Body Language & Emotional Intelligence

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2363: Hillary Clinton, Body Language and the Political Point -
Hand Tension Correlations with Facial Tension

These two images demonstrate how hand tension correlates with hand tension. Here we see two variations on what in some countries is known in body language colloquial as the "Political Point". It is an example of what is simultaneously both a nonverbal "Illustrator" as well as an "Emblem".

In North America and parts of Europe, this gesture is used instead of an index finger (aka forefinger) point. It is a softer and kinder way of pointing and yet it still emphasizes key issues (as illustrators are supposed to do) and demonstrates assertiveness -but it is not "overly alpha" or offensive.

However emblems such as these political points shown in these images here will have different meaning in different countries and regions. In much of North America and significant portions of Europe, touching the tip of your forefinger (aka index finger) to the tip of your thumb (on the same hand) while making a circle or oval signifies "okay" or good. However in other parts of Europe - e.g., the Northern Mediterranean region, such as Italy and Greece - and also much of Russia, Turkey as well as Brazil - this same hand gesture will take on the meaning of a sexual insult or an orifice. In France, Belgium and Tunisia it means zero or without worth. Thus it is extremely important to know the variation of emblems for any given culture.

Beyond the specific meaning within the context of an illustrator or an emblem, there is another deeper indicator here. Look at Hillary's hand in the image below. Her fingers are tight and her thumb & forefinger are being pinched together. This correlates strongly with the expression on her face. Her tension in her hand is being mirrored by tension in her face. Contrast this with the photo above where her fingers are loose, relaxed and open - her thumb-index finger are not being pinched tightly. This more loosely held hand configuration correlates highly with her much more relaxed face.

There will often be nonverbal scenarios when you're not sure what emotion the face (or body) is displaying. In such situations, it's good to look at the hands and use this facial-hand phenomenon to help you diagnose the accurate emotional display.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2360:
Bill Clinton and the Body Language of a
"Loose Hand, Palm Up Point"

This past weekend in St. Louis at the Annual meeting for the Clinton Global Initiative University, President Bill Clinton was asked if he would rather serve eight more years as President, or complete sixteen projects at the Clinton Global Initiative, he paused and said, "I would rather keep doing what I'm doing, because I think America will have some very good choices for President".

Of course, with Hillary Clinton at his side this response drew a huge response from the crowd as the former Secretary of State is the de facto Democratic Presidential Nominee in 2016. It's hers if she wants it.

Bill is a master when it comes to body language. Even if you're his political opposite, when you meet him he has the ability to make you feel, for a few moments, as if you are the only other person in the World. Many a republican have said this. Given her level of experience, Hillary is pretty good with her nonverbal communication - yet she could still learn a lot from her Husband.

In the image above Bill utilizes a nonverbal nuance of which few politicians are aware - the relaxed hand, palm up index finger point. Most people are ignorant of just how cross-culturally highly offensive is the act pointing with the forefinger (aka index finger). Once you have learned this bad habit as a child - it is difficult one to "unlearn".

Many modifications of the forefinger point will soften the caustic nature of this body language illustrator. Some cultures will instead point with their elbow in order to be more polite. Other cultures will pucker their lips and gesture with a quick movement of the lips/head/neck. Yet another kinder modification is to point with the palm up, hand/fingers held loosely. In the above photo, Mr. Clinton is doing pretty well, however he could have done a bit better her if he was pointing with all his fingers and his palm directed upward a bit more - yet he's still far ahead of the pack on this one.

Another big advantage of having the fingers in a loose configuration, is it will tend to simultaneously relax the face muscles. When the hand in tense - the face will mirror this tension - which is often manifested as anxiety, sadness, anger, contempt, fear or disgust. When the fingers and hands are relaxed, so becomes the face. This is one reason why a hand massage feels so good.

The significance of palms up is also very important. It is universally interpreted as more giving, supportive, open, accepting and kind - whereas the palm down point is much more authoritative and often hyper-assertive. There are rare times when this gesture may be called for - but most "leaders" (or those in leadership positions) dramatically over use it. Those who use the palm down point often are not only offending others (either out of choice or naïveté) - but its chronic use is a strong indicator of narcissistic personality disorder.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2339: Alpha, Beta, Body Language & Rapport Destroyers

Negotiation Secret # 339: Don't Point at Me! I am not your child!

