Body Language Analysis No. 4697: Jim Jordan's Creepy Smile — and Why Clowns Freak-out so many people

 

 

A clown doesn’t have to be a ‘scary clown’ in order to creep us out. They often ‘feel’ insincere and duplicitous — feelings we should always approach with caution.

 

 

When a clown’s ‘painted-on’ smile doesn’t match their real mouth — it’s an overt reminder that a person’s spoken word often doesn’t match their true intent. Thus clowns are often perceived as duplicitous and devious — which is scary (life clearly has enough of that).

A person may have no body language expertise or any nonverbal training whatsoever — but clown smiles will always feel unnatural to them.

Whenever you get an “unnatural feeling”, don’t ignore it. Listen to it (not just about false-smiles, but with regards to any behavior that seems ‘off’).

 

 

Jim Jordan’s feigned ‘smile’ is a good example of this nonverbal phenomenon. The word ‘smile’ is placed in quotations because it’s NOT sincere. This is one of Jordan’s primary default smiles (false smiles).

And don’t let anyone tell you, “That’s just the way Jim Jordan smiles” — No, it’s not. This is not a smile — it’s a behavioral mask. This is not anatomical variation. This is not physiological. And it’s not idiosyncratic. It’s duplicitous.

Note that none of Jordan’s upper teeth showing — but lower teeth are visible. This is *exactly the opposite* teeth-smile pattern vs that of a sincere smile.

 

Said another way, teeth need not be present during a sincere smile. Many smiles, in fact, display no teeth. These are either sincere smiles in the initial split-seconds of formation, or more likely, they’re expressing a component of smile suppression.

Of all types of sincere smiling, suppressed smiles are the most common.

 

 

However, with true/sincere smiles, when teeth *are showing* they should only be the upper teeth, not the lower teeth.

 

 

Jim Jordan routinely displays the complete opposite — with his top teeth covered and lower teeth exposed. This is NOT natural.

(Exceptions: When a person is crescendoing to or decrescendoing from sincere laughter, when the camera [or observer] is positioned higher, when the smiler is tilting their head forward, with facial trauma, or dental malformations — lower teeth may be seen)

Notice too that when Jordan pseudo-smiles like this, it necessarily tightens the tissue above his upper lip and below his nose. This thins-out this “mustache region” and thins-out his upper lip.

A momentary thinned upper lip is correlative with anger, frustration, or anxiety — and increased adrenaline.

Simultaneously, we note that Jordan’s jaw is thrusting forward (toward the camera). This is also highly indicative of increased adrenaline.

During a sincere smile, a jaw is never thrusting forward. So whenever you see this dynamic (sometimes it’s called a jaw jut), ask yourself, “What is the reason for their adrenaline surge?” and “Why are they faking their smile right now?”

 

 

In fact, during sincere smiles and sincere laughter the jaw is *pulling backward* with respect to the upper teeth (and of course, the rest of one’s head). This may not always be obvious to you, but it’s there — and it’s a crucial component of a true smile/laughter.

Sometimes (esp. if you begin with trying to ‘smile w/ your eyes’ [an absolute requirement for sincere smiles]), if you then contract your jaw backwards — you’ll find yourself ‘flip into’ (almost like you flipped-on light switch) a deep smile or even spontaneous laughter. [280]

Now try to imitate Jordan’s facial configuration. Hide your upper teeth. Pull up the corners of your mouth. Push your jaw forward. Expose your lower teeth. Doing this will make you feel odd — and will probably make you ‘feel creepy’.

 

 

Did you notice in this example how Jim Jordan’s central forehead muscles are contracted upwards? This is also indicative of a highly feigned smile.

Never trust what, at first glance, may seem like a legit mouth smile — but that also has an accompanying elevated central forehead contraction.

People that make such “mouth smiles” with an elevated central forehead contraction *often* (or at crucial times) have an extremely high correlation with sociopathy or psychopathy (collectively referred to as Antisocial Personality Disorder).

