Body Language Analysis No. 4150: Was Omarosa Fired or Did She Resign? - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Was Omarosa Manigault Newman Fired or did she resign? The reality TV star who, up until recently was a top-level advisor to President Trump, gave an interview on Good Morning America on Thursday 14 December 2017. What follows is a partial nonverbal and paralanguage analysis of the above video.


MICHAEL STRAHAN [beginning at 2:30]: ... Let's get straight to it -

OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: [Feigned, Strained laughter]

MICHAEL STRAHAN: What happened?

OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: I resigned, ahum π - and I didn't do that in the residence - as been reported. John Kelly and I sat down in the situation room - which is a very secure, very quiet room in the White House - and we had a very candid conversatiant [mispronounced "conversation"] - [shaking head up and down] and I wanted to make the one-year mark ∆  - that [shaking head no] was one of the goals that I set out to § - and then get back to my life.

MICHAEL STRAHAN: So you resigned. You weren't fired as, as has people reported?

OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: [over-talking] No - and you know I, I li-, I like to hear all of these interesting tales, but I have to tell you that - they're a hundred percent false. One of the things that I'd ask of those people who are making those assertions, since they assert that I did it so publicly - is where are the pictures or videos? If I had confronted John Kelly - who is a very formidable person Ω, ahum, it would garner enough attention for anyone in the room to at least take a picture or video or something. The assertion that I would do that in front of six hundred guests at a Christmas party and no one has reported that except for one individual who has a personal vendetta against me ∂ And so I, I have to tell you - completely false, unverified reporting - and John Kelly and I had a very straightforward discussion about concerns that I had, issues that'd I raised, and as a result, I resigned and it will be taking place January 20th when I leave this very interesting administration.

MICHAEL STRAHAN: So what you're saying that all these reports are coming from one person, but you speak of -

OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN [over-talking]: One person, no - let's, let's be clear - only one person -

MICHAEL STRAHAN: Only one person -

OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: No one else has reported what she's reporting - and this is the one person who has attacked me for the last year - 

MICHAEL STRAHAN: and -

OMAROSA MANIGAULT NEWMAN: and so you know that this is personal....

At the very beginning of this exchange (2:33 - 2:36), as Omarosa says, "I resigned, ahum - and I didn't do that in the residence" - she has ZERO eye contact.

Moreover, as she says, "ahum" (2:34 notated by π ), she displays very rapid blinking (involuntary). This is a nonspecific signal of increased anxiety.

Note from 2:47 to 2:50, When she is saying, "... and I wanted to make the one-year mark ..." she shakes her head up and down [in a classic "yes" illustrator] - she then makes a regret expression as the right corner of her mouth contracts directly laterally (in the image immediately above during 2:50 - this is a subtle but classic microexpression notated by ∆). She then moves her head side-to-side [shaking her head "no"], as she says, "... was one of the goals ...", during 2:51 - 2:52.

Why did she suddenly change from a "yes" shaking - to a "no" head shaking? This nonverbal display contradicts her verbal statement. When these two categories of behavior are in disagreement - it's the body language which always tells the truth.

Please watch this segment of the video at regular speed and again at 1/2 speed as these dynamics cannot all be captured with still images.

Notice also, during 2:47, Omarosa mispronounces "conversation" as "conversatiant".

During 2:53, just after she says, "... that I set out to ...", Omarosa displays an evanescent asymmetry in her mouth (pictured immediately above). Suddenly speaking out of one side of the mouth is a sign of Insincerity and/or Bravado/Hubris (notated by § ).

She displayed this particular nonverbal display multiple times (how many others did you see?).

From 2:57 - 3:04, as Ms. Manigault Newman answers Mr. Strahan saying, "No - and you know I, I li-, I like to hear all of these interesting tales..." during this entire seven seconds - she has ZERO eye contact with him (with her eyes mostly closed looking down to her left). In the context of denying an allegation, lack of eye contact during this crucial juncture is highly indicative of deception.

Moreover, during this same time, Omarosa's hands were gesturing rapidly, in an out-of-sync manner with respect to her verbal cadence (her hands are somewhat obscured by GMA banner). This high frequency, nonverbal-verbal disparity is indicative of anxiety and in this context is highly suggestive of deception.

