Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3904: Sean Spicer Draws Criticism with Hitler-Assad Comparison and Denial of Use of Chemical Weapons in WWII - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday, Sean Spicer, in an understandable desire to denounce of Bashar al-Assad's recent use of chemical weapons said, "... We didn't use chemical weapons in World War II. You know, you had a, y-, you know, someone who's as despicable as Hitler, who didn't even sink to the, to the, to using chemical weapons ...".

Spicer, of course, was grossly incorrect saying that Hitler did not use chemical warfare. He probably was referring to was his belief that the Germans did not use Chemical warfare in battle - but indeed they did. Both the German's and the Japanese used chemical weapons in World War II. Germany deployed this outlawed warfare against the Russians in Sevastopol in 1941-42, on Russian troops in the catacombs of Odessa in November 1941, as well as in May of 1942 in eastern Crimea during the Battle of the Kerch Peninsula. Japan deployed chemical weapons against both the Communist Chinese and the Kuomintang people.

Yet what alarmed most people who heard the Press Secretary's statement, and indeed even evoking gasps in the White House Briefing Room, was the non-acknowledgment of the largest genocide in human history. Millions of innocent people (the majority of whom were Jewish) were murdered in Hitler's extermination camps. When Cecilia Vega asked him to clarify his statement, Sean Spicer struggled.

Generally speaking, Mr. Spicer uses palm-down gestures and other dominant and hyper-dominant nonverbal illustrators far too frequently and aggressively. These and other tendencies of his, have exaggerated in the form of parody in many venues.

Palm-down gestures should be used very sparingly - added deliberately yet very briefly during moments when extra authority or assertiveness is needed (almost choreographed).

As with many alpha displays, palm-down gestures rapidly crescendo to a hyper-alpha status if used too frequently or aggressively.

While palm-down gestures will serve to solidify the mindsets of those who already strongly agree with you, others who only mildly agree or who are undecided - will be alienated to your cause. Thus a palm-down gesture most often is an intimidating one - and a rapport destroyer. If a person is using palm-down illustrators - their mind is already closed. You won't convince them. It's best to re-address any disagreements you may have at another time.

Palm-up gestures are examples of "Alpha-Beta Hybrids". When used skillfully, they will project authority - but understanding, power - but not aggressiveness, confidence - but also open-mindedness. Palm-up gestures also display a willingness to listen. In addition, and of profound importance, is if one uses palm-up gestures, their audiences will have significantly greater recall of the subject matter versus when palm-down gestures are used.

Notice when Sean Spicer was attempting to back-pedal, he went into a more aggressive nonverbal pattern, repeatedly using palm-down gestures. At a time when he should have been apologizing (which later, on a different broadcast, he did), Spicer was becoming more defensive, aggressive, and hyper-authoritative with his words, tone of voice - and with his body language.

It's particularly - even viscerally painful, to see Mr. Spicer using palm-down gestures with added frequency and vigor during his attempt to explain his earlier statement once Ms. Vega reminded him of the Nazi death camps and The Holocaust. The Nazis, of course, notoriously used an elevated palm-down gesture as their salute.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3903: Rex Tillerson Disagrees with Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3901: Jared Kushner in Iraq

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3899: President Trump regarding Poison Gas Attack in Syria - What Will Trump Do?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3884: One Important Expression James Comey Displayed Often During His Testimony Before the House Intelligence Committee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3857: Taunting a Snowplow Driver - Belleville, Ontario

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3827: Sean Spicer's Saturday Night Press Briefing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3717: Creepy Clowns, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3621: Bernie Sanders Endorses Hillary Clinton


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3903: Rex Tillerson Disagrees with Donald Trump - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

This image of Rex Tillerson and Donald Trump was taken on Friday 7 April 2017 at Mar-a-Lago.

The Secretary of State and the President were in the midst of their second-day meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his staff.

It also happened to be the day after 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched into Syria striking Shayrat Airbase. Trump had ordered the attack in retaliation for the Syrian government's Khan Shaykhun chemical attack which occurred on 4 April 2017. This was perpetrated with the release of toxic gas, most likely sarin - killing at least 74 people while injuring at least 557.