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 349: Pointing with Two Fingers (or more)

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 793: The Finger Point - A Rare Exception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2321: Cardinal Timothy Dolan on "Face the Nation" Problems in Catholic Church & Electing a New Pope Clergy are Not Exempt from Body Language Tells ...

Negotiation Secret # 441: The Political Point - How Not to Use It

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1918: Vladimir Putin - Pointing with Pen Surrogates - Sharp vs. Blunt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2322: Jeb Bush & Matt Lauer - Which one is the Narcissist? Body Language Red Flags

___________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, April 8, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2359:
Anne Smedinghoff and her Body Language of Joy-Happiness

Anne Smedinghoff died over the weekend in Afghanistan. The United States diplomat was killed along with five others when a suicide bomber attacked her convoy as she was delivering books to a school. Her parents speak of her truly doing what she wanted to do. Smedinghoff's smile in the above image speaks of this too - for it has all the components of a true and sincere smile. Her eyelids are partially closed - which is a must for all true joy smiles. Her "smiling eyes" are further characterized by a dynamic, concave-up furrow in each of her lower lids. This temporary fold of skin is a product of her cheek muscles (zygomaticus major) being elevated and the peripheral portion of her "eyelid closing muscles" [orbicularis oculi (pars orbitalis)] contracting.

Note also Anne's forehead is relaxed and smooth. There are no furrows or dynamic wrinkles on her forehead - thus indicating no muscle contraction. Whenever the forehead muscles are contracted, the "smile" (pseudo-smile) is never a sincere one.

It is not necessary for any teeth to be exposed during a truly sincere (Duchenne Smile) - examples of this occur when the smile is being suppressed or during initial stages of formation. The lower teeth are not usually visible during a sincere smile either - but there are exceptions here as well (e.g.: If the smile is held too long - fatigue sets in; if the camera angle or person is significantly taller and thus looking downwards; or if there is a component of laughter present).

Anne Smedinghoff's facial expression body language has all the components of one in the midst of true joy.

My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Anne Smedinghoff.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2297: Rooney Mara on Conan O'Brien Common Body Language Tell Fear Apology Query Expression-Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis #2292: Mercedes Benz CLA Super Bowl Commercial "Soul" Willem Dafoe's Body Language as the Devil

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2329: Sheryl Sandberg (COO of Facebook) on 60 Minutes AND a bit of Mark Zuckerberg - Two Crucial Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2264: Kate Middleton's First Portrait as Duchess of Cambridge Captures Body Language of Contempt, Disapproval and Fatigue

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2157: Al Smith Charity Dinner Barack Obama's & Mitt Romney's Smiles Sincere or False?

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1010: What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2345: Tiger Woods & Lindsey Vonn - Body Language of True Affection?

___________________________________________________________________________________

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2358:
Rutgers University President Robert Barchi on
Tim Pernetti Resignation & Mike Rice Firing -
Body Language of Regret

The above video is a clip from a press conference which took place on Friday 5 April 2013 wherein Rutgers University President Robert Barchi spoke about the resignation of the school's athletic director, Tim Pernetti. This was in regards to the recently much publicized scandal with Rutgers Mens Basketball Coach Mike Rice and his physical and verbal abuse of his players.

At multiple times during this video, Mr. Barchi demonstrates nonverbal displays of the emotion of regret in the form of a bitter, thin-lipped pseudosmile. They are difficult to see and recognize due to his downward head/neck tilt. Such an emotion is certainly within the context for what is expected - both a personal and a professional embarrassment for the University President.

The emotion of regret - as displayed in this video - does not alone indicate whether Barchi feels he shares any direct personal responsibility for what has been placed on Tim Pernetti's shoulders. Are there any nonverbals present here which indicate Barchi feels that he is partially responsible for not firing Mike Rice earlier or does he believe he is not at fault? Does his body language here demonstrate innocence? If you were guiding attorneys in the voir dire process, would you advise them to pick Robert Barchi on your jury?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2357:
Why is this Image so Sexy?
Body Language of "Hide & Seek"

In this posed picture a beautiful woman is looking at "us" through the mane of a horse sculpture. Most people will find this to be a particularly sexy image. And while she is certainly attractive to begin with, several nonverbals increase her appeal. In particular, this partial view of her face somewhat emulates the peek-a-boo games we all played as children. This same behavior is ubiquitously carried over into teenage years and adulthood and is a routine component in the process of flirtation and romance. A slight shift in positioning by either party will "cover" her eyes - only to be "uncovered" once more with another small adjustment. A similar effect is also achieved with the brim of a hat, via hair hanging down in front of one or both eyes, etc.

