Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2233: Body Language, President Obama, 20 Children and the Tongue-in-Cheek

In the video above of President Obama's eulogy for those innocents killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting, he names off all twenty of the children, "...Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeline, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Emily, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Benjamin, Avielle, Allison ....", he then says, "God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on, and make our country worthy of their memory ..." Just after the President says, "memory" (above at 1:15 and imaged at bottom of post) he displays a "Tongue-in-Cheek" nonverbal on his left side. 

The tongue-in-cheek is a facial expression-body language which, when clustered with nonverbals not seen in this example, will indicate other emotions - such as self-righteousness, smugness, "I just caught you" (e.g. gotcha!), "I just won", telling a lie, anger , alpha-dominance and a variation can even signify a sexually provocative display. None of these apply here though. In the nonverbal cluster-context seen in this Newtown address, this display is associated with anxiety and is an act of self-pacifying/self-comforting. Indeed it is a body language form of a MAP (Manipulator, Pacifier, Adaptor) or "self-touching". For most people, delivering a eulogy can certainly be an anxiety provoking experience - even if you're the leader of a country. After such an emotionally wrenching shared-experience that this mass murder was - we all need to be comforted and reassured.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231: A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2215: Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio Joke and Hint regarding the  2016 Presidential Race - "Tongue-in-Cheek" Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1892:  Harry Reid, "That's a Clown Question Bro!" -  Tongue in Cheek

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2093: Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye - Matt Lauer's Classic "Tongue-in-Cheek" and Duplicitous Smile

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153:  President Obama's Tongue in Cheek - in Response to the "Birthers"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2085:  Dina Eastwood - Tongue-in-Cheek Variant - Sexually Provocative

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2232: Vicki Soto, a Hero, Body Language and a Mother's Love & Affection  - Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229: President Obama and a Body Language Signal of  Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions 


The Complete Eulogy can be viewed below.

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2232: Vicki Soto, a Hero, Body Language and a Mother's Love & Affection - Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Interview (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

There are oodles of body language examples in this video (original video is no longer able to be embeded - however link to video is here and the image captured as well as the body language are discussed are below). To delineate them all would take pages. Focusing on one example, near the end of this segment, illustrates a very telling and poignant nonverbal.

In this very emotional recounting of the events of last Friday morning at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Diane Licata describes the actions and motives of her son's teacher, Vicki Soto (4:13 - 4:36): "I know she would have done anything to protect those kids . I know she would have and I know she did everything she could at that moment. In the chaos and, and ascertaining what was happening, um, you know, ssssheeee is truly a hero .... and ah, it's very likely that because of her - our son is alive today."

Ms. Licata's prolonged eyelid closure (during 4:26 - 4:29), as the thankful parent says, "Sssssheee is" indicates a true and deeply sincere affection for her son's teacher-hero, Vicki Soto. Forty percent of the mass of our brain is dedicated to the visual system. And of the five senses, vision makes up ninety percent of a human's sensory input. Thus the visual portion of the brain also uses a huge portion of its blood supply.  When we close our eyes though, it changes the dynamics of the blood flow just a bit. It's not just the blind who have increased sensitivity of their other non-visual senses. All we have to do is close our eyes, and our brain's blood flow is shunted slightly more to the brain areas which control hearing, taste, touch, and smell - as well as the cognitive and emotional centers. We close our eyes when we feel affection. For this same reason we also close our eyes when we kiss, hug and make love. We want to amp up the emotion. We want to feel every last bit. We need to. We are human. So was Vicki Soto.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231: A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229:  President Obama and a Body Language Signal of  Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1855:  Sincere Kisses & Closed Eyes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2: Body Language of Blake Lively and Penn Badgley  Strongly Suggests an Impending Break-up in Near Future

Romance, Marriage and Dating - Body Language Secret # 771: Ann's and Mitt's Affectionate Hug

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1898:  Heat, Hugs & Head Surrogates

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2183: Barack & Michelle Obama's Tweet - The Palmar Touch, Body Language and an Affectionate Hug

