Body Language Analysis No. 4379: Katie Bouman, Black Holes, and Emotional Processing - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Katherine Bouman has become the public persona for the first-ever imaging of a Black Hole. She's an American imaging scientist and an incoming assistant professor of computing and mathematical sciences at CalTech. Her Ph.D. thesis was titled, "Extreme imaging via physical model inversion: seeing around corners and imaging black holes".

As a member of the Event Horizon Telescope team, Dr. Bouman helped capture this first image of a supermassive black hole - at the center of Messier 87 (Also known as M87 - a truly gargantuan galaxy composed of a trillion stars - centered approximately 53.49 light years from Earth). This image is profoundly symbolic and significant in the history of science - for the photo matched the theory - and thus, was just what astronomers expected.

This photo, from Katie Bouman's Facebook post, is captioned, "Watching in disbelief as the first image I ever made of a black hole was in the process of being reconstructed".

From a nonverbal perspective, what does this photo of Katie Bouman tell us?

Although we can only see a portion of her mouth, it does seem to be configured in a true, sincere simile. Her left mouth corner - and a hint of her right corner - are both directed primarily upward and also laterally.

Another crucial component of a true smile is seen displayed by Dr. Bouman's cheek muscles (zygomaticus major). These contracted and vectored upward as well.

If her hands weren't covering her mouth, we'd only see her upper teeth.  

We can see that Katie Bouman's upper and lower eyelids are partially closed. Moreover, her lower eyelids each have a dynamic, concave-up furrow present. This evanescent finding is required of a true, sincere smile (a Duchenne Smile).

A seldom noted, but crucial part of a sincere smile is a non-contracted forehead. Note that Dr. Bouman's forehead is relaxed.

Dr. Bouman is also blushing. While not a required element of a true smile of joy-happiness, when accompanying the above-described characteristics - blushing is a sincerity amplifier.

As noted previously, Katie Bouman's hands are covering her mouth. This mouth covering is a signal of emotional processing. Said another way, while the logical portion of her brain knew what was happening - the emotional part of her brain was a more than a bit overloaded processing the event and its the ramifications.

Fascinatingly, during moments of dramatically good, bad, or surprising news - the covering of one's mouth - which often occurs rapidly (along with covering of portions of the cheeks and/or nose) - not only tells us the person's emotional characteristics in that moment - but this dynamic also speaks to a significant part of that person's overall character. Those who exhibit this behavior will have significantly higher sincerity and empathy levels.

Yet, Katie Bouman is displaying some emotional dissonance here. For this photo was taken at the moment when the first (of many) images of the M87 Supermassive Black Hole were being compiled. These were eventually amalgamated into the complete picture (shown above) which we've all since become familiar. In this early stage of this scientific moment, Dr. Bouman, naturally, had some anxiety - which is, in part, manifested with her straight, intertwined fingers. In this context, the collective positions of her upper and lower arms, along with her shoulders - which are all drawn inward and covering her chest - is an anxiety amplifying cluster.

SUMMARY: Katie Bouman's smile is a true, sincere smile of joy-happiness. She's also experiencing some (quite expected) anxiety - as well as some emotional processing during the unfolding of this historical event.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4378: William Barr questioned regarding The Mueller Report

Body Language Analysis No. 4377: Donald Trump, "These aren't people, these are animals"

Body Language Analysis No. 4376: Jacinda Ardern and Donald Trump - a Study in Contrasts

Body Language Analysis No. 4375: Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Security Clearances

Body Language Analysis No. 4374: Nancy Pelosi's Clap-Back to Donald Trump during the 2019 SOTU

Body Language Analysis No. 4373: Matthew Whitaker's Press Conference regarding Robert Mueller's Investigation

Body Language Analysis No. 4332: Richard Nixon, Nikita Khrushchev, and The Kitchen Debate

Body Language Analysis No. 4295: Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos, and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4254: Tony Robbins, Nanine McCool, and the #MeToo Movement

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Body Language Analysis No. 4326: Carter Page's near-constant Smile - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Carter Page has been a focus of the Special Counsel Investigation being led by Robert Mueller. It's been alleged that Page acted as a conduit between Donald Trump and/or Trump's associates and Russian officials during the 2016 Presidential Election.

