The above image was captured on 28 May 2024 just prior to the beginning of proceedings on the final day of Donald Trump's election interference trial.
The expression on Trump's face in this image is, surprisingly, relatively neutral, however ...
... Trump's left-hand-over-his-right-fist configuration was a common behavior exhibited by him during the trial:
Trump is right-handed. Covering one's dominant hand, clenched in a fist – with the non-dominant hand is classic body language behavior indicative of trying to cover, sequester, and control one's temper.
Todd Blanche's fingers are interlaced – indicative of frustration, impatience, and sometimes anger. While it's important to not interpret body language in isolation, people often adopt this hand pose when they're trying to appear 'leaderly' and composed:
Todd Blanche's facial expression tells us much more. Note his eyelids are closed. This is a still image, so this could be simply coincidence (caught during a normal blink) but most likely it's not:
Closing one's eyelids frequently and/or for 'extended blinks' in this context indicates impatience, frustration, disbelief, and possibly anger.
Now look at Blanche's mid and lower face – it displays an amalgam of:
• Frustration ** • Impatience ** • Disbelief **
• Regret *****
In particular, note his mouth and cheek asymmetry – with more expression on Blanche's right side – 'hiding' on the side away from Trump.
Also note the 'bunching up' of the area above his upper lip, together with his flared nostrils, and moderately clenched jaw.
SUMMARY: This image of Todd Blanche shows a good nonverbal encapsulation of much of his overall experience as Donald Trump's attorney:
• Regret
• Disbelief
• Frustration
• Impatience
Trump displays diminished impulse control – covering his right (dominant hand) fist with his left hand. A thin veil of restraint.
Inquiries regarding teaching (one-on-one or groups), keynotes, consulting, and press: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com
Anyone watching this Justice Department press conference on 28 January 2019, would have noticed Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker was sweating profusely throughout most of this presser. Although the etiology of such sweating may, of course, sometimes be secondary to an acute infection or other medical conditions, the first thought which will come to most peoples' minds is that Whitaker was experiencing extreme anxiety. They would be correct.
Is the Acting Attorney General of the United States just a little camera shy - or is there another inspiration for his perspiration? What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Matthew Whitaker's response to reporters' questions regarding Robert Mueller's investigation.
At 31:34, Acting AG Whittaker says, "Um, you know, we have, we take very seriously, ahum, lying to Congress (shaking his head side-to-side) and, if there were referrals made, by, by the 'ppropriate [sic] committees, ah, as is ordinary course (shakes head side-to-side), for, for matters like this - then we would (shaking head side-to-side)investigate that, ah, as we would anything else." (switches to shaking his head up-and-down).
On multiple occasions (31:38, 31:44 - 31:45, 31:48 - 31:50) during this response, the acting Attorney General shakes his head, (No) side-to-side. This horizontal head shaking dynamic simultaneous with these declarative statements indicates his cognitive-emotional dissonance. His nonverbal behavior is very much incongruous with his verbal behavior.
Then, upon finishing of this answer, Mr. Whitaker then switches his head dynamic - and momentarily shakes his head up-and-down (31:50 - 31:51) - indicating that at some level (most likely consciously or at the of his edge-of-consciousness), Matthew Whitaker realizes his earlier contradictory body language - thus altering his head shaking motion to the up-and-down affirmative.
Please watch the video several times - as the subtleties of these movements are impossible to capture with still images.
Then, during 31:50, just after he says, "... anything else", Whitaker displays an expression indicating feelings of emotional pain (Note his slightly up-turned inner [medial] eyebrows [an elevated Central Forehead Contraction] and his down-turned mouth corners [especially his left]).
He then (31:52) displays a Loose Tongue Jut (not to be confused with a Tight Tongue Jut or a Wide-Open Tongue Jut), indicating the thought-emotions of:
• I've been bad
• I've been caught
• I've done a stupid thing
Notice also, Whitaker's right eyebrow mildly-moderately elevated, telling us he's in disbelief with his own statement. Whitaker's unilateral eyebrow raising/disbelief pattern we see displayed multiple times throughout this video.