During such flirtations, care should be taken not to look too long, where it becomes a stare. As long as eye contact is made and held for a second or two, then is broken and re-established for another brief moment the message usually gets through. During the second eye contact it is also very helpful to display a smile - either sincere one or a good "social smile".

Additional mysteriousness and thus allure is added in this photo because a good share of this beauty's face is covered by sculpture or by shadow. It is natural to want to know what we cannot see. This spurs our curiosity and her attractiveness.

Photo credit: Sassan Knight

See also:

Romance, Flirting & Dating Body Language Secret # 1893: Nonverbal Communication of the Facial Platter

Romance, Flirting & Dating Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1752: Wearing Red and Sexual Attraction - What are You Marketing?

Flirting and Romance Secret # 12: Being a Sexual Being

Flirting and Romance Secret # 21: The Romantic Height Ratio

Dating & Romance Body Language Secret # 2020: The Art of Looking Flirtatious

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1010: What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye?

Romance, Marriage and Dating - Body Language Secret # 609: Going from High Heels to Flats and then back to Heels

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2203: A Body Language Metric of Intimacy and Affection - How Do YOU cuddle?

___________________________________________________________________________________

Friday, April 5, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2356:
Michelle Obama's "as a Busy Single Mother" comment -
What her Body Language Tells Us

This morning during an interview in Burlington, Vermont, Michelle Obama said, “Believe me, as a busy single mother – or I shouldn’t say single – as a busy mother, sometimes when you’ve got a husband who is president it can feel a little single. But he’s there.”

At the precise moment she said, "...single...", the first lady's mouth took on significant asymmetry (0:15 mark in the above video, imaged below). There are rare people who speak essentially constantly with their mouths' configured to one side, and this is their "norm" - but Michele Obama is not one of them. Contempt, regret and the facial expression of R2E2 can also have asymmetrical nonverbal mouth components, and while all three of these emotions are also exemplified elsewhere in this video, they have additional facial expression components which are not present in this moment.

When the mouth takes on a momentary asymmetrical shape - one light which should go off in your mind is the emotion of insincerity. Everyone knows that Mrs. Obama is not single. She of course is married to the most powerful man on the planet with a myriad of resources at her disposal which "single mothers" will never know. Thus here we have an indisputable fact illustrating the reliability of this nonverbal sincerity vs. insincerity litmus test.

This is but one of many body language insincerity tells - how many get by you every single day?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2062: Mitt Romney in London - Speaking out the Side of His Mouth - Anxiety-Insincerity or Worse

___________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2355:
Adam Lanza's College ID and the
Body Language of Eyes Chronically Wide Open

This recently released school identification photo of Adam Lanza has been called "eerie". And although some may choose a different adjective, many people would agree with this characterization of the killer's nonverbal appearance. This Western Connecticut State University I.D. was taken when the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter was 16 years old. There are certainly medical conditions which cause the eyelids to be opened extra wide for long periods of time. A common example includes a complication of hyperthyroidism. Some brain lesions can also do so. Cranio-facial boney abnormalities may also give rise to similar appearances. Yet when this body language-facial expression is seen chronically and medical causes are excluded, psychological diagnoses should be strongly considered. Asperger's syndrome (which it is reported that Lanza had been diagnosed) or any the other forms of autism spectrum disorder do not give rise to this appearance. Moreover, autism spectrum disorders are not associated with an increase of violent behavior. Yet this expression and its ramifications go vastly unrecognized.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2313: Elisa Lam Video in Elevator at Cecil Hotel - What Her Body Language Tells Us ....