Yesterday, the FBI released a version of a FISA warrant application regarding Carter Page. The document, although highly redacted, states, "The FBI believes that Page has been collaborating and conspiring with the Russian government," in addition to "there is probable cause that such activities involve or are about to involve violations of the criminal statutes of the United States."

Carter Page was a guest this morning on CNN's State of The Union. Jake Tapper pressed him several times regarding any current and past relationships with the Russian government. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis focusing on one of Page's prevalent nonverbal tendencies: Why is Carter Page so often in a state of near-constant smiling? 

Some people have a strong tendency toward smiling - essentially a default reaction - when they're deceiving, attempting to deceive - or being confronted with accusations of wrongdoings. This behavior is usually a longstanding, conditioned response. It's a tic-like phenomenon - which typically begins in childhood.

Early in life, these "Default Smilers" learn that they're not very skilled at suppressing their smiles - particularly when it's out-of-context - such as in the midst of deceiving.

Duping Delight is a related phenomenon whereby a person takes pleasure - true joy-happiness - in the act of fooling another person or believing they have successfully pulled off a lie. Their smiling - which is often subtle and evanescent - when displayed out-of-context, gives them away.

Since Default Smilers have long-since learned they can't hide their guilt by suppressing their smile, instead, their psyches take the opposite tactic - they smile continually so that others will not be able to detect them breaking character. This is a bit like using excessive frosting trying to cover up a burnt cake.

Default Smiling often begins early in life as Duping Delight - but it then evolves into something else: an over-compensatory behavior in an effort to hide deception in plain sight.

Carter Page displays the additional signals of:

• Repeated/near constant blushing
• Prolonged blinking
• Hard swallows (e.g., during 6:12)
• Unstable vocal quality/shakiness
• Not answering Tapper's questions
• Hyperbolic denials
• Stuttering/stammering
• Hedging word choices
• Jaw confessionals (e.g., 4:55 [shown above], 6:11).

SUMMARY: Carter Page's nonverbal behavior during this interview indicates, that with high probability, he is lying - and that he has, in some significant capacity, collaborated with Russian government officials. He exhibits multiple deception tells. Intriguingly, his nonverbal state of near-constant smiling (default smiling) is a long-standing mechanism to compensate for his poor poker face (e.g., "If I'm always smiling, they won't be able to tell when I'm lying").

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4325: Part II - Trump Putin Helsinki Summit Press Conference

Body Language Analysis No. 4323: Trump Putin Helsinki Summit Press Conference

Body Language Analysis No. 4321: Donald Trump and The Queen

Body Language Analysis No. 3949 (Re-posting): Donald Trump Shoves Montenegro's PM Dusko Markovic at NATO Summit

Body Language Analysis No. 4316: Sarah Paulson, The Met Gala, and Madonna

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4264: Criminal Profiling • Sketch of Man Who Allegedly Threatened Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) Over Her Affair with Donald Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4181: Ann Curry, Matt Lauer, "Verbal Sexual" Harassment, and NBC • Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4087: Harrison Ford Accidentally Punches Ryan Gosling in the Face - Blade Runner 2049

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Body Language Analysis No. 4322: Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

To date, this is one of the most widely shared images of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. It was taken during the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam on 11 November 2017.

From a nonverbal perspective, it's particularly telling. Vladimir Putin's expression is that of a partial, yet sincere smile with the necessary components of:

• Partially closed eyelids
• Concave-up furrows in each lower eyelid
• Partial mouth smile
• A relaxed forehead (while he does have age-related, passive "wrinkles", Putin's forehead muscles are not actively contracting)

President Putin's smile is not fully developed - and crucially, he's trying to suppress it. And as often occurs when one is suppressing a smile - blushing ensues.

Blushing cannot be consciously controlled.

Of course, blushing is NOT a requirement in order for a smile to be considered sincere - and all blushing does not coexist with a smile. However, if a person is blushing whilst smiling, their smile is virtually ALWAYS sincere.

It's profoundly important to keep in mind that you may not share the other person's motives for their smile or welcome their actions. What brings them joy-happiness won't necessarily do the same for you.