He then turns his head to his left, and, as he prepares to answer another
question, Whitaker's eyelids open widely (31:53). While his forehead does not contract, his eyebrows and, particularly his eyelids do elevate. While not fully manifested, this is a classic Deer-in-the-Headlights response. Whitaker, in this moment, is feeling and displaying a heightened level of fear.
Scratching and/or rubbing higher on the forehead is a strong, nonspecific signal of anxiety (34:39). Note Whitaker's eyelids are still opened significantly here.
Immediately after a journalist, prefaces her question with, "Um, before you came into your current role ...", Matthew Whitaker's eyelids open even wider, with his right eye opened to an extreme degree (34:40). Also, notice that his nostrils are flaring. Whitaker is again experiencing a dramatic surge of Fear.
This same journalist continues her question, "... you were publicly very critical of the special counsel's investigation ...", Whitaker scratches above and in front of his left ear (left temple) with his left index finger (34:44).
Scratching or rubbing in front of and above the ear has a high correlation with deception, particularly in this confrontational context.
Although we can't see with absolute confidence (the camera doesn't capture it directly), it certainly appears, that just prior to - and just after this temple scratch/rub, Whitaker placed his left hand in and out of his left front pants pocket. Whitaker does so several other times in this video. This Limb Hiding is very much akin to a what a turtle does when it's frightened. He's in fear - he wants to leave (but can't) so he (partially) escapes into his shell (pants pocket). Placing hand(s) in one's pockets, when on stage is a profound red flag. And, although, in other settings, Whitaker may very well be an alpha male personality - in this scenario, he's a beta trying to disguise himself as alpha.
The journalist continues, asking, "... now since you have received your briefings, is there anything you've seen or read that gives you concern about the special counsel Robert Mueller or his investigation?"
Whitaker answers, "You know I've been fully briefed on the investigation ..."
Acting AG Whitaker then looks away from the journalist, and while looking down and to his left, he rather dramatically raises his right eyebrow (34:51). In this context, this Unilateral Eyebrow Raising indicates either that Matthew Whitaker:
• Cannot believe he was asked that question (highly unlikely)
• or he can't quite believe the Catch-22 situation in which he has placed himself
• or he does indeed have concerns regarding Robert Mueller's investigation
• or he does not believe he has been fully briefed on Mueller's investigation
Matthew Whitaker continues, "... and ah, you know I look forward to, ah, Director Mueller, ahum, delivering the final report ...". During 34:59 - 35:00, (as he says, "delivering the final report"), notice how he, once again, shakes his head side-to-side ("No") as he is making an affirmative statement. His nonverbal behavior very much contradicts what he's saying verbally.
Notice too, that his right eyebrow is, once again, elevated.
Just after Whitaker says, "only with publicly available information" ("... and, I, ah, really am not going to talk about, eh, open and ongoing investigation otherwise, but - you know, sorta the statements that I made as a private citizen - only with publicly available information, ..."), he displays a Microexpression of Regret (35:11). Watch this dynamic several times at full speed, 1/2 speed 1/4 speed, and once again at full speed, concentrating your attention on HIS left mouth corner.
Continuing, Whitaker says, "... ahum, and I, you know I'm, I'm comfortable that, ahum, that the decisions that were made [up-talking] are going to be, ahum, reviewed ..."
Note the uptalking, crescendoing/questioning sounding of the tone with his words, "made", "reviewed", and "have". Up-talking in this context signals low confidence. This is particularly telling given he's a middle-aged male in a senior, national leadership position. Such beta vocal tones are profoundly out of context with the behavior of an acting Attorney General.
During 35:19, as he says, "reviewed", Whitaker also displays a partially suppressed smile along with - once again - a questioning, raised right eyebrow. Smiling out of context, particularly with such a serious matter, indicates, with exceedingly high probability, that Whitaker does not believe what he just said.
You may have also noticed Whitaker's dramatic facial blushing which
progressed throughout this presser. Blushing, when accompanying a
suppressed smile, along with a declarative statement is highly
indicative of deception/ulterior motives.
Whitaker continues (from 34:19), ".... ah, a-, ya know, n-either [sic] through the various means we have - but right now, ya know, the investigation is ah, [inhale] I think, ah - close tal [sic], being completed and I hope that we can the report from Director Mor-r [sic] Mueller as soon we - as possible."