Just after she says, "... If I had confronted John Kelly - who is a very formidable person ...", Omarosa displays a Tight Tongue Jut (3:20 notated by Ω ).

A Tight Tongue Jut conveys thought-emotions of Disdain, Disgust, and Repulsion - which are indeed Omarosa's feelings for John Kelly.

During 3:37 (notated by ∂ ) just after she said, "... except for one individual who has a personal vendetta against me ...", she displays a dramatic, but very brief (ergo a "Microexpression) "Forward Lip Purse".

Forward Lip Pursing is a signal of Clandestine Disagreement and/or Clandestine Plans. Omarosa has a vendetta of her own - and she's got a plan to implement it. She also believes that she's the relative alpha (to her perceived adversary's relative beta status) - and, in her opinion, the odds of her carrying through with her plans are high.

A few of the many Paralanguage tells of Ms. Manigault Newman include:

Why did she switch tenses when she said,  I resigned (past tense) and it will be taking place January 20th (future tense)? 

Why did she say, "... unverified reporting ...", rather than false reporting? The word "unverified" is not a descriptor she would use if she knew the reporting to be false.

Why, after Michael Strahan said, "So what you're saying that all these reports are coming from one person, but you speak of " - did Ms. Manigault Newman then feel the need to correct him by restating the essentially the same thing, "One person, no - let's, let's be clear - only one person" - Why? Yet earlier in the same conversation she referred to her antagonists in the plural saying, "... those people who are making those assertions, since they assert ..."

Summary: Omarosa Manigault Newman left her post at the White House involuntarily. She was fired (or told, "If you don't resign, you're going to be fired"). She has feelings of disdain, disgust, and repulsion for John Kelly. She has her own vendetta (and a plan) against a female senior staff member at the White House - and while this person may have been her most vocal critic, Omarosa's had multiple foes in the West Wing.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4149: Zendaya, Zac Efron, and The Greatest Showman

Body Language Analysis No. 4147: Alabama Senator Richard Shelby regarding Roy Moore

Body Language Analysis No. 4145: Steve Bannon stumping for Roy Moore (and against Mitt Romney) in Alabama

Body Language Analysis No. 4143: Billy Bush regarding Donald Trump on the "Access Hollywood Tape" (Stephen Colbert Interview)

Body Language Analysis No. 4134: Hope Hicks, Emotional Intelligence, and Communicating Nonverbally

Body Language Analysis No. 4104: Walter Cronkite Reaction to JFK Assassination

Body Language Analysis No. 4063: The Murder of Laci and Connor Peterson - Scott Peterson

Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids

Body Language Analysis No. 4030: Charlottesville, Empathy, and One Expression Donald Trump Should Have Displayed



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Body Language Analysis No. 4134: Hope Hicks, Emotional Intelligence, and Communicating Nonverbally (PHOTOS)

Hope Hicks was named interim White House Communications Director when Anthony Scaramucci was fired on 16 August 2017. She was appointed to the position permanently on 12 September.

This image was captured in the White House briefing room.

Notice the components of Director Hicks' facial expression. Her inner (medial) eyebrows are vectored downward. There's also a tightening of both of her lower eyelids.

Ms. Hicks' torso is not rotated, and while her head is partially turned - her eyes have to gaze far laterally in order for her to fixate on the person who's speaking. We don't look directly at people whom we don't like, don't respect, and/or don't believe.

The Communication Director's mid-face is contracted - more specifically, she's flaring her nostrils and displaying tension in the region above her upper lip and below her nose.

Both of Hicks' lips are dynamically thinned - this is subtle and evident more so with her upper lip.

Her mouth opening is foreshortened with the lip margins oriented horizontally.

The contraction of her mentalis muscles (on the front of the mandible) give rise to her chin dimpling - a signal that she's also clenching her jaw. If you look carefully, you'll also notice the concomitant and subtle "sucking-inward" of her each of cheeks.