In this context, Mr. Putin's blushing likely is indicative of:

• Deception
• Clandestine motives/plans
• Difficulty containing his excitement 

Much less likely causes include:

• Embarrassment
• Nervousness/Anxiety

Summary: The phenomenon of blushing is involuntary and uncontrollable, even by former KGB officers. Blushing is a signal that control has temporarily been lost. The person is letting a thought-emotion slip through - one which they would much rather conceal. Blushing during a smile always conveys the sincerity of the smile - but be warned, for it does not speak to the purity/ethics of their motives. This phenomenon is often significant for an incongruity versus their simultaneous spoken words. It's a literal and metaphorical red flag. During such disparities between nonverbal and verbal messages - it's the nonverbal language which is telling the truth.

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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4321: Donald Trump and The Queen

Body Language Analysis No. 3949 (Re-posting): Donald Trump Shoves Montenegro's PM Dusko Markovic at NATO Summit

Body Language Analysis No. 4318: Jim Jordan regarding Allegations of Ignoring Knowledge of Sexual Abuse at Ohio State

Body Language Analysis No. 4316: Sarah Paulson, The Met Gala, and Madonna

Body Language Analysis No. 4309: The Little Girl in Red, "Tender Age" shelters, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4294: LeBron James, Adrenaline Surges, and Emotional Intelligence  

Body Language Analysis No. 4224: Greta Gerwig's reaction to Guillermo del Toro's Best Picture Oscar Speech 

Body Language Analysis No. 4196: Trey Gowdy on "Face The Nation"

Body Language Analysis No. 3995: Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, and the G20 Group Photo

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Body Language Analysis No. 4269: Michael Cohen and the Joker Smile - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

This image captures Michael Cohen during one of his Default Expressions. His "smile" in this moment is INSINCERE. More specifically this is a "JOKER smile" - named after the character from the original Batman comics.

Notice Cohen's forehead - it's contracted and elevated across its entire width - while the forehead of a person with a true smile of Joy-Happiness is always relaxed.

Coordinated with his elevated forehead are his elevated eyebrows. This brow dynamic is also a mark of insincerity.

However, his upper eyelids are lowered. More specifically, they are passively closed - with a droopy appearance. Crucially, when the eyelids are moving in the opposite direction than the adjacent forehead tissue - it's unnatural - a red flag for feigned emotions. Sincere (Duchenne) smiles ALWAYS require partially closed eyelids - but they do NOT close in this manner. With True smiles - the eyelids are actively closed - and they don't have this passive/droopy appearance.  

Now study the President Trump's attorney-fixer's mouth...

A Sincere smile does NOT display the teeth on the bottom - only the top (with the exceptions being at the beginning or end of true laughter [sincere laughter DOES reveal the lower teeth], a head tilted downward, and/or a superior camera angle.

The corners of his mouth are upturned - as we would expect with a sincere smile - but there is also significant lateral vectoring. Here, again, adjacent tissues are working against each other (another red flag) - simultaneously pulling the mouth both sideways and up

The tug-o-war of facial muscle near Cohen's mouth results in significant exposure of his lower teeth - and importantly, more so that his upper teeth - and thus resulting in the JOKER SMILE.

Summary: Michael Cohen commonly displays this particular variety of Feigned Smile - known as the JOKER SMILE. It's common and it's insincere. Whenever you see this expression on the street, in business, or in your personal life - be warned. Protect your flank.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4268: Benedict Cumberbatch, Schadenfreude, and The Grinch

Body Language Analysis No. 4265: Donald Trump regarding Mike Pompeo's Chances of Being Confirmed as Secretary of State

Body Language Analysis No. 4263: Kellyanne Conway regarding James Comey's Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4261: President Trump's Address regarding the Retaliatory Strike on Syria

Body Language Analysis No. 4251: Cristiano Ronaldo's Bicycle Kick vs. Juventus F.C.

Body Language Analysis No. 4245: Security Video of Stephen Paddock (1 October Las Vegas Shooter) - My KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 4209: Emma Gonzalez, Florida HS Shooting, and Emotional Processing

Body Language Analysis No. 4158: Michelle Williams regarding Kevin Spacey - "All the Money in the World"

Body Language Analysis No. 4000: Garbiñe Muguruza, Wimbledon, and Sincerity

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Body Language Analysis No. 4232: Betsy DeVos' 60 Minutes Interview - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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.