At the time of this photo, President Trump was discussing the missile attack (although what detail was not published). Rex Tillerson's hands are configured in a what is known as a "Pistol Steeple". This is a multiple nonverbal metaphor - for the position of his hands, with the three least dominant fingers on each hand contracted/flexed but the index finger (forefinger) of each hand extended resembles a small firearm - and also roughly approximates the way some people hold a handgun.

But crucially, from a nonverbal perspective, the pistol steeple also says, "I'm shooting down your idea", "I strongly disagree with you". We can be sure whatever, specific Syrian War nuance Donald Trump is discussing - Rex Tillerson doesn't like what he's hearing.

Additionally, the index fingers of Tillerson's pistol steeple are being held over his mouth/lips (e.g., often times this body language signal is displayed with the hands held in front of the abdomen, chest or lower neck, etc.). This variation tells us that the Secretary of State believed the President was either speaking too freely, was in error, was being misleading, or being deceptive. Rex Tillerson was wanting Donald Trump to be quiet - and was quite literally silently shushing the commander in chief.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3902: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping - Power, Control, and Handshakes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3900: Donald Trump's Statement Regarding US Retaliation for Syria's Chemical Weapons Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3899: President Trump regarding Poison Gas Attack in Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3869: James Clapper regarding Alleged Wiretap of Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3841: Tom Brady's and Roger Goodell's Handshake after Super Bowl LI

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3811: Hayden Panettiere, Stephen Colbert and Personal Space

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3659: Ryan Lochte's "Today Show" Interview regarding Alleged Rio Robbery

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3591: Jo Cox, The Brexit and Sincere Smiles


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3902: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping - Power, Control, and Handshakes - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

The relationship between the United States and China has always been an important one - yet with the crescendoing threat of Kim Jong-un and North Korea's nuclear weaponization, with each passing day, it becomes more crucial. Last week Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in person for the first time. 

It's been widely noted and almost as widely satirized, that, when shaking hands, President Trump has very consistently, pulled the other person's hand quite close to him - forcefully - often to such a degree to even disturb their balance.

Yet what is much less appreciated is another highly negative component of his handshake mistake. Note in the image above, President Trump initially engages Xi Jinping's hand at a level approximately even with each man's upper abdomen. But immediately afterward (image below) Trump not only pulls Xi's hand close to his body - and he also raises the Chinese leader's arm much higher (mid-chest) than is comfortable or traditional (in any culture).

Summary:

During a handshake, both the act of

1. Pulling of the other person's hand-arm close to oneself

as well as 

2. An upward vectoring of the other person's hand-arm unit

are both Hyper-Alpha displays - attempting to project power and control. Moreover, when a person's handshake choreography consistently follows this pattern - it's one very strong signal of Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3901: Jared Kushner in Iraq - PR Faux Pas and an Absence of Empathy 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3899: President Trump regarding Poison Gas Attack in Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3897: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3885: Vogue's 73 Questions with Selena Gomez

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3839: Andrew Garfield, Ryan Reynolds and Ryan Gosling - Embarrassment, Protection, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3598: Gary Johnson, Donald Trump's Wall and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3574: Selena Gomez's Body Language Reaction to Fans in Montreal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3502: Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant Pranks a College Team as ‘The Transfer’


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3901: Jared Kushner in Iraq - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

It is said among insiders that Jared Kushner shows an "unwavering loyalty" toward his father-in-law. He has rapidly come to be Donald Trump's most trusted advisor. Kushner's assignments include negotiating an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, overseeing relationships with China, Canada, and Mexico (triple ambassadorship), the chief of the new White House Office of American Innovation, fixing the opioid epidemic - and increasingly he's assuming the role of what is essentially the de facto Secretary of State.

Earlier this week Mr. Kushner made a surprise trip to Iraq. The photo above is from that trip - and not surprisingly, it has drawn tremendous criticism.

From a purist's perspective, the clothes we wear are not considered part of our body language vocabulary - but the purists are sorely mistaken.

Our clothes are profound nonverbal illustrators - for they are extensions of our face/body and much of the time project our personality as well as the context of our mental state. In some settings this principle certainly applies more so than others. In nonverbal parlance, the term "Illustrator" describes a subset of body language signals we display (>99.9+% subconsciously) to emphasize, underline, italicize and act as exclamation-points for other aspects of our verbal communication and behavior.