In brief Ms. Hicks' nonverbal cluster displays:

• Inner (Medial) Eyebrows Eyebrows vectored downward
• Lower Eyelid Tension
• "Side Eye"
• Nostril Flaring
• Tension in region above Upper Lip/Below Nose
• Lip Thinning (Upper > Lower)
• Horizontal Mouth Opening Orientation
• Sucking Cheeks Inward
• Clenching Jaw
• Chin Dimpling

Summary: Although she isn't speaking a word, in this moment, Director Hicks is feeling - and very much communicating - Anger.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4133: Vladimir Putin's Default Face

Body Language Analysis No. 4131: Michael Flynn's Clandestine Plans

Body Language Analysis No. 4129: Charles Manson's Eyes

Body Language Analysis No. 4127: Al Franken, Leeann Tweeden, and the Mea Culpa Face
Body Language Analysis No. 4101: Myeshia Johnson, the widow of Sgt. La David Johnson

Body Language Analysis No. 4090: Harvey Weinstein, Sexual Assault, and Impulse Control Disorder

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels

Body Language Analysis No. 4033: Prime Minister Theresa May Regarding Charlottesville Violence, "I see no equivalence"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3912: Keri Russell's Schadenfreude, Matthew Rhys' Fear, and a Hesitancy to Disclose


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Body Language Analysis No. 4035: Hope Hicks, Jared Kushner, and Phone Tells - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Hope Hicks, was recently named the interim White House Communications Director by President Trump. She is pictured above during a phone call in the lobby of Trump Tower.

Note how Ms. Hicks has her left arm across her lower chest/upper abdomen. This amounts to one-half of a full arms-crossed MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier). It's a body language posture which signals low confidence and low emotional comfort. People don't stand like this when they're confident - or when they are giving or receiving good news.

A nuance which may have escaped you is the position of Hope Hick's left hand. It's oriented palm-upward - which amplifies her beta emotional tone. Had her palm been directed downward, it would have been a bit more alpha.

Now look carefully at Ms. Hick's right hand - holding the phone. Notice all her fingers are relatively parallel. This also indicates her emotions, in this moment, are relatively beta.

Contrast Hope Hicks with Jared Kushner, pictured below. His index finger is held separately and directed vertically - with the other three fingers grouped together (roughly perpendicular to the index finger). This configuration is indicative of alpha emotions. Not surprisingly, this isolated/upward directed index-finger manner of holding a phone holding is virtually never seen simultaneously with one-arm across the torso.


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

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4034: Steve Bannon's Critical Evaluation

Body Language Analysis No. 4032: John Kelly's Reaction to Donald Trump's Press Conference Regarding the Events in Charlottesville

Body Language Analysis No. 4030: Charlottesville, Empathy, and One Expression Donald Trump Should Have Displayed

Body Language Analysis No. 4028: Donald Trump's Response to Charlottesville Violence, "On Many Sides"

Body Language Analysis No. 4002: Justin Trudeau Meets His Namesake

Body Language Analysis No. 3971: Elon Musk, Amber Heard, Affection, and Ownership

Body Language Analysis No. 3951: Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, and The Paris Agreement

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3911: Simone Biles gets Pranked on "Ellen"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3853: Tom Hiddleston, a School Play and Eddie Redmayne


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Body Language Analysis No. 4019: John Kelly and Donald Trump in the Oval Office - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

No doubt you've heard - John Kelly, a former Marine, and four-star general, is the new White House Chief of Staff. Earlier this week, President Trump and Mr. Kelly had a short press appearance conducted from the Oval Office.

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this meeting - focused on John Kelly's responses.

0:05 - John Kelly displays a "Nose Pull" - which is a signal of alpha up-regulation. Said another way, the nose pull (primarily used by men) is a physical manifestation of the psyche's recognition that it must "step it up" and "get in the game".

Like most anyone is such an important position, Kelly fully recognizes his challenge - and yet it brings him significant anxiety.

0:23 - As the President says, "... and with a very controversial situation ...", General Kelly sits backward (distancing himself from Trump and his statement) and configuring his mouth in an "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR). The inward lip roll is a subconscious effort to avoid a crescendo of inward emotions - as well as preventing strong emotions from appearing outwardly (on the face).

General Kelly does not want the President to make any such "controversy" worse.

0:37 - President Trump shakes General Kelly's hand in manner, which for him, is very typical. There's no doubt that Donald Trump has been told not to shake hands this way - for it's highly correlative with narcissistic personality disorder. However, the fact that he persists is a reliable harbinger for predicting other behaviors.

 

0:43 - 0:52  - General Kelly reconfigures his body in anticipation of leaving. He's ready to push himself to a standing position. He's impatient (notice his fingers on his right hand tapping against the chair) and very much wants this presser to be over.

