Body Language Analysis No. 4057: Steve Bannon's "60 Minutes" Interview - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In the 60 Minutes preview video above, Charlie Rose interviews Steve Bannon - President Trump's former Chief White House Strategist (a newly created position) and CEO of candidate Trump's campaign.

From a body language perspective, there multiple valuable tells in this interview - one of which is discussed here.

During 1:37 - 1:38, as Charlie Rose says, "You seem to have done that at every point in the campaign - when he was in trouble, asking him to double-down on his rhetoric, double-down in terms of appealing to his base .... ", when the camera switches to Bannon's face, at the very end of Mr. Rose's sentence and for about a second afterward, Mr. Bannon Clenches his jaw muscles (Masseter muscles). Look carefully at the back of his jaw - in front of and slightly below his ears for a bulging muscle. His upper lip, which although is not very thick on Bannon's resting face - thins out so dramatically, it disappears. The area above his upper lip and below his nose (the "mustache area") also is significantly tightened.

We see this same pattern at 2:08 - 2:09 on Mr. Bannon's face as Mr. Rose says, "Did you lose confidence of anybody because they came at you at that point and said, 'Look, w, w, he ought to get out of this race - other than - Reince Priebus'?..."

If you look carefully, you can even see Bannon doing this when he is back-lit during 2:05 - 2:08.

Also, during 3:18, 3:27 - 3:28, and 3:29 - 3:30 - as Steve Bannon and Charlie Rose were discussing
Governor Chris Christie, Mr. Bannon again displays these same nonverbal signals multiple times. Intriguingly, there was also an additional component of nostril flaring and forward jutting of the jaw present in this segment.


 


In this second video of the same interview, at 1:10 Charlie Rose says, "I tell ya where many people suggest it should have gone. It should have gone in terms of denouncing - specifically from the very beginning - neo-Nazis and white supremacists and people of that political view - and they should have gone there because - ahhh, those were people that Americans in World War II went to fight against and you should have instantly have denounced them - and you didn't at first instinct. In fact, you seemed to be doubling-down in terms of a moral equivalency."

During most of Mr. Rose's statement, Mr. Bannon is clenching his jaw repeatedly. This is best seen on Bannon's face during 1:22 - 1:32. Yet as with the examples already discussed - if you look carefully, some of this jaw-clenching display can even be seen from behind when Mr. Bannon is back-lit.

All of these examples show Mr. Bannon, to varying degrees, in moments of adrenaline surges specific to anger. Please watch the videos carefully, as the still images do not capture the dynamic nature of these nonverbal signs.

Of course, we're all allowed to feel anger.  We're human beings. Yet - in a healthy individual, as with all emotions, anger should be:

• Contextual
• Proportional
• Not too frequent

Summary: This is but one conversation/interview. However, it's profoundly important to note that when jaw clenching, forward jutting of the jaw, thinning of the upper lip, nostril flaring, tightening of the mustache region (or other anger signals) are frequently displayed - take heed, for the person is far from emotional baseline - and Impulse Control Disorder may very well be lurking.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4056: Ed Sheeran and a Hesitancy to Disclose

Body Language Analysis No. 4054: Donald Trump and Chuck Schumer in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4052: Hitler's Cryptorchidism and Emotional Dissonance

Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids

Body Language Analysis No. 4039: Blue Angels, Surprise, Emotional Processing, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4002: Justin Trudeau Meets His Namesake

Body Language Analysis No. 3968: The Grenfell Tower Fire, Empathy, and Emotional Processing

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3927: Jimmy Kimmel's Emotional Monologue regarding His Son’s Birth & Heart Disease

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


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4056: Ed Sheeran and a Hesitancy to Disclose - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Ed Sheeran's recent guest appearance on The Graham Norton Show has hilarious comedic value - and dozens of dozens of excellent nonverbal teaching examples also make it worth your while.

Mr. Sheeran's sincerity quotient is significantly higher than average - especially when compared with most celebrities. 

