killed in an ambush in Tongo Tongo, Niger. Two American and eight Nigerien soldiers were also wounded in the attack.

Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson was interviewed on Good Morning America today. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Ms. Johnson's conversation with George Stephanopoulos.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Are you confident you're going to get the answers you need?

MYESHIA JOHNSON: If I keep pushin' for 'em I will. 

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: And they just say they don't know?

As George Stephanopoulos, says, "And they just say they don't know?" (during 2:57), and for about a second afterward, Myeshia Johnson displays a "Lateral Jaw Thrust" to her right. This is vectored away from the camera, which makes it a bit difficult to see.

A lateral jaw thrust is indicative of High Sincerity and Strong Determination.

MYESHIA JOHNSON: Yes, the President said he knew what he signed up for, but it hurts anyways.

As she says, "... anyways" (during 3:57), Ms. Johnson displays Anger with the evanescent depression of her eyebrows, especially her medial eyebrows. 

During 4:05, as Ms. Johnson said, "And I was - it made me cry, because - I was very angry at the w-, the tone in his voice ...", she displayed Contempt.

Then, during 4:06 as she said, "and how he said - I, he, he c-, he couldn't remember my husband's name ...", Myeshia Johnson felt and displayed Disgust. 

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (5:04): What did you say to the President?

MYESHIA JOHNSON: I,  I didn't s-, I didn't say anything.

During her answer, Ms. Johnson first projects her lower lip forward. She then shakes her head side-to-side, leans to her right, stutters, focuses her eyes at the mid-distance, and displays a Regret expression (pictured above during 5:08). This combination of nonverbal signals are indicative of Anxiety, Hesitation, and Regret and are best viewed in the dynamic context of the video.

During 5:13, just after she says, "I just listened", Myeshia Johnson displays an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). An inward lip roll is a subconsciously initiated attempt to suppress both the inward crescendo and the outward display of strong emotions.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: But you were upset when you got off the phone?

MYESHIA JOHNSON: Oh, very, very upset and hurt - very. It made me cry even worse.

From 5:18 through 5:22, Ms. Johnson's eyelids lower in another display of Anger (image immediately above).

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: The President said that the Congresswoman was lying about the phone call.

MYESHIA JOHNSON: Whatever Ms. Wilson said was not fabricated. What she said was a hundred percent correct. It was Master Sargent Neil, me, my Aunt, my Uncle, and the drive, and Ms. Wilson in the car. The phone was on speakerphone. [Tongue in Cheek Display during 6:19] Why would we fabricate something like that?

A Tongue in Cheek display indicates the high confidence thought-emotions of "I just won"/"I gotcha".

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Is there anything you'd like to say to the President now?

MYESHIA JOHNSON: [Lip Smack] No [lateral head shake, low amplitude, moderate frequency] I don't - Nah - I don't have nothin' to say to him.

During 6:29, as she says, "... Nah ...", Ms. Johnson displays a classic Contempt expression.

After Ms. Johnson's interview on Monday morning, President Trump responded via Twitter (immediately above).


Summary: Ms. Myeshia Johnson displayed a myriad of emotions during this interview including determination, anger, contempt, disgust, anxiety, and high confidence. And although she did not express so verbally, Myeshia Johnson's nonverbal signals show that she regrets not responding to President Trump during the phone call.

Myeshia Johnson's sincerity and honesty quotients are high - and specifically, at no time during this interview did she display any nonverbal signals of deception.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4100: Bryan Cranston and The Eyelid Pull

Body Language Analysis No. 4098: President Trump and Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rosselló - A Candid Moment in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4096: President Trump Refutes Florida Congresswoman Frederica Wilson's Account Of Call To Soldier’s Widow

Body Language Analysis No. 4094: Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and Calling the Families of Fallen Soldiers

Body Language Analysis No. 4087: Harrison Ford Accidentally Punches Ryan Gosling in the Face - Blade Runner 2049

Body Language Analysis No. 4081: Catalonia's Referendum vs. Spain's Control

Body Language Analysis No. 4071: Fans' Reaction to Trauma - Young Girl Hit By Foul Ball at Yankee Stadium

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3860: Ian McKellen, The Oscars and a spot-on Maggie Smith Impression

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3771: Tom Hanks Reenacts Iconic Forrest Gump Scene



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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3869: James Clapper regarding Alleged Wiretap of Trump - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

James Clapper was a guest this morning on Meet The Press. Mr. Clapper is the immediate former Director of National Intelligence (serving from August 9, 2010 until January 20, 2017).

What follows is the transcript of the currently available on-line video of Mr. Clapper's interview with Chuck Todd, as well as a partial nonverbal analysis.

