Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1415: Justin Rose - A Puffer Fish at the Masters

The "Puffer Fish" is a common body language tell seen just prior to (when the expectation and outcome is generally known), or more typically just following a stressful event. With his cheeks distended, Justin Rose, probably just hit into the rough - and it's not too difficult to interpret this and place this nonverbal in context when watching The Masters. However it's incredible how often body language signals such as this are seen - only to be discounted - in a business, political, legal scenarios, etc. If you see this sign - don't ignore it. There is much more stress in those who display it than is ever verbally expressed.

The Puffer Fish which occurs during exhalation (although several consecutive cycles may be seen) lowers the blood pressure, pulse and is consistent with slower deeper breathing - and has a calming effect. This is in distinction to "Tight Lipped Breathing" which can look similar to the body language novice.

See also: Body Language Secret # 1122: Tiger, Pebble Beach & The Puffer Fish

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1488: Chief Justice John Roberts' Bitter-Regret Smile

Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, John Roberts, examples here an extremely common body language tell - and a very valuable one in the negotiation process (particularly for a Judge, he has a horrible poker face). Whatever verbal message that is conveyed when/just before/after a person displays such a "Bitter Smile" (Ekman) - it is an absolute that their true emotions are being held back - very often in flavor, and always in amplitude. 

Whenever the verbal and nonverbal messages are in disparity, the nonverbal is representative of what is truly being felt and thought. This particular bitter-regret "smile" guarantees some disparity. 

Believe it or not, we all make this bitter smile much more often than we think. The vast majority of the times, people think they are making a slight, polite smile (a "social smile") - when in actuality our mouths are concave down! (and our eyes are very far from "smiling eyes" - see Secret # 353: Brad Pitt's Smiling Eyes - Sincere and Insincere Smiles). This is yet another profound example of just how much our "emotional-proprioception" is desensitized during moments of negative emotions. In other words, virtually everyone is extremely unaware of just how much anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, vulnerability, etc. are displayed on their faces and bodies. This is very true aspect of human behavior, regardless of whether it's in retrospection or in  real-time.
 

Chief Justice Roberts is rumored to have a genius level I.Q. But remember, I.Q. is an abbreviation for "Intelligence Quotient" - intellectual intelligence, not emotional intelligence or emotional awareness. Ironic to some, those with a lot of formal education, on-average, have considerably less emotional awareness than those with only a high school education. We tend to ride more on our J.D., M.D., Ph.D, MBA, etc. and less on developing and maintaining our interpersonal skills. This is a pit-fall for which many (even most) attorneys, physicians, politicians and C-level executives suffer - they are largely in polite denial. Indeed, the average physician is superior at diagnosis, surgery and running a small business when they're 37, 47 or 57 - but their interpersonal skills very often were better when they were 27. The emperor is naked. 

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Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1995: Barack Obama, Social Darwinism and the Political Point

This video is an excerpt from his Tuesday speech to the American Society of Newspaper Editors, in which President Obama refers to the House Republican Budget Plan (authored by Paul Ryan of Wisconsin) as "...thinly veiled Social Darwinism ....". At the 0:54 mark, the President begins using (with his right hand) a body language gesture often referred to as the "Political Point" or the "Politician's Point" and continues through out the remainder of the clip.

The politician's point is formed by touching the thumb to the index finger and making a loose circle-oval. Occasionally more fingers are used as The President does here. This form of "pointing" is much more benign than the conventional and very caustic, "Index Finger Point". A rapport destroyer and universally offensive, pointing with the index finger should almost never be done. Conversely, the political point engenders trust, builds rapport and will aide in winning the audience over.

Incredibly, the nonverbals of the face and hand are very closely linked. Thus anger in the face - even subtle anger, tends to be also manifested in hand tension. The opposite is true as well - tension in the hands can often arouse negative emotions which are then manifested on the face. By using more inviting and friendly hand gestures - a speaker can help modulate his/her emotions to a much greater degree - even to an audience of one. 