At multiple times during this interview, Mr. Sheeran displayed "Knee Pulling" also known as "Hamstring Dissonance". As this second synonym implies - this behavior is a nonverbal equivalent of "I want to tell you, but I don't want to tell you" or "I have excitement but anxiety too".

During this exchange (seen with nearly all of Graham Norton's guests), Ed Sheeran speaks of several embarrassing events. His hesitancy to share these stories it's quite understandable - particularly in such a public setting. Hamstring dissonance is an under-appreciated nonverbal behavior, for it signals conflicting emotions which, in the everyday world (and UNLIKE Sheehan does here) - are usually NOT conveyed verbally. Thus hamstring dissonance is a profoundly valuable tell which will allow you to know others' thoughts and emotions.

In this moment Sheehan pulls his leg up so much that his foot is resting on the coach - which further signals his hesitancy and greater beta emotions.

A similar signal - also quite beta - is tucking one's hands beneath the thigh or "under the knee". In this setting, Ed Sheeran does not really want to tell us that, as a grown man, he bought a Lego set just for himself. 

Now contrast Ed Sheeran with Matthew McConaughey - who is sitting in a "Figure Four" (projecting hyper-alpha feelings) with his fingers intertwined (impatience and critical evaluation). Now nuance further how each man's legs are folded - McConaughey's above of his other leg (alpha) - while Sheeran's crossed leg is beneath it's opposite (beta). We may indeed like both men, and they are each be excellent at their craft - yet one is dominant (and confident), while the other is acquiescing (and embarrassed).


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4055: What Does Jessica Chastain Feel For Matt Damon?

Body Language Analysis No. 4053: Donald Trump Regarding DACA - "I Have a Love for These People"

Body Language Analysis No. 4051: Predicting Kim Jong-un's Behavior

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels

Body Language Analysis No. 4040: James Clapper Regarding Donald Trump's Fitness for Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4019: John Kelly and Donald Trump in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4004: US Congressman Dana Rohrabacher asks NASA scientist about Civilizations on Mars

Body Language Analysis No. 3965: Manspreading, Madrid, and a Business Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3817: President Obama Awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction to Joe Biden



_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4055: What Does Jessica Chastain Feel For Matt Damon? - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

In this combined video of The Graham Norton Show, Matt Damon is a guest on two different episodes. On one of those appearances, Jessica Chastain is sitting beside him. These accomplished actors have co-starred together in two different films - Interstellar and The Martian.

During the 5:49 - 5:52 segment (and for an instant during 5:34), Jessica Chastain can be seen slowly and gently stroking/caressing the inner portion of her lower arm (forearm), upper arm, and across the antecubital fossa (the region opposite of the elbow, on the inner portion of that joint).

Take some time right now to gently brush this same portion of your own arm. Do this on your bare arm. If you have forgotten, this region of skin is extremely sensitive. To be blunt, when touching this area so gently in this same manner as Jessica is doing - is a form of self-stimulation. There can be no doubt that Jessica Chastain is sexually attracted to Matt Damon.

In a close-up of Ms. Chastain's face, we can see her pupils are dramatically dilated. The fact that she's in a studio under bright lights (which, of course, would normally cause pupils to constrict unless there is another significant influence), and barring any pharmacologic or medical causes (which are not being implied, nor at all likely here), and coupling this finding with the above noted caressing of her inner arm - Jessica's dilated pupils indicate sexual attraction.

Media Inquiries and Group Appearances 

One-on-One and Online Courses Available 

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

702-239-8503

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4054: Donald Trump and Chuck Schumer in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4052: Hitler's Cryptorchidism and Emotional Dissonance

Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids

Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey

Body Language Analysis No. 4020: Bruce Willis and the "Death Wish" Remake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3872: "Fearless Girl" Statue in Manhattan's Financial District

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3864: Uber's CEO, Travis Kalanick Arguing with an Uber Driver regarding Falling Fares - Escalation v. De-Escalation

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3823: Nina Dobrev, Flyboarding, Laughter and a Rapport/Bonding Amplifier

_______________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4054: Donald Trump and Chuck Schumer in the Oval Office - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

 Photo credit: Alex Wong

Today Donald Trump dumbfounded both the Republicans and the Democrats. This morning, Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, called the Democrat proposed, three-month debt limit increase plan "unworkable" and "ridiculous". Yet only three hours later, the President deviated from the Republican plan and agreed to the Democrat's desires and tying it to an eight billion dollar relief for Hurricane Harvey.

