Body Language Analysis No. 4253: Tiger Woods at The 2018 Masters - Nonverbal Biofeedback, Sport psychology, and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

As with all sports, the psychological approach to the golf is, by most accounts, the primary predictor of success - or failure. And once it's lost, this 'head-game' often proves extremely difficult to reestablish.

Perhaps there is no greater example of this phenomenon, that Tiger Woods. Ever since his highly publicized marital problems in 2009, he's rarely approached even a shadow of his former dominance. And his anticipated return to The Masters this year has, thus far, has disappointed his fans. As of this writing (after two of four rounds), he stands at +7, 13 strokes off the current leader, Patrick Reed.

In the image above we see Woods rubbing/scratching his forehead. There's no doubt he was probably sweating - and there's also no doubt he was probably experiencing an itch. And yet, by far, the number one reason we touch our faces (or anywhere on the head and neck) is due to real (not imagined) facial itching - caused by Anxiety. Anxiety, of course, has many etiologies - and depending on the other nonverbal signals with which it is clustered, these root-causes can sometimes be determined.

We also close our eyes and/or cover our eyes during moments of emotional processing - that is, when the 'emotional brain' is trying to come to terms with what the 'logical brain' already knows has happened.

In this second image of Tiger Woods, we see him passing self-judgment on his own shot - displaying the emotion of Disgust. Moderate in its magnitude, Woods' disgust is primarily manifested by his mid-facial tension (in the region just above his upper lip and below his nose). In addition, we see his nostril flaring, lowering of the corners of his mouth, and his lower lip depression - in this cluster, all of these indicate disgust.

While not a required component of disgust, Woods' partial eyelid closure act as a disgust-amplifier. 

During the moment when this third image of Woods' was taken, the golfer was experiencing Fear. His fear is subtly-to-mildly manifested with the configuration of Tiger's mouth - with its corners pulled mildly backward (posteriorly).

But more noticeably, we see fear displayed in Woods' eyes. Tiger Woods's eyelids are opened slightly wider than baseline - but crucially, there's also lower eyelid tension (tightening) - while his eyebrows are also slightly lowered (more so on his left).

Summary: When we feel negative emotions - and subsequently display them on our faces and bodies - our own actions will reinforce these unwanted feelings - acting as a biofeedback loop reinforcement mechanism for these behaviors (e.g., the angry get angrier, the disgusted grow even more disgusted, etc.). In the process of training for - or competing in any sport (or life), this phenomenon is profound. Negative displays should be minimized and hopefully nearly eliminated - but never ignored.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4252: Donald Trump says he didn't know about Stormy Daniels payment

Body Language Analysis No. 4250: Donald Trump, "We've been very tough on Russia"

Body Language Analysis No. 4248: My Extended interview re: Security Video of Stephen Paddock (1 October Las Vegas Shooter) - KTNV • Channel 13 Las Vegas

Body Language Analysis No. 4238: OJ Simpson - The Lost Confession (Continued, Part II)

Body Language Analysis No. 4218: Dana Loesch, Threat Assessment, and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4167: Gary Oldman, Hugh Jackman, and Compliments

Body Language Analysis No. 4138: Matt Lauer, Intimidation, and Aggression

Body Language Analysis No. 4099: Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, and Jim Leavelle

Body Language Analysis No. 4039: Blue Angels, Surprise, Emotional Processing, and Empathy

______________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 3945: Donald Trump's Anxiety - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

This image was taken recently of Donald Trump in the White House. Below is a cropped, close-up view of the same photo.

As a nonverbal exercise, while alone in a quiet room, replicate the President's expression. Proceed in the following order:

1.   Thrust your jaw mildly-moderately forward
2.   Tighten the back (posterior) portion of your jaw muscles (masseter)
3.   Hold your upper and lower teeth about 3-4 mm apart (~1/8 - 1/6 inch)
4.   Draw the corners your mouth inward - pursing your lips ever so slightly -
      but don't push your lips forward - just pull them together
5.   Push your tongue forward, touching with moderate pressure
      on the back sides of your front, lower teeth
6.   Lower the entire width of both of your eyebrows
7.   Slightly elevate your central forehead - this will pull up your inner (medial) eyebrows,
      while leaving your side (lateral) eyebrows lowered (as per no. 6)
8.   Look down to your left
9.   Fixate your gaze at something in the middle distance (e.g., 3-6 meters away)
10. Slightly defocus your eyes
11. Stand up
12. Bend (flex) your neck forward about 15 - 20 degrees
13. Slightly bend your upper back forward ('hunching your back' - in a kyphosis-like rounding)
14. Slightly elevate your shoulders and foreshorten your neck

Now review to be sure you're performing all 14 items. What is the emotion that best describes how you feel?