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2346: Texas Shootout & Colorado Killer Suspect Evan Ebel - Body Language of a Determined Emotional Mindset

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2259: Game Show Killer Rodney Alcala Gets Two More Sentences - His Body Language Warning Signs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2140: Joran van der Sloot's going to be a father - Body Language Signs of Chronic Insincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2336: Jodi Arias "Secret Video" Jury Will Not See - Extremely Out of Context Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1548: Trayvon Martin's Death - George Zimmerman and his First Court Appearance

___________________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2354:
Rutgers' Basketball Coach Mike Rice
Body Language of Averting Gaze

Rutgers Basketball Head Coach Mike Rice was fired today after videos of him physically abusing his players as well as using homophobic slurs became open knowledge. Athletic Director Tim Pernetti and Rutgers University President Robert Barchi are both now under scrutiny for having not fired the coach in December 2012, when they had first learned of his behavior. Given the recent history a highly publicized suicide of then student Tyler Clementi, many find Rutgers University's gross lack of judgment particularly disturbing.

In the above image Coach Rice is shown making physical contact with a player. Note the athlete's lack of eye contact. During moments of scolding and reprimand with some cultures and subcultures - it is considered proper nonverbal behavior and a sign of respect to look away and avoid eye contact. In other subcultures, the opposite is true.

Another reason for lack of eye contact in this photo crosses cultural boundaries. When we invade others' personal space and particularly when their intimate zones are broached or even if direct physical contact is made - it is natural act to have lack of eye contact. The eyes will instinctively look away. Exceptions may occur among family members and when other relationships-of-significant-affection are involved. Another exception is also seen here with Coach Rice - the emotion of intense anger or rage.

Can you name any other body language scenarios where lack of eye contact is seen?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2327: What is meant by "Eye Contact"? A Body Language Fundamental

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2092: The Importance of Eye Contact - Contributing Author to "The Language Lab"

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 385: Lack of Eye Contact in the Context of Guilt

Negotiation Body Language Secret # 353: Brad Pitt's Smiling Eyes - Sincere and Insincere Smiles

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1858: What the Eyes Do - Transitioning from Mild to Severe Anger

Dating & Romance Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1010: What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye?

____________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2353:
Barack Obama and $100 Million for Brain Research
Body Language of False Mastication with Tongue in Cheek

In a new initiative to understand the function and diseases of the Human brain, President Obama announced today $100 Million in research for the "Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies" (BRAIN) initiative.

This research will no doubt lead to discoveries which will save millions of lives and treat a myriad of tragic diseases and injuries.

At two times during the above video, Mr. Obama displayed the body language of "False Mastication" or "False Chewing". This nonverbal display is a form of "self-touching" and is otherwise known as a MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier). It signals anxiety on the part of the President and in the first example (see below) it is coupled with a "tongue in cheek". As mentioned in yesterday's post, the tongue in cheek (like many body language signals) can have several interpretations depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered (here anxiety as well).

0:50 - 0:52
False Mastication
with
a component of
Tongue in Cheek

1:19 - 1:21
Second display of
False Mastication

___________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, April 1, 2013

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2352:
Mila Kunis' Tongue in Cheek
Graham Norton Part II

Mila Kunis' Body Language on Graham Norton - the sequel:

After using this same video yesterday, I couldn't resist a re-visit once again for it is just loaded with great examples. At the 1:05 mark, while making James Franco squirm in his chair somewhere (for she was filling in for him at the eleventh hour), Ms. Kunis demonstrates a great example of a "Tongue-in-Cheek". This nonverbal can have different meanings depending on the other body language signs with which it is clustered. Here it indicates, "I gotcha", "you were caught" or "I just won" (directed at Franco in his absence). It has a component of self-righteousness and smugness as well.

Depending on the other nonverbals with which it is clustered, the tongue-in-cheek can have other meanings (none of which are present in this example) include: an alpha dominant display, anger, sexuality (which tends to involve the tongue in a more forward direction, a slower movement and with tongue visible), telling a lie, or even to sooth oneself in times of sadness and grief.

See also:

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

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1153: President Obama's Tongue in Cheek

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

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

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Secret # 48: A Lizard Tongue gives us a Great Glimpse into Katie Holmes' Psyche

___________________________________________________________________________________

This website serves as a reference source for the art and science of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the author. In an effort to be both practical and academic, many examples from/of varied cultures, politicians, professional athletes, legal cases, public figures, etc., are cited in order to teach and illustrate both the interpretation of others’ body language as well as the projection of one’s own nonverbal skills in many different contexts – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.

__________________________________