The photo above (and close-up below) show Chuck Schumer and Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Although there's no other images or video of this moment, we can glean a good amount of information.

In this particular instant, Senator Schumer is not looking President Trump in the eye - rather just above his mouth. However, if we had a video of this moment, we would still see this same pattern over a longer period. It's very common - and in fact a human default - that unless there is significant intimacy, severe anger/rage, or impending physical violence - when faces are this close, direct eye contact is very short-lived. If the two men were, instead, standing four or five feet apart, eye contact would not be nearly so emotionally uncomfortable.

The design of Senator Schumer's reading glasses necessitates him looking over the top of them when he's not reading or performing a task in a similar direction and distance. A nonverbal repercussion of this is that looking over the top of such glasses projects patronizing emotions toward the recipient.

Moreover, when looking over the top of glasses, although it's not necessary - very often the forehead muscles are simultaneously contracted and elevated across the entire width. This also results in upward vectoring the eyebrows. Such forehead-eyebrow elevation is exactly what Senator Schumer is doing here. Depending on the other nonverbal signals - a contracted forehead also commonly projects feelings of doubt and incredulity. And although rarely desired, these emotions often are what the other person feels.

President Trump is defaulting to one of his common nonverbal behaviors - an invasion of personal space via a "Pseudo-Hug" with Senator Schumer. Trump is grabbing Schumer's right arm just above the elbow and he's gripping the left side of the base of Schumer's neck and inner (medial) shoulder. If true affection is not established, such personal space invasion doesn't build rapport - rather it destroys it. Many people are blind to this faux pas and thus it becomes a long-term pattern/violation.

Notice Chuck Schumer is pointing his right index finger at Donald Trump while the rest of his hand is probably configured in a fist - only a few inches from Trump's upper chest/neck. Because we don't have video, we can't see any motion in this moment, however the majority of times this gesture (illustrator) is accompanied by an up-and-down shaking movement. This gesture is known as a "Finger-Point-Hand-Chop". It's a hyper-alpha, aggressive, and nonverbal dynamic which here, carries even greater weight because Schumer is so close to Trump and using his dominant hand.

We cannot see much of Donald Trump's face, however, this is not a sincere smile. Although his eyes are partially closed, the President's mid-face is tightened in a manner consistent with a very common form of pseudo-smile - that of a "Disgust-Smile". His jaw (mandible) is also jutting forward - which is not consistent with a sincere smile, but rather with adrenaline surges associated with negative emotions.

Summary: This Oval Office moment between Senator Schumer and President Trump is not at all collegiality or friendliness as some have implied - but rather one of marginal tolerance, poorly feigned affection, and push back.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

Photo credit: Alex Wong
 

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4053: Donald Trump Regarding DACA - "I Have a Love for These People"

Body Language Analysis No. 4051: Predicting Kim Jong-un's Behavior

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels

Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey

Body Language Analysis No. 4037: Charlottesville Protester Quits Boston University after Death Threats

Body Language Analysis No. 4005: O.J. Simpson's Parole Board Hearing

Body Language Analysis No. 3980: Mitch McConnell Delays Health Care Bill Vote

Body Language Analysis No. 3941: H.R. McMaster’s Press Conference, Part II — Donald Trump, Russia & Classified Info

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3911: Simone Biles gets Pranked on "Ellen"


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4053: Donald Trump Regarding DACA - "I Have a Love for These People" - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Tuesday US Attorney General Sessions announced what had been long anticipated - that The Trump Administration is rescinding DACA. Afterward, during Q & A on meeting regarding tax reform, President Trump was asked about that decision. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.