SUMMARY: Jim Jordan’s “Smile” is overtly duplicitous and insincere. Sincere smiles *never* display the lower teeth whilst hiding the upper teeth. This pseudo-smile should make you feel creeped-out. Red lights flashing. Sirens blaring.

Interested in learning Body Language and Behavior Analysis? Group-Zoom sessions are available. Choose one of two different sessions (2nd & 4th Tuesday or Thursday) of each month (90 min/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). Corporate group & one-on-one sessions also available.

Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details.

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This post and others accompanying it, serve 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.

Body Language Analysis №4696: Body Language Surrogates - and the Painting Trump Chose (Indicating his Mindset) During His Response to his Most Recent Indictments

 

Why did Donald Trump give his response-to-his-federal-indictments speech in front of a painting of Kaiser Wilhelm II? 

The background, paintings, photos, people, etc. some choose to include in their public appearances very much are representations of their psyches.

Sometimes these are subconscious/edge-of-consciousness choices (think of these as sorts of reverse-Rorschach tests) — and other times these are very deliberate and not-so-subtle messages.

 

This is a print (not the original) of a painting by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris of a meeting-negotiation-argument between Teddy Roosevelt and Kaiser Wilhelm II — regarding “The Venezuelan crisis of 1902–1903”.

The Venezuelan Crisis of 1902–1903 was a naval blockade imposed collectively by Germany, Great Britain, and Italy — against Venezuela from December 1902 to February 1903 as a result of Venezuelan President, Cipriano Castro, refusing to pay damages as well as foreign debts suffered by Europeans during the recent Venezuelan civil wars.

Germany also threatened possible occupation of Venezuela — which Roosevelt would not permit (and certainly ran counter to “The Monroe Doctrine”).

This was, by many accounts, when Teddy Roosevelt’s “Speak softly and carry a big stick” policy came into being — at least on the world’s stage.

Roosevelt had considerable cultural sensitivity (he had lived in Dresden as a teen). He had never made public his threats against the Kaiser — and thereby most probably prevented WWI from occurring 12 years earlier.

But one small detail — this meeting never happened. Teddy Roosevelt and Kaiser Wilhelm II never met until 1910 — well after Roosevelt left the White House and, of course, years after the resolution of the Venezuelan Crisis.

During the Venezuela Crisis, Roosevelt and Wilhelm had corresponded via letter, their ambassadors, and their emissaries — but not in-person.

And although they were purported by some to be friends, anything resembling a ‘personal relationship’ was probably much closer to common political hyperbole — and, if so, occurred well after Roosevelt’s Presidency.

While Jean Leon Gerome Ferris was indeed a skilled technical painter (i.e., accuracy of faces, clothing, land, etc.) — he often dramatically oversimplified historical events, and in this case, he blatantly lied with his paint brush.

 

What’s most obvious in this painting, is the Kaiser’s twisting of his mustache. This MAP (manipulator, adaptor, pacifier) is so classic as to be an absolutely cliché. We all can recall scenes of cartoon villains twisting their mustaches.

Such mustache-twisting conveys the thought-emotions of surreptitious and nefarious intent — as well as the making of clandestine plans. Note all the while, the person doing this (the Kaiser) is perched just above and behind Trump’s right shoulder.

 

Immediately thereafter, we notice what’s probability the key reason (along with the identity and personality of the person who’s displaying it) that Trump chose this painting to stand in front of — the Kaiser is flashing what in America has recently come to mean “White Power”.

Of course, in 1902 and 1903, this (conventionally termed) “okay” hand gesture (with or without the mustache twisting) lacked this specific meaning, but this simply gives Trump (or Steven Miller, who’s mind the idea was likely hatched) plausible deniability.

 

The Kaiser is also, along with turning his body away (disrespect) is giving President Roosevelt the “side-eye”. We don’t look directly at those whom we don’t like, don’t believe, don’t respect — as well as those with whom we don’t want to emotionally escalate.

