On Friday 5 April 2019, while at two different campaign events in Iowa, Beto O’Rourke told the crowds that Donald Trump’s rhetoric echoes Nazi Germany, saying, "Putting kids in cages?", and "Calling human beings an infestation is something that we might’ve expected to hear in Nazi Germany", along with, "the rhetoric of a president who not only describes immigrants as rapists and criminals, but as animals and an infestation," as well as, "Saying that neo-Nazis and Klansmen and white supremacists 'are very fine people'? You draw your own conclusions, but this is not something that I expected to hear a president of the United States of America ever say."
One of Trump's statements to which O'Rourke was referring was from an event on 16 May 2018 (please see the above video). During a White House roundtable discussion on immigration policy, President Trump said, "We have people who are coming into the country - or trying to come in - we're stopping a lot of 'em. But we're taking people out of the country - you wouldn't believe how bad these people are. These aren't people - these are animals..."
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of the President's statement from that day.
A split second after he says, "people" ("These aren't people"), President Trump displays a classic expression of Disgust.
Just as he finishes saying the end of the word "animals", Donald Trump displays what is known as a Lip Curl.
A lip curl is a signal of:
• Braggadocio
• Bravado
• Hubris
• Bluster
SUMMARY: President Trump's nonverbal behavior exhibited during this video, shows us a strong emotional display of disgust.
Disgust was the most common facial expression seen on the faces of Nazi soldiers who staffed Auschwitz-Birkenau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald, and the many other concentration camps during World War II. Contempt was also very common.
In order to perpetrate, encourage, or tolerate mass violence, hate crimes, and racism - the human mind must dramatically rationalize - by regarding the victims as "others" - believing them to be of a lower existence, subhuman.
Moreover, Trump's nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage displays - all indicate strong egocentric motives and pleasure with regard to the ramifications of his immigration policy.
On Tuesday 8 January 2019, President Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office regarding his proposed Wall at the US-Mexico border. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this event.
As he began his Oval Office address, Donald Trump intertwined his fingers (0:06). For him, this hand/arm configuration is rare. He was probably following the advice of a speech coach. Some adopt this pose because they believe it looks strong and/or confident (which was Trump's intent in this moment).
However, depending on the other accompanying (simultaneous or nearly simultaneous) nonverbal signals - this hand configuration often transmits patronizing, condescending, and arrogant emotional tones - or it may signal frustration and/or anger.
This particular hand-over-hand dynamic (0:12) projects feelings of clandestine plotting and a hidden agenda.
Thus, it's no accident that Mr. Burns from The Simpsons also displays this same nonverbal behavior.
Donald Trump uses this Mid-level Steeple far too often (as well as the Low Steeple when he's sitting in a chair with no desk or table in front of him). When used this frequently, this (conventional) steeple strongly projects arrogance and an authoritarian emotional-tone (0:23).
Like all hyper-alpha nonverbal behaviors, anything more than a very little bit is far too much. Trump dramatically over-uses this body language. If he were well advised, the President would have been coached to display this signal for (at most) only about a half a second (if at all) - as he spoke (what he felt was) the most important word - of the most important sentence - of the entire address. Instead, this is very often the President's default hand position.
"While a pinch of garlic is just right, even a little bit more ruins the recipe." Piper Anne Twain
Trump displays an amalgam of Disgust and Anger is during 1:19 as he says, "Vietnam" ("... more Americans will die from drugs this year than were killed in the entire Vietnam War ...").
As he is saying, "... assaults, thirty thousand sex crimes, and four thousand violent ...", note the President is clasping his hands while he's rubbing his right thumb against his left thumb (1:34 - 1:40). This is another nonverbal dynamic rarely used by Trump - and indicates significantly elevated anxiety.
At numerous times during this address, the President raised one eyebrow (his left) indicating his disbelief in his own words. A particularly telling example is shown here (4:12) as he says the word, "request" ("... at the request of Democrats, it will be a steel barrier ...").
During 6:16, just after he says, "Hopefully we can rise above partisan politics in order to support national security", Donald Trump displays a classic Loose Tongue Jut indicating the thought-emotions of:
• I've been bad
• I've been caught
• I've done a stupid thing
Many people noted (and Tweeted) about The President's Dilated Pupils during his Oval Office address (image above was a screenshot from 6:08). Everyone who has been monitoring Donald Trump's pupils closely would have observed these to be Dilated:
• Intermittently
• Equally (or very nearly so)
• Often Extremely (at other times they have been dilated even larger than shown here)
• In a pattern repeated many times over years
Of course, with bright camera lights (or even routine, ambient, indoor lighting), we would expect anyone's pupils to be much smaller.