At 0:48, Donald Trump says, "I think we've done very well - we've done very well - lots of records, lots of records, created jobs, ah, you look at, ah, stock market's the highest it's ever been - unemployment, lowest in seventeen years - ah, companies are doing tremendously well - business spirit is the highest it's ever been according to polls - you look at the polls - it's the highest it's ever been in the history of these polls ...."

The third time Donald Trump says, "... polls ...", at 1:09, General Kelly displays a prominent microexpression of disgust. He also simultaneously pulls his torso away from the President.

Here is a close-up of image of the microexpression shown above. John Kelly has clear feelings of disgust for what Donald Trump is saying.

From 1:09 - 1:40 (the end of the video), John Kelly signals his impatience once again as readies himself to stand, and taps his right index finger on his knee multiple times. 

1:36 - as Donald Trump says, "... But we have a fantastic leader ...", General Kelly again displays an inward lip roll - signaling his psyche's effort to contain his growing emotions.


Summary: It's common knowledge that John Kelly does not seek the limelight. His nonverbal behavior in this exchange also shows he very much doesn't like it when Donald Trump gets grandiose. Moreover, he displayed clear disgust for the President. General Kelly also fully recognizes his need to dial-up his own alpha qualities.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4018: Alexis Bledel and "The Handmaid's Tale"

Body Language Analysis No. 4016: Anthony Scaramucci - Faux Pas and Harbingers

Body Language Analysis No. 4014: Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Donald Trump, and Healthcare

Body Language Analysis No. 4011: Anthony Scaramucci's First UK Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 3994: Vladimir Putin at G20 - Donald Trump agreed with me

Body Language Analysis No. 3974: Elle Fanning, Robert De Niro, and Easter

Body Language Analysis No. 3937: Mr. Lavrov Goes To Washington - “Was he fired? You’re kidding!” - Sergey Lavrov, Rex Tillerson, and James Comey

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3918: The Image of Kim Jong-un He Most Prefers the World to See - and What It Tells Us

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3839: Andrew Garfield, Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling - Embarrassment and Protection


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3883: Donald Trump Greets Angela Merkel at The White House - The Handshakes and Mistakes - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

These images capture the first few seconds after President Trump greeted Chancellor Merkel during her recent visit to the White House. And although it was not nearly as "newsy" as his snubbing of her handshake in the Oval Office - or the expression she shot back at him after his "Forced Teaming" with his alleged wiretapping reference of, "... at least we have something in common ...", this moment provides several important body language lessons.

Of course, there are cultures who bow when greeting each other, yet that is not the case in modern Europe or North America (with the exceptions of certain religious ceremonies or royalty). With that in mind, most astute observers will note that it's the unfortunate habit of many taller men to bend forward during handshakes with individuals of shorter stature. When this nonverbal behavior is directed toward another man - it often projects condescending and patronizing emotions. Moreover, when a taller man (Trump is 6'1" or 1.85 meters) bends forward during a handshake with a woman (Merkel is 5'5" or 1.65 meters) - this dynamic projects an additional misogynistic message.

Politicians of all parties often will often grab the elbow, upper arm, or shoulder of the other person during handshakes. This is an example of an alpha power display - although often it's rationalized as an affectionate gesture (both to oneself and outwardly to others). Trump and Merkel don't know each other very well - thus this would not only be a "False Affection Display" - but it's also indicative of narcissism.
 

Notice too that Donald Trump pulls Angela Merkel's close to his lower chest. This component of his handshake is somewhat improved compared with some of other recent ones, e.g., Prime Minister Shinzō Abe and his Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch - but he still leaves a lot of room for improvement. Not only do people find the pulling of their arm created by such an action quite uncomfortable (even painful) - it frequently throws them off balance (as occurred with Judge Gorsuch). Moreover, this behavior is strongly correlated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Additionally, men who have a pattern of shaking women's hand in this manner - by the pulling (rather than shaking) of her hand-arm close to his chest - tend to also objectify women, treating them as property/objects to be controlled/used rather than as another sentient and deserving being.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3881: Donald Trump Snubs Angela Merkel's Handshake in Oval Office

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3882: Donald Trump to Angela Merkel During Press Conference, "At least we have something in common"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3846: Donald Trump, Shinzō Abe and Handshake Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3836: President Trump nominates Judge Neil Gorsuch for The Supreme Court

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3864: Uber's CEO, Travis Kalanick Arguing with an Uber Driver regarding Falling Fares - Escalation v. De-Escalation, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3594: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Fareed Zakaria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3820: Mr. Trump: "Who would you trust more, Angela Merkel or Vladimir Putin?"