If Jared Kushner would have donned semi-military garb - or at least jeans and a T-shirt, no one would have thought it unusual. But by choosing to highlight himself and moreover looking extremely Brooks Brothersesque while doing so, he dramatically and arrogantly distances himself from those people with whom he's attempting to build rapport. It sends signals of aloofness, ignorance, incompetence - and a complete lack of empathy. Kushner is very much saying, "I have to be here, but I don't want to" as well as, "I belong to the country club - and you don't". Indeed, many of those in Iraq (or others simply viewing this image) would interpret his choice of garb in this setting as a nonverbal equivalent of a middle finger shoved in their (our) collective faces'.

"When you visit the land of others, take a friend with you, but leave your laws at home."

Inuit Proverb

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3900: Donald Trump's Statement Regarding US Retaliation for Syria's Chemical Weapons Attack

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3898: President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Meet at The White House 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3896: Did Matthew Perry Really Beat Up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3890: Ted Koppel on why he thinks Sean Hannity is bad for America 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3842: Bill Belichick and Julian Edelman 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3763: Matt Smith, Claire Foy and Where NOT to be stung by a Wasp

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3716: Fatherhood, Body Language, Emotional Intelligence and Ashton Kutcher's Pants

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3707: The Presidential Debates Part III - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton and Sniffing


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3900: Donald Trump's Statement Regarding US Retaliation for Syria's Chemical Weapons Attack - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Arm and hand nonverbal "gestures"- when used contextually and proportionately are powerful communicators. With respect to body language behavior nomenclature, gestures belong to the category of  either "MAPs" (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers) or "Illustrators". We can either build rapport with these nonverbal signals - yet just as often, without realizing, we will destroy it. MAPs and Illustrators may project qualities such as arrogance, humility, compassion, dominance (or hyper-dominance), alpha behavior, beta behavior (or alpha-beta hybrids), confidence, acquiescence, deception, etc.

Many people use gestures in incongruently with respect to their vocal qualities (paralanguage) and their verbal language - and in so doing, they "leak" their true thought-feelings. Sincerity is present (and we recognize it) when - in contrast, people use all three modes of communication (verbal, nonverbal, paralanguage) congruently.

Last night, during his statement regarding the US retaliation in Syria for Bashar al-Assad's recent chemical gas attacks, Donald Trump displayed almost no hand gestures. Although he did use some shoulder illustrators, there were NO arm gestures and only very brief finger extensions during 1:04 (as he says, "... It is in this vital, nation security interest of the United States ...") - and during 1:59 - 2:02 and 2:02 - 2:04 ("Tonight I call on all civilized nations [fingers briefly back to lectern] to join us in seeking to end this slaughter ...") - with the remainder of each hand staying anchored on this lectern/podium. This near abstaining of arm and hand usage is very rare for President Trump.

During a speech or statement regarding recent tragedy, loss of life - and/or that of a military attack - particularly as events are in the early stages - hand and arm movements which are held lower on the body and are minimal (as we see exampled here) - send messages of greater respect and reverence for the lives lost and somber nature of the events.

If President Trump had used hand and arm movements which, for him, are typical (flamboyant, hyper-alpha, dominant, etc.) - this would have been dramatically out of context here and it would have been "felt" by many to be self-serving. Even moderate arm and hand gestures would have seemed "tone-deaf" and insensitive.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3899: President Trump regarding Poison Gas Attack in Syria - What Will Trump Do?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3897: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3895: Donald Trump Walks Out of Oval Office without signing Executive Orders   

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3884: One Important Expression James Comey Displayed Often During His Testimony Before the House Intelligence Committee

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3843: 84 Lumber Super Bowl Ad - "The Entire Journey"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3796: Bryan Cranston, Donald Trump, Anxiety and Alpha Up-Regulators

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3746: Alicia Keys, Questlove, Krispy Kremes and Connecting the Dots

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3594: Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Fareed Zakaria


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3899: President Trump regarding Poison Gas Attack in Syria - What Will Trump Do? - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today, during a joint press conference with King Abdullah II of Jordan, President Trump was asked about the recent deadly gas attack in Syria.