At 35:34, after the last word ("possible") of his sentence and the last word of this press conference - he, once again, displays a second example of a duping delight, duplicitous smile - along with extreme blushing. This behavior cluster screams of ulterior motives.
Throughout his answers, in obvious paralanguage displays of further anxiety, Matthew Whitaker repeatedly stutters, stammers, and mispronounces - including, most noticeably, Mueller's name.
SUMMARY: During his press conference on 28 January 2019, Matthew Whitaker was experiencing profound anxiety. More specifically, he feels tremendous pressure from the cognitive-emotional dissonance he's receiving from the two opposing forces of - and conflicting obligations he feels toward - both Donald Trump and Robert Mueller. During this presser, the Acting U.S. Attorney General also projected regret, fear, emotional pain, disbelief - and most notably, deception.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost the first game of the 2018 NBA finals to the Golden State Warriors 124 - 114 in overtime on Thursday night. It was a phenomenal game marred by several controversies at the end. Perhaps the most unusual of these involved Cleveland's J.R. Smith. With 4.7 seconds to go in regulation, Cleveland's George Hill missed his second free throw which would have given the Cavs a one-point lead. Cleveland's J.R. Smith grabbed the offensive rebound quite close to the basket with 4.0 seconds left - only to take the ball out to midcourt - then passing it to Hill with less than a second left. Hill took an off-balanced three (or long two) point shot with 0.1 left on the clock, but it was blocked. Most feel that J.R. Smith's actions probably cost Cleveland the game.
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of LeBron James' response to questions regarding J.R. Smith at the post-game press conference.
This image was captured at 0:51 in the above video, just after ESPN's Mark Schwartz asked Lebron, "Do you know if he [J.R. Smith] knew the score?"
Notice that LeBron's upper eyelids are partially closed as he rolls his eyes. An eye roll is a conscious or edge-of-consciousness display of:
• Contempt
and
• Impatient Dismissal
As LeBron turns away to leave, his upper eyelids entirely close for a few seconds. Such prolonged eyelid closure (or partial closure) is a form of psychological blocking behavior - further amplifying his dismissal of and contempt for Schwartz.
A second after Schwartz says, "Thank you", James' raises his right forehead and eyebrow in a moment of incredulity (notice that his center and left forehead are relaxed).
As he's walking out of the press conference, LeBron James points at David Schwartz and says, "Be better tomorrow". In almost every context, Index finger (forefinger) pointing is highly offensive and patronizing across all cultures.
This is the second analysis of Cambridge Analytica's, now suspended CEO, Alexander Nix (see: Body Language Analysis No. 4240: Cambridge Analytica's Alexander Nix [Part I]). You're probably familiar with the undercover video released recently shows him discussing the use of potential bribery and sexual entrapment. However, prior to his suspension, Mr. Nix gave an interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis. A segment of this interview is included above. Nix displays an incredible amount of tells throughout the video - and what follows is but a partial analysis - a focus his second spoken paragraph.
EMILY MAITLIS (beginning at 0:29): 'Cause he says that the data came not just from using the apps - but from a far wider circle of friends - or their contacts - gave you status updates, likes, personal messages. So from touching two hundred thousand people - you expanded into their entire social networks which scaled you to most of America.
ALEXANDER NIX (beginning at 0:50): Well, look - I think it's very important to understand what, what happened back in two thousand fourteen - is a, a, a very respectable academic ah, ah, who, who said that he had the wherewithal, the legitimate and legal wherewithal to collect data on Facebook users - ah, that we might be able to use in part of our modeling.
During 0:54, As Mr. Nix says "Two Thousand Fourteen", both of his upper eyelids open widely. What is so important about these particular words, "Two Thousand"? Nothing - this lid opening is dramatic and out of context. Such melodramatic misdirection is a common epiphenomenon of the anxiety which accompanies deception.
During 0:55, just before he says, "... a, a, a very respectable academic ah, ah, who, who ...", Alexander Nix displays a Loose Tongue Jut.