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3832: Donald Trump's and Theresa May's Hand-Holding - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday President Trump and Prime Minister May were seen holding hands while walking outside the West Wing of the White House. Subsequently several media sources reported that Donald Trump suffers from Bathmophobia - a fear of stairs or slopes - and this was the reason for him holding Theresa May's hand.

As the two began walking down a gentle slope (a ramp with an angle of approximately 10 degrees and 20 feet in length), President Trump took Prime Minister May's hand.

However, note Trump's opposite (right) hand - it is relaxed. When people are walking down a hill, slope or stairs, etc., which THEY consider steep or a potential hazard - their hands and arm will show tension. This is manifested with the arms moving out from the torso with a simultaneous splaying of the fingers and thumb. This is not, however, what President Trump is displaying.

Don't mistake this for Chivalry. What we're observing here is an example of "False Intimacy" and "False Affection" - as well as a "Alpha Dominance Display". Donald Trump had only just met Theresa May that day. With the exception of shaking another person's hand and a few other cultural or protocol-specific scenarios - an invasion of another's personal space (Intimate Space) should NOT be undertaken unless there is true affection or intimacy.

Just before their walk down this slope was complete, Trump taps May on the back of her hand. This is a nonverbal signal to "Let Go Now". It's very much akin to the "Disengagement Hint" of patting another person on the back - often seen at the cessation (unilaterally decided) of a hug.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3831: Donald Trump's and Theresa May's Press Conference 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3827: Sean Spicer's Saturday Night Press Briefing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2814: Claire Foy's recounting of Meeting Kate Winslet

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3799: Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia - Full Lips and Lip Pursing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3787: Meghan Markle's Body Language - and some Ramifications for Prince Harry

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3769: Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3538: Barack Obama, David Cameron, Number 10, Brexit and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3526: Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler Meet - the Munich Agreement - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3622: Theresa May's First Speech as Prime Minister - Body Language Faux Pas


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3827: Sean Spicer's Saturday Night Press Briefing - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

On Saturday night, Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, held a press briefing of sorts. In his now infamous appearance, Mr. Spicer took no question but read a series of statements largely defending the size of the crowds at Donald Trump's inauguration as well as the number who attended President Trump's appearance earlier on Saturday at CIA headquarters.

You don't need to be a body language expert to determine that Sean Spicer's primary emotion throughout this appearance was that of anger. There were, however, a number of secondary emotions displayed - and a particularly out-of-place one is discussed here.

Beginning at 2:54 in the above video, Sean Spicer continues, "... These attempts to lessen the enthusiasm of the Inauguration are shameful and wrong. The President was also at the center - as you know, the President was also at the Central Intelligence Agency today - and greeted by a raucous overflow crowd of some 400 plus CIA employees.  There were over 1,000 requests to attend, prompting the President to note that he'll have to come back to greet the rest. The employees were ecstatic that he's the new Commander-in-Chief, and he delivered them a powerful and important message. He told them he has their back - and they were grateful for that ..."

During 3:13, just as Mr. Spicer says, "... prompting ..." (captured in image above and highlighted below), and specifically during the first syllable, he displays what in nonverbal parlance is known as a microexpression. This specific microexpression was that of Joy-Happiness and is very notable on the right side (his right) of Sean Spicer's face. Pay special attention to the upward vectoring of his right cheek muscle (zygomaticus major). Note how it bunches the cheek upward - while his left cheek is not being pulled up. The right corner of Spicer's mouth also follows this same dynamic. Watch the video at normal speed, then at 1/2 and 1/4 speed. This is an outstanding example of a microexpression.

Same image as the previous image, with highlights

Why was this sincere smile being suppressed and only displayed for a fraction of a second? Was the thought of Donald Trump drawing a crowd of 400 CIA employees with 1,000 total requests really eliciting the emotion of joy-happiness in Sean Spicer? It is possible. Yet, when we view this in context - a burst of a tenth of a second of sincere joy-happiness in the midst of sea of nearly six constant minutes of anger strongly suggests Sean Spicer was not being completely truthful.