CHUCK TODD: Ah, let me start with the President's tweets, ah, yesterday, ah, this idea that maybe President Obama ordered an illegal wiretap of his offices - if something like that happened, would this be something that you would be aware of?

JAMES CLAPPER: I would certainly hope so. Ah, I, I can say, obviously I'm not, I can't speak officially anymore, ah, but I will say that for (0:19 - 0:21) the part of the National Security apparatus that I oversaw as DNI, there was no such wiretap activity mounted against the ah, the Pres-, the President-elect at the time, as a candidate, or against his campaign. Ah, I can't speak for, ah, other title-III authorized, ah, entities in the government, or, ah, a state or local entity.

TODD: Yeah, ah, I was just going to say, if the FBI, for instance, d- had a FISA Court order for some sort, for a surveillance, would that information you would know or not know?

CLAPPER: (over-talking): Yes.

TODD: You would be told things.

CLAPPER: I would know that.

TODD (over-talking): If there was a FISA Court order -

CLAPPER (over-talking): Yes.

TODD: On something like this, um -

CLAPPER (over-talking): Something like this, absolutely.

TODD: - and at this point, you can't confirm or deny whether that exists?

CLAPPER: I can deny it. (1:00 - 1:02, Head Torque)

TODD: There is no FISA court order

CLAPPER: Not, not to my knowledge.

TODD: Of anything at Trump Tower?

CLAPPER: No.

TODD: Well that's an important, ah, revelation at this point.

Nonverbal Analysis:

During 0:19 - 0:21, as Mr. Clapper says, "... I will say that for ...", he displays what is known as a Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (SRHW). As the name implies, a self-righteous head wiggle is displayed by those who have a high confidence that the opinion or idea which they're expressing is correct. Such individuals have emotional tones, that are for the moment, in a high alpha state. A SRHW is comprised of a relatively rapid, side-to-side movement of the head-neck - and often the torso too - as well as occasionally with the jaw.

Don't confuse the SRHW with what, in this example, occurred just prior to it - when Mr. Clapper is adjusting/twisting his butt and back toward the back of his chair. This maneuver is an example of what is known as an "Alpha-Up Regulator" (of which there are many). It signals a person (usually in an already alpha mindset) recognizes (subconsciously and at the edge of consciousness) the need to be a bit more assertive and thus, is metaphorically "stepping up to the plate" (rather than shrinking back). Clapper knows he is no longer Director of National Intelligence, yet he feels the need and responsibility - for the moment, to speak with the authority which he carried only a short time ago.

This behavior is not able to be well-represented in a photograph - please view the video to appreciate the full dynamic nature of this body language.

Later in the video:

During 1:00 - 1:02, as James Clapper says, "I can deny it", he displays what is known as a "Head Torque". A head torque is also a high-alpha signal. It's composed of a twisting (rotating) motion of the head and neck - together with a simultaneous thrusting forward of the head. A head torque signals a particularly determined and adamant emotional tone.

While not required (but is seen here), the additional component of prolonged or prominent blinking/eyelid closure, in this context, acts as an adamant-amplifier.

It's also common that a head torque is accompanied with anger and/or frustration - however, neither of these emotions are present in this moment of head torquing.

A head torque is also a significantly dynamic nonverbal signal, please watch the video.


Summary: Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's nonverbal behavior in this video segment, indicates he is being sincere and honest when he said that there was no FISA Court Order under his jurisdiction for the surveillance of Donald Trump, Trump's campaign or Trump Tower - and if there were, he would have known about it.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3868: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, The West Bank and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3865: Jeff Sessions and Al Franken - Senate Judiciary Committee during Sessions' Confirmation Hearing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3863: Kellyanne Conway, Disrespect and The Oval Office

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3843: 84 Lumber Super Bowl Ad - "The Entire Journey"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3814: Claire Foy's recounting of Meeting Kate Winslet

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3792: Notre Dame's Matt Farrell and Family Surprised by Brother Bo's Military Homecoming at Basketball Game

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3760: Rory McIlroy's "Little Interviews"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3693: Grace VanderWaal Wins America's Got Talent Season 11


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3862: Oscars Mistake - "La La Land" erroneously named Best Picture over "Moonlight" - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Last night at the Oscars, in the first few seconds while those on stage were realizing the mistake which was made, there were many others who perhaps momentarily believed a tremendous stunt was being staged - but there was no ruse.

From a body language point-of-view, this incident was laden with examples. A particularly illustrative nonverbal signal was displayed by one of La La Land's producers, Jordan Horowitz.

Once Warren Beatty handed the envelope to Faye Dunaway - and she erroneously announced "La La Land", the entire La La Land team, of course, then came on stage. Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt (also a producer) each gave speeches. That's when The Academy Awards' staff rushed on stage in an effort to fix this awful faux pas.