Note how dilated Trump's pupils are in this image from 2017.
At numerous times the President also exhibited deep nasal inhalations (e.g., 9:15).
SUMMARY: Simple fact-checking of Tuesday's Oval Office address reveals numerous examples of deception. In addition, President Trump's nonverbal behavior indicates he was experiencing the thought-emotions of frustration, anger, disgust, and a high level of anxiety.
Moreover, the President's pupils were significantly dilated. From a medical standpoint, his long-term pattern of bilateral, intermittent pupillary dilation is profound. It's not at all subtle or to be easily dismissed - on the contrary, it is glaring. Sirens Blaring. Red flashing lights.
While there are rare diseases/conditions which may cause such an intermittent, extreme, pupillary dilation, and I have not examined the President directly, any qualified ophthalmologist will tell you that a patient exemplifying these characteristics would be highly suspected of illicit drug abuse (I invite everyone to refute or confirm these medical findings - particularly those physicians with neuro-ophthalmology expertise). This medical principle stands on its own, however when coexisting with the President's prevalent and repeated deep inhalations, Occam's razor leads us - and the safety of the world necessitates us - to demand immediate action. A full and public medical evaluation of the President must be undertaken.
Here's the Rub: when someone we like and/or trust - exhibits similar
nonverbal behavior (e.g., in everyday scenarios) - if we fall victim to
our confirmation bias - would most people then be able to spot the lie?
His insincerity? Her manipulation? The Answer: Most of the time, No - we would be blind to it. Objectivity matters. Critical thinking
matters. Beware of confirmation bias - when evaluating your own, your
adversaries', or your friends' actions, proposals, and opinions.
As he departed for his trip to France on Friday 9 November 2018, Donald Trump answered questions on the South Lawn of White House. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of President Trump during a portion of this press gaggle.
ABBY PHILLIP: Do you expect Matt Whitaker to be involved in the Russia Probe? Do you want to -
DONALD TRUMP: (over-talking) It's up to him.
ABBY PHILLIP: Do you want him to rein-in Robert Mueller?
DONALD TRUMP: What a stupid question that is. What a stupid question. But I watch you a lot. You ask a lot of stupid questions.
During 20:37, just after Abby Phillip asks, "Do you want him to rein-in Robert Mueller?", Trump closes his eyes, tilts his head to his right, and clearly displays Contempt. This contempt expression is centered on his left mouth corner, the tightening of the area above his upper lip and below his nose (aka the 'mustache region') along with the (mild) flaring of his left nostril.
His closed eyelids - as well as the tilting of his head, while not required for a contempt display, here both act as contempt amplifiers.
Two seconds later, during 20:39, Trump displays what is known as a Lip Curl (his upper lip flaring out slightly) as he says the word, "is". A lip curl signals hubris, braggadocio, and/or bravado. Listen carefully, for Trump tends to have a slight lisp when displaying the lip curl signal (a nonverbal tell he often exemplifies).
Trump responds with a "Finger-point-hand-chop (during 20:43) as he says, "You ask a lot of ...". When verbally responding to a question in this manner, it's a subconscious affirmation that what was asked (in this case, "Do you want him to rein-in Robert Mueller?") is in fact true. Ergo, Trump does indeed want the new acting Attorney General to control Muller's investigation.
Trump's desire to do so, is, of course, obvious to even casual observers, but this is a fantastic example of a such a nonverbal display. Here's the Rub though: to note times when someone who you like, believe, and trust - exhibits identical nonverbal behavior (e.g., in everyday scenarios). If we fall victim to our subjective tendencies (our confirmation bias) of people we care for - would we then be able to spot the lie? The insincerity? The manipulation? The vast majority of times, the answer is clearly, "No". Therefore, using nonverbal tells is an objectivity tool - a way of checking our own opinions when, as human beings, we are inherently biased.
Another Contempt display (20:46), is signified on Trump's left mouth corner and mustache region. There is also a secondary element of Disgust conveyed in this moment.
Trump then displays a Loose Tongue Jut (20:47). This signifies the thought-emotion of "I've been bad", "I've been caught", "I've just done/said a stupid thing". This is seen when the psyche is scolding itself for making an unforced error.
From a statement analysis and behavioral analysis perspective, whenever a person responds to a question by calling it, "Stupid", with extremely high likelihood, it's a clear signal they feel that they've been sussed. They're trapped. If his intentions were honest, Trump should have simply answered, "No". Moreover, this response also indicates a lack of impulse control.