What follows is a portion of his response followed by a partial nonverbal analysis.

JULIA IOFFE [This question was edited out of this specific clip of the press conference, however, it is the one to which President Trump is responding]: You've condemned the chemical attacks in Syria, but you also appeared in your statement yesterday to pin some of the blame on the Obama administration. You are the president now. Do you feel like you bear responsibility for responding to the chemical attacks and does the chemical attack cross a red line for you?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I think the Obama administration had a great opportunity to solve this crisis a long time ago when he said, "The red line in the sand". And when he didn't cross that line after making the threat, I think that set us back a long ways - not only in Syria, but in many of the parts of the world - because it was a blank threat. I think it was something that was not - one of our better days as a country. So I do feel that, Julia, I feel it very strongly.

IOFFE: Do feel like you now have the responsibility to respond to the chemical attack?

TRUMP [over-talking]: I now have responsibility and I will have that responsibility and carry it very proudly - I will tell you that. It is now my responsibility. It was a great opportunity missed.

[CNN's video edit gap] 

IOFFE: Before I move on to the King, can I just quickly ask you if the chemical attack "crosses a red line" for you?

TRUMP: Ah, it crossed a lot of lines for me. When you kill - innocent children - innocent babies, babies, little babies - with a chemical gas that is so lethal - ah - people were shocked to hear what gas it was [Lip Smacking, Head Torquing, Disgust Display, Eyelids Partially Closing, Mid-Facial Tension], that crosses many, many lines - beyond a red line. Many, many lines.

During 0:38 - 0:39, as he says, "... I now have responsibility and I will have that responsibility and carry it very proudly - I will tell you that. It is now my responsibility ...", Donald Trump spreads his arms quite widely, in a palms-up fashion.

This nonverbal signal indicates that the President is very accepting of and welcomes the responsibility to, "... respond to the chemical attack".

Just prior to the President saying, "... that crosses many, many lines - beyond a red line. Many, many lines" (during 1:06), he displays a nonverbal cluster containing the key signals of:

• Lip Smacking
• Head Torquing
• Eyelids Partially Closing
• Mid-Facial Tension 
• Disgust Display

This temporal combination of nonverbal displays is highly indicative of Trump's critical evaluation, a high degree of confidence in a decision(s) he has made, and he has determined a specific course of action to be taken regarding Syria.

Summary: Donald Trump's body language during the press conference earlier today, indicates with very high probability, the President intends to order a heavy military retaliation in response to the Poison Gas Attack of Bashar al-Assad upon the Syrian People.


See also:


Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3898: President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Meet at The White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3896: Did Matthew Perry Really Beat Up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau? 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3894: Michael Flynn and Russia - "When are given immunity, it means you probably committed a crime" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3873: Brie Larson's Eyes, The Bachelor, and the Edge of Consciousness

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3858: Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from Breitbart with "Apology"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3735: Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Mean Tweets

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3662: Weverton Dives, Neymar Kicks and Brazil Wins Gold

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3596: Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3898: President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Meet at The White House - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Monday President Donald Trump hosted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the White House. The video segment of the two men above, in the Oval Office, includes a portion of their statements' to the press. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.

Note that at the end of this video, another view from the same moment is shown.
President Trump (continuing at 0:43): "... It was a very long, it was supposed to be just a quick, brief meeting and we were - with each other for a long period of time. Ah - we agree on so many things. I just want to let everybody know, in case there was any doubt, that we are very much behind President el-Sisi. He's done a fantastic job in a very difficult situation..."

Although President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi uses a translator to speak for him in this video, he does understand English well. The Egyptian head-of-state displayed a set of crucial nonverbal signals projected in rapid sequence. Such a pattern is very much the equivalent of the spoken or written sentence. The term for a such a pattern of nonverbal signals is a "Cluster".

In the above exchange, as Donald Trump says, "... any doubt, that we are very much ...", Abdel Fattah el-Sisi unclasps his hands and rubs chin once with his right (dominant) hand (conveying that he is in disagreement with Trump and he believes Trump is being deceitful). He is also blinking rapidly (heightened anxiety) and his blinks are prolonged (blocking/emotional processing).