A loose tongue jut is an indication (Navarro) of the thought-emotions of:
• I've been bad
• I've done a stupid thing
• I've been caught
Only a second after his loose tongue jut, during 0:56 just as he says, "is", Mr. Nix displays a Unilateral Eyebrow Elevation (on HIS right side, our left). Raising one eyebrow is a universal display of doubt/disbelief. He does this very quickly - and he goes on to repeat this microexpression many times throughout this interview. The image immediately above shows this moment (note the height of his eyebrow compared with the frame of his glasses relative to the two previous images), but please take the time to watch this exchange so that you see this in context.
It's important to make the distinction that Nix raises both eyebrows many times as well (what does this behavior signal?).
Another nonverbal signal Mr. Nix displayed numerous times throughout this interview was a Unilateral Shoulder Shrug (a type of a Partial Emblematic Slip). A good example of this can be seen during 1:00 - 1:02, as he said, "... ah, ah, who, who said that he had ..." - as he repeatedly and rapidly raises his left shoulder.
Unilateral Shoulder Shrugging also signals doubt and disbelief. This is a strong signal that the suspended Cambridge Analytica CEO doesn't believe his own words.
Again, because this nonverbal is a motion phenomenon, it must be viewed in the dynamic context of the video.
Summary: This second analysis of Alexander Nix agrees strongly with the first, exemplifying numerous nonverbal signals of deception.
In this image of Roy Moore (as well as the close-up and third image below), we see an elevated Central Forehead Contraction (elevated CFC) along with a "Mouth Smile". Yet this smile is anything but sincere.
Now, of course, every human being makes this same expression ... occasionally. We do so as a nonverbal manifestation of the following emotions:
It's normal to feel each of these emotions from time to time (provided they don't occur too frequently).
Additionally, each of these emotions can also be projected by different facial expressions.
So, while we all display this expression once-in-a-while, those individuals who are Sociopaths (Antisocial Personality Disorder) will display this facial configuration with much greater frequency vs. the general population.
No psychologically healthy person will display this facial expression with significant frequency.
Summary: Whenever an elevated Central Forehead Contraction occurs FREQUENTLY along with a "mouth smile" (it's usually only a partial mouth smile) - it's not only insincere, but it also has a very strong correlation with antisocial personality disorder (sociopathic behavior).
This nonverbal display is so characteristic of Roy Moore, that he even chose a photo of himself with this same expression to use as his Wikipedia profile picture.
Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling star in the recently released film, Blade Runner 2049. As you may have heard, Mr. Ford mistakenly punched Mr. Gosling during its filming. The image immediately below captures both of their faces a split-second after impact. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of this moment.
One very telling nonverbal signal is seen in this instant (less than a
second after he received Harrison's punch) is Gosling's elevated right
forehead and eyebrow. This dynamic indicates disbelief.
The actor's mouth is also in the initial stages of a surprise display - Gosling's lips are drawn in and protruding and we don't see any teeth. If we had another image from only 0.1 - 0.3 seconds later, his mouth opening would still be configured in an oval shape - only with tighter lips and with the long-axis of the oval oriented vertically.
Harrison Ford's mouth is also in the early stages of surprise - however, his mouth also has the overlying emotion of fear. As mentioned above, a mouth of surprise will display no teeth, lips oriented vertically (albeit very briefly) - but a mouth of fear orients more laterally - with each corner pulling back and downward. In this instant, these two emotions are competing against each other (with respect to
the dynamics of Mr. Ford's mouth) - and the fear component is winning.
It's difficult to see the surface of his left eye - yet we can see enough to know that his eyelids are opened significantly wider than baseline. Both fear and surprise will cause widely opened eyelids.
Harrison's forehead is also very telling. A Central Forehead Contraction together with his particular mouth and eye expressions indicate that Mr. Ford is, in part, experiencing empathy for Mr. Gosling.
Significant physical pain will also result in a central forehead contraction - which Ford is certainly experiencing in his right hand (Note how he's holding/covering/rubbing his right hand with his left - as he's also doing months later as he re-lives the event on Norton's show). The retracted and protected positioning of his right shoulder and arm is highly characteristic of pain.