Adopting this combination of postures and facial configurations will make you feel anxious, hesitant - and quite beta. Thus, not only does a worried person subconsciously morph his or her body language to reflect the way they are feeling in that moment - but the reverse also is true - adopting these nonverbal positions will make you truly feel the emotions that your body is signaling to your brain. The same is true for any feeling. You have the control panel. You're at the helm. You're steering the ship.

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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3944: Dwayne Johnson, The 2020 Presidential Election, and The Rock Dialing Up His Alpha

Body Language Analysis No. 3942: Donald Trump, James Comey, Contempt and Emotional Intelligence

Body Language Analysis No. 3940: National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster's Press Conference regarding President Trump's Sharing of Classified Intelligence with the Russians

Body Language Analysis No. 3938: Donald Trump regarding asking James Comey for his Loyalty

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3927: Jimmy Kimmel's Emotional Monologue regarding His Son’s Birth & Heart Disease

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3903: Rex Tillerson Disagrees with Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3873: Brie Larson's Eyes, The Bachelor, and the Edge of Consciousness

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. 3707: The Presidential Debates Part III - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton and Sniffing


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3871: Emma Watson's Old Habit, Harry Potter Outtake and Anxiety - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

During Emma Watson's recent guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the accomplished actor was embarrassed by an outtake from the first Harry Potter Film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

 A body language analysis allows us to examine the moment in greater detail. Anticipating the outtake, Ms. Watson displays several nonverbal anxiety indicators, two variations of which are discussed here. 

JIMMY KIMMEL (continuing at 0:12): So, so, and then you get involved in this thing and little do you know it would it would take you all the way to adulthood -

EMMA WATSON: [Deep inhale]

KIMMEL: Which is really crazy, I mean, nobody has that experience

WATSON: No, I mean - yeah, I, no one goes to the first audition they've ever been to in their entire life and then - makes those movies for over a decade. I mean, like that doesn't happen -

KIMMEL (over-talking): No, it just doesn't ever happen. It's almost like you have magic powers or something.

AUDIENCE: [Laughter]

WATSON: Almost.

KIMMEL: In a way - literally. Now there's a videotape that I dunno, somebody here on the s, show [stutter] found -th, this is like an outtake from the movie -

WATSON: Oh yeah -

KIMMEL: And it's, do you, you - now I want, I want to encourage people to watch, um, watch very closely - watch Emma's lips very closely throughout this, 'cause I, I'll ask you to explain this to me.

As Jimmy Kimmel says, "... it would it would take you all the way to adulthood, continuing through the audible, deep inhalation of Watson's (0:16 - 0:19) - Emma scratches her right shoulder/base of her neck with her right hand (thumb and forefinger).

A few moments later (0:40 - 0:43), as Kimmel says, "... video tape that I dunno, somebody here on the s, show [stutter] found -th ...", Ms. Watson then reaches across her torso with her right hand and scratches her left shoulder.

Touching one's shoulder, neck or arm with a scratching or rubbing are signals of a shift from a relative alpha or neutral mental state - down to a relative beta emotional tone. Generally speaking, the higher on the body the scratching-rubbing occurs, the greater the anxiety level. Moreover, reaching across one's body to scratch-rub-touch the opposite side - has the additional momentary protective effect of covering and blocking the torso and thus indicates an increase level of worrying or, depending on the other nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage signals present - it may also indicate intimidation.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3870: Paul Ryan's Response to Donald Trump during President's Speech before The Joint Session of Congress

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3868: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, The West Bank and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3865: Jeff Sessions and Al Franken - Senate Judiciary Committee during Sessions' Confirmation Hearing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3858: Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from Breitbart with "Apology"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3841: Tom Brady's and Roger Goodell's Handshake after Super Bowl LI

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3791: Russian Ambassador to Turkey Assassinated in Ankara

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3620: Cristiano Ronaldo's Injury, UEFA Euro 2016 and Body Language


_____________________________________________________________________________________

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


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3359: Jeb Bush is Worried - Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In this interview published on 23 October 2015 with Major Garrett, Jeb Bush among other issues says (beginning at 0:31), "... People in Florida know that I have a proven record of conservative reform. I gotta go share that - and we're startin' to do it in the early states and it's, it's, we're making progress ..."

