Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3548: Reince Priebus at White House Correspondents' Dinner - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

There was another very telling nonverbal moment from the recent White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Beginning at 13:01, President Obama says, ".... GOP chairman, Reince Priebus, is here as well .... Glad to see that you feel that you've earned the night off .... Congratulations on all your success. The Republican Party, the nomination process - it's all - going great. Keep it up!"

What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Reince Priebus' reaction.

During 13:15 - 13:16, As the President says, "... Congratulations on all your success.   ...", Priebus displays a tongue jut - more specifically, a tight, forward tongue jut. This is much akin to an infant pushing creamed asparagus out of her mouth, when she's being fed. The emotions being felt are repulsion, disgust and even nausea.

13:16, The very next two syllables spoken, when the President says, "... success. The Republican ..." - Priebus displays an Inward Lip Roll (ILR) along with a prolonged eyelid closure. Both of these signals - particularly when they're clustered together - indicate the psyche's attempt to blunt the crescendo of strong emotions (as well as their outward display). Here those specific emotions are delineated by the immediately preceding - tight, forward tongue jut (Disgust, Repulsion, Nausea).

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. 3547: Kate Middleton on Cover of Vogue's 100th Anniversary Issue

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3542: Lara Croft, Keeley Hawes, Sexual Energy and Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3530: Justin Trudeau and Quantum Computing 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3518: Donald Trump's Feminine and Beta Body Language 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3506: Jake Gyllenhaal Bombed His Lord of the Rings Audition 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3493: Reince Priebus regarding Ben Carson's anticipated endorsement of Donald Trump 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3455: Jerry Rice Undercover - Lyft Super Bowl 50 Commercial

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3479: Vicente Fox regarding Donald Trump's Proposed Wall - ‘I’m not going to pay for that F***ing wall!’


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3005: Barack Obama, "I would enjoy having some Kentucky Bourbon with Mitch McConnell" - Body Language Tells (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In a speech on Wednesday, Barack Obama retracted an earlier joke which he made at the future Senate Majority Leader's expense (at a White House Correspondents Dinner) saying, "... You know actually, ah, I would enjoy having some Kentucky Bourbon, ah, with Mitch McConnell, ah <lip bite>, I don't what his preferred drink is, but ah ..."

Biting the lip (much more commonly seen with the lower lip and on one side as the President exemplifies here) is a body language signal which can have a number of meanings depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered. In this context the President's is biting his lip in order to partially suppress a smile.

What are the other body language scenarios where lip biting is seen?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3004: Sophia Loren Recounts Her Famous Sideways Glance Photo with Jayne Mansfield's Photo - But Does Her Explanation Match Her Body Language? Hmmmm

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508:  Surfer Kelia Moniz and a  Classic Flirtatious Body Language Display

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2955: Adrian Peterson - a Telling Body Language Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2379: Bill Clinton's Speech at the George W. Bush Presidential Library Opening - Body Language of Former and Current President

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2634: "Lone Survivor" Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, "60 Minutes" Interview

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 411:  Lip Biting with Intense Physical Activity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3002: How NOT to sit in the Oval Office - Mitch McConnell ... your Beta is Showing 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2254: John Boehner's Speech Today - One Major Body Language Improvement The U.S. Speaker of the House Should Make
 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2807: Barack Obama at 2014 White House Correspondents' Dinner - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Last night the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner brought together Barack Obama's Administration many from the Television Media and Hollywood. And while most outside of these circles consider it a gigantic waste of time and money - it does provide some useful insight into the thoughts and emotions of the President if one carefully evaluates his nonverbal signals. What follows is a partial body language evaluation of the President's appearance last night.

This image is isolated from the 1:00 mark in the above video. In this moment President Obama displays an extended blink - just after he alludes to Mitt Romney and the infamous 47% comment.

What is not appreciable here is that he also "hard swallows" at the same moment. In addition his mouth is configured in a manner conveying regret.

This nonverbal "cluster" indicates that Mr. Obama significantly regrets his vocalizing this joke. It triggers anxiety in the President and he is in disbelief that he didn't omit this particular barb against Mr. Romney. He very much wants to wish this moment away.

The "Tongue Jut" (aka "Lizard Tongue") displayed by Mr. Obama at 1:11 after poking fun at his own  Healthcare.gov roll out - has several possible meanings depending on the other nonverbals and paralanguage with which it is clustered.

Here the knee-jerk interpretation most would assign it is one of self-deprecating humor - however another nonverbal directs us toward the emotional-thoughts of "I've been foolish" or "I've gotten away with something". What specifically is this nonverbal modifier?

Although it's evanescent, at 1:31 Mr. Obama displays a clear and classic sign of contempt - just after he jokes about his 2013 slogan being "ctrl-alt-delete".

What are the components of this very telling facial expression?





See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2765: Obama, Romney, Russia and Facial Asymmetry - Contempt at The Hague

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2188:  Paula Broadwell on Petraeus Relationship -  Body Language of Prolonged Blink,  Hard Swallow and More Duping Delight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2646: Does Barack Obama Want to Go to the Sochi (Russia) Winter Olympics? What His Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2690: Peyton Manning Explains the Meaning of "Omaha" Call - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2547: Amanda Knox's ex-Boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, Piers Morgan Interview, Body Language Tells and Avoiding the Othello Error

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2806: Russian "Separatists" in Ukraine - Body Language of ....