SUMMARY: Donald Trump's nonverbal behavior indicates he has both contempt and disgust for journalist Abby Phillip. Moreover, Trump knows he's made a mistake in naming Matt Whitaker as the Acting Attorney General - and yet he does fully intend to use him to "rein-in" Robert Mueller's investigation.
Earlier today, during Shabbat services, a mass shooting occurred at Tree of Life (L’Simcha) Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eleven people were killed and at least six others were injured, two of them critically. Before opening fire, the alleged shooter, Robert D. Bowers, yelled, "All Jews must die!"
The above image of Robert Bowers is from one of his social media sites. From a nonverbal perspective, we can glean valuable information in its analysis.
While not extreme, Bowers is clearly displaying a blend of disgust and contempt. A primary component of each these emotional displays is revealed in the area above his upper lip and below his nose. You'll note this 'mustache area' is contracted and tightened (a characteristic of both disgust and contempt). Careful examination, however, reveals it's slightly more tense on one side (here, on HIS right). In this context, this particular asymmetry is indicative of contempt (which may be also manifested with left side bias). Surprisingly, many will confuse such mild (or even moderate) snarl-like expressions with a type of smile. This is a profound and common mistake.
Flaring of the nostrils is another component of both disgust and contempt, although with contempt the flaring is also more pronounced on one side (again, in this case, Bowers' right).
You'll also note that Robert Bowers is not looking directly at the camera. His eyes are turned toward the camera - but his head is only slightly turned - and a bit also with his torso. People will look directly with much less frequency toward those they don't trust/believe, don't respect, and/or don't like.
SUMMARY: When screening people for employment or for any other purpose, social media is a valuable tool in predicting their behavior - including with threat assessment. Social media often acts as a type of reverse Rorschach test - telegraphing to the world one's most prominent thought-emotions. Certainly, individuals who chronically display contempt, disgust, and/or anger (either on social media or in real-time) will not all commit violent crimes - but, crucially, those who do show these emotions with significant frequency will virtually all have impulse control disorder.
The following is my second analysis of a portion of Brett Kavanaugh's testimony during his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on 27 September 2018.
JOHN KENNEDY (beginning at 3:45:39): I’m — I’m sorry, judge, for what you and your family have been through. And I’m sorry - for what Dr. Ford and her family have been through. It could have been avoided [long pause] Do you believe in God?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: I do.
JOHN KENNEDY: I’m going to give you a last opportunity, right here, right in front of God and country. I want you to look me in the eye. Are Doctor Ford’s allegations true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: They are not as to me. I have not questioned that she might have been sexually assaulted at some point in her life by someone, someplace. But as to me, I’ve never done this - never done this to her or to anyone else. And I’ve talked to you about, ah, what I was doing that summer of 1982. But I’m telling ya I’ve never done this - to anyone, [stutter] in- including her.
JOHN KENNEDY: Are Ms. Ramirez’s allegations about you true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Those are not. Um, she — ah, no — no — none of the witnesses in the room support that. Ah, the — if that — that had happened, I would have been the talk of campus, ah, in our freshman dorm. The New York Times reported that as - recently as last week, ah, she was calling other classmates seeking to — well, I’m not going to characterize it — but calling classmates last week and - just seemed very - um - I’ll just stop there. But it’s not true. It’s not true.
JOHN KENNEDY: Are Ms. Swetnick’s allegations, made by Mr. Avenatti about you, true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Those are not true. Never met her, don’t know who she is. There’s this, a — letter released within two hours of that breaking yesterday, from I think sixty people who knew me in high school - men and women, who said it was, ah — their word’s 'nonsense' — totally, ya know, whole thing that — totally ridiculous.
JOHN KENNEDY: None of these allegations are true?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Correct.
JOHN KENNEDY: No doubt in your mind?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Zero. I’m a hundred percent certain.
JOHN KENNEDY: Not even a scintilla?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: Not a scintilla. A hundred percent certain, senator.
JOHN KENNEDY: You swear to God?
BRETT KAVANAUGH: I swear to God.
JOHN KENNEDY: [long pause] 'at's all I have, judge.
CHUCK GRASSLEY: Judge Kavanaugh, thank you very much. Hearing adjourned.
During 3:46:01, just after Kavanaugh says, "I do [believe in God]", Senator Kennedy displays a simultaneous Inward Lip Roll together with a Jaw Jut.