KRISTEN WELKER (beginning at 3:01): Mr. President, how is your DACA decision 'treating people with heart'?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well I have a great heart for the - folks we're talking about - a great love - for them *§ - and people think in terms of children, but they're really young adults. Ah, π I have a love for these people and hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly...

In the video above, during 3:11 (notated with *), just after he says, "... I have a great heart for the - folks we're talking about - a great love - for them...", Donald Trump shrugs - but only his left shoulder and at the same time he displays a long-duration blink while looking down to his right. This Unilateral Shoulder Shrug is one example of what is known as a "Partial Emblematic Slip".

It qualifies as an emblem because a shrug has a near universal meaning of - "I don't know", "I don't care", "What does it matter?" - the first two of which are particularly applicable here. It is partial in that it only occurs on one side (his left). And it's a slip because it "leaks" out - he doesn't intend to shrug here. It is subconsciously driven.

This Partial Emblematic Slip is amplified by his simultaneous extended blink while looking down to his right. 

About a second later, during 3:12 (notated by §) during the same extended blink-looking down to his right, President Trump displays a "Loose Tongue Jut" (not to be confused with a "Tight Tongue Jut").

President Trump exhibits a second Loose Tongue Jut during 3:16 (notated by π), just before he says, "... I have a love for these people and hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly...". This also occurs at the same time he is looking down to his right in an extended blink.

A "Loose Tongue Jut" indicates the thought-emotions of "I've been bad" or "I've been caught" (Navarro).

Summary: President Trump's nonverbal behavior indicates that he does not care about the children and adults affected by DACA. These same signals also correlate strongly with deception when he says, "... I have a great heart for the - folks we're talking about - a great love - for them..." and "I have a love for these people and hopefully, now Congress will be able to help them and do it properly". Moreover, there is a complete absence of any nonverbal empathy displays.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:


Body Language Analysis No. 4052: Hitler's Cryptorchidism and Emotional Dissonance

Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids

Body Language Analysis No. 4048: Lady Di - Ambassador of Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4046: Melania Trump, Hurricane Harvey, and "Destroying Empathy 101"

Body Language Analysis No. 4039: Blue Angels, Surprise, Emotional Processing, and Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4019: John Kelly and Donald Trump in the Oval Office

Body Language Analysis No. 4000: Garbiñe Muguruza, Wimbledon, and Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 3951: Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, the G7 Summit, and The Paris Agreement

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


_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4052: Hitler's Cryptorchidism and Emotional Dissonance - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

All megalomaniacs have alpha personalities - but not all alpha personalities are megalomaniacs. Hitler certainly quantified as both. And although much of his body language was alpha and hyper-alpha, not all of it was.

There are very few occasions when a leader of a country should assume a fig-leaf configuration (e.g., funerals, weddings, when standing next to senior religious figures, and a few other exceptions) - however, Hitler commonly committed this faux pas - so much so, it was a default setting.

Why?

Because he had only one testicle - more accurately, only one testicle had descended. The medical term for this is cryptorchidism. Some have made the argument that Hitler's psychology and world-view were, in part, over-compensatory behavior for this emasculating congenital anomaly.

Even when his right arm and hand were in the midst of one of his hyper-alpha, Nazi salutes - his left hand was often guarding his groin. These are excellent examples of displays of nonverbal emotional dissonance - with one arm-hand conveying aggressive and hyper-dominant emotions, while the opposite upper extremity projecting protective and acquiescing feelings.

Now contrast the first and the third images (both Nazi salutes). In the first example, his right hand is palm-down, his elbow is locked, and his arm is fully extended. In the photo below, however, his palm is vertical (even angled backward 10-15 degrees) with his elbow bent approximately 120 degrees. The first is much more alpha while the second is significantly beta. This lower photo is not simply a "lazy salute" which it's sometimes called. Rather Hitler is feeling particularly emotionally vulnerable in this moment - thus this salute is projecting lower confidence - while his left hand amplifies this hesitant emotional tone and uses his hat as extra genital guarding.