With the exception of perhaps 2 seconds (3:17–3:19), we cannot see Roosevelt’s face — and if we didn’t do a little digging (or we weren’t art historians), we’d never know Teddy was even in this painting.

 

But we *can see* Abraham Lincoln’s portrait over Wilhelm’s head and his right shoulder (the painter, Ferris, implying that this fictitious meeting also occurred in the White House) — the first Republican President.

 

While Roosevelt’s hand is on the globe, covering Venezuela, Kaiser Wilhelm is turning his back on President Roosevelt — and the World — while he’s making nefarious plans (or so the Artist is implying — again, this meeting never took place).

I’m not offering up a definitive set of diagnoses for Kaiser Wilhelm II — however, historians often cite that he had Histrionic Personality Disorder, Megalomania, Manic-Depression, and that he was Psychotic.

Trump obviously admires Kaiser Wilhelm II — a man who, while not solely responsible for World War I — his temperament, actions, and choices certainly helped to start it.

It’s crucial to note, that regardless of the skill of the painter, a painting is never actual body language or behavior — and in this case, it distorts history.

(“The map is not the territory.” Alfred Korzybski)

A work of art only represents the end-work of the artist — which itself may or very well may not be an accurate representation of reality — or importantly, the real thought-emotions experienced and/or displayed by the subjects of the art.

SUMMARY: Trump chose to stand with Kaiser Wilhelm II (another megalomaniac) over his right shoulder, thus honoring him.

Kaiser Wilhelm II is a man, who whilst twisting his mustache, is planning obvious nefarious acts — turning his back on Teddy Roosevelt and the rest of the world — and thus together these two despots are dissing Roosevelt’s “Speak softly and carry a big stick” leadership style.

And although its newest meaning in American culture was displayed in this manner 111 years ago, the obvious signal of what the American far-right commonly use as the gesture for “White Power”, the ominousness of Trump’s use of it here, via-surrogacy, cannot be over-stated.

Interested in Learning Body Language/Nonverbal Communication & Behavior Analysis in Group-Zoom sessions? We’ll be meeting the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month (90 minutes/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). Group-corporate and one-on-one instruction also available. Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details.

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This post and others accompanying it, serve 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.

Body Language Analysis №4695: Ron DeSantis Unusual Repetitive Jaw Movement (Video, Photos, and Analyses)

 

This past week, Ron DeSantis embarked on his first out-of-state trip after formally announcing his candidacy for President — including stops in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.

What follows is a partial Body language, Paralanguage, and Statement analysis of Ron DeSantis during an interview in New Hampshire on Thursday, 1 June 2023.

*The corresponding descriptions appear below each of the following images.*

 

 

Note that at the 0:03 mark, DeSantis hard-swallows. Although his Adam’s apple [thyroid cartilage] is less prominent than most men, we can clearly see it moving up and down.

Hard Swallowing is an extremely common anxiety tell. More specifically, it’s a sign of a dry mouth/throat — and thus, an indicator of potential anxiety. Deep swallowing stimulates the production of saliva.

 

 

A second Hard-Swallow is displayed during 0:18.

Note DeSantis begins this first answer with, “You know, it’s interesting …”. We all know the dictionary definition of “interesting”, yet here’s an extremely common context where its meaning is highly sarcastic, accusatory, and aggressive.

 

 

Note also, DeSantis is holding his hands (fingers intertwined) in front of his groin area. This behavior is a variation of what is known as a Fig Leaf (aka Genital Guarding).

Fig Leaf/Genital Guarding is a very common body language manifestation of emotional discomfort, low confidence, and feelings of intimidation. DeSantis displays this body language far more than most Governors or Presidential Candidates.

 

 

Fig Leaf/Genital Guarding is also seen during moments of respect and/or deference for a political, powerful, or religious superior (i.e., VP meeting with/standing next to their President [political or corporate] — or when meeting with the Pope).

 

Fig Leaf/Genital Guarding is also commonly displayed during some religious and other formal/respectful ceremonies (i.e. Weddings, Funerals, visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, etc.).

