Journalist: Do you have any comment on Mr. Porter?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we wish him well. He worked very hard. I found about it - recently and I was surprised by it. But we certainly wish him well. It's a-ah ... obviously tough time - for him. He did a very good job when he was in the White House. Ahum, we hope he has a - wonderful career and - hopefully he will have a great career ahead of him. But ah, it was very sad when we heard about it, and certainly he's also, ah, very sad. Now he also, ah, as you probably know, he says he's innocent– Ω – and I think you have to - remember that. He said very strongly yesterday that he's innocent - so you'll have to talk to him about that. But we absolutely wish him well - did a very good job while he was at the White House. Thank you very much everybody.
During 0:35, as he says, "... ah ...", the President displaces his derriere backward in his chair in a classic Butt Adjustment. A Butt Adjustment is an Alpha Up-regulation signal triggered by anxiety. The President feels nervous when he's preparing to say, "... as you probably know, he says he's innocent ..."
Additionally, his prolonged blinking is an epiphenomenon of psychological blocking - as the President's psyche is attempting to insulate itself.
One to two seconds later, during 0:36 - 0:37, as he is saying, "... he says he's innocent ...", Donald Trump displays a Lip Curl. A Lip Curl is a signal of Braggadocio, Hubris, and Bravado.
Another second later, during 0:38, just before he says, "... and I think you have to - remember that. He said very strongly yesterday that he's innocent ...", President Trump exhibits a Jaw Jut (notated by the Ω symbol). It's important to note this is not a jaw jut associated with anger (e.g., there are no other anger signals present). A Jaw Jut in the absence of Anger is indicative of Hubris.
Summary: Intriguingly, Donald Trump became anxious during his defense of Rob Porter - specifically just prior to saying, "... as you probably know, he says he's innocent ...". The President also felt significant hubris-braggadocio-bravado.
On Thursday, while in Japan, Vice President Pence was asked about the allegations against Rob Porter, the now-former staff Secretary for President Trump. On Wednesday it was made public that both of Mr. Porter's former wives have accused him of physical and emotional abuse. Jenny Willoughby, his second wife, sought and received an emergency protective order against him. Mr. Porter has denied the allegations and yesterday, after these reports became public, he resigned as President Trump's Staff Secretary. Mr. Porter had been dating Hope Hicks, the White House Communications Director, at the time of his resignation.
What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Vice President Pence.
FIRST JOURNALIST (beginning at 0:00): Going to turn back to home Ω- there ah - I was wondering if you could ah, comment on the allegations against Rob Porter the ah, President's Staff Secretary. Ah, when were you made avail, ah, aware of those allegations and how - and then, additionally there are reports now that General Kelly and others at the White House had been aware of these allegations for several months and have been trying to deal with them and p- protect him ∆. Do you believe the President is being well served by his senior staff?
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: Well let me say, we're standing in Yokota Air Force Base in Japan - we're on our way to The Olympics. Um, and um, I, I learned as I a, awoke this morning - of those developments - and so we'll - we'll comment on any issues affecting the White House staff when we get back to Washington.
ASHLEY PARKER (Second Journalist) : Can I just briefly follow-up on that and ask, this ah, now a number of times when you found out ab- you're the Vice President - you're number two in the administration - where you found out about something very late - after a number of other senior staff below you - even in the West Wing have found out about it. Again, I understand - we're standing in here, but can you comment on why you often seem a little bit out of the loop on some of this major news?
VICE PRESIDENT PENCE: ah, you know it's a great honor for me to serve as vice president - and President Trump [shaking head no] has been incredibly generous with the responsibilities and opportunities he's given me to serve - representing the United States on the foreign stage as we have here in Japan - as we will later today in South Korea 'nd - 'course at The Olympics - and also being involved in the legislative process and I'm [deep inhalation] I'm very grateful for that and um, but we'll, we'll leave those White House staffing matters for when we get back to Washington.
During 0:01, just after the first journalist says, "Going to turn back to home" - the Vice President displays an Inward Lip Roll (ILR). An Inward Lip Roll (notated by the Ω symbol) is an attempt to prevent strong emotions from escalating - both inwardly and from being expressed outwardly.
During 0:18, just after the first journalist says, "... that General Kelly and others at the White House had been aware of these
allegations for several months and have been trying to deal with them
and p- protect him...", Mike Pence's mouth temporarily takes on a classic regret expression. This is notated by the ∆ symbol.
He also displays an extended blink - in a subconscious effort to dismiss and/or block the comment/thought.