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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4231: Sam Nunberg Interview (Part III) • Diminished Impulse Control, Frustration, and Anxiety

Body Language Analysis No. 4229: Sam Nunberg (Part II) • Roger Stone, Robert Mueller, and Lies

Body Language Analysis No. 4227: Sarah Huckabee Sanders comments regarding Stormy Daniels and President Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4202: Saoirse Ronan, Ed Sheeran, and Galway Girl (Galway Grill)

Body Language Analysis No. 4189: Tom Cruise, a Broken Ankle, and Rebecca Ferguson

Body Language Analysis No. 4170: Stephen Miller's and Jake Tapper's Confrontational Exchange

Body Language Analysis No. 4155: Luis Elizondo Interview - Former Military Intelligence Official Who Ran AATIP (The Pentagon's Secret UFO Unit)

Body Language Analysis No. 4061: Pennywise,"IT", and Bill Skarsgård's Demonic Smile - Why is IT so Scary?

Body Language Analysis No. 4033: Prime Minister Theresa May Regarding Charlottesville Violence, "I see no equivalence"


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Body Language Analysis No. 4228: Kim Jong-un's "Smile" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

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.

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4227: Sarah Huckabee Sanders comments regarding Stormy Daniels and President Trump

Body Language Analysis No. 4225: Sam Nunberg Interview - Part I • Roger Stone, Donald Trump, and Russia 

Body Language Analysis No. 4223: Donald Trump to Republican Senator, "You're Afraid of the NRA"

Body Language and Medical Analysis No. 4221: Why are Donald Trump's Pupils Intermittently So Large?

Body Language Analysis No. 4205: Chloe Kim, Albert Einstein, and Creativity

Body Language Analysis No. 4198: Lupita Nyong'o, Black Panther, and Attention to Detail

Body Language Analysis No. 4179: Senator Dick Durbin questions Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen

Body Language Analysis No. 4145: Steve Bannon stumping for Roy Moore (and against Mitt Romney) in Alabama

Body Language Analysis No. 4065: The Murder of Laci Peterson - Scott Peterson's Red Flag

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Body Language Analysis No. 4195: Tom Brady and the Asymmetrical Smile - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

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.


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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4194: Tom Brady, "Why Does Everyone Want Me To Retire So Bad?"

Body Language Analysis No. 4192: President Trump's 2018 State of The Union Address - Part II

Body Language Analysis No. 4190: Serial Killer Bruce McArthur - and a Common Nonverbal Pattern of Sociopaths

Body Language Analysis No. 4189: Tom Cruise, a Broken Ankle, and Rebecca Ferguson

Body Language Analysis No. 4171: Stephen Miller's "Creepiness" & Jake Tapper, Volume II

Body Language Analysis No. 4152: Ruby Rose and her Mother's (Overgrown) Pig 

Body Language Analysis No. 4123: Jason Momoa, Aquaman, the Quindent, and a Secret 

Body Language Analysis No. 4104: Walter Cronkite Reaction to JFK Assassination 

Body Language Analysis No. 4011: Anthony Scaramucci's First UK Interview
                    

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Body Language Analysis No. 4190: Serial Killer Bruce McArthur - and a Common Nonverbal Pattern of Sociopaths - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Bruce McArthur, a 66-year-old resident of Toronto, Canada is a grandfather - and was a self-employed landscaper - as well as a Santa Claus at a local mall. He also stands accused of committing at least five murders.

From a nonverbal perspective, there's one facial expression which Sociopaths (those with Antisocial Personality Disorder) display frequently. Bruce McArthur is making such an expression in this image. It's components are:

• Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (elevated CFC)
• Mouth Smile (Usually partial or even slight [as is seen here] and simultaneous with the CFC)

It's profoundly important to stress that we all - all 7.5 Billion of us - make this facial expression from time to time. Most of us (about 96%) however don't make it that often. We may all display this expression when we're feeling:

• Arrogant
• Disbelief (a special subset of disbelief - more specifically, when we're feeling a Smug Incredulity)
• Contempt

As normal human beings - we're all allowed to feel these emotions - but not too often if we're emotionally and mentally healthy.