Media Inquiries and Group Appearances 

One-on-One and Online Courses Available 

Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com

702-239-8503

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4051: Predicting Kim Jong-un's Behavior

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels

Body Language Analysis No. 4044: Kim Jong-un's Choreography

Body Language Analysis No. 4022: Jessica Alba's Rules for Naming Her Baby

Body Language Analysis No. 4016: Anthony Scaramucci - Faux Pas and Harbingers

Body Language Analysis No. 3989: Peter Sagan Regarding his Disqualification from the Tour de France and Mark Cavendish's Crash

Body Language Analysis No. 3982: Bangkok Police Officer's De-Escalation Genius

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3731: The 3rd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - Part III - "Such a Nasty Woman"

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

________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4051: Predicting Kim Jong-un's Behavior - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

Yesterday North Korea exploded, what many believe, was their first hydrogen bomb (aka Thermonuclear weapon). Only five other countries possess hydrogen weapons - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Hydrogen bombs are based on fusion (chain-reactions of hydrogen atoms joining together to form helium atoms, under very high temperatures and pressures - the process whereby our Sun [and all stars] produce energy). Fusion weapons are profoundly more powerful compared with fission weapons (the splitting of larger atoms [e.g., Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239] to release energy). Nuclear weapons based on fusion technology are also smaller and lighter - thus allowing for increased range of the ICBM and/or greater destructive power.

Virtually all other countries, including the Chinese and Russians, believe Kim Jong-un's rapid, offensive build-up of nuclear weapons is deliberately unjustified and destabilizing. And yet, North Korea is now a nuclear power. Thus it's profoundly important for any other head-of-state to be able to accurately predict his behavior.

Kim Jong-un has a deep desire to be seen by other World leaders - and the other 7.5 billion of us - constantly surrounded by subordinates. He very much wants to viewed as intelligent, wise, and powerful - with his underlings constantly writing his words, recording his wisdom, and taking his orders. From a nonverbal perspective, these other men can be thought of as extensions of himself. They are momentarily his surrogate arms, hands, face, and body. But rather than a gorilla beating its chest, a peacock spreading its feathers, or a rattlesnake shaking its tail - they are substitutes. They are temporary analogs. This repetitive and very public behavior is particularly highly correlated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

It's important to make the distinction, however, that these men are but evanescent plumage. As Kim Jong-un has frequently demonstrated - to him, the North Korean people are very much disposable - objects to be used, killed, and replaced. This behavior and world-view correlates with strongly with both Psychopathy and Machiavellianism.

Summary: Narcissists, particularly malignant narcissists, very often manipulate other people (indirectly or directly) using them as temporary, surrogate nonverbal expressions - in effect, extensions of their own bodies' - illustrating their own emotions'.

While we, of course, cannot conduct a formal psychological evaluation on Kim Jong-un - what we can view of his long-term behavior strongly correlates with Narcissism, Psychopathy, and Machiavellianism - the Dark Triad.

Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels

Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey

Body Language Analysis No. 4043: Donald Trump Pardons Joe Arpaio

Body Language Analysis No. 4018: Alexis Bledel and "The Handmaid's Tale"

Body Language Analysis No. 3999: Donald Trump Jr., A Russian Lawyer, and Another Person in the Room

Body Language Analysis No. 3985: Grief, Pain, and Barometers of Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 3944: Dwayne Johnson, The 2020 Presidential Election, and The Rock Dialing Up His Alpha

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3856: "Belle" Clip - Beauty and the Beast



_____________________________________________________________________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4050: Lady Di - Alpha vs Alpha-Beta Hybrids - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

One of Lady Diana passion's was the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. In both of these images, taken within minutes of each other she was working toward that goal.

At first glance, you may think Diana's body language appears relatively unchanged. Look closer.

In each moment, Lady Di is in an "Arms Akimbo" configuration - but in the image above, her thumbs are forward - conveying a supportive and curious emotional tone. It's also mildly assertive. However it's not an alpha nonverbal signal, yet it's not a fully beta one either - but a hybrid. The Thumbs-Forward Arms Akimbo is one of one of many "Alpha-Beta Hybrids".