More than any other high-level politician currently in Washington, the Vice President makes the expression captured in the above image:
• Elevated Central Forehead Contraction
simultaneous with a
• Partial Mouth Smile
We all - every human being - makes this expression from time-to-time. It indicates the thought-emotions of:
• Arrogance
• Smug Incredulity
• Contempt
It's crucial to note that all three of these emotions have other expressions.
However, when a person makes this expression often - as Mike Pence does indeed do - it's a highly reliable signal of a:
In this context, either possibility is ominous. Moreover, the two populations overlap considerably.
The Vice President displays a Hard Swallow (during 0:55) as Ms. Parker says, "... Again, I understand - we're standing in here, but can you comment on why you often seem a little bit out of the loop on some of this major news?"
(Please watch the video, as this dynamic is not captured with a still image)
Just after Ms. Parker says, "... out of the loop ..." (during 0:58), the Vice President displays both:
• Disgust
• Anger
Watch this several times at full and then 1/2 speed. Concentrate on his mid-facial region - specifically between his upper lip and nose - as well as his nostrils.
During 1:03 - 1:04, as the Vice President says, "... President Trump ...", Pence shakes his head side-to-side in a classic NO illustrator. The next words (the rest of the sentence) out of Pence's mouth are:
"... has been incredibly generous with the responsibilities and opportunities he's given me to serve..."
This side-to-side head shake (NO), prior to his verbal statement, indicates Pence's true feelings contradict the words (Pence, in fact, does NOT feel President Trump has been incredibly generous with the responsibilities and opportunities Trump has given him).
(Please watch the video, as this dynamic is not captured with a still image)
Summary:Vice President Pence displayed anxiety, disgust, anger, and deception during this video segment. His chronic display of an Elevated Central Forehead Contraction coupled with a Partial (Suppressed) Mouth Smile is an ominous pattern of behavior in anyone - particularly by such a high-level elected official.
Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson (along with Simon Pegg and Henry Cavill) were recently guests on The Graham Norton Show promoting their new film, Mission: Impossible - Fallout. What follows is a nonverbal analysis of one particular and fascinating moment.
For about 1.5 - 2.0 seconds both Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson (3:00 - 3:02, Mr. Cruise for a slightly shorter duration) simultaneously displace their jaws' to their right. Neither could see the other person's face - but they were feeling precisely the same thought-emotions at exactly the same time.
This nonverbal display is known as a Jaw Confessional. A jaw confessional is a brief lateral thrusting of the jaw which accompanies the beta emotions of embarrassment. It's also seen during apologies - as well as scenarios such as we see here - e.g., as if to say (in confession), "Look at this stupid thing I (we) did".
Summary: Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson are both feeling embarrassed, more than somewhat stupid, and sheepish for performing this stunt in the latest Mission Impossible film.
LUPITA NYONG'O (continuing at 1:06): ... But for the first time in my life, people - once the trailer came out last year - people started hitting me up to try and attend the premier - and I was like, oh my God, I'm going to lose friends this time.
JIMMY KIMMEL: Oh, yeah.
LUPITA NYONG'O: (over-talking) You know, I have to be very careful and very strategic about how I invited people. So I started, you know, with the inner circle, my parents, and then the next circle - I'll be like, "Are you in LA? Oh, you're not - never mind" - [laughing] And then I go to the next circle.
Lupita Nyong'o uses a particular gesture (more specifically a type of Illustrator) during 1:18 - 1:26 - which at first glance may resemble a basketball steeple. However, this is known as the Contracting Sphere. In this dynamic, the hands initiate several inches apart - e.g. at approximately the diameter of a person's face - and then contract together in smaller and smaller spheres - this movement often cycles - repeating several times.
The Contracting Sphere Gesture is used to express a need for attention to detail,finesse, a calling for/desire to use caution, and/or a warning to be careful.
Like the basketball steeple, it does share the quality of being an alpha-beta hybrid (not too alpha and not too beta - but intermediate).
Summary: Whenever
you evaluate nonverbal behavior, it's crucial to always correlate it
with the person's corresponding verbal behavior - as well as their
paralanguage. When the verbal language, the body language, and the
paralanguage are all in alignment/matching - you can be assured of a high degree of
sincerity and honesty. This example of Lupita Nyong'o using the
contracting sphere is a textbook example of all three communication
behaviors displaying a high degree of congruence.
