Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2117: The People of Libya - Recognizing Subtle Emotions

How adept are you at recognizing subtle emotion? Virtually everyone can identify extreme anger, severe disgust or maximum fear. But it's amazing how many otherwise socially-skilled professionals mistake moderate, let alone minimal emotional manifestations.

The ability to discriminate subtle and evanescent emotions gives you an extreme advantage - whether it's in business, government or in your personal life that very few people possess. As you de-focus from the upper picture of this woman's eyes - to her face - then to an even wider view - did you change your nonverbal diagnosis? Now that you've seen all three - what does her body language tell you about her emotional tone? Are you sure?

See also:

Analysis # 2111: Mitt Romney on Libya Embassy Killings - Multiple Displays of Contempt

Analysis # 2116: Michele Bachman's Hands and Seeing between the lines

Analysis # 1890: Eric Holder has (Emotional) Contempt toward Darrell Issa - while Rep. Issa is Very Excited to be Seeking "Contempt of Congress" against Holder

Analysis # 1824: Mexican Political Candidate Natalia Juarez - Subtle Contempt

Analysis # 1055: The Subtle Lip Purse

Analysis # 114: Subtle Emotional Test

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Leadership Secret # 231: Who is His PR Agent?

The cropped photo displayed above belongs to the face of a major public official. Believe it or not, this is his official public photograph. What specific emotion does this indicate? I wonder who his PR agent is, because this is one of the last expressions you would want any leader to wear. I recently randomly poled 25 people, and all 25, while not all were very specific, they all gave me negative emotional descriptors. It never ceases to amaze me how many otherwise successful people - are completely unaware when they are expressing subtle or even moderately negative emotional signals. 

Who is able to read your emotional expressions? What tells are you giving away? Who screens your photos?

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Negotiation Secret # 114: Subtle Emotion Test

This is a photo of the beautiful and talented Icelandic Actress, Anita Briem.  I have included a high resolution image of her upper face as a test.  What emotion is she feeling?  It is subtle but important. 

Most everyone can detect strong examples of emotional displays.  Very few people, even among accomplished professionals with presumed "people-skills" such as physicians, attorneys, clergy, teachers and politicians are able to detect modest, let alone subtle examples of facial displays of the universal emotions. I am continually amazed by the prevalence of this lack of ability to detect emotion in others. Many experts feel that this phenomenon is getting worse with less and less "face-time" and more and more emails, texting, tweeting, phone interactions, etc. Under stress, this skill drops off even more profoundly. Is Anita feeling happiness, sadness, fear, anger, contempt, disgust, or surprise? How should you respond if she were your client, your sister, your friend, your wife or your patient? Discount it, ignore it, or miss it altogether and you both will suffer.

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