Nuanced even further, when some speakers use the political point, but pinch their fingers to their thumb tightly, this detracts from the soothing effect on the audience and also has a negative feedback to the speaker. This will often be reflected in an increase in speech volume too. Indeed, at the very end of this video, note that The Presidents begins to pinch more and his emotions and voice grow more heated. Those who keep the finger and thumb loosely held achieve a more full effect of the political point. It's another nice little form of biofeedback courtesy of body language

This hand-face-emotional phenomenon is very probably the basis for why hand massages are great stress relievers.

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2131: President Obama's Blink Rate ... and His Anxiety

When the rate of blinking increases, it's a solid nonverbal signal that people are nervous. 

It is well known that blink frequency increases when anxiety increases. Provided that the eyes are in good health and the air is relatively humidified, men blink about every 7-8 seconds and women blink about every 5-6 seconds. There is some variability to this, and as with all body language, it is important to establish a baseline - i.e., what is "their normal". What's much more important though is any change in the blink rate. 

In this video clip of President Obama, notice his blinking considerably increase in the middle portions of this video. This clearly indicates he is nervous about poking fun at Mitt Romney. Let the games begin.

See also: Secret # 1149: Who was More Nervous in Last Night's Debate? Santorum, Romney, Gingrich or Paul?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2019: Sarah Palin's "Co-Hosting" on The Today Show - She Fears Romney's Candidacy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Former Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, is shown here in this video interview with Matt Lauer. She also later co-hosted a portion of The Today Show (aka "Today"). When asked about Mitt Romney and her opinion of his being the probable Republican Party's candidate this November, Ms. Palin never answered Lauer's question directly. Just before her indirect response she displays a classic "Neck of Fear" as well as a "Fear Mouth" (at about the 0:31-0:32 mark, freeze the video here for a good look). These body language tells were accompanied by the very common hiss-like inhalation. The duration of this nonverbal cluster is quite brief - only about one second, however not evanescent enough to be classified as a microexpression (less than 0.5 seconds). This certainly doesn't alter the meaning of her body language though. Palin indeed fears something here - either Romney's ability to beat Barack Obama in the general election, that Romney is less conservative than her own political beliefs, or maybe she just fears her ability to handle Lauer's question - or perhaps all three. 

See also: Secret # 329: The Neck of Fear

See also: Secret # 1081: Newt's Mouth of Fear

See also: Secret # 931: Harbaugh's Fear and Anxiety

See also: Secret # 1267: John McCain, Sarah Palin and Bell's Palsy

See also: Secret # 54: The Manubrium Touch Betrays Our Feelings

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1490: Kansas Surrenders

Ben Fraser of the Kansas Jayhawks is displaying a classic sports "Emblem". An emblem is a nonverbal signal that - within a given region, culture or country - carries a specific and recognized meaning. Within the "culture of sports" (around the World), this "Hands on Head" body language indicates a missed opportunity or a loss. Care must be taken when interpreting emblems though - for they can often have completely different meanings in other cultures or contexts.

It is curious how this emblem is identical to that of surrender seen in armed conflict or during police arrests. While many nonverbals with raised hands are positive, these are three notable exceptions.

The Kentucky Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks in the men's NCAA basketball final last night, 67-59. Coaches take note: when your players strike this pose - they have "emotionally thrown in the towel". You have already lost.

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1496: Tiger Woods' Disgust & Biofeedback

Tiger Woods is perhaps back on track - and just in time for The Masters. After a dry spell of two and a half years - Tiger won his first PGA tournament late last month at The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. In this image of Tiger, we see a mild-to-moderate display of disgust. His mid-face tightening of the "mustache area" accompanied by flaring of the nostrils is highly indicative of the display of disgust. Less dramatic (and secondary) body language signals of this negative emotion are seen in the slight dimpling of Woods' chin, the moderate wrinkling between his eyebrows (as well as lowering of those brows) and the parentheses shaped furrows on each side of the golfer's lower nose & mustache area. Collectively, these configurations comprise a cluster of contempt.