It's also very important to stress that all three of these emotions can be manifested by other facial expressions.

But Sociopaths (Antisocial Personality Disorder), bad actors, and TV pundits will display this facial configuration with much greater frequency compared with the general population.

If one thin-slices this behavior, it's fascinating to note that within the acting profession - men (both straight and gay) display this behavior mistake much more often than women. However, a common denominator of both sociopaths and bad actors - is indeed bad acting. While sociopaths are fair-to-good actors - they're almost never great actors (of course, there are occasional exceptions). If you know what to look for, you can suss them out.

Summary: An elevated central forehead contraction (CFC) coupled with a simultaneous mouth smile (usually only a partial [often somewhat subtle] smile, and by definition an insincere, mouth smile) - and WHEN IT'S DISPLAYED FREQUENTLY - is behavior which has an extremely high correlation with antisocial personality disorder (sociopathic behavior). If frequent, this is an ominous Red Flag. No psychologically healthy individual will display this facial expression frequently.

Media Inquiries and Group Appearances 

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See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3996: (REPOSTING) Donald Trump Jr.'s and Natalia Veselnitskaya's meeting

Body Language Analysis No. 4188: Donald Trump Gets Booed at Davos for Calling the Press "Fake"

Body Language Analysis No. 4186: Donald Trump, Robert Mueller, and Disgust

Body Language Analysis No. 4184: Why Does Donald Trump Point So Often?

Body Language Analysis No. 4165: Kim Jong-un's New Years Faux Pas

Body Language Analysis No. 4155: Luis Elizondo Interview - Former Military Intelligence Official Who Ran AATIP (The Pentagon's Secret UFO Unit)

Body Language Analysis No. 4132: Drake's Tattoo of Denzel Washington

Body Language Analysis No. 4104: Walter Cronkite Reaction to JFK Assassination

Body Language Analysis No. 4022: Jessica Alba's Rules for Naming Her Baby

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Body Language Analysis No. 4077: A Facial Expression Common to Both Bad Actors and Sociopaths - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Watch this video with no audio. What facial expression does Zac Efron display with a very high frequency? - An expression which he uses much more often than is seen in the general population?

These images above are but three of many examples: an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction (elevated CFC) simultaneous (or nearly simultaneous) with a partial (Insincere) mouth smile.

Now, of course, we all exhibit this same expression on occasion. These include the emotional displays of:

• Arrogance
• Disbelief (more specifically, Smug Incredulity)
• Contempt

We're all allowed to feel these emotions - once in a while. As long as these feelings don't occur too frequently - they are part of the normal human experience. It's also important to note that all three of these emotions may be manifested via other facial expressions.

But Sociopaths (Antisocial Personality Disorder) and bad actors (can you name any other groups?) will display this facial configuration with much greater frequency compared with the general population.

Intriguingly - if we nuance this behavior further within the acting profession - men (both straight and gay) commit this theatric faux pas much more often than women.

What should immediately strike you is the common denominator of these two groups. For sociopaths are, to a large extent, actors. They're not great actors - but most of them, for at least small segments of time, are fair-to-good actors (exceptions exist of course). And to be clear, I'm NOT saying Zac Efron is a sociopath (however, in this "Vogue 73 Questions" interview, he WAS acting - he wasn't simply being "Zac").

No one who is psychologically healthy will display this facial expression too often. Thus, if you're an actor or an acting coach - eliminate it. And, for everyone else - be on guard.

Summary: When it's displayed frequently (not just within a single conversation) - an elevated central forehead contraction together with a simultaneous/nearly simultaneous mouth smile (usually just a partial smile, and by definition an insincere, mouth smile) - has a very high correlation with antisocial personality disorder (sociopathic behavior). Take heed.



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Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com



See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4076: Roger Stone Speaks to the Press after House Intelligence Committee Testimony

Body Language Analysis No. 4074: Donald Trump Sends Robert Kraft a Message

Body Language Analysis No. 4072: "Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out! He’s fired. He’s fired!"