It's widely known that blinking rate increases with anxiety levels. While this is certainly true, it's always important to compare the blinking frequency changes throughout a conversation. This contextualizes the change in a nonverbal sign (here, the blinking rate) with the verbal content - as well as the paralanguage.

Note that at 0:36, Gov. Bush changes his head from tilted-right to a tilt-left along with a higher pitch of his voice. In addition, his forehead muscles also elevate (contract) along the entire width. During the 0:38 - 0:39 segment, as the republican candidate says, "... it's, we're making progress ...", Gov. Bush then displays a series of rapid blinks.

This cluster of rapid blinking coupled with his forehead contraction and rapid change of head tilt (nonverbal) with his stuttering and re-formulating his response ("... it's, it's, we're ...") (verbal) and elevated pitch (paralanguage) indicate that Jeb Bush does NOT BELIEVE that his campaign is making progress. Thus while Mr. Bush may indeed believe that early polling numbers truly don't matter very much (and many experts would agree) - he still has considerable anxiety that his campaign is not making the progress it should be. Jeb is worried.

 

A Reminder: 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. 3358: Hillary Clinton on Stephen Colbert - We Let the Banks Fail Next Time

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3279: Jeb Bush, Donald Trump and the Iowa State Fair 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3056: Jeb Bush Interview - 14 Dec. 2014 - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3273: Marco Rubio, The Republican Debate, Monotonous Body Language and Anxiety 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2702: Barack Obama - Anxiety and Non-engagement; Body Language Signals 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3290: Miley Cyrus Undercover, I Witness News & Body Language  
 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3233: Chris Christie formally enters the 2016 Presidential Race - What about his Body Language? (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Chris Christie made his 2016 Presidential Campaign official yesterday - giving his announcement speech at the high school from which he graduated. Many people, including the New Jersey Governor himself, have described his style as "plain-speaking" and "blunt" (e.g., "... I mean what I say and I say what I mean ..."). This is political-speak for a "working man's sincerity" in attempt to court "the common person's vote". What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of his speech.

From a body language perspective, Christie very commonly not only projects an alpha emotional tone - but is often quite hyper-alpha. His paralanguage and his verbal communication are also similarly more extreme. Of course Governor Christie may still be very sincere and plain-speaking without being hyper-alpha, overly-aggressive and out-right angry. He is confusing the two qualities of anger/assertiveness with sincerity/plain-speaking - as if they were two parts of the same whole - yet of course they're not. Chris Christie can still be blunt and sincere without getting angry.

At the 16:35 mark, Governor Christie continues, "... America is tired of hand-wringing and indecisiveness and weakness in the oval office. We need to have strength and decision-making and authority back in the oval office and that is why today I am proud to announce my candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States of America! ..."

It is curious (and ironic) that in this particularly important paragraph Governor Christie uses the nonverbal metaphor of "hand-wringing". Hand-wringing in both body language and common speech conjures up images and emotions of indecisiveness, emotional dissonance and anxiety. Yet for much of this speech Chris Christie paces back and forth across the stage in what also signals similar anxiety and inner-conflict as well as the "bleeding" of nervous-energy. He is criticizing others for worrying (outwardly and inwardly) while he himself is doing that exact same thing - and telegraphing it too.

It is never good to use any body language too often. Over-doing anything will inevitably back-fire. Chris Christie should have had a wireless microphone so as to have both hands free (during this or any speech). A hand-held microphone engenders monotonous behavior with the free hand. Index finger (forefinger) pointing is cross-culturally and universally negatively received. It makes people feel berated and belittled. It destroys rapport and will cost votes (it does however make it's user feel powerful ... while it simultaneously up-regulates the users anger). The Governor moreover amplifies this negative nonverbal even further by his dramatic and repetitive use of the hand-chop - thus becoming a "finger-point hand-chop" illustrator. This is one of the worse nonverbals signals anyone can use (even in a highly-partisan, hand-picked crowd such as this setting).