Like most high achieving athletes, Woods holds himself to high standards - and is self-critical. Thus this body language/facial expression of disgust is a very common one for Tiger. I put forth the argument, that if Tiger Woods maintained a facial expression closer to being emotionally neutral at such crucial times, this would improve his performance. The same would hold true for any athlete, student, surgeon, sales person, attorney, etc. Greater emotional self-awareness is a natural by-product of nonverbal training & practice and is an extremely valuable, rarely considered and very under-utilized form of biofeedback.

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Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1499: Bill Clinton's Empathy for Eric Fehrnstrom and Mitt Romney ... What's Your Sincerity Quotient?

Former President Bill Clinton displays a great body language cluster of honest regret at the 0:48 mark of this video. It is expressed as several microexpression directed towards Mitt Romney and his director of communications, Eric Fehrnstrom. Mr. Clinton acknowledges that sometimes, one of the worst thinks in politics is to tell the truth - as Mr. Fehrnstrom did when he started the "Etch A Sketch" controversy (see also Secret # 1486: Etch A Sketch, Romney & Eric Fehrnstrom Gaffe). 

Note the entire width of Bill's forehead is contracted - simultaneously elevating his eyebrows as well. Mr. Clinton's eyes are opened slightly wider than the resting/relaxed state would dictate. In this context, these all serve as signals of increased emphasis. This is one of the few times when eyelids are opened wider than usual other than when fear, rage or surprise predominate one's emotional tone. This is followed by a brief, but noticeably extended blink - an attempt at blocking or "wiping" the thought from his mind's eye (as if to say, "I'd hate to be running his campaign - because we couldn't fix this problem"). 

Mr. Clinton's head is also tilted very slightly (usually this component of this cluster is somewhat greater in amplitude). His mouth is highly characteristic of regret - that of tightly stretched lips with a co-existing "inverted smile". 

Although the former President is left-handed, his brain is wired much like a right-handed person (thus he probably is ambidextrous). Bill looks down and to his right when he experiencing a strong emotional tone - particularly that involving empathy or sadness (statistically, it would be more common for a left-hander to look down to his/her left when experiencing such emotions).

In a nutshell, Bill Clinton agrees with Eric Fehrnstrom - there will be a "reset" or "shaking of the Etch A Sketch", once the Republican primary is over. However, Clinton does not believe Mitt Romney will be able to pull off any "move to the center" for the November election. 

One of the big reasons while so very many people love Bill Clinton, even republicans, is his ability to project empathy and sincerity. It is a fundamental human quality to which of us are naturally attracted. Love him or hate him - few approach his ability to do this. Many would benefit by this skill. What's your "Sincerity Quotient"?

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Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1439: Central Forehead Contraction & Inward Lip Roll Devon Davis & April Davis

April Davis, the mother of Devon Davis, is seen here early in the search process for her son. The two year old went missing on Tuesday, 27 March 2012 in Liberty County, Texas. April's contraction of her central forehead is consistent with emotional or physical pain. These feelings may be experienced in the first person or via empathy. Note that the sides (lateral portions) of Ms. Davis' forehead are smooth (not contracted). Congruent with this forehead nonverbal, are her frown and inward lip roll (ILR). The inward lip roll is a classic body language "tell". It signals an effort to contain negative emotions. Ms. Davis is experiencing very real and sincere sadness. Unfortunately, when children are missing - the parents are very often a primary suspect. Such is not the case here however.

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Negotiation Body Language Secret # 1488: Ron Paul's Glasses, Authority and Time

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul is shown here taking off his glasses. This is a common body language tell when stalling for time is the emotional driver. Specifically, when a person needs a few moments to emotionally or intellectually process new information or when formulating a decision, the glasses will often be removed. Very often in such scenarios the glasses will be repeatedly taken off, put back on, taken off again, etc. Cleaning the lenses during these maneuvers is also often seen and is a further stalling adjunct. Glasses are also commonly removed at the point of the feigned theatrical denouement of an argument - commonly displayed in the court room, a political setting or during negotiations.

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