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2386: Julia Louis-Dryfus on Conan - One Signal of Incredulity How Often Do You Miss This Body Language Signal? (Video) (Picture)

Julia Louis-Dryfus recently appeared on Conan O'Brien's show and the talented actress gave us an example of a body language-facial expression which, within the context of this interview, most people would accurately characterize as disbelief. She calls out Conan on his version of a story from the White House Correspondence Dinner last weekend. Captured below in a still image, and present throughout much of the first part of the video above, Ms. Louis-Dryfus's central forehead is actively contracted (CFC) with the lateral portions of her forehead relaxed, which faciliates her inner eyebrows being elevated - in the presence of a partial mouth smile (social mouth smile). If the mouth lacks a smile however, even a little one - it indicates a completely different emotion.

Again, her body language-facial expression is read accurately here by most people - at least partially because of Julia's dramatic verbal displays of incredulity. If these same people would watch this video without sound, their interpretive accuracy drops significantly.

How skilled are you at recognizing this facial expression (or thousands of others) when it is much more subtle? How about when there are no verbal signals of disbelief (when someone is saying yes, yet thinking no)? This facial nonverbal cluster is displayed billions of time a day - and yet its significance goes either unrecognized or misinterpreted by the masses.

What should come to mind if you see this expression (CFC in the presence of a social mouth smile) chronically?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2042:  Syrian Government Defector Nawaf al-Fares

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1910:  Natasha Smith Sexually Assaulted in Tahrir Square - Post Assault Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2040:  Never Trust a One-Sided Smile -  Ex-Lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2192:  Senator Elect Ted Cruz - "So by the third debate, I’m pretty certain - Mitt Romney actually French-kissed Barack Obama" - A Body Language Red Flag

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2115:  Prince Harry in Afghanistan -  Incredulity & Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1696:  George Zimmerman's Testimony -  Fear, Incredulity, Regret & Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2129:  Barack Obama's Body Language, Misspeaks "Export More Jobs" Displays Incredulity and ....

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1770: White House Correspondents' Dinner Lindsay Lohan's Body Language

 

Over the weekend, at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, comedian Jimmy Kimmel put on a fantastic show. Before the festivities began though (and Jimmy picked on Ms. Lohan and Kim Kardashian, among numerous others), many of the celebrities were interviewed. In this brief video, I want to contrast the body language of Lindsay Lohan (whom we don't hear, and is visible in another interview in the background) with Wolf Blitzer, the longtime CNN News anchor. 

Ms. Lohan appears at the 1:32 - 1:34 mark in a low-confidence, low-comfort fig leaf (aka genital guarding) configuration. While there are a few times this body language should be displayed e.g. in respect/deference & religious type settings, this is not one of them. It's not the way to attract quality leading lady scripts.

See also:

Secret # 415: When is it Appropriate for a President to Stand in the "Fig Leaf"?

Secret # 1563: Geithner and Holder - In Deference to the President

Secret # 441: Bill Clinton's Rapport and His Temporary Universe

Secret # 517: Respect for Vaclav Havel

Secret # 593: Projecting and Detecting Confidence

Secret # 10: High Confidence vs. Low Confidence Stance

Secret # 14: High Confidence and Low Confidence Drivers - Arms Akimbo & Assertive Attitudes

During the 1:35 - 1:36 segment, Lindsay displays a "Hair Adjust Behind Ear" nonverbal. This is a classic MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) indicating anxiety - and this specifically with the HABE, the psyche is calling upon inner reserves to "dial-up" her alpha qualities. She's trying to be more assertive and more confident in the midst of, what for her is, an anxiety moment. 

See also:

Secret # 411: Dialing Up Her Alpha - Dana Perino

Secret # 1459: Geithner Gets His Alpha On

Secret # 345: Dialing Up Her Alpha - Sharon Bialek

During the 1:37 - 1:45 segment, the actress rubs her left arm with her right hand. This is another MAP and is a clear indicator of anxiety. Ms. Lohan is trying to comfort herself.

During the remainder of her time in this video, 1:45 - 2:03, the former child-star once again reverts back to the low confidence fig-leaf.

Blitzer, the long-time CNN anchor, uses the political-point (loose okay sign) to indicate confidence and rapport-building authority very well. His palm opens up to a relaxed-hand vertical and 45 degree-palms up configuration, indicating openness and confidence - another great illustrator of confidence and rapport. Note also that Wolf uses his "Thumbs-up" to point at Brooke Baldwin and Brianna Keilar (she displays a sincere smile at the 1:32 mark) - and thus exhibits both the very positive universal emblem of optimism (thumbs-up) while avoiding the forefinger (index finger) point which is highly offensive and rapport destroying the World over.

See also:

Secret # 1995: Barack Obama, Social Darwinism and the Political Point

Secret # 441: The Political Point - How Not to Use it

Secret # 515: Huntsman's Political Point (C+), Skeptical Eyebrow and Facial Tension

Secret # 1553: Ann's & Mitt Romney's Body Language at NRA Meeting

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