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1423:  Head First Affection & Head Surrogate Hug- Shootings in France

 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231: A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers -Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

Adam Lanza, the mass murder in Friday's tragedy a Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut is shown above in a low resolution photo. Nonverbally, notice how very widely his eyelids are opened. This eyelid configuration is not universal among mass killers (e.g., neither Jacob Roberts, the killer in the recent Clackamas Oregon Mall shooting, nor Seung-Hui Cho of the Virginia Tech Tragedy have any published images with similar expressions). And certainly all those who display this "White and Wide Stare" are not destined to be killers. Moreover, there are medical causes which occasionally cause this appearance (e.g. Hyperthyroidism). However it's very peculiar and instructive to note how often this facial expression-body language is seen among these disturbed and violent individuals when compared to the general population (with no known medical cause). While everyone may occasionally make this face, consistent display is highly suspicious for sociopathic or psychopathic behavior.

When the central forehead is also contracted along with such widely opened eyes - and displayed chronically - this should send a loud alarm. Steer clear of these individuals, for there is a significantly greater chance dangerous behavior (not visible in all of these images in this post).

How do you assess for threats? Do you have a systematic and objective way of sizing up a person or persons who may be threatening? Nonverbal assessment should be a skill/tool you rely on when evaluating dangerous scenarios.

James Holmes, the shooter in the recent "Batman" mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado is pictured in the below. It was taken during his preliminary court hearing. Note how widely his eyelids are opened.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229: President Obama and a Body Language Signal of  Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions

 

Ted Bundy, a mass serial killer of at least thirty people is pictured below. His upper eyelids are also opened extra-widely.

Marshall Applewhite (below) although not a mass-murderer in the usual context, in 1997 led/brainwashed 39 people to their deaths through suicide - the largest mass-suicide on U.S. soil in history. Applewhite has this same "eyes white and wide" appearance.

While his eyelids demonstrate a slightly more subtle example, Jared Loughner (below) killed six people and wounding 14 (including then U.S. House of Representative member, Gabrielle Giffords) in a mass shooting (Tucson) in January of 2011.

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2230: Susan Rice's Interview Immediately after Withdrawaling from Secretary of State Consideration -her Body Language and her Sincerity Quotient

In her first interview after withdrawaling her name from consideration for the next U.S. Secretary of State, Susan Rice voiced her concern that she did not want her confirmation to be a distraction or disruptive from more important matters the country faces.

From a body language stand point, Ambassador Rice's rate of blinking is increased over normal at times during this short video segment. This is a nonverbal signal of generalized increased anxiety. When evaluating blinking frequency it's important to compare the times in question of expected anxiety - to other more routine, mundane and typically non-nervous periods. By itself, an increased blink rate does not indicate deception. She did not display any other body language-facial displays consistent with anxiety or lying. Thus, during this interview, Susan Rice's sincerity quotient is high.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #1843: United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice in Response to Syrian Government's Houla Massacre 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1698: Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari & Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2198: Susan Rice's Body Language at United Nations - Her First Public Appearance Since her Initial  Post Benghazi Attack T.V. interviews  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2190: President Obama's Body Language - Press Conference 14 October 2012 - Defense of Ambassador Susan Rice

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2195: Sen. John McCain's Body Language when  Comparisons made between Condoleezza Rice to Susan Rice & War with Iraq to Benghazi, Libya Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2214: John McCain Jokes - sort of .... and  John Kerry senses Deception - Senatorial Body Language

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1901: Maria Sharapova's Body Language of Anxiety

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 931: Harbaugh's Body Language of Fear and Anxiety

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2229: President Obama and a Body Language Signal of Holding Back Grief, Tears & other Negative Emotions

My deepest condolences for the families and loved-ones of the victims of the Newtown, Connecticut Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting tragedy.

