Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3210: Matteo Renzi, Christine Lagarde, Barack Obama and Up-Regulating Alpha Emotions (PHOTOS)

The above photo was taken this past weekend at the G7 Summit in Germany (Bavaria). In the foreground from left to right are Matteo Renzi (The Prime Minister of Italy), Christine Lagarde (Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund) and U.S. President Barack Obama.

With respect to their body language, Obama and Lagarde have similar displays - with their hands clasped behind their backs. While it certainly would give us more nuance to see how their hands/wrists/fingers are held - this nonverbal configuration projects a high level of confidence. Like most alpha displays, if it is held for too long or is performed too frequently, it will backfire and send signals of arrogance, patronizing attitudes and condescending emotional tones. Thus because this is a photo and not an extended video - we cannot fully contextualize their mindsets.

Prime Minister Renzi is adjusting his right shirt cuff. While he certainly could be preparing for a posed, group picture - the vast majority of the time this maneuver is a highly reliable anxiety tell (and in this moment it's absolutely the case). More specifically, this (false) cuff-adjust signals a person whose psyche is attempting to dialing-up their alpha qualities. This particular alpha up-regulator is much more common in men (and there are others too - can you name some? What are a few common female analogs?).

The elevated central forehead contraction Renzi is displaying coupled with his slight, mouth pseudo-smile is an extremely common facial cluster of a person who is trying to "look more important" than they feel - and is prevalent in high school dances or on many an attorney's face in the courtroom. Think of Renzi's entire nonverbal cluster as saying, "I want to have swagger, but for right now I'm faking it."


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3209: G7 Summit - Angela Merkel, Barack Obama and Matteo Renzi - and a Major Body Language Faux Pas

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1459: Geithner Gets His Alpha On

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2831: "Walking Contest", Anxiety, Mirroring and False Intimacy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3086: Katy Perry's Super Bowl XLIX press conference highlights - A Key Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1411:  Dialing Up Her Alpha - Dana Perino

Nonverbal Negotiation Secret No. 97: The False Tie Adjust

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3086: Katy Perry's Super Bowl XLIX press conference highlights - A Key Body Language Tell (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Katy Perry gave a press conference on Thursday regarding her upcoming Super Bowl XLIX half time show. There were, as usual, a ton of body language tells - yet one in particular was very illustrating and in full context. 

Early in the above video clip (during 0:14 - 0:15) we see Katy Perry's left leg bend at her knee and lift upwards while her right leg is firmly planted. This nonverbal behavior is known as "The Flamingo".

Named so because of the pretty pink bird's behavior of standing on one leg, The Flamingo is more commonly displayed by women and gay men (although sometimes seen in straight men as well).

The Flamingo is similar to the HABE ("Hair Adjust Behind the Ear") - as it also signals an up-regulation of alpha behavior. Said another way - the psyche is attempting to dial-up assertiveness and confidence. The Flamingo and the HABE both signal the need for this dynamic. They're both usually seen in people who already have a predominately alpha personality - yet they reveals itself in moments when a bit more confidence and strength are needed - and they're being summoned.

(It's important to NOT confuse The Flamingo with standing with one foot flat and the other foot with just the toes touching. This means something completely different - do you know what it indicates?). 

What other nonverbal signals are characteristic of the up-regulation of alpha emotional tone?

See also:

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. 2177:  "I'm Tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney" -  We're all Abigael Evans  Dialing up her Alpha

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret No. 1411:  Dialing Up Her Alpha -  Dana Perino

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2921: Eve Hewson (Bono's Daughter) Recounts Phone Pranking Justin Timberlake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2914: François Hollande, Anxiety and Dialing up his Alpha  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3046: Chris Pine Dials Up His Alpha - "Into the Woods"

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2125:  Presidential Debate Body Language -  George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Ross Perot 1992 

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