Christie's courted the center-leaning voters during his last gubernatorial race - which served him well. He may be well served by a similar strategy in such a crowded republican presidential primary. However by using such anger and hyper-alpha qualities expressed in his verbal language, paralanguage and body language - will dramatically reduce his ability to win the his party's nomination.

Governor Christie - you can be both plain speaking and blunt without being angry and aggressive.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3232: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announce Divorce - a Body Language Signal of Diminishing Affection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2999: Chris Christie to James Keady "Sit Down and Shut Up" - Body Language Congruent with ...

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2612: Chris Christie 'Calls a Spade a Spade' (Well … Almost) - Body Language of the 2016 Republican Presidential Hopeful

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2222:  Corey Booker's Body Language Indicates that  He does NOT want to Run for Governor of New Jersey

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2174:  President Obama, Hurricane Sandy,  Body Language and Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2595: Barack Obama's Emotional Dissonance, Low Confidence and the "Turtle Retreat" - He Does Not Want To Be There


___________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3041: Jim Harbaugh Body Language Tutorial (PHOTOS)

Rumor has it that the University of Michigan will reportedly offer San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh a 6-year, $49 million paycheck to become their next head coach.

A former quarterback for the Wolverines under Bo Schembechler, Coach Harbaugh is known for not having a very good poker face. The following images display just the tip of his emotional iceberg and allow a fantastic body language tutorial (Thanks coach). In image above, Harbaugh displays significant Anger - (bordering on Rage) - with Frustration (Specifically what signals the frustration?)

Of particular note is his extreme Jaw Jut, Squared-off mouth opening, baring of his bottom teeth, with both tense eyelids along with significant mid-face tension.

Apprehension

Contempt (here coupled with the F-bomb - which of course is a very common combination)

Extreme Disgust

Dominant Spider hand configuration

A high alpha gesture (at this moment somewhat less so, since it is directed away from to whomever he is speaking)

Fear

- Eyelids tense and wide
  (here mild to moderately
   opened)
- Mouth corners pulled laterally
   and down
- Mid-face tension
- Tightened neck muscles

Inward Lip Roll (ILR):

Seen suppressing emotions when they are far from baseline

Can be positive or negative emotions

What emotion is the Coach suppressing here?

Puffer Fish

Seen just before or just more commonly immediately after a significantly stressful event (It can lower the heart rate, blood pressure and respiration and thus has a calming effect)

Rage (sever anger) with
widely open Eyelids (with a mild-moderate jaw jut)

Critical evaluation with significant worry and some empathy

Sincere smile:

- Relaxed forehead
- Only upper Teeth Showing
- Cheeks vectored primarily
   upwards
- Eyelids partially closed
- Dynamic Concave-up Furrow in
   lower eyelids





See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3040: Mourning after the Sydney Hostage Crisis - Sincerity & Empathy

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2647: Vladimir Putin regarding Edward Snowden, What Does the Russian Leader Think?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3030: Rashida Jones, Jimmy Fallon, Twin Peaks, Toy Story 4 ... and a Rarely Recognized Meaning of the Inward Lip Roll

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3032: Reaction to Eric Garner Grand Jury Decision to Not Indict Daniel Pantaleo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2228:  Jay Carney's Body Language -  Contempt disguised as a Sniff ....  for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2941: Barack Obama at NATO Summit - Split Finger Fastball & the Dominant Spider

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2508: Anne Frank, Sincere Smiles and Emotional Comfort


___________________________________________________________________________________

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

Pending the resolution of the allegations of child abuse, Adrian Peterson has been deactivated by the Minnesota Vikings. The star NFL running back has been indicted for "reckless and negligent injury" of his four-year old son after he disciplined his son with a tree branch.

In this image we see a cluster of several nonverbals indicative of a heightened anxiety state. Mr. Peterson's central forehead is contracted (CFC), his eyes are opened wider than baseline with tension in his lower eyelids, he's biting his bottom lip with a mild-to-moderate dilation of his nostrils along with a mild tightening of his "mustache area" (termed so regardless of facial hair or gender). In this moment, Adrian Peterson is certainly worried and more specifically - he has a significant amount of emotional pain and mild-to-moderate fear.