The joy sometimes felt when one believes one is successfully deceiving other people - is very often manifested as a flash of a suppressed yet sincere smile for a very short duration - as is seen here and is termed "Duping Delight". This is one type of what is known as a "Microexpression". A multitude of emotions can be manifested via microexpressions. Alternatively, these same emotions can also occur for longer duration (e.g., several seconds) in a subtle and suppressed manner (termed "Subtle Emotional Displays" or "Subtle Expressions").


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3826: Kellyanne Conway to Chuck Todd, Press Secretary Sean Spicer Gave 'Alternative Facts'

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3824: Donald Trump's Inaugural Speech - Three Ways of Pointing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3822: Betsy DeVos Confirmation Hearing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3808: Felicity Jones' Sincere Smile

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. 3781: Emma Stone and a Sign of Sincere Laughter

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3769: Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3739: Hillary Clinton's Statement regarding FBI Probe

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3690: Stan Wawrinka beats Novak Djokovic to win US Open

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3652: Simone Manuel & Penny Oleksiak Win Olympic Gold


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3753: Donald Trump in The White House - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

On Thursday Barack Obama met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. After his White House visit, Donald also had a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building.

The President-Elect's face in the image above (cropped close-up below) is indicative of emotion unlike any other public display of Trump's since announcing his candidacy seventeen months ago.

In this moment, walking through the halls of the Capitol Building, Donald Trump is feeling a significant level of fear combined with anxiety.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis 3752: Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's Handshake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3750: Bill's Reaction to Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3748: Donald Trump, Bill Belichick and Exaggerated Mouth Movements

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3743: Ronda Rousey's Anxiety - Anticipating Her Next Fight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3739: Hillary Clinton's Statement regarding FBI Probe

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3707: The Presidential Debates Part III - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton and Sniffing 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3664: Benjamin Netanyahu, Viktor Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3622: Theresa May's First Speech as Prime Minister


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3752: Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's Handshake - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday the President met with the President-Elect at the White House. Barack Obama and Donald Trump met for about 90 minutes and afterward they each made brief statements.

From a body language point-of-view, their handshake was particularly interesting.

Barack Obama initiates the Handshake - which is almost always wisest in terms of projecting dominance and authority.

The handshake lasted for about 2.2 seconds.

The second image (immediately above) was captured from a slightly different angle, while the other four still images here were screen-grabs from the video included at the top of this post.

Mr. Trump rapidly adopts a rather strong expression of regret. He also lacks any eye contact with President Obama during the handshake.

In this second image, the President begins to disengage from the handshake and look away responding to the reporters. At this time Barack Obama also manifests an expression of regret - although it's quite subtle. Trump's regret continues to be strongly manifested as he looks up - yet he's still not making eye contact with the President - rather he's focusing in the distant, looking past Obama.

If Trump wanted to project leadership, strength, to build rapport - or even if he were trying to intimidate Obama - he should have made eye contact. It's utterly dumbfounding just how often, otherwise very worldly and educated people (and "leaders") don't practice good eye contact (especially during handshakes).

After the handshake is complete, Trump's regret expression is maintained as the President responds to reporters.

Mr. Trump's arms and hands then adopt a (low) pseudo-prayer configuration (as he repeatedly separates his fingers and brings them back together). This is a beta body language configuration and is indicative of considerable anxiety.

President Obama's posture - with his thighs at a significantly greater angle, with his palm-down on his thigh and his forward torso lean and tilt - is a nonverbal cluster indicating alpha status, high confidence and emotional comfort.

Conclusion: Both the President and the President-Elect expressed regret during their handshake yesterday at the White House - although Mr. Trump's level of regret was much greater. In addition, Donald Trump exhibited significant anxiety and relatively low emotional comfort - while Barack Obama projected high confidence and greater emotional comfort. This is one of the few times you'll see Mr. Trump assuming a relative beta status to anyone in his close proximity.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3744: Donald Trump - "Stay on Point", Hats, Eye Contact and Trust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3720: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3705: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debate - Trump: I'm 'smart' for paying no taxes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3672: Jessica Alba, Swass, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3636: Donald Trump, Hillary's Emails, Putin and Russia

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3610: Star Swain sings The Star-Spangled Banner at the Lincoln Memorial - Why Do Singers Close Their Eyes?

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