 

 At the beginning of the above video (0:04–0:18), DeSantis repeatedly moves his jaw back and forth (laterally). There’s also an occasional less prominent but noticeable forward motion component. Please watch the video, as this is impossible to see the dynamics in images.

 

…And during another video (same interview, immediately above), DeSantis exhibits this same Jaw movement behavior (0:00–0:14):

 

 

…And yet another clip (same interview, immediately above) of this identical Jaw movement is seen (0:03–0:09, 0:54–0:57) in this video segment.

Note each of these above three highlighted segments clearly show this jaw movement when DeSantis is not speaking (at rest). However, in order to accurately discern if this behavior also occurs whilst he’s speaking — a direct, forward facing camera view is required. 276

Said another way, this same noted jaw movement is easily camouflaged (and probably also present) when superimposed with other body language and, of course, together with normal speech — if the proper (forward) camera angle is not viewed.

*It’s profoundly important to note that the degree of repetitiveness of the particular jaw movement demonstrated in these examples is NOT routine body language behavior.*

With extremely high likelihood, the cause of this jaw movement is a secondary manifestation of a specific and discernible medical condition.

Tardive dyskinesia is a possible etiology of this jaw movement, but this would be a highly atypical presentation for TD — and thus it’s extremely unlikely the cause for this specific repetitive movement.

A less remote possible cause for this repetitive jaw movement is Tourette’s syndrome or another, similar tic/tic-like condition.

Tourette’s Syndrome and other Tic-like conditions can be exacerbated by anxiety, depression, tiredness, or even excitement.

(It’s crucial to rule out various medical causes of tic-associated conditions — such as Huntington’s Disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Wilson’s Disease, Hypothyroidism, Head Trauma, Poisons, Drugs, etc. [this is not a complete list])

Ron DeSantis has *no known* history of any of the above conditions.

 

 

Note DeSantis’ Elevated Central Forehead Contraction simultaneous with a partial/subtle Mouth Smile (i.e. during 0:36).

Everyone (but hopefully not too often) displays this facial expression *on occasion* during times of:

• Arrogance 
• Contempt
• Incredulity (specifically, Smug Incredulity)

§ Note each of these emotions may be manifested using other body language/facial expressions.

However, those who display this combination of expressions *frequently or during crucial moments* — have an extremely high correlation with Sociopathy or Psychopathy (collectively referred to as Antisocial Personality Disorder).

 

 

DeSantis displays this Elevated Central Forehead Contraction with a simultaneous Mouth Smile Expression multiple times during this interview — i.e., again during 1:20.

When DeSantis was asked (1:14), “Do you want Florida — or do you believe Florida is welcome [sic] to the LGBT community?” — He answered, “Have you ever been to places in South Florida?”

Note that DeSantis did NOT answer the question that was asked — instead, he spun his answer into yet another attack on Disney.

Moreover, notice his qualifier, “*South* Florida” — implying that *he thinks* perhaps that Miami is accepting of the LGBTQ community — but the rest of Florida is not.

 

 

During 0:54, we see an example of an Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression (R2E2).

Once again, everyone makes this expression from time-to-time, but hopefully not too often.

A Rationalization Rapport Empathy Expression may have a split second duration (ergo, a microexpression) but it can last a good bit longer (several seconds).

The R2E2 is expression indicating that the person is trying to Rationalize something, trying to gain your Rapport, and/or trying to gain your Empathy (it’s crucial to note that it’s not an indication that they’re empathic — only that they’re trying to gain YOUR empathy.

Nonverbal novices will often confuse the R2E2 with that of disgust or contempt — however, the expression-scenarios have very different meanings (Do you know how these emotions and facial manifestations differ?).

When a person displays an R2E2 *frequently*, always ask yourself the following questions:

What was their primary emotion as they spoke?
• What, specifically, are they trying to convince me of?
• Why are they trying to Gain my Rapport?
• What are my gut feelings of their motive(s)?
• Do they truly believe what they, themselves, are saying?
• How do I feel about their overