There are many variations of fake/feigned/social ‘smiles’. Vivek Ramaswamy frequently displays one of these in particularly telling.
During the above interview with Mehdi Hasan last week, Ramaswamy displayed this false and deceptive ‘smile’ multiple times. Note the above image, displaying an example captured during the 20:06 time maker in the following video:
Ramaswamy's bottom teeth are showing. When a sincere smile is being displayed, the lower teeth are almost always never visible. There are some exceptions however.
Bottom teeth may be visible during sincere smiles if:
• Crescendoing to or Decrescendoing from sincere laughter
• You're taller than the other person (physical downward angle)
• Elevated camera angle (looking downward)
• The person is flexing/tilting their head/neck forward
• They have dental or jaw abnormalities
Vivek Ramaswamy is not laughing, nor is this suppressed laughter. However, this assumption does fool a lot of people and it's the core reason why this manipulative behavior often works.
The camera angle is also level with his central face. Nor does Ramaswamy have any dental or jaw abnormalities.
Vivek Ramaswamy is also tilting his head/neck backward, not forward. Tilting one's head backward makes teeth even less visible — and this speaks to the extreme degree of the falseness of this expression.
Vivek Ramaswamy frequently tilts his head backward while listening or speaking. With the exception of a neck injury/problem or relatively rare ophthalmic abnormalities, this configuration indicates arrogance and condescending emotional tones.
Vivek Ramaswamy also juts his jaw forward — during his speech (when he's being particularly forceful in his opinion — which is often, and a sign of an adrenaline surge) — but also during these feigned smiles.
During sincere smiling (or sincere laughing) the jaw moves in the *opposite direction* — it retracts backward, rather than projecting forward. Ramaswamy's jaw configuration is completely incongruent with sincere smiling (or any feelings of joy-happiness).
SUMMARY: This feigned smile of Vivek Ramaswamy is one of his common default expressions. But he's faking it. This is not a sincere smile. When we see this type displayed frequently, it's strongly correlated with manipulative individuals.
All individuals, businesses, and organizations who want to (need to) dramatically improve their Body Language skills and nuance their understanding of Emotional Intelligence, please email me at: Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com
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This post and others accompanying it, serve as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. 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.
On Saturday 11 August 2018, President Trump held a 'Bikers for Trump' rally at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. During this event, in response to a question by Maggie Haberman of the New York Times, Donald Trump called former White House aide Omarosa Manigault a "lowlife." What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this exchange.
PRESIDENT TRUMP (beginning at 0:03): Does everybody like the press?
AUDIENCE: No! No!
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Do you think the media is fair?
AUDIENCE: No! No!
WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: Not!
MAN IN AUDIENCE: Not at all.
MAN IN AUDIENCE: They suck!
MAN IN AUDIENCE: Tell the truth!
PRESIDENT TRUMP: I better not go that that route.
WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: [over-talking] Fire 'em!
MAGGIE HABERMAN: Mr. President -
PRESIDENT TRUMP: [over-talking] I better not go any further
MAGGIE HABERMAN: - do you feel betrayed by Omarosa, Sir?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: [to Maggie Haberman] Ah, [Trump nods up and down]
MAN IN AUDIENCE: [over-talking] Send 'em back out in the rain!
President Trump then pauses and says, [inaudible] to a man in the audience [spreading both arms outward and with his palms facing forward]
PRESIDENT TRUMP [turning back toward Maggie Haberman, speaking with the back side of his right hand, fingers extended up to mouth]:Lowlife. [drops hand, then nods up and down]She's a lowlife.
WOMAN IN AUDIENCE: [over-talking] Send 'em back outside!
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Okay, thank you everybody.
Beginning at 0:20, Ms. Haberman asks, Mr. President - do you feel betrayed by Omarosa, Sir? The President pauses as he says, "Ah", rotating his head to his left - he nods up-and-down - as he then turns toward a man in the audience. This nodding is an acknowledgement of his feelings of betrayal.
Mr. Trump then says something (inaudible on this recording) in response to the man's suggestion (who had just shouted, "Send 'em back out in the rain!"). The President spreads his arm outward (although primarily his forearms, with his upper arms remaining close to his torso) - both palms facing outward toward the man in the audience. This answer was a stalling maneuver. The President used these few extra seconds to think of what he deemed a clever response to Ms. Haberman's question.
Next, the President turns back to Ms. Haberman. He lifts his right hand up to his mouth with the fingers extended and says, "Lowlife".
He then lowers his arm, as he again nods up and down (a bit more subtly) and says, "She's a lowlife." Donald Trump is also exhibiting contempt in this instant.
The President's dynamic hand-to-mouth display in this context was a feigned act of insincere privacy. Of course, on occasion, during moments which aren't fully-private, secrets are softly spoken with one's hand acting as a sound barrier. And at other times this same gesture is used hyperbolically - in more of a comedy-sarcasm context.
Although Ms. Haberman's question was posed to the President of the United States - in a public setting - and regarding a serious issue - the predominant emotion being expressed in this moment was one of sarcasm.
Contempt and disgust were close behind (seen here during 0:27).
Immediately after his response, during 0:31, the President turns away, tilts his head and neck downward, and briefly closes his eyes. His shoulders also slump.
SUMMARY: In this context, the dynamic gesture of bringing his hand up to his face during his answer, forming a pseudo-sound insulator, was a hyperbolic, theatrical, and sarcastic gesture. Donald Trump also felt contempt and disgust during this exchange. Yet, the President does indeed feel betrayed by Omarosa Manigault.
Bill Clinton and James Patterson were recently interviewed by NBC's Craig Melvin as part of their book tour for their recent collaboration, The President is Missing. During this interview published on Monday, Mr. Melvin asked President Clinton several questions regarding his affair with former White House Intern, Monica Lewinsky. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of this interview.
In this image, captured as he says the word "Constitution" ("I think I did the right thing. I defended The Constitution", during 1:37 - 1:40), Bill Clinton is crossing both his legs and arms. Few people will be surprised to know this conveys a significantly defensive mindset. While it's possible that a person sitting in this nonverbal posture may feel cold - and it's important to rule out that possibility - in this moment, President Clinton emotions are significantly beta, vulnerable, and of low confidence.
He maintained this body posture throughout most ofthis interview.
This image was taken during 3:35, as President Clinton says, "I had a sexual harassment policy when I was governor in the eighties" - and it shows a classic Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression (R2E2).
A Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression may be of very short duration (a microexpression) - or it can last several seconds.
Body language beginners will often confuse an R2E2 with a disgust display - yet the underlying emotions of each are vastly different (How do to differentiate between these two signals?).
All human beings make the R2E2 expression on occasion. But when it's displayed frequently - or during crucial moments - you should always ask yourself:
• How do I feel about their overall level of sincerity (What's their Sincerity Quotient)?
• What are my gut feelings of their motive(s)?
• What was their primary emotion as they spoke?
• What, specifically, are they trying to convince me of/for what are they trying to Gain my Rapport?
• Do they truly believe what they, themselves, are saying?
• Are they feigning a weakness?/Trying to Gain my Empathy? If so, what is it? Why?
A person displaying of an R2E2 expression is actively rationalizing. They are either trying to convince themselves of something - and/or they're also trying to recruit you to agree with them - as a Co-Rationalizer.
A second later, during 3:36 we see a fascinating amalgamation of two classic nonverbal signals:
In the image immediately above, you can see a classic expression of:
• Elevated Central Forehead Contraction combined with
• a Partial (Insincere) Mouth Smile.
We all make this expression from time-to-time (hopefully not too frequently). It indicates one of the following three emotions:
• Disbelief (more specifically, a Smug-Disbelief with an element of Impatient-Dismissal)
• Contempt
• Arrogance
It's important to point out that all three of these emotions may also be manifested by different facial expressions.
But we all make this expression, on occasion - yet those people who make it frequently with high probability are Sociopaths (Antisocial Personality Disorder).
Another superimposed and simultaneous nonverbal signal (3:36 - 3:40, 3:44 - 3:45) which can't be captured in this still image - due to its movement - is what is called a Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (SRHW, aka, High-Confidence Head Wiggle).
A Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is a relatively rapid, side-to-side motion of the head and neck. Sometimes it occurs with a similar movement of the torso - and on occasion the jaw as well (and may be even isolated to only the jaw).
Sometimes the SRHW is very brief (a near-microexpression) - however, in these examples, it's a few seconds in duration.
The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle (SRHW) is commonly displayed during moments of hyper-alpha emotions of particularly high confidence - and primarily while also verbally expressing similarly strong opinions.
It's somewhat helpful to think of the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle as one variety of nonverbal swagger.
Please watch this video several times to note it's full context and dynamic nature.
Now, look at this image taken from a later moment in this video which includes an older segment of President Clinton during his 1998 Public "Apology" (4:22) as he says, "... Monica Lewinsky ..."
Note it's similarity to the other example previously cited:
• An Elevated Central Forehead Contraction
• A Partial (Insincere) Mouth Smile
But in addition, there's also a:
• Raised Right Eyebrow (with his right forehead also being preferentially contracted just above it) - projecting an additional emotion of Disbelief/Incredulity.
This expression does NOT project sincerity or empathy - and it's absolutely NOT an expression which should ever accompany an apology (Notice his face did not adopt this same expression when President Clinton speaking to his family).
In this moment (4:49) as James Patterson comes to The President's defense - it shows Clinton in a Tongue-in-Cheek configuration which, in this context, signals the thought-emotion of I Just Won.
Whenever an apology is made - whether during a relatively small everyday event with a single individual, in a workplace environment, or an entire nation - from a psychological perspective as well as from a crisis management perspective - several key elements must always be included if the apology is to interpreted as sincere.
The components of a Sincere Apology are:
1. An apology must always be given by the person who committed the act in question - not by a manager, an attorney, a press secretary - or other surrogates.
2. An apology must never be scripted - but must be spoken from the heart.
3. An apology to the public should be given live - with press access. While some substitute this with a prerecorded video-audio format - this projects an attempt at control and viewed as considerably less sincere.
4. A public apology to a surrogate or group should never be a substitute for apologizing a person face-to-face.
5. There must be a clear acknowledgement of responsibility.
6. A commitment to change must be made - so as to prevent further infractions.
7. An apology must include a specific repair offering (which should also include an asking, "What would you have me do to help make amends?")
8. Asking for forgiveness is required with an apology (e.g., Saying, "I'm sorry", while required - is incomplete. One must also say, "Please forgive me", or "In time, I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me", or similar.
9. Regret must be expressed - "I very much regret what I did to you".
10. The vocal qualities (tone, cadence, volume, etc.) must be congruent with sincerity.
11. The facial nonverbal signals and other body language displays must reflect sincerity.
SUMMARY: This analysis does not address the political ramifications of President Clinton's
relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Nor does it address the immorality vs. morality of an extramarital affair. Rather it focuses on some of Bill Clinton's
nonverbal behavior - and what constitutes an emotionally intelligent and
evolved apology.
I call upon President Clinton to publicly re-address his statements and his stance taken in this video - and the manner in which he believed he "apologized" to Monica Lewinsky. Bill Clinton should sincerely apologize to Monica Lewinsky - and this can only be fully conveyed in-person. In addition, President Clinton should state publicly that he was absolutely wrong and that the burden of responsibility was completely on him, not Monica Lewinsky.
When a person fails - and fails privately - then one day recovers to right their wrongs - they become better a better person.
That's growth. That's maturity. That's character. When a person fails - and fails publicly - then one day recovers to right their wrongs - we all become better people by their example. That's leadership.
Thursday was Hope Hicks' last day as the White House Director of Communications. She had served at this post for approximately six and a half months - and another month as acting Director.
The video above shows her saying goodbye to President Trump just prior to his departure on Marine One. While the nonverbal elements in this brief exchange are numerous - the one highlighted here, while not as dramatic, is quite telling.
The instant captured in the image above (and the cropped-close up below, during the 0:09 mark in the above video) shows Donald Trump with his left arm around Ms. Hicks' waist, waving at the camera with his right hand - and smiling.
But wait - that's not really a smile.
Notice the left corner of Trump's mouth is elevated, while the right side is vectored downward. Such asymmetrical "smiles" - with one side up and the other side down - are always duplicitous. They're universally insincere.
Yet, even if the President's right side exactly mirrored the left side of his face - it would still not be a sincere smile, for all the other components of sincerity are missing in this moment (Can you name them?). Moreover, at no time during this departure did President Trump display a true smile of Joy-Happiness (aka a Duchenne Smile).
Fascinatingly, the side of the President's mouth which is feigning joy - is the same side as Ms. Hicks.
Summary: As he says his final goodbye to Hope Hicks, President Trump's expression is insincere. His "smile" and emotions are duplicitous.
The above video contains an excerpt from Betsy DeVos' 60 Minutes interview which aired on Sunday.
The US Secretary of Education has less variability in her facial expressions than the vast majority of people. This phenomenon - sometimes referred to as a 'Living Mask' - elicits uneasy emotions in others.
One of Ms. DeVos' primary default expressions is a 'smile' - which, almost always is a feigned smile. Moreover, her smiles/false smiles very frequently occur out-of-context to the subject matter.
The image above was captured from 1:25 in the video, just after Leslie Stahl says, "No, but your argument if you take funds away, ah, that the schools will get better, is not working in Michigan..." - Ms. DeVos wasn't smiling - but then, upon hearing Ms. Stahl's statement, her face reconfigured.
Her expression is a false smile because:
• Her lower eyelids do not have evanescent, dynamic, concave-up furrows
• The corners of her mouth are vectored primarily laterally (rather than upward, as with a sincere smile)
This statement by Leslie Stahl, should not have been answered with a feigned or real smile. This type of behavior raises red flags. It 'feels' odd - for it's a highly out-of-context response.
Throughout this interview (and most of her public appearances), there are numerous similar examples such 'Masked Smiling'.
It's crucial to make the following distinction: Ms. DeVos, like anyone, can certainly exhibit 'Duping Delight' - however, near-constant, smiling (feigned or real), is another phenomenon (although both are examples of smiling out-of-context).
Summary: One reason Secretary DeVos is felt to be insincere is due to her longstanding nonverbal behavior pattern of:
• Very Low Facial Expression Viability (A 'Living Mask')
• Smiling Far Too Frequently (Smiling Out-of-Context)
Fascinatingly, these are exactly the same nonverbal reasons many people fear clowns/clown masks - because they are unchanging, insincere smiles.
Donald Trump has accepted Kim Jong-un's invitation to meet in person. No sitting US President has ever met with a North Korean leader.
Dictators, tyrants, strong-men - are sociopaths (aka Antisocial Personality Disorder). They all follow similar patterns of behavior - and this certainly includes their nonverbal nature. With such personalities, a common trait is a significantly limited variety of facial expressions. Kim Jong-un is no exception.
Consider this thought experiment: Imagine, for a moment, that you had never heard of the DPRK leader. You would very likely think Kim Jong-un's 'smile' is a good one. You may think it to be a sincere smile - yet you'd be wrong. His 'smile' is a feigned. It's quite insincere.
Included here are three examples of one of Kim Jong-un's default expressions - a false-smile. He displays a small variety of other default faces - and he's more skilled than most people at reproducing these expressions on-demand. But with such a low variability and routine use of a small number of facial expressions - these are essentially, Living Masks.
Notice that Kim Jong-un's bottom teeth are visible. While the lower teeth are indeed often revealed during sincere laughter, he was not laughing in these examples. A true, sincere smile of joy-happiness never exposes the lower teeth - but, as with most people, the North Korean leader is fond of exposing them when he's feigning a smile.
Fascinatingly, individuals who routinely "wear" behavioral facial masks are not only being insincere in that particular moment - they also exhibit strong insincere behavior over the course of their entire lifetimes'.
Moreover, people who commonly display behavioral masks also have another profound personality flaw - they have a strong tendency to think in false-dichotomy World-views.
Summary: Kim Jong-un's routine display of a small number of facial expressions are examples of behavioral facial masks. Included here three images of one of his default faces - an insincere smile. This low-variety of facial expressions is a pattern common to dictators, tyrants - and sociopaths - as well as those who view the World in false dichotomies.
Love him or hate him, there's no disputing Tom Brady is one of the greatest, if not the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Brady is also no stranger to the camera. From a body language perspective, he often provides an excellent example of a specific nonverbal behavior - which although not uncommon, is a valuable practice - and yet rarely discussed.
During interviews, Tom Brady, with relative frequency, will express a partial and asymmetrical "smile". Body language beginners will claim that one-sided "smiles" are never sincere (Duchenne) smiles. And while they'd be correct a fair share of the time - there are also plenty of exceptions. It's crucial to be able to differentiate between these behaviors.
Provided there's absence of trauma or disease - sincere smiles when fully expressed, are equal on both the right and left sides of the face. In the split seconds of initiation, however, true joy-happiness smiles may begin more prominently on one side.
Whether he realizes it or not, Brady's frequent asymmetrical expression - essentially acts as a default setting. This low-level "almost smile" (while he's talking or pausing) primes both his brain - and those of the audience - to a heightened mood, such that everyone is more likely to break into a full smile - and even laughter. Indeed, comedians use this same technique.
Fascinatingly, practicing this sincere, suppressed (partial), one-sided, low-level, priming, sincere smile can even act as a mood-elevator.
Summary: Frequent, partial (sincere but suppressed), asymmetrical smiling primes both oneself and our audiences. Such practice considerably facilitates the interview process by engendering sincere smiles and true laughter. This technique can also be used as one mode of effective therapy in personal mood elevation.
Understandably, most people who are curious about body language, are particularly interested in lie detection. Yet, just as valuable, and perhaps even more so - is the ability to discern insincerity. For those individuals who are insincere may very well NOT be lying in that moment - but they're very likely to lie - lie often - and lie regarding profoundly
important matters.
This begs the Question: What are some nonverbal signals of insincerity?
Answer: There are many body language insincerity tells - but one of the most common and reliable is the overly-frequent contraction
of the forehead muscles.
Of course, we all use our foreheads to express our feelings - and we should - for it's an important part of normal human emotional display. However, when it's done too frequently - and especially when it's out of context - it's a signal that that person is trying too hard. They do not feel true conviction in their words alone. It's the nonverbal equivalent of using ten exclamation marks when only one is necessary.
Most all politicians are guilty of insincerity - and Ambassador Nikki Haley is but one of many (regardless of their political beliefs) who exemplifies this frequent forehead contraction pattern. Other professions where this nonverbal behavior is exceptionally common are - unskilled actors, pundits, sales professionals, and attorneys. Yet to overgeneralize is unwise - anyone, in any profession can be insincere.
Summary: Unmasking those individuals who show patterns of chronic insincerity is just as important as detecting deception. Overly-frequent contraction of the forehead muscles is one reliable and common insincerity display.
Today the Washington Post published an article alleging that Roy Moore, currently a candidate for the US Senate, of sexual misconduct involving minors. These victims were, at the time, girls - including Leigh Corfman (who was 14 years old), Wendy Miller (age 16), Debbie Wesson Gibson (age 17), and Gloria Thacker Deason (age 18).
Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said, "If these allegations are true, he must step aside."
John McCain (R-AZ) went even further saying, "The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying, He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of."
Roy Moore has not, as yet, made any statements regarding the allegations, however, the candidate's campaign manager, Bill Armistead, responded by releasing a statement, in part saying, "Judge Roy Moore has endured the most outlandish attacks on any candidate in the modern political arena, but this story in today's Washington Post alleging sexual impropriety takes the cake. National liberal organizations know their chosen candidate Doug Jones is in a death spiral, and this is their last ditch Hail Mary."
In lieu of a direct statement to the public and press, what follows are five nonverbal analyses of Mr. Moore during other unrelated events - focused specifically on sincerity vs. insincerity.
Look at the example above, it has two expression components which should set off your nonverbal alarm bells.
While smiles which are asymmetrical are not necessarily all insincere - many are indeed so. Sometimes true smiles begin asymmetrically - however, the vast majority of times, these will then crescendo into symmetrical (and sincere) displays.
You may have also noted Roy Moore's "Tongue in Cheek" display (also above). This indicates a smugness indicative of the thought-emotion, "I Just Won".
What other characteristic, displayed in the above photo, helps to differentiate Moore's expression as sincere or insincere?
A sincere smile (Duchenne smile) always has temporary, concave-up, furrows in the lower eyelids - this is the most crucial of all qualities necessary for a smile to be sincere. Note such dynamic furrows are not present in this example. Regardless of the other present here - This "smile" is very much INSINCERE.
Do not mistake wrinkles for furrows (furrows are deeper and are associated with active muscle contraction). In this example (as the image immediately above), Mr. Moore also has no lower lid furrows.
Yet look further though - for if the smile is sincere, there should also not be any lower teeth visible (with the only exceptions being if it's the beginning or end of a bout of laughter - or if a camera/viewing angle were looking down from a greater height/angle).
This "smile" is INSINCERE.
If the central forehead is contracted, even if all the other components of a smile are present - this is a profound red flag. Such "smiles" are NEVER sincere.
In this last example, note Roy Moore's entire forehead is contracted (not just the central forehead portion). He is also partially covering his mouth during this feigned smile. Both of these are warning signs of INSINCERITY.
Summary: When confronted with such accusations, any person wrongly accused would
normally make a statement to the press immediately - answering all reasonable
questions. Any good campaign manager or those experienced in crisis
management would give the same advice. Hesitancy to make a public, on-camera statement and answer questions are largely due to one's guilt - and the fear of not being able to disguise it. When Roy Moore is asked questions regarding these allegations, look carefully for signals of sincerity - and also those of insincerity/deception.
