Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3228: Barack Obama in Rose Garden - The President regarding Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today was a huge day for President Obama. There's a good chance that years from now, the average American and Barack Obama himself will remember this day more than any other of his eight years in the White House. The President's eulogy for Reverend Clementa C. Pickney was very moving. And Mr. Obama began his day giving another speech - in the Rose Garden addressing the World regarding the Supreme Court's 5 to 4 decision in favor of the full recognition of Marriage Equality.

From a nonverbal perspective both of these events could be dissected at great length - and indeed there are some fantastic body language teaching points. However in the first two seconds of the first event we can see a gesture that is rare for the American President - a "shirt cuff adjust". This is also referred to as a "false cuff adjust" - since the sleeve is rarely out of place. This is a common anxiety tell and is seen much more often in males and those of higher socioeconomic status. Yet we can slice this body language even thinner. This nonverbal "illustrator" signals us that the President's psyche is up-regulating his alpha qualities (He's attempting [successfully] to "psyche himself up"). Understanding such a flux in the alpha-beta dynamic is useful not only in "dialing-up" one's own assertiveness - but also in the recognition of a change in emotional tone in others - whether in a sales setting, a negotiation, the court room, the board room or the Roosevelt Room.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3227: Bobby Jindal's, "... I am tanned ..." remark - What does his Body Language tell us?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3226: Bobby Jindal Jumps In the 2016 Presidential Race - Puts "Family Meeting" online - Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3210: Matteo Renzi, Christine Lagarde, Barack Obama and Up-Regulating Alpha Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3046: Chris Pine Dials Up His Alpha - "Into the Woods" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2569: Hillary Clinton, Visibility, Trust and a Harbinger of 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2674: Did Chris Christie Orchestrate Bridge Closure or Cover Up His Subordinates Actions? Body Language Tells Us ....

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2350: Ben Carson and Contempt - both dramatic and subtle - Backpedaling and Body Language (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the both interviews shown in the above video, Dr. Benjamin Carson shows multiple displays of contempt - some of these were in the form of microexpressions. These are most notable in the original interview on FOX earlier this week (exampled below). And although they are significantly more subtle examples - contempt is still seen with his explanation-apology.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2312: Bruce Willis' Body Language - Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2276:  Michelle Obama's Eye Roll .... What was she thinking? and  What Did Boehner's & Barack's Body Language Say?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2228:  Jay Carney's Body Language -  Contempt disguised as a Sniff ....  for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2271:  Golden Globe Awards - Best Original Song Adele & Taylor Swift - both Nominated, One Winner  One Body Language of Sincerity  Another of Contempt then a Suppressed Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2256: Steubenville, Ohio High School Alleged Rape - Body Language of Sincere Contempt on the Small Screen

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2264:  Kate Middleton's First Portrait as Duchess of Cambridge  Captures Body Language of  Contempt, Disapproval and Fatigue

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2243:  The NRA, Asa Hutchinson's Body Language,  Speaking out of the “Side of the Mouth”  and the Importance of "Norming"

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1822: President Obama's Stand on Same-Sex Marriage - Is he Sincere?

Ten days ago, during an interview with ABC's Good Morning America's Robin Roberts, U.S. President Barack Obama made an open declaration in support of same-sex marriage. Is he sincere? - Or is the President using this issue as a political tool during an election year? The vast majority of people answer this question based on their political bias. If this was another issue, and this were another man/woman - and you were sitting across the table from him during a crucial negotiation, could you tell if he was bluffing? If you were a defense attorney, and your client (the defendant) was gay, and you were selecting a jury (voir dire) - would you pick him to serve on the jury? What OBJECTIVITY TOOLS do you have at your disposal? 

Body language is a tool to enhance your objectivity when, as human beings, we are all inherently biased.

What does the President's head position tell you in this video?

What about the direction of his eye movements?

Did his forehead contractions suggest sincerity or insincerity?

What did his rate of blinking tell you?

Are his hand gestures (illustrators) consistent with deception or truth?

What MAPs (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers) did you spot?

What does the President's foot/leg position tell you?

If you were the President's body language/speech coach, what would you advise him to change in this video if he had a "do-over"?

Do you allow your personal biases to color your judgment as to guilt vs. innocence, sincerity vs. insincerity or truth vs. deception? OF COURSE YOU DO. The question is what are you doing to become more objective?

Fifty-five to Eighty percent of all direct human communication is Nonverbal. If you're not skilled in both the nuance of interpretation body language - as well as how you present yourself, moment to moment, in context - then you're placing yourself at a massive disadvantage. It's as if you would put ear plugs in - and pretend that you're listening.

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