In his address to the nation today, President Obama became emotional - and who among us wouldn't? For if tears are not shed for children and the innocent, what remains for which to cry? And while tears are easy signals of sadness to spot, there were other body language tells which were not so evident to most. At the 3:38 mark in the above video, the President displays an "Inward Lip Roll" (ILR). The inward lip roll is a nonverbal signal of anxiety and strong negative emotions - and more specifically the psyche's attempt to contain them from escalating. While the most common emotion being suppressed when an ILR is seen is anger - here Mr. Obama's grief and tears are being squelched. The ILR can also be seen just before, or in the initial stages of an act of physical exertion.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2231: A Common Facial Expression of Mass Killers - Using Body Language as a Threat Assessment Tool

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 33: Body Language of Grief and Affection in Japan

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1138: Jennifer Hudson's Whitney Houston Tribute

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 45: Faith Hill's Inward Lip Roll

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2210: Body Language Signaling of an Attempt to Control Emotional Escalation & Display - The Inward Lip Roll

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 322: Megan Fox's Lips

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2228: Jay Carney's Body Language - Contempt disguised as a Sniff .... for Republicans' Solutions to the Fiscal Cliff

Jay Carney spoke once again today regarding the fiscal cliff and the President Obama's view on how to avert. The White House Press Secretary gives multiple nonverbal displays in this video segment. However one nonverbal in particular bears mentioning. At the 2:29 mark, Carney sniffs with the right side of his nose/nostril/face. As usual, there is a quick inhalation of air - however there was also a mid and upper face contraction and a same-sided "snarl". Although this body language-facial expression is very quick, it lasts slightly longer than a classic microexpression. The meaning is just as significant though - one of contempt.

Depending on the other nonverbals clustered with it, the "Unilateral Sniff" can occasionally indicate deception (not applicable in this example).

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1881: Interrupting the President & Contempt Display - Neil Munro shows us his Body Language and  His (Lack of) Etiquette

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2127: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Body Language during Piers Morgan Interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2128: Mitt Romney's & Bill Clinton's Body Language during Mitt's Joke at 2012 Clinton Global Initiative

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

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 457: Salman Rushdie's Contempt Amplifier

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2172: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language of Contempt - Microexpressions and Subtle Displays 

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1407: Auboni Champion-Morin Reunited with Kidnapped Son After 8 Years - Microexpression of Contempt 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2227: Sincerity and Insincerity regarding Suicide Death of Jacintha Saldanha

Mel Greig and Michael Christian, the Radio Personalities from an Australian radio station, gave Television interviews on Monday regarding the suicide of Jacintha Saldanha. Ms. Saldanha is the 46-year-old nurse who had put the phone call through to other nursing staff at when the two made a prank inquiring as to the health of the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate Middleton had been admitted to King Edward VII Hospital for Hyperemesis gravidarum. While full details regarding the full cause of the suicide are yet to be made public, if ever they are elicited, these interviews are from a body language view point, very revealing.

In both of these videos, Ms. Mel Greig displayed a high sincerity quotient, while her male colleague, Michael Christian displayed multiple nonverbal examples of a distinct lack of sincerity, and moreover gave multiple body language tells of contempt. You should never want Michael Christian on your jury.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1855: Sincere Kisses & Closed Eyes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1600:  Senator Marco Rubio - Sincerity, Self-directed Incredulity & Humor, Blocking and Appeals for the Vice Presidency

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2052:  Dialing Up Empathy and Sincerity -  Mitt Romney's & Barack Obama's Response to  Aurora, Colorado "Batman Shooting"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1905:  Ann Curry's Smile and Sincerity Quotient 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2093:  Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye -  Matt Lauer's Classic "Tongue-in-Cheek" and Duplicitous Smile


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2224: Barack's Body Language It's (NOT) good to be back in Michigan President Obama Campaigns for Fiscal Cliff Resolution

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President Obama visited Michigan yesterday. His trip is highlighted in the above news segment showing Barack at a rally in Redford, MI. In it, he talks about the feared "Fiscal Cliff", ideas to circumvent financial chaos as well as compromise with Speaker Boehner and the Republicans.

During the 1:03 to 1:05 segment, the President says, "...It's good to be back in Michigan!" At this same time he scratches just in front of his right ear with his right index finger. Facial touching, rubbing, scratching in several key anatomical areas (and this is one) when making a declarative statement - or when answering a question are nonverbals highly consistent with deception and virtually always indicates anxiety. His tongue display at 1:06, just as the video cuts away, is a similar configuration an infant makes when he/she doesn't like the food just spooned in their mouth. This nonverbal "Tongue Push" in this cluster-context also is congruent with a lie.

Of course, we all display this (and other) body language signal when we lie.... democrats and republicans (which ones do you know?). The President just completed a grueling campaign - and the last thing he wants to do is be on the road. So his fabrication here is not necessarily directed at Michigan, it's people, or even "being back" there again - but is most probably reflects his emotional tone about having to travel in general and needing to campaign in an effort to avoid the fiscal cliff - something that he feels has a straight forward solution.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033: Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 652: Megan Fox has got an Itch - Not!

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 393: Lying more common while Texting 

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 339:  When a Lie is Heard or Told 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2156: Barack Obama's Body Language at Al Smith Charity Dinner -  Comedy, White Lies and Facial Touching MAPs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1907: Governor Rick Scott tells a Lie 

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 199: When a Lie is Told, Heard or Visualized by ....Vladimir's Eye

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2223: Dick Armey's Body Language and the Fiscal Cliff

Dick Armey  is seen interviewed here by Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell on "CBS This Morning" earlier today, talking about the "Fiscal Cliff". Despite his extensive speaking experience, the former U.S. House Majority Leader is seen making a major body language mistake in the above video. Mr. Armey repeatedly and extensively uses an amalgam of the "Classic Steeple" combined with "Pseudo-Praying" (In the image below he is only using the Classic Steeple). These nonverbals, when displayed, should be used very sparingly - in a deliberate and essentially choreographed manner for very brief moments. However most people who use theses gesture - over use them - and they backfire in waves of arrogance. The former congressman is no exception - dramatically over-displayed this body language Illustrator throughout this segment - and thus sending strong signals of condescension and a patronizing attitude.

See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1181: Helle Thorning-Schmidt & her False Praying Gesture

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1083: Brewer's MAPs Flag Foreboding

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1896: IMF Managing Director - Christine Lagarde Pseudo-Prayer & Pursed Lips

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1698: Susan Rice, Bashar Ja'afari &  Kofi Annan's Six Point Peace Plan for Syria 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2063: Mitt Romney and Ed Miliband - Under Used and Backfiring Uses of Hands

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1811:  Jamie Dimon - the Day Before Announcement of  JPMorgan Chase's $2 Billion Loss

Negotiation Secret # 705: Two Signals No Candidate Wants to Project  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2102: The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle and the Conventional Steeple vs.Basketball Steeple

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2222: Corey Booker's Body Language Indicates that He does NOT want to Run for Governor of New Jersey

Cory Booker, the Mayor of Newark, was interviewed today in on "Face the Nation". In this segment Bob Schieffer asks him if he will run in New Jersey's Gubernatorial race which is up for grabs in November, 2013. After Hurricane Sandy however, the incumbent Chris Christie enjoys approval ratings as high as 77%. Based on the nonverbal cues displayed in this video, Mayor Booker has a high degree of anxiety about running for governor of the Garden State. His body language shows significantly less anxiety when asked about the possibility of running for a U.S. Senate seat.

In short, Cory Booker's nonverbal signals indicate he has significant anxiety about running for governor this next cycle and that his heart isn't in it. He most probably will not enter the race for the New Jersey Governorship. 

Does your body language tell people your decisions ahead of time as well?

See also:

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1209: Even Putin has Anxiety - False Tie Adjust

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 931: Harbaugh's Fear and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1901: Maria Sharapova's Anxiety 

Nonverbal Analysis # 1820: What Causes David Beckham's Greater Anxiety - Barack Obama Teasing Him About His Age or His Underwear?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1869: One Body Language Signal a President Should Never Display 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1876:  Noomi Rapace, Anxiety & False Mastication

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2186: Paula Broadwell, David Petraeus, Body Language and the man who would be President .... 

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