President Trump (continuing at 1:50): ... They were like - death - and un-American § un-American § Somebody said, 'Treasonous' - I mean - yeah I guess why not? [pause] Can we call that treason, why not?∑ I mean they certainly - didn't seem to love our country very much. But ∆ you look at that and it's - it's really very, very sad.
Each time after he says, "Un-American" - (2:14 - 2:15 and 2:16 - 2:17) the President displays a contempt expression (notated by § ). It's helpful to think of this type of contempt expression (there are several) - as a snarl.
As he said, "... somebody said, 'Treasonous' ..." Donald Trump displays Index finger pointing. This is a common manipulative technique - wherein he attempts to make us think, "Hey, I'm just going along with you" - when it was he who introduced the idea. Said another way, with very high probability, whenever the President says, "Somebody" - it is him trying to lend legitimacy to his point of view.
Moreover, this also overlaps with another category of behavior known as Forced Teaming (de Becker). For when he points at a person in the audience, Donald Trump temporarily elevates those watching him (either directly or vicariously) to a peer status (even though we know this is not true intellectually, people often feel it's true emotionally).
He tilts his head to his left, with a suppressed, insincere smile as the President says, "I mean". In this moment (2:18 - 2:19) he is:
• Feigning Doubt
• Feigning Consideration
During 2:19 as he says, "yeah, I guess" - Trump's entire forehead is elevated (although somewhat blunted by Botox) along with his eyebrows. No teeth are visible - which is also true during sincere surprise - except here the shape of his mouth opening is completely wrong. It's pulled strongly laterally - rather than primarily vertically as it would be with true surprise as well as with sincere smiles.
This deliberate and hyperbolic expression of surprise-smile is not only
insincere - but always duplicitous. Many refer to this as a "Joker
Smile" - named after court jesters, scary clowns, and the Batman villain.
Right after he says, "Can we call that treason, why not?" ∑ (2:24), the President's face adopts a posture which is always a red flag:
• Central Forehead Elevation
• Subtle to Mild Mouth "Smile"
This conveys the though-emotions of:
• Contempt
• Smug Disbelief
• Arrogance
As human beings, we're all allowed to feel each of these emotions - but hopefully, these are quite rare in any of us. Correspondingly, most of us make this expression only infrequently. Intriguingly, however, in four percent of the population (in all countries, ethnicity, cultures, etc.) - this expression is common - in the sociopaths (antisocial personality disorder).
During 2:31, just after he says, "they certainly - didn't seem to love our country very much. But ∆", President Trump displays a Tight Tongue Jut.A tight tongue jut conveys the thought-emotion of disdain, disgust, and repulsion.
Summary: Donald Trump's nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage behavior during this exchange indicates a volatility and a wide-ranging of emotions in just a few seconds - including: contempt, disgust, disdain, repulsion, melodrama/hyperbolic behavior, forced-teaming, feigned doubt, feigned consideration, smug disbelief, and arrogance.
Trey Gowdy, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee was a guest on Face the Nation Sunday Morning (4 February 2018). The above video contains an excerpt of that appearance. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of Representative Gowdy.
MARGARET BRENNAN (beginning at 5:38): Do you think you served justice in your time in Congress?
TREY GOWDY: [Lip smack] Ah, not like I did in my previous job - I tried, ahum [∆, Loose Tongue Jut, Side to Side Head Shaking]. It's about winning in politics - and ahum [§, Regret Expression] That is not what the [stutter]c- courtroom - there's a reason - we throw out search warrants even though we found the murder weapon. There's a reason we throw out [stutter] con, c-, confessions even though we think the person did it [Ω, Loose Tongue Jut]. The process matters [Side to Side Head Shaking]. The end does not justify the means - and in [up-talking] politics - [Side to Side Head Shaking] it's just about winning - [stuttering] and, and I, I can't, I don't wanna live like that.
During 5:45 (as he says, "ahum", and just after he says, "... not like I did in my previous job - I tried ...", Representative Gowdy displays a Loose Tongue Jut.
A Loose Tongue Jut (not to be confused with a Tight Tongue Jut) is a signal of emotions: "I've been bad" or "I've been caught" (Navarro). It has a self-deprecating element to it.
Just after saying, "... It's about winning in politics - and ...", Representative Gowdy displays a classic Regret Expression (5:48).
Another Loose Tongue Jut was displayed during 6:00, just prior to Representative Gowdy saying, "... The process matters ..."
Moreover, notice how Trey Gowdy is looking down and to his right during a large portion of this exchange. This is the quadrant that most people look toward the vast majority of the time when expressing sincere and deep sadness, regret, and/or shame.