Body Language Analysis No. 4065: The Murder of Laci Peterson - Scott Peterson's Red Flag

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

Body Language Analysis No. 4021: Stephen Miller's and Jim Acosta's Confrontation

Body Language Analysis No. 4002: Justin Trudeau Meets His Namesake

Body Language Analysis No. 3948: The Manchester Bomber, Nonverbal Communication, Threat Assessment, and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3922: Vladimir Putin and Michael Flynn in Moscow


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Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey and the subsequent massive flooding, Joel Osteen has been the subject of much criticism - particularly over social media over the last 24-48 hours.

Pastor Osteen is the leader of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. There is significant controversy regarding any flooding - or near flooding which occurred/almost occurred at/near the grounds of the church. If this near flooding was true, as Osteen says, it would have placed any individuals seeking shelter there in a potentially harmful situation. Others claim that there was no flooding and the images of high water on/adjacent to the church grounds were from an earlier flood several years ago.

Osteen was interviewed several times on several different national networks this morning. One of these interviews is included above. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.

Comparing the above interview of Pastor Osteen to videos a few years old, you should notice several long-term patterns:

1. You probably recall that Joel Osteen has a prominent facial tic in the form of dramatic and long-standing blinking. Facial tics have both involuntary and voluntary components. Anxiety is one common factor which typically increases facial tic behavior.

2. He has an asymmetrical mouth configuration while speaking. Evaluating old videos show this dynamic is also longstanding - although it appears to be a bit amplified during this exchange.

Although it can be simply a form of a long-term habit/tic-like phenomenon, asymmetric mouth dynamics during speaking is also commonly correlated with insincerity/deception and bravado/swagger. Excluding tic-like etiologies, the Venn diagrams for these latter two behaviors overlap significantly.

3. Asymmetrical Smiling. Joel Osteen also has a longstanding tendency of smiling much of the time whether he's speaking or not. Osteen does this fairly dramatically - also with a strong bias to his right side.

When a smile is sincere - and it's beginning or fading, asymmetry is not uncommon - however the asymmetry should not be maintained throughout the duration of the "smile". If the smile is routinely one-sided and constantly present, it's a very safe bet the smile is insincere.

4. Constant smiling. This particular behavior of Osteen is profound - but, once again, it's been present for years. Anytime a person displays any facial expression with a continuous or near-continuous frequency - especially when it's far from emotional baseline, it's a tremendous red flag of insincerity.

Whenever a person's face assumes, what for them is a "default expression" (sad, happy, angry, critical, etc.) - and maintains this "facial pose" - it becomes much easier for the brain to deceive. When the stakes are high, convincing deception is a difficult act - it takes significant mental focus, and even then most people can't readily pull it off. Therefore, when a person wears a "living mask" (a constant, practiced, and for them, easy default expression) it's much easier to lie.

As a rule, a person who constantly smiles - out of context and out of proportion - is to be strongly avoided.

5. Stuttering is often correlated with facial tics and tic-like behaviors. Stuttering can be correlated with anxiety, and thus sometimes indirectly associated with dishonesty and insincerity - however, there is no direct relationship.

6. Hard swallowing. You'll note that at several times Osteen's "Adam's apple" (Thyroid Cartilage surrounding the Larynx) moved up-and-down during what is known as a "hard swallow". These actions are good general indicators of a dry throat and anxiety.

7. Touching with fingertips but not full palms when gesturing to the chest. Several times when gesturing to his chest (obscured somewhat by the banner at the bottom of the page), Osteen touches with his fingertips but not with a "Full Palmar Contact". This absence of full contact with the palm of the hand when touching one's chest during a declaration of honesty is also correlated with a lack of sincerity.

8. Constant head nodding. In this context, this action is indicative of (significant) anxiety.

9. You may notice that Pastor Osteen does not answer questions directly - but rather meanders and answers indirectly. Although of course, not body language, such a paralanguage pattern is suspicious, but not definitive, for deception.

10. Osteen's verbal timeline - e.g., when the storm began, when he said the waters receded, when the water truly began to recede, when the church released the statement, when the city asked for help, and when the church began to take people in - all do not appear to line-up. This could, of course, be simply due to Osteen's anxiety and the rushed format of a TV interview.


