Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3334: Kevin McCarthy, Judy McCarthy and the Representative's Decision to Withdraw from Pursuing the Position as Speaker of the House - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today Kevin McCarthy withdrew his from consideration as Speaker of the House. This was a profound surprise to virtually everyone.

Representative McCarthy's initial announcement (to other members of the U.S. House of Representatives) was apparently not recorded - or it's not been released. The video above shows the California republican standing to the left (our right) of his wife - Judy, during his first public statement regarding his decision to withdraw from the race for the Speakership.

Beginning at 0:53 in the video, a reporter asks, "... You said at 8:00 am that you're going run for the Speakership - why change it at noon? What happened in those four hours?"

Rep. McCarthy answers, "Ya know, we had our conference and, um, - there's calls into The District - I, I don't want making voting for Speaker a tough one. I don't want to go to the floor and win with 220 votes. I think the best thing for our party right now - is that you have 247 votes on the floor. If we're going to be strong - we gotta be one hundred percent united (1:21)..."

A partial nonverbal analysis of this segment is included below.

0:56 - 0:58

Judy McCarthy displays an inward lip roll as the reporter says, "why change it at noon? What hap ...."

This is highly significant for emotions indication she's far from her emotional baseline and is attempting to prevent the outward display as well as the inward growth of an emotion.

0:58

Rep. McCarthy displays a tongue jut as the reporter says, "... those four ..."

This is significant for the thought-emotion of, "I've been caught" or "I've been bad".

McCarthy's downward gaze as well as his forward head and neck tilt (in this context) may indicate deep thought and introspection - or shame.

0:59

As McCarthy says, "Ya know ...

Judy McCarthy, anticipating her husband's answer, displays a hard swallow.

A hard swallow is significant for higher levels of anxiety (watch the video to appreciate the dynamics of this display).

At 1:01, during the last syllable of the word "... conference ...", the Congressman exhibits a nose rub with his right index finger (forefinger).

A nose rub/scratch indicates a high level of anxiety, and in this specific verbal-paralanguage-nonverbal cluster, it's highly suggestive of deception.

Note Mrs. McCarthy is beginning to look down and to her right.

Still during 1:01, Judy McCarthy is now looking further down to her right. This direction of gaze is highly correlated with strong emotions - very often with sadness, grief and regret.

During 1:02 - 1:05, 1:17 - 1:20, 1:38 - 1:39, Judy McCarthy looks directly up and holds her gaze there. This is a very common nonverbal phenomenon seen when a person is trying to suppress strong emotion - including the squelching of tears.







In conclusion, nonverbal analyses of Kevin McCarthy and Judy McCarthy show that the real reason for the Representative's withdraw from pursuit of the Speakership, is one other than he conveyed verbally - and, in addition, Mrs. McCarthy knows the true cause for this sudden change.

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. 3333: Did Bill Clinton ask Donald Trump to Run for President?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2548: Confused, Quizzical and Disbelieving Body Language from Eric Cantor's Colleagues

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3321: John Boehner Announces Resignation During Press Conference - A Classic Body Language Tell

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3068: John Boehner Kissing Nancy Pelosi

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3034: Body Language of High Affection - "Most Amazing Marriage Proposal Ever" - Christmas Eve 2013 - Jamie & Tyne Owen - Family Photo Surprise

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2649: How a Kiss can Change the World - Body Language of Affection

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


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2369: Pat Toomey Announces Boston Marathon Bombings on Senate Floor - Body Language of Sincerity and Empathy

Today on the Senate floor, Pat Toomey (R - Penn) announced the bombings at the Boston Marathon. At the beginning of the video above, Senator Toomey says, "I would like to begin by ah, actually taking a moment to ah, inform the members of this body ah people who maybe listening, if you weren't aware, ah it appears that a tragedy has struck at the Boston Marathon ..."