Often such expressions only last a fraction of a second (e.g. microexpression or near-microexpression). However it is amazing how many otherwise socially-adept professionals mislabel these and other emotions. 

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2954: Attempted robbery at gunpoint caught on GoPro

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2945: Roger Goodell's Interview regarding Ray Rice - Denies NFL saw Video before Monday - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2904: Roger Goodell's Defending the NFL's Punishment for Ray Rice - Bad Crisis Management & Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2881: LeBron James and What He Learned About the Way He Switched Teams

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2858: Hope Solo, Domestic Violence, Arrests and Wedding Rings - Body Language Tells 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2281:  Inaugural Luncheon Anxiety  Barack Obama's Body Language  Michelle's Mirroring 
 
________________________________________________________________________________

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2518: Bashar al-Assad Shows Body Language Tell of Extreme Stress Charlie Rose Interview, Part III (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This is the third nonverbal evaluation of Bashar al-Assad highlighting his recent interview in Damascus by Charlie Rose. On the very next day the serendipitous/accidental/off-hand remark by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was reflected back as a serious idea by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last night President Obama asked the U.S. Congress to back-burner an approval vote on military action against the Syrian government's forces so as to diminish their ability to deploy chemical weapons (a vote that was increasing looking that he would lose). It has certainly been a whirlwind the last few days.

The following is a transcript of the above video - a short section of the interview. Afterwards yet another particularly telling nonverbal signal is discussed.

CHARLIE ROSE: "The President is prepared to strike, ah, and perhaps we'll get the authorization of Congress or not. Ah, the question then is - would you give up chemical weapons if it would prevent the president from authorizing a strike?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "Ah ..."

CHARLIE ROSE: "If that is a deal you would accept?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD:  "Again, you always imply that we have chemical weapons. [Laughs]"

CHARLIE ROSE: "I have to because that's the assumption of the President."

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "Yeah"

CHARLIE ROSE: "That is his assumption and he's the one who will order the strike."

BASHAR AL-ASSAD:  "It's his problem if-- if he has an assumption. But for us, in Syria, we have principles. We'll do anything to prevent the region from another crazy war. It's not only Syria. Because it will start in Syria ..."

CHARLIE ROSE: "You'll do anything to prevent the region from ... "

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "The region."

CHARLIE ROSE:  "... having another crazy war?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "Yes."

CHARLIE ROSE: "You recognize the consequences for you if there is a strike?"

BASHAR AL-ASSAD: "It's not about me. It's about the region."

 At 0:27 just after Rose says, "That is his assumption and he's the one who will order the strike" - al-Assad's intertwined fingers straighten (We do not see how long this lasts because the camera view changes). This body language sign is a particularly strong signal of anxiety. Notice also how he stutters, "It's his problem if-- if he has an assumption ..." - a common paralanguage manifestation of anxiety.


Many have said that al-Assad was calm during the interview. While he was more polished than he has been compared with some of his other public appearances - and while his words to some may have seemed composed - the Syrian dictator demonstrated multiple anxiety tells. This was but one. He strongly fears the wrong end of a cruise missile. This legit fear has moved him to a different course of action in the ensuing days.

When the verbal and the nonverbal signals are not congruent - it is the nonverbal that always 'speaks' the truth. How many times have you been deceived because you believed someone's words and missed their body language signals?

What other nonverbals did you spot in this video?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2517:  Bashar al-Assad Fears Over-Throw if U.S. Attacks, Body Language Tell During Charlie Rose Interview, Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2516:  Bashar al-Assad's Interview with Charlie Rose, Body Language Tells, Part I

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 387:  John Kerry's Extended and Intertwined Fingers

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2408:  Sen. Kelly Ayotte's Anxiety & Regret via Senators Graham & McCain - Republican Body Language in Response to President Obama's National Defense University Speech

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2281:  Inaugural Luncheon Anxiety  Barack Obama's Body Language  Michelle's Mirroring 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2493:  Jewel in Disguise at Karaoke Bar, Body Language Cues to Lack of Nervousness

___________________________________________________________________________________