Summary: Much of Pastor Joel Osteen's behavior seen in this video is chronic - and not specific to this particular interview. Such findings muddy the water. Yet much of this long-term behavior is correlative with insincerity. Moreover, this not just one or two items - but multiple findings indicative of anxiety and insincerity. Thus while there is insufficient evidence in this video to indicate Pastor Osteen is being deceptive with respect to the Hurricane Harvey controversy, there are ample nonverbal findings here correlating with a chronic, low level of sincerity.


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


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4046: Melania Trump, Hurricane Harvey, and "Destroying Empathy 101"

Body Language Analysis No. 4044: Kim Jong-un's Choreography

Body Language Analysis No. 4042: Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor - Official Weigh-in

Body Language Analysis No. 4040: James Clapper Regarding Donald Trump's Fitness for Office 

Body Language Analysis No. 4022: Jessica Alba's Rules for Naming Her Baby

Body Language Analysis No. 4008: Veteran Who Survived Dunkirk Reacts to Film

Body Language Analysis No. 3953: Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron meet in Versailles

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3885: Vogue's 73 Questions with Selena Gomez

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3816: Secretary of State Nominee Rex Tillerson



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Body Language Analysis No. 4000: Garbiñe Muguruza, Wimbledon, and Sincerity - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Earlier today Garbiñe Muguruza defeated Venus Williams for the 2017 Woman's Singles Title at Wimbledon (7-5, 6-0). It was Ms. Muguruza's second major title after her 2016 French Open Victory. Venus Williams has appeared in nine Wimbledon finals, winning five - and has a total of seven major titles.

In the image above (close-up below) is Garbiñe Muguruza celebrating her win on centre court. Most people would say, particularly given the context of this moment, that she is smiling. Yet she's not showing any teeth. And you'd be surprised at the prevalence of the belief that if a person is not showing teeth - then their smile is not a sincere one (aka a "Duchenne Smile"). But this is a FALSE premise - for no teeth need be showing for a smile to be a sincere one.

Notice Ms. Muguruza's expression:

1. A relaxed (non-contracted) forehead
2. Partially closed eye lids
3. Concave-up furrows in her lower eyelids
4. Her cheeks are primary vectored upward (with a minor/secondary lateral component)
5. No teeth are showing

The first four are REQUIRED components of a sincere smile, while the fifth is not. Garbiñe Muguruza is thus suppressing the mouth component of her smile. However, if teeth were showing, they should only be the upper teeth (with the exceptions being: lower teeth can be displayed during the crescendoing to, or when decrescendoing from sincere laughter - or an elevated camera/viewing angle or downward tilted head).

Nuancing Ms. Muguruza's nonverbal signs even further we see:

6. Blushing
7. Dimples (left side not visible)

While blushing is NOT required for a smile to be sincere, if you have any doubt - and you DO SEE blushing - its presence serves to verify sincerity.

Dimpling is somewhat similar to blushing in this manner - although not with such high reliability. That is to say, most of the time - when a person who dimples (aka a "dimpler") displays her/his dimples - then their smile is sincere. However, there is a subset of "dimplers who will dimple during insincere moments and with more negative emotions (e.g., regret, bitterness, etc.).

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

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 3999: Donald Trump Jr., A Russian Lawyer, and Another Person in the Room

Body Language Analysis No. 3997: Donald Trump Jr., Natalia Veselnitskaya, and a Microexpression

Body Language Analysis No. 3995: Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, and the G20 Group Photo

Body Language Analysis No. 3993: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and subordinate Behavior

Body Language Analysis No. 3991: Donald Trump's and Vladimir Putin's First Meeting and Handshake

Body Language Analysis No. 3970: Kamala Harris and Jeff Sessions, Part II - Deception, Alpha, and Beta Behavior

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3918: The Image of Kim Jong-un He Most Prefers the World to See - and What It Tells Us

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3872: "Fearless Girl" Statue in Manhattan's Financial District

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3829: Mary Tyler Moore - Flirtatious, Sexy, Alpha Female Smile


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