He then briefly leans forward, raises his butt up off the chair (his subconscious/edge-of-consciousness wanting to leave) and then sits back down and immediately displays a Loose Tongue Jut (I've been bad/I got caught).

Summary: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has a low level of emotional comfort in this video. Crucially, President el-Sisi believes President Trump is being dishonest when Trump says, "we agree on so many things" - on the contrary, el-Sisi has significant disagreements with Trump.



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3897: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3895: Donald Trump Walks Out of Oval Office without signing Executive Orders 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3893: Devin Nunes' Statement to Press Outside White House after His Controversial Meeting with Donald Trump 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3885: Vogue's 73 Questions with Selena Gomez

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3861: Emma Stone, The Oscars and Sincerity

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3798: Elle Fanning, Channing Tatum and Dialing Up the Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3750: Bill's Reaction to Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3710: Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte Compares Himself With Hitler


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3897: Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Roger Stone's most recent book, The Making of the President, was published only 10 days after Donald Trump's inauguration. The image above occupies the bottom 40% of the book's cover.

Although the book was written by Mr. Stone, it is, of course, in President Trump's best interest to have a picture of him which best projects a "Presidential Image" - this photo does NOT accomplish that goal.

No part of Trump's body is pointed at the "audience" - rather it's oblique. The President's head is partially turned toward us, but not fully. This necessitates his eyes looking further laterally in order to make contact.

His eyelids are partially closed - yet with his eyebrows elevated. This opposite motion of these two adjacent tissues is NOT a natural default nonverbal - it takes effort. One colloquial expression for this eye appearance is "Looking Askance". He is critical of us - the audience. Human beings do not look directly at those whom they do not like, do not believe, or do not respect.

Although very few people use this Conventional Steeple hand position for any longer than a second or two (and some never at all in their whole lives') - Trump has been using it for years. If you view tens of thousands of pictures of former presidents, you will only find that Donald Trump displays the conventional steeple.

If used only for a second or two at the correct time, a conventional steeple conveys assertiveness, confidence, and power - but if used for greater duration and frequency (and with this display, a little bit goes a long way), it very rapidly projects arrogance as well as condescending and patronizing emotional tones. 

It's rare for Donald Trump to sit with his ankles crossed. This body language configuration indicates low confidence, low assertiveness, hesitancy, and low emotional comfort. It's very Beta - and a position in which no president should ever be photographed.

In the sales process, one should never make an "ask" or an attempt at a "close" when the prospect is seated in this manner.

A further failure of attention to detail is betrayed not only by debris on the floor - but also by what appears to be a tag or upholstery hanging from the underside of Trump's chair.

And that's not a wall behind the President. It's a photographer's screen. A shadow and gap can be seen along the floor juncture - and particularly with the wall. The "audience" should never see the edges of the screen - for it's a bit like Toto pulling back the curtain in The Wizard of Oz. In this setting, it has the additional effect of acting as a visual metaphor of a façade. It very much says, "This is False", "This is Not Real", "This is a Ruse", "This is not Solid".


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3896: Did Matthew Perry Really Beat Up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau?

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3894: Michael Flynn and Russia - "When are given immunity, it means you probably committed a crime"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3892: Sean Spicer to April Ryan, "Stop Shaking Your Head" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3867: What Makes the Twinkle in Her Eye? Emma Stone, Romance and Flirting

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3850: Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump and Michael Flynn

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3829: Mary Tyler Moore - Flirtatious, Sexy, Alpha Female Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3782: Zoey Deutch, Ryan Seacrest and Embarrassment

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3779: Donald Trump Cover Shoot - Time Magazine's Person of the Year

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3896: Did Matthew Perry Really Beat Up Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau? - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

During a guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last month, Matthew Perry recounted a story from his childhood. He asserts that he and a friend "beat up" Justin Trudeau - the current Prime Minister of Canada. This allegedly occurred when Justin's father, Pierre Trudeau was also Prime Minister.

Yesterday, Justin Trudeau - perhaps in the spirit of April Fool's Day - challenged Matthew Perry (Chandler) to a rematch via Twitter.

But was Matthew Perry telling the truth?

