Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3183: Tom Brady, Bridget Moynahan, Body Language & Classic Subtle Contempt (PHOTOS)

Before Tom Brady married supermodel Gisele Bündchen, he was dating actress Bridget Moynahan. The recently "suspended-lite" DeflateGate New England Quarterback also had a son with Moynahan. In this image, he is displaying a facial expression that many would misidentify as a small social smile - yet it's anything but a smile. Rather, this is a good example of one of the classic nonverbal displays of contempt - albeit fairly subtle (about 1-2 out of 10). Note the mild flaring of his left nostril - as well as the slight tension of his "mustache area". What other feature here is significant for contempt? What are some contempt amplifiers also captured in this photo? We cannot say for whom the contempt was directed - yet this was indeed the emotion the Patriots' QB was feeling the moment this image was captured.

Intriguingly, we tend to mislabel emotions (biased in a positive direction) to a greater degree when the person displaying it - is accomplished, powerful or considered by most to be good looking. This is one of several qualities which make attractive people better liars.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3182: DeflateGate & Tom Brady's 1st Interview after the Wells Report - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2999: Chris Christie to James Keady "Sit Down and Shut Up" - Body Language Congruent with ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2322:  Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist?  Body Language Red Flags

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2965: A Variation of a Microexpression of Contempt Commonly Confused & Disguised

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

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication # 1203: Overcompensating Dominance Display

It is important to always interpret body language in context. This method of "holding one's bat" may be common in professional (or college, high school, etc.) baseball. However, the obvious phallic symbol is blatant, so over-the-top, one cannot simply say the behavior we see exhibited here is limited to just playing baseball. Men will use this and other nonverbal displays to suggest and project dominance - and have done so throughout human history (see below). In modern society - athletes in large measure, play the roles that warriors did in our more ancient cultures. If Ryan Braun or Prince Fielder posed this same way at the grocery store or anywhere else besides this narrow context, they would not be allotted the social latitude they enjoy on the baseball diamond. It is interesting to note that (with rare exception) women softball players don't position their bats in such a fashion.

Ryan Braun had tested extremely high for exogenous sources of testosterone last fall. However due to a chain-of-custody issue, a MLB arbitration panel overturned Braun's 50 day suspension. This is the first time a major league baseball player has successfully challenged a drug-related penalty.

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