Now, look at the photo below. Diana is again seen in Arms Akimbo, but this time her fingers are positioned forward. This variation is significantly more alpha and less relaxed. It's more assertive. It signifies a readiness for action and greater authority relative to others in the vicinity.

Whenever making a body language diagnosis, a profound fundamental principle is to not rely on a single signal. Keeping this in mind, contrast Diana's face in each picture. In the first image she's smiling - and she is either speaking and/or transitioning to (or from) laughter. This is congruent with her Thumbs-Forward Arms Akimbo.

Now compare this with Diana's face in the second image. She's not smiling. Her mouth and her mid-face are tense. Di's nostrils are mildly flared. Her eyelids are also displaying tension as she focuses sharply on an object or person in the mid-distance. This facial expression also matches her Fingers-Forward Arms Akimbo.

Although examples cannot be visualized here, such nonverbal pattern clustering is also typically seen in the lower extremities. When a person is standing in the Fingers-Forward Arms Akimbo, their feet tend to be position further apart - and thus conveying more alpha emotions - versus with the feet closer together when standing in the more beta, Thumbs-Forward Arms Akimbo.

"Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can."

Media Inquiries and Group Appearances 
One-on-One and Online Courses Available 
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com
702-239-8503

See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels

Body Language Analysis No. 4047: Joel Osteen, Houston, and Hurricane Harvey

Body Language Analysis No. 4045: Rex Tillerson Regarding Donald Trump, "The President Speaks for Himself"

Body Language Analysis No. 4043: Donald Trump Pardons Joe Arpaio - Contempt of Court and Red Flags

Body Language Analysis No. 4017: Elisabeth Moss, Anthony Rizzo, and a Signal of Sincerity

Body Language Analysis No. 4002: Justin Trudeau Meets His Namesake

Body Language Analysis No. 4001: Jodie Whittaker, Dr. Who, and Flirting from a TARDIS

Body Language Analysis No. 3971: Elon Musk, Amber Heard, Affection, and Ownership

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3901: Jared Kushner in Iraq

________________________

Body Language Analysis No. 4049: The Arrest of University Hospital Nurse Alex Wubbels - Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On 26 July 2017, Salt Lake City Police Detective Jeff Payne arrested Alex Wubbels, a Nurse at the University of Utah Hospital's Burn Unit. The video featured above has gone viral. Another lengthier version of the incident, recorded from a different view is included immediately below.






The police wanted to draw a blood sample from a patient who had been in a motor vehicle accident. This patient was unconscious (thus, by definition, patient consent was not possible), the patient was not under arrest, and there was no warrant (electronic or otherwise). These requirements (as per hospital policy and the law) were calmly conveyed (via speech and in writing) by Ms. Wubbels to the police officers.

Here is a portion of their dialog:

NURSE ALEX WUBBELS: Brad, I'm just putting you on speaker so you can. So, I have the, it says, "Obtaining blood samples for police enforcement from patients suspected to be under the influence", Okay? This is something that you guys agreed to with this hospital.

The three things that allow us to do that are if you have an electronic warrant, patient consent, or patient under arrest - and neither of those things - patient can't.

The patient can’t consent, he’s (Officer Payne) told me repeatedly that he doesn’t have a warrant, and the patient is not under arrest. So I’m just trying to do what I’m supposed to do - that’s all, so.” *

OFFICER JEFF PAYNE: Okay, So I take it without those in place, I’m not going to get blood? Is that - am, am I fair to surmise that?

NURSING SUPERVISOR [via speaker phone]: Alex, you're not [inaudible]

NURSE ALEX WUBBELS: Yeah, I

OFFICER JEFF PAYNE: Okay [over-talking]

NURSING SUPERVISOR [via speaker phone]: Why is he continuing to blame you?

NURSE ALEX WUBBELS [over-talking]: I don't know. I have no idea why he's blaming me. I'm just referencing

NURSING SUPERVISOR [over-talking, via speaker phone]: Why are you blaming the messenger, Sir?