Perry's mother, Suzanne Marie Morrison, was Pierre Trudeau's press secretary - thus the two boys almost surely met and perhaps knew each other - even quite well.

Yet note that during his story of this childhood incident, from 0:57 - 1:04, Matthew Perry, is pulling on/rubbing his right earlobe with his right thumb and index finger. The ear rub/ear pull MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) is a significant nonverbal anxiety indicator - and this one, in particular, is one of several which are highly correlated with deception. Moreover, the timing of this nonverbal tell - when correlated with his words/verbal language - makes his claim even more suspect.

The most common reason (by far) we scratch, rub, or touch our face is anxiety. Yes, "the itch is real" - but the itch/irritation is caused by the release of neurotransmitters/neurochemicals (e.g., the neurotransmitter natriuretic polypeptide b [Nppb], or a similar/related molecule) which themselves arise from anxiety.

Summary: While we cannot say with 100% confidence that Matthew Perry is lying about his claim that he and a friend beat up Justin Trudeau when they were children, there is at least, a very high likelihood that an important component of this story is completely untrue or greatly exaggerated.  


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3895: Donald Trump Walks Out of Oval Office without signing Executive Orders

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3893: Devin Nunes' Statement to Press Outside White House after His Controversial Meeting with Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3891: Donald Trump and Jared Kushner - Alpha and Beta Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3871: Emma Watson's Old Habit, Harry Potter Outtake and Anxiety

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3838: Kellyanne Conway's Statement Regarding the "Bowling Green Massacre"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3805: Mariah Carey's New Year's Eve Lip Sync Fail On Live TV 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3658: Usain Bolt's "Cheeky Smile"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3619: Lone Protester, Baton Rouge Police and Body Language


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3895: Donald Trump Walks Out of Oval Office without signing Executive Orders - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Friday, President Trump exited the oval office before signing executive orders for which he just gave a short speech. The focus of the orders is his effort to lower the US trade deficit. He signed them in private later that day.

Contrary to popular reports that Donald Trump left the room in response to a question regarding Michael Flynn, he was well on his way to the exit before the nature of the question was discernible.

After the Vice President chased down his boss, President Trump spoke [inaudible] and motioned for him to follow (and presumably to bring the forgotten orders).

From a nonverbal standpoint, there were two particular signals which jump out in this short video.

Donald Trump (continuing at 1:15): "...but these voiceless Americans, now have a voice in the White House. Under my administration, the theft of American prosperity will end..."

During 1:20 - 1:22, as he says, "... Under my administration ...", notice how Trump's head and shoulders elevate. This is, of course, because he momentarily elevates up on his toes. Such a body language signals telegraphs a heightened adrenaline state and excitation coincident with these crucial words. Although it's somewhat subtle and evanescent, this nonverbal tell is quite profound - and it's very often missed in everyday interactions.

This "Up on Toes" nonverbal signal must be viewed in the context of the video, as still images do not capture its dynamic.

Later in the video, after Mike Pence turns around to retrieve the orders, his facial expression rapidly changes.

In this close up, we can see the Vice President's expression is an amalgam of:

Bitter-Regret: The corners of the mouth pulled laterally (outward) and also down with significant mid-facial tension

Anger: Jaw jut with nostril flaring as well as mid-facial tension

Frustration: The forward bulging of the area just below his lower lip



Summary: Donald Trump attaches a significant level of importance, excitement, and ownership to "his" administration.

Mike Pence was in a moment of bitter-regret, anger, and frustration when he was sent back into the Oval Office to retrieve the Executive Orders which Donald Trump had forgotten to sign.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3894: Michael Flynn and Russia - "When are given immunity, it means you probably committed a crime"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3892: Sean Spicer to April Ryan, "Stop Shaking Your Head"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3890: Ted Koppel on why he thinks Sean Hannity is bad for America

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3875: Children Interrupt Dad During BBC News interview

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2371: Barack Obama & Anger in the Rose Garden - POTUS's Body Language & Gun Laws

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3858: Milo Yiannopoulos resigns from Breitbart with "Apology"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3819: Turkey's Parliament, Presidential Powers and Constitutional Amendments

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3789: Felicity Jones, Jyn Erso and Tattoos


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