At the 0:02 second mark Senator Toomey rubs his nose with his right hand just after he says, "I would like to begin by ah ..." Of course very few people would ever "like to" make such an announcement - particularly in such a setting. However leaders must lead and free societies this does not include keeping people uninformed. So strictly speaking, although he was by no means lying in the classic sense, when he said, "I would like to begin ...", this was false. He would have much rather the tragedy not have taken place. He is emotionally processing the event. So this is an interesting example of a form of a lie - a manner of speech, when no deception was intended. Yet the nonverbal display of the nose touch/rub signals us that in fact a falsehood was uttered. Ironically in this context - this "white lie" is a display of sincerity.

Senator Toomey's two jacket adjustments (during 0:05 - 0:06) in body language nomenclature are known as "Self Preening". In this cluster context they indicate a relative lack of comfort.

Pat Toomey displays a right cheek touch at 0:17 - another significant anxiety tell.

Throughout this entire short video, one or both of Pat Toomey's hands are in his front pants pockets. This nonverbal signals low comfort and withdrawal. When a person is configured in this manner during speaking - it tells us he would rather not be talking. Most everyone would feel similarly in his shoes. 

In addition, throughout much of this video the Senator's central forehead is contracted (CFC). When the central forehead muscles contract (with the peripheral forehead relaxed) with simultaneous painful, sad (as Toomey does) or fearful mouth expressions - this indicates pain. Such pain is either emotional or physical and being experienced directly or felt secondarily via empathy. People who display such clusters have high empathy quotients. Pat Toomey is feeling sincere empathy for the victims.

Interestingly and a very valuable tell (not seen here) are those who display the CFC in the context of a smile (even a subtle one). We all do this occasionally, however when such nonverbal behavior is observed often - it is a huge red flag. Stay away from those who use the "CFC + smile" body language chronically - they are not to be trusted.

My condolences to the victim's and their loved-ones.

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2156:  Barack Obama's Body Language at Al Smith Charity Dinner - Comedy, White Lies and Facial Touching MAPs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033:  Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2208:  President Obama & Mitt Romney in the Oval Office -  Multiple Body Language Tells

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2310:  Oscar Pistorius' Body Language in Court - Part II  Central Forehead Contraction, Frown & Pupil Dilation ...

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

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

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2230: Susan Rice's Interview Immediately after Withdrawaling from Secretary of State Consideration -her Body Language and her Sincerity Quotient

In her first interview after withdrawaling her name from consideration for the next U.S. Secretary of State, Susan Rice voiced her concern that she did not want her confirmation to be a distraction or disruptive from more important matters the country faces.

From a body language stand point, Ambassador Rice's rate of blinking is increased over normal at times during this short video segment. This is a nonverbal signal of generalized increased anxiety. When evaluating blinking frequency it's important to compare the times in question of expected anxiety - to other more routine, mundane and typically non-nervous periods. By itself, an increased blink rate does not indicate deception. She did not display any other body language-facial displays consistent with anxiety or lying. Thus, during this interview, Susan Rice's sincerity quotient is high.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1843: United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice in Response to Syrian Government's Houla Massacre 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1698: Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari & Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2198: Susan Rice's Body Language at United Nations - Her First Public Appearance Since her Initial  Post Benghazi Attack T.V. interviews  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2190: President Obama's Body Language - Press Conference 14 October 2012 - Defense of Ambassador Susan Rice

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2195: Sen. John McCain's Body Language when  Comparisons made between Condoleezza Rice to Susan Rice & War with Iraq to Benghazi, Libya Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2214: John McCain Jokes - sort of .... and  John Kerry senses Deception - Senatorial Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2131: President Obama's Blink Rate, Body Langauge ... and His Anxiety

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1149: Who was More Nervous in Last Night's Debate?  Santorum, Romney, Gingrich or Paul?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1901: Maria Sharapova's Body Language of Anxiety

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 931: Harbaugh's Body Language of Fear and Anxiety

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