Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2555: Nancy Pelosi's Beta Body Language - Dialing it Up to Alpha (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This blog is not about politics - it's about body language. Please leave your partisanship at the door. 

Throughout most of this video, the House Minority Leader displays a hand-arm configuration that conveys an unassertive, acquiescing and "I am beta" emotional tone. At some times however her alpha qualities take a more prominence over her beta characteristics (although they were far outnumbered).

Note: The original video has, since the original post, been removed from its online source. The images below however, were captured from this video. 

Knowing when - and exactly how - to look more assertive and dominant is of dramatic importance. Most are oblivious to where they are, at any given moment, on this alpha-beta continuum. This profound unawareness is particularly pronounced during moments of anxiety - precisely when it is needed the most.

Note how Nancy's elbows are in close to her torso in this photo (at 0:18). This body language screams a timid and unassertive mindset. Of course the vast majority of others who see this posture never have had a course in nonverbal communication, but their interpretive and subconscious psyches' will notice it none the less.

In a similar moment (at 0:53), Ms. Pelosi's elbows remain close to her torso, and as in the photo above her hands are touching. This is a form of self-comforting and in body language parlance is known as a Manipulator, Adaptor or Pacifier (aka MAP). This is an additional sign of a demure and "I tend towards acquiescence" emotional-thought status. Such posture signals weakness.

In this short-lived yet significantly more alpha posture, Representative Pelosi displays a thumbs-up as she points behind her just after she says, ".... as you know if we default, the markets could freeze, the dollar could plummet, interest rates could sky rocket ...." (0:55). (Yet immediately after this she reconfigures to her default posture - nearly identical to the above photo).

Significant to this nonverbal is that her hands are not touching (no MAPs present) and her left elbow has modestly left her side - significantly elevating her alpha. The lifting of her hand/arm significantly higher here also elevates her strength and authority.

At this moment (1:20), Ms. Pelosi grips the forward-sides of the lectern in a Kennedyesque posture (While Kennedy had great natural instinct when it came to body language, this lectern gripping maneuver may very well have been a fortunate accident as it was used to take pressure off of his back which gave him chronic pain).

This arm-hand nonverbal is significantly alpha transmitting emotions of strength, authority, assertiveness and confidence. Of course as with all body language, care must be taken not to over-use any posture.



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2539: Calvin Johnson, the Index Finger and Alpha Behavior - A Body Language Tell of Mobile Phones

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2487:  Chelsea Clinton's Beta Body Language - The Elevated Fig Leaf

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2339:  Alpha, Beta, Body Language & Rapport Destroyers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2491:  President Obama's Reaction to Egypt Military's Massive Killing of Protesters - Beta Body Language  Where Alpha Had Been Barack's Baseline Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2530: Tom Coburn, Obamacare and Anxiety - Body Language Tell on a Senator's Face

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2499:  NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly, "Stop and Frisk" and a  Body Language Display of Dominance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2522: Jake Gyllenhaal and Jimmy Kimmel, Part II,  Body Language and Anxiety in Hollywood

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2519:  Vladimir Putin Speaks Syria, Chemical Weapons and Disarmament - Body Language just after his New York Times Op-Ed


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2522: Jake Gyllenhaal and Jimmy Kimmel, Part II, Body Language and Anxiety in Hollywood (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In this second post regarding actor Jake Gyllenhaal on a recent Jimmy Kimmel episode, the actor shows us that they default to the body language that the rest of us do. Gyllenhaal is an accomplished actor and nearly always plays alpha male personalities - such as a cop in the soon to be released "Prisoners", yet throughout most of this interview he displays a nonverbal signal that is indicative of anxiety.

Here Gyllenhaal is shown with his right (dominant hand) beneath his left thigh. This is a common body language MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) signifying considerable nervousness. It signifies a leaning towards a more beta, unassertive and demure emotional mindset.

Moreover Jake also simultaneously rubs the top of his left thigh with his left hand - a further nonverbal indicator of anxiety.






Highly skilled actors - individuals who are professionally trained with years of experience cannot extricate body language from their behavior - it is subconsciously initiated and maintained. When suppressed in one location - it "leaks" out stronger in another body part (if you know what to look for). This serves as an excellent example of the benefit, value and reliability of astute and nuanced nonverbal intelligence.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2427:  Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik - Body Language & Beta Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2484:  Projecting Weakness Where Strength is Needed  William Burns, Bernardino Leon &  Egyptian Interim Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2450:  Daniel Radcliffe on The Graham Norton Show -  Deception, Mirroring and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2521: Jake Gyllenhaal, Jimmy Kimmel and the Tie Stroke  Mumford and Sons, Groupie Behavior and  Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2519:  Vladimir Putin Speaks Syria,  Chemical Weapons and Disarmament - Body Language just after his New York Times Op-Ed

Nonverbal Analysis # 1820: What Causes David Beckham's Greater Anxiety -  Barack Obama Teasing Him About His Age or His Underwear?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2479:  Alex Rodriguez Press Conference 2 August 2013,  A-Rod's Body Language Tells Part I, Anxiety Tells

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2074: Mitt Romney and Senator Kelly Ayotte What Body Language Tells?

Mitt Romney has a habit of putting his hands in his pockets when stage. This body language signal is a clear indication he feeling emotional dissonance. In such a context, no right-minded parent ever told their son or daughter to put their hands in their pockets. No adult who professes to lead should either. It is a very beta, low confidence, unassertive and demure sign. Given this setting, one has to wonder - Why? Answer - it tells us with absolute confidence that he will NOT pick Senator Kelly Ayotte as a running mate. In poker parlance, Romney is bluffing.

See also:

Analysis # 913: Low Confidence, Low Trust and Demure

Analysis #1143: Santorum Video Analysis - R2E2 and other Tells

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