An inward lip roll (ILR) is a nonverbal manifestation of one's psyche trying to suppress strong emotions.
A jaw jut signals a surge of adrenaline.
Two seconds later, during 3:46:03 - 3:46:06, Senator Kennedy scratches his left eyebrow and just above his eyebrow.
This eyebrow scratch indicates, with high probability that Kennedy doubts Kavanaugh's truthfulness. We are witnessing Senator Kennedy in a moment of cognitive-emotional dissonance - for he absolutely
wants another conservative Republican justice on the Supreme Court, but
he doubts Kavanaugh's own belief in God.
Then Kennedy goes on to say, "I’m going to give you a last opportunity, right here, right in front of
God and country. I want you to look me in the eye. Are Dr. Ford’s
allegations true?"
Listen carefully to Kennedy's word choice and the tone in his voice. This is the precise verbiage and tone that so many parents use when giving their children one "last opportunity" to tell the truth - when they know their child is lying.
Kennedy knows Kavanaugh is lying.
Senator Kennedy's order of "I want you to look me in the eye" also shows Kennedy's (false) belief that if a person looks you in the eye (not breaking eye contact) and denies something, he must be telling you the truth. This is false.
Eye contact during deception either increases (crucially, often to a stare) - or it decreases, with the deceptive person looking away (usually down, and more often down and to their right). Thus, by telling Kavanaugh to look him in the eye, Kennedy removed some of the indecisiveness that a liar naturally feels during the moment of lie-telling (e.g., Where should I look? What should I do? What, exactly, should I say?). By giving him one less thing to do (skillful lying is a dramatic multitasking event), Kennedy made it easier for Kavanaugh to lie. Kennedy lightened Kavanaugh's mental-emotional load.
Therefore, when you're in a position of authority and you suspect someone could possibly be lying, never say, "Look me in the eye". Don't provide them a script or stage directions. Liars lie much more easily when you choreograph for them. Never throw them a life preserver - rather let them swim in the rough seas of their own making.
Just as Senator Kennedy says, "... in front of God ...", Kavanaugh displays a Forward Lip Purse (3:46:11, not to be confused with a lateral lip purse) as he turns his head, neck, and eyes away from Kennedy to get a drink. This gives him an opportunity to break eye contact (note, as referenced above, he's also looking down and to his right).
A forward lip purse indicates a deliberate act - a lack of full disclosure of information (e.g., a clandestine plan or withheld disagreement and/or facts).
This image was captured during 3:46:12 - 3:46:14, as Kavanaugh raises the glass of water to his mouth. While some people do project their tongue in the instant before a drink, this is atypical and the tongue usually does not extend this far out of the mouth. Even if this is a normal dynamic for Kavanaugh (he did display it at other times during this hearing, although there were times he didn't), it also allows for one to exhibit a typical Loose Tongue Jut (not to be confused with a tight tongue jut or a wide open tongue jut). A loose tongue jut conveys the thought emotions of: "I've been bad", "I've done a stupid thing", and/or "I got caught".
Of course, anxiety does dry out the throat and mouth, and frequent drinks of water is normal in such a context.
During 3:46:16, as Kennedy says, "... eye ..." ("... I want you to look me in the eye ..."), Kavanaugh displays an overt Macroexpression of disgust camouflaged within a sniff (in distinction to a Microexpression).
Judge Kavanaugh exhibited such disgust-sniffing many times throughout this hearing (please see the first cross-reference link below for a more detailed analysis of this specific nonverbal behavior).
Five seconds later, during 3:46:21, Kavanaugh displayed a Microexpression of contempt and/or disgust (almost none of the left side of his face is showing, so these two particular emotional displays can't be differentiated in this instance), just as Kennedy says the word, "... true ..." ("I want you to look me in the eye. Are Doctor Ford's allegations true?").
It's quite subtle. View the video first at full speed, then at 1/2 and 1/4 speeds - and once again at full speed. Lather, rinse, repeat. Additionally, review it in this same manner several times a week for the next few months. This practice will dramatically increase your ability to discern this as well as microexpressions associated with other emotions - in real time.
During Kennedy's questioning of Kavanaugh about allegations regarding Dr. Ford (3:46:24 - 3:46:47), although Kavanaugh denies wrongdoing, he nods his head up-and-down several times (in the affirmative) during his denials. Such verbal-nonverbal disparity is highly significant and strongly indicative of deception.
Notice too, that for this same split-second Kavanaugh displays an expression of Fear.
Not to be overlooked, is Judge Kavanaugh's stuttering during 3:46:46, as he says, "in- including" ("... But I’m telling ya I’ve never done this - to anyone, in- including her ...").