OFFICER JEFF PAYNE: She’s the one that has told me "no".

NURSING SUPERVISOR [via speaker phone]: Yeah but Sir, you’re making a huge mistake right now, like, like, you're making a huge mistake 'cause you’re threatening a nurse [inaudible] ...

OFFICER JEFF PAYNE: Okay. No, we're done. We're, we're done! You're under arrest! [inaudible] We're done!....

NURSE ALEX WUBBELS: No! No! Somebody Help me! Stop!

Screaming and yelling follows as Officer Payne grabs Alex Wubbels by the under her arms from behind and shoves her through the [automatic] doors to the outside the building where he then handcuffs her and takes her to a police vehicle.

From a body language perspective, the video is fairly limited. We have very minimal facial video of Officer Payne (in the second video). Omitting the physicality and violence associated with the arrest, and concentrating on the preceding events, there are few valuable nonverbal teaching moments, some of which are discussed here.

The image above is from 1:05 in the first video, just as Officer Payne says, "She’s the one that has told me 'no' ".

You'll note Nurse Alex Wubbels' abdomen, torso, head (and with high probability, her feet too) are not pointing at Officer Payne (his body camera is recording this video). Only her eyes are turned to meet him/his face. Human beings have a strong tendency to NOT look directly (e.g., not "whole body point") at people whom we:

• Don't like
• Don't respect
• Don't trust

If we go back a few seconds to 0:41 (also in the first video, just after she says, "I’m just trying to do what I’m supposed to do - that’s all, so" and as Officer Payne says "... Okay, so I take it ..."), we can see Nurse Wubbels just after she momentarily turned toward Officer Payne. She immediately turned her torso and head away while maintaining eye contact. Nuancing her facial expression further, we can see her:

• Upper eyelids open widely
• Lower eyelids tense
• Flared Nostrils
• Central Forehead Contracted
• Eyebrows lowered

Although not fully expressed, Nurse Wubbels is displaying a face of fear (this was also expressed, but more subtly, in the first image).

In the second video, during 5:43 - 5:45, as Officer Payne says, "Okay, So I take it without those in place, I’m not going to get blood?", he is seen grabbing his own right wrist with his left hand as he gestures with his right hand in a palm-down fashion (this image was captured during 5:44 as he says "... without ...").

Gesturing with one's palm oriented downward carries an alpha emotional tone - and the added rapid oscillation elevates it to a hyper-alpha level. It's gesture of power and authority. A person using palm down-gestures has his mind made up. He cannot be reasoned with - for he's far from his emotional baseline.

The gripping of his own wrist here portends the violence which is about to occur. Officer Payne's attempt at self-control and his growing frustration with Nurse Wubbels is momentarily displayed with his own wrist acting as a temporary surrogate for her.

Update: Although Nurse Alex Wubbels was assaulted, told she was under arrest, handcuffed, held against her will, and prevented from doing her job (all in front of her co-workers) - she was kept on hospital grounds and released that evening without arrest. Officer Jeff Payne remains on duty but has been removed from the field and has been taken off the police department's Phlebotomy unit. There are both ongoing civilian as well as an internal police investigation regarding this incident.


Group Appearances and One-on-One
Online Courses Available 
702-239-8503
Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com


See also:

Body Language Analysis No. 4048: Lady Di - Ambassador of Empathy

Body Language Analysis No. 4046: Melania Trump, Hurricane Harvey, and "Destroying Empathy 101"

Body Language Analysis No. 4044: Kim Jong-un's Choreography

Body Language Analysis No. 4042: Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor - Official Weigh-in

Body Language Analysis No. 4037: Charlottesville Protester Quits Boston University after Death Threats

Body Language Analysis No. 4011: Anthony Scaramucci's First UK Interview

Body Language Analysis No. 3977: Anthony Kennedy - One Signal You Never Want to See From a Judge During Your Testimony

Body Language Analysis No. 3958: Vladimir Putin interview with Megyn Kelly

Body Language Analysis No. 3943: Donald Trump hugs James Comey


_____________________________________________________________________________________