Although he may have been trying to be humorous, it's interesting to
note that Graham Norton asks if Harrison Ford's expression is one
of regret - and Ford says, "No, that's the face of 'Oh, Shit! I'm in deep doo doo.' "
Summary: When this accident occurred, each actor was transported back into the real world. Textbooks will often give the false impression that we experience feelings in an isolated and linear fashion. Yet the natural world is rarely so simple. Here we see both Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford - the people, not the actors - displaying classic examples of simultaneous and competing emotions.
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of one of the interviews conducted earlier today of Eric Paddock - the brother of the alleged shooter, Stephen Paddock.
At multiple times during this television interview, Eric Paddock gestured with his left hand up to his temple - initially with his fingers and thumb held together - then, as his arm and hand were moving away from his head - his digits splaying apart. This dynamic illustrator is often used to express an event or idea which "Blew My Mind/Mind Blowing" - as well as a sudden idea, insight, or realization.
Eric Paddock expressed a nearly constant display of rapid lateral head shaking which is consistent with disbelief and emotional processing. This is, of course, a dynamic behavior and is thus unable to be captured via a still photograph. Please view the video to fully appreciate this movement.
Also very frequently, Eric Paddock retracted his head, neck, and upper torso backward. This is another common signal of disbelief.
However, the display captured in the image immediately above, during 0:11, when Paddock pulled his head back, neck, and torso backward and wiggled his head back and forth with high frequency, and opened his eyelids very widely - was out of context. Some would call this an affectation.
This expression of "Feigned Consideration" in a theoretical scenario in which he's reacting to news his neighbor perpetrated a similar event - is also an affectation or melodrama - and out of context.
A moment later (beginning at 1:02) Mr. Paddock said, "... I mean my brother did this - I - this was like it was done - you know, like he shot us - I mean - I, I - If he'd a killed my kids - I couldn't be more - dumbfounded ...".
Most everyone would say the theoretical scenario of his own brother killing his own children is an odd statement - disproportional and out-of-context. From a psychological standpoint, this is quite different than, for example, versus, if he were to say, "I can't imagine what they're feeling. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose a child, parent, or spouse to a gunman."
It's also important to point out that this display of Mr. Paddock's is not a display of empathy - rather it's a display of disbelief.
Discussing the death and wounding of so many people, by his brother - and the suicide/death of that brother - are all highly out-of-context situations for laughter. Mr. Paddock laughed several times when recalling his brother texting their mother after Hurricane Irma (1:24 - 1:32).
This was the expression Mr. Paddock made (1:47) after a journalist asked him, "Were you a close family?". Notice his smooth forehead. Mr. Paddock has had Botox treatments and this diminishes some facial expressions - as it does here. Mr. Paddock shows more emotional pain in this instant than any other in this particular interview - yet it's still significantly suppressed. Subsequently, many people won't "feel his pain" and empathize with him as much as they otherwise would have - had his central (medial) lower forehead displayed a "normal for context" dynamic, contraction.
During 2:01 Mr. Paddock rolled his eyes. This is a conscious/deliberate signal of impatient dismissal and contempt after he says, "I live here. He lives in - Mesquite - [stuttering] - once again, public record stuff you'll find out [stutter] - I mean I live here - He lives in - We're not that close [Eyeroll]".
He follows this with, "... and we talk on the phone occasionally [melodramatically opened eyelids, during 2:04]". This is further melodrama/affectation. Mr. Paddock is trying hard - some would say too hard - in distancing himself both physically and emotionally from his brother.
Summary: Eric Paddock is not displaying definitive deception in this video regarding his brother. However, his behavior is melodramatic and out-of-context. This is, to a degree, natural, for who would want to be associated with such a violent act? Although Eric Paddock's baseline behavior may be somewhat prone to melodrama - here he's trying too hard. Later in the morning, it was revealed that Paddock's father robbed a bank and was, for a time, on the FBI's ten most wanted list. It's perhaps this information that Eric Paddock was also, understandably, trying to distance himself from.
In this video, Eric Paddock displays little empathy for the families, loved-ones, and victims. Rather, his primary focus and emotions in this video were his disbelief and in distancing himself from his brother (and father).