During 3:46:45 - 3:46:56, as Kavanaugh says, "... to anyone, [stutter] in- including her", continuing through as Senator Kennedy asks, "Are Ms. Ramirez’s allegations about you true?", and ongoing during a portion of his subsequent denial, "Those are not. Um, she ...", Brett Kavanaugh grips his right index finger with his left hand.
Index finger gripping MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) is indicative of significant anxiety. Moreover, in this context, where sexual assault is being alleged, it's particularly symbolic and suggestive of guilt.
Kavanaugh displays a Hard Swallow (indicative of significantly elevated anxiety) during 3:46:48, just after he says, "I’ve never done this - to anyone, [stutter] in- including her."
A person who is telling the truth rarely swallows hard after declaring their innocence.
When asked, about Ms. Ramirez's allegations, Kavanaugh once more nods his head up-and-down while saying, "Those are not" (during 3:46:53 - 3:46:55). Although Brett Kavanaugh's spoken words are saying, "No", nonverbally he's saying, "Yes".
Whenever there's disparity between the verbal language and the body language - it's the body language which is telling the truth.
During 3:47:08, just after he says, "... our freshman dorm ...", Kavanaugh displays another classic microexpression of contempt (please watch this at regular speed and in slow motion).
Brett Kavanaugh displays another Hard Swallow during 3:47:32, as Senator Kennedy speaks the second syllable of Ms. Swetnick's name ("Are Ms. Swetnick’s allegations, made by Mr. Avenatti about you, true?").
The allegations regarding Ms. Swetnick evoke a greater level of anxiety in Judge Kavanaugh (compared with those he feels toward Dr. Ford or Ms. Ramirez).
Less than a second after his hard swallow, Kavanaugh displays yet another Forward Lip Purse (still during 3:47:32).
Again, a forward lip purse indicates a deliberate act - a lack of full disclosure of information
(e.g., a clandestine plan or withheld disagreement and/or facts).
A second later, during 47:33, as Kennedy says, "... allegations ...", Kavanaugh displays another overt Disgust-Sniff (a camouflaged Macroexpression).
Kavanaugh displays another Forward Lip Purse (47:35) as Senator Kennedy says, "made by".
Notice also, how Brett Kavanaugh omits the first person singular pronoun "I" when he says, "Never met her, don’t know who she is", when referring to Ms. Swetnick. From a statement analysis perspective, this verbal omission indicates significantly less ownership and belief in his own declarations. Such 'I dropping' is correlative with deception.
SUMMARY:
Judge Kavanaugh's nonverbal behavior indicates he's lying as well as deliberately withholding information (lies of omission). He believes he is guilty
of sexual assault. Kavanaugh's anxiety is particularly elevated toward Ms. Swetnick.
Senator Kennedy has significant cognitive-emotional dissonance, for he also believes Brett Kavanaugh is guilty of sexual assault, yet he wants a conservative justice on the Supreme Court. Moreover, Kennedy questions Brett Kavanaugh's belief in God.
In case you hadn't heard, on Wednesday 27 September 2018, both Brett Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee. This hearing could supply a year's worth of nonverbal teaching examples and it would close to impossible to analyze the entire event in one session. Thus, what follows is the first of several analyses of this historic exchange.
Many times during his testimony, Brett Kavanaugh dramatically sniffed. No doubt some of his sniffings were secondary to his tears. Possibly a portion of his sniffing was associated with allergies, perhaps a case of post-nasal drip, or maybe a side effect of medications. Yet, without a doubt, a large fraction of his sniffing was not associated with any of these aforementioned etiologies - but was behavioral.
One such example of this atypical sniffing can be seen during the above video, in Brett Kavanaugh's exchange with Senator Dianne Feinstein.
But this is no simple sniff, rather it's a classic and very pronounced disgust display camouflaged by sniffing.
Although this behavior can be fully conscious, it usually is subconsciously driven or a phenomenon occurring at the edge-of-consciousness.
Because it is disguised as a normal and common physiologic behavior, such disgust-sniffing is analogous to flipping someone your middle finger directly in front of their face. It's hate hiding in plain sight.
SUMMARY: Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh projected numerous disgust displays throughout today's hearing - cloaked in sniffing. In the example shown here, it's clear that he holds a particularly high level of disgust toward Julie Swetnick. Judge Kavanaugh's need for such a strong and frequent emotional display was
one of his several behaviors highly correlative with Impulse Control
Disorder.