Summary: Representative Trey Gowdy was sincere during this segment of the interview. He feels regret, sadness - and even some shame regarding his experience in the political realm.
Love him or hate him, there's no disputing Tom Brady is one of the greatest, if not the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. Brady is also no stranger to the camera. From a body language perspective, he often provides an excellent example of a specific nonverbal behavior - which although not uncommon, is a valuable practice - and yet rarely discussed.
During interviews, Tom Brady, with relative frequency, will express a partial and asymmetrical "smile". Body language beginners will claim that one-sided "smiles" are never sincere (Duchenne) smiles. And while they'd be correct a fair share of the time - there are also plenty of exceptions. It's crucial to be able to differentiate between these behaviors.
Provided there's absence of trauma or disease - sincere smiles when fully expressed, are equal on both the right and left sides of the face. In the split seconds of initiation, however, true joy-happiness smiles may begin more prominently on one side.
Whether he realizes it or not, Brady's frequent asymmetrical expression - essentially acts as a default setting. This low-level "almost smile" (while he's talking or pausing) primes both his brain - and those of the audience - to a heightened mood, such that everyone is more likely to break into a full smile - and even laughter. Indeed, comedians use this same technique.
Fascinatingly, practicing this sincere, suppressed (partial), one-sided, low-level, priming, sincere smile can even act as a mood-elevator.
Summary: Frequent, partial (sincere but suppressed), asymmetrical smiling primes both oneself and our audiences. Such practice considerably facilitates the interview process by engendering sincere smiles and true laughter. This technique can also be used as one mode of effective therapy in personal mood elevation.
The Vegas line gives the New England Patriots a 4.5 point spread over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII. This interview of Tom Brady (above video) was given on Wednesday 31 January 2018. The initial question dealt with Brady's possible retirement. What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis.
JOURNALIST (beginning at 0:00): In an interview with ah, Andrea Kremer of NFL Network, ah, Jonathan Kraft was asked if he could ever envision a scenario [up-talking] in which he would have to tell you that you have to retire. And he said that you've earned the right to make that decision yourself. And I'm curious ah, ya know, what does that latitude mean to you [stutter] - t- to hear that coming from him?
TOM BRADY: Why does everyone [stutter] w- want me to retire so bad? I don't git [sic] it. I'm havin' fun...
During 0:10 - 0:11, as the journalist said, "said that" - Tom Brady's jaw juts momentarily forward. This nonverbal display, although brief, (but not quite as evanescent as a microexpression) is absolutely classic - and indicative of an adrenaline surge. Brady does a pretty good job at covering up his emotion - but this question does indeed evoke anger in the quarterback.
Please watch the video, on regular speed and half-speed, as the still image does not capture the dynamics of this behavior.
Summary: Nonverbal Analysis demonstrates conclusively, that although he did a good job at masking his emotion, the subject of his possible retirement during this Q & A session, angered Tom Brady.
Yesterday, in a triple-sourced article, The New York Times reported that Mark Corallo (who served as a spokesman for Donald Trump's legal team before resigning in July) has concerns that the White House communications director Hope Hicks "could be contemplating obstructing justice".
Specifically, Ms. Hicks allegedly told President Trump on a conference call that Donald Trump Jr.'s emails "will never get out,". It's also reported that Mr. Corallo plans to share this information with special counsel Robert Mueller.
The above picture of Hope Hicks was taken in early November 2017. She was on a small boat with other members of the President's entourage - on their way to the Pearl Harbor memorial. This stop in Hawai'i occurred just prior to Donald Trump's five-nation Asia trip.
With rare exception, whenever a woman exposes her armpits - and more specifically as Ms. Hicks is doing here - directed OUT LATERALLY (not straight ahead) - it's a subtype of high-alpha nonverbal behavior. More specifically, this display is very strong signal of both sexual attraction and putting oneself on sexual display.
Hicks' sexual emotions are being amplified even further via the upward direction of her elbows.
Of course, both men and women need (and feel the need) to adjust their hair. However, regardless of gender, no one ever makes this configuration without first feeling high levels of emotional confidence (alpha emotions). Moreover, with women, it's extremely rare for this behavior (arms held high, elbows out laterally) to occur without the presence of either significant sexual attraction and/or in the absence of a sexual display.
Summary: Hope Hicks is, with very high probability, sexually attracted to the man with whom she's speaking - and she wants him to know it.