Jordan Horowitz said, “Guys, guys, I’m sorry. No. There’s a mistake, ‘Moonlight,’ you guys won best picture.”

Marc Platt then added, “This is not a joke. I’m afraid they read the wrong thing.”

The audience collectively and very audibly gasped.

Horowitz then reiterated, “This is not a joke, ‘Moonlight’ has won 'Best Picture.’ ” He then held his left hand to his chest - with his entire hand - including his palm - making full contact (primarily against his sternum but also involving his left, mid-upper chest [0:19 - 0:21]). Next, again with his left hand, he held the correct card high for the cameras and everyone to see and repeated, “‘Moonlight’ - Best Picture.”

Full contact of the entire hand - including the palm of the hand - particularly over the sternum and adjacent left chest - is a strong signal of sincerity. When people touch only with the tips of their digits - or gesture toward their chest without touching during moments of (otherwise) significant emotional content - they are projecting (without knowing it) low levels of sincerity.

We touch over this particular region of our bodies because it is "heartfelt" - for our heart beats just beneath the surface. It's full of emotional impact. Even those who have never held an infant will intuitively hold the child's head over this same area - because it "feels right", more protective and emotionally comfortable.

Thus Jordan Horowitz's body language immediately after he spoke, “This is not a joke, ‘Moonlight’ has won best picture”, told us he was being truthful. Of course after only a few more seconds - no one doubted his words. Yet in many such "everyday" settings, this and a myriad of other nonverbal signals are available for all to look - however, few will see them and know their meaning.

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3859: Steve Bannon Touches Reince Priebus' Leg at CPAC

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3857: Taunting a Snowplow Driver - Belleville, Ontario

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3855: Mike Pence regarding Donald Trump and Michael Flynn at NATO Headquarters

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3829: Mary Tyler Moore - Flirtatious, Sexy, Alpha Female Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3785: Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson "Edge of Seventeen" - Behavioral Contagions, Mirroring and Laughing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3558: Mila Kunis Nixes Ashton Kutcher's choice regarding Their Baby's Name

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2812: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone & La La Land - Backstage Interview Golden Globes 2017


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3726: Donald Trump Accuser - Kristin Anderson - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Kristin Anderson was recently interviewed by Anderson Cooper regarding an alleged incident in a Manhattan night club which occurred in the early 1990s. Ms. Anderson recounts that a person sitting next to her reached up her skirt - and that this act was unsolicited, unexpected and unwanted. She says she immediately pushed the hand away, turned and looked, got up off the couch and moved away with her friends. Ms. Anderson and her friends recognized the person as Donald Trump.

From a nonverbal perspective, Kristen Anderson was sincere during this entire 17 minute interview (Part I above, as well as Part II). There are no signals of deception.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3725: Donald Trump Challenges Hillary Clinton to a Drug Test before Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3723: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - Body Language, Emotional Intelligence and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3719: Donald Trump's "Apology" - Crisis Management and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3717: Creepy Clowns, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3708: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump - Presidential Debates - Part IV - Hillary's Email Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3688: Vladimir Putin and Phone calls

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3596: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3539: Conspicuous by it's Absence - Donald Trump's Missing Expression


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3627: Donald Trump regarding President Obama & Shooting of Baton Rouge Police Officers, "But you just look at the body language - there's something going on" (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Tragically yet another mass shooting has occurred. Yesterday, Gavin Eugene Long, of Kansas City, Missouri shot six Police Officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Three of these officers were killed and three were wounded, one critically. Long was also killed at the scene in a shootout with police.

President Obama delivered a statement shortly afterward. The Official White House YouTube video of this is included above.

This morning, Donald Trump - the presumptive Republican Presidential nominee, made a phone-in statement on "Fox and Friends" which seems to imply conspiracy on the part of Barack Obama against law enforcement. Trump then seemed to back-pedal when the Steve Doocy pressed him.

The video (which includes the audio of Trump's call-in) is shown below.






Beginning at 3:29 in the Fox News video, Trump says, "... I mean, ah, you know, I watched the president and sometimes the words are - okay. But you, you just look at the, the body language. There's something going on. Ah look, there’s something going on and - the words are not often okay, by the way."

Doocy [over-talking]: "What does that mean, there’s something going on?"

Trump: "There's, there's just bad feeling, and a lot of bad feeling about him - I see it too. Ah, there's a lot of bad feeling about him."

Mr. Trump alleges that the President's body language is suspect. Is this the case? Was there something  wrong or inconsistent with the Barack Obama's body language?

A fundamental principle in nonverbal communication is that whenever assessing for sincerity vs. insincerity (and truth vs. deception) - the paralanguage, the body spoken words and the body language should all be in congruent. When any one of these three key parameters are disparate - a red flag is raised (Paralanguage includes the tone of voice, rhythm, cadence, volume, pitch, crescendo, decrescendo, etc.).

If we go back to the video of the President's statement and analyze it, we can see that his vocal qualities, his words AND his body language were all in agreement. Note that the President did not use a teleprompter - he used notes instead. For him, this is typical in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy and is highly recommended in such scenarios. This of course "feels" more natural and it also necessitates an occasional downward gaze which is reverent and respectful.

As was pointed out in a recent post (see below), the President's use of hand gestures were quite minimal - as were Speaker Ryan's - when each addressed the Nation after the killing of the five Dallas Police Officers. This is also more respectful and in keeping with the solemn setting when discussing recent deaths. In the video above, Obama's hands are very often placed centrally on the lectern ("folded") and his arms are held close to his torso - both of which are contextual and proportional in a time of mourning.

At 1:19 as Mr. Obama says, "Most of all [heavy exhalation] our hearts go out to the families who are grieving. This heavy exhalation at 1:20 is indicative of the sincere sadness he is describing.

The President does not usually alternate his weight from one foot to the other with the frequency he is doing during this statement. This is indicative of his anxiety consistent with such an event. Such nonverbal behavior is also seen when people stand with their feet too far apart or too close together.

Note that during 2:05, President Obama bites his left lower lip as he references the Dallas officers who died last week. In this context, this nonverbal display is indicative of the anxiety of sadness and it's often seen with the suppression of tears.

It's noteworthy that a no time did the President touch his face (Facial touching, particularly when coupled with key statements or vocal tone can be indicative of deception).

Another very common signal of insincerity or lying is frequent contraction of the forehead muscles. Did you notice Obama rarely used his forehead muscles? These were relaxed throughout all but a few occasions in this speech.

Summary: Mr. Trump is mistaken. President Obama's body language, spoken language and vocal tones are all highly congruent and are indicative of sincerity. All three of these crucial communication components are contextual and proportional to the setting of discussing and reflecting on recent sudden deaths and mourning.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3617: President Obama and Speaker Ryan regarding the Dallas Shooting - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3626: Mike Pence's Wikipedia Profile Picture says "WTF"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3567: Donald Trump's Most Common Social Smile (Pseudo-Smile) Variant - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3508: Batman V Superman - Sad Affleck? (NOT!)

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3331: Mila finds out Adam Levine got married - Rapid Transitioning of Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2483: Alex Rodriguez's Subtle Sadness Signal - Body Language, PEDs and A-Rod

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3363: Chris Christie's Viral Video - Why do even Democrats love it?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3531: Helen Mirren, Subways, Sincerity, Empathy and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3491: Nancy Reagan, Ronald Reagan and Sincere Affection

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3441: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder Interview regarding Flint's Water Crisis - Is He Being Honest and Sincere? - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Michigan's Governor Rick Snyder was interviewed earlier yesterday by Charlie LeDuff (a journalist from WJBK - a local Fox affiliate television station from Detroit) regarding Flint's ongoing water crisis. The entire published video interview is included above.

This is an immense tragedy and no one can blame any Flint citizen - particularly a parent, for being beside themselves with anger and frustration. 

Although Mr. LeDuff did not ask Gov. Snyder directly, "Did you know about lead contamination in Flint's water supply for days, weeks or months prior to the public at large?" or "Were you party to a cover-up?" (or variations on this theme) - Rick Snyder was entirely truthful and sincere during this interview.

Specifically, Governor Synder's paralanguage, verbal language and body language were all congruent - indicating a high sincerity quotient. He skirted the question as to whether certain people were asked to resign (which is what occurred, at least with some individuals - did you see the nonverbal tells?), resigned of their own accord or were fired outright - yet there were no indications of deception present during this interview.

The Governor's sincerity and truthfulness during this interview, certainly does NOT excuse him from his ultimate responsibility as "Captain of the Ship" of the State of Michigan. And of course at best gross negligence and incompetence have occurred at multiple levels - and indeed there may have been a cover-up on some level with some individuals (subordinate to Gov. Snyder) - however in this interview, Rick Snyder is being sincere and truthful.

This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc. are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3440: Sarah Palin Endorses Donald Trump - What Trump Really Thinks About Palin

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3426: Barack Obama, Executive Action, Gun Control and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Quiz-Analysis No. 2902: How Sincere was Ray Rice's Apology?

>Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3392: Donald Trump to Republican Jewish Coalition

>Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3242: Jennifer Lawrence, Singing Cher, Liam Hemsworth and Body Language

>Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3190: Taylor Swift's Body Language of Feigned Surprise

>Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2459: Was Eliot Spitzer Sincere? Apology, Sincerity and Body Language  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3308: Hillary Clinton's Apology - Certainly Late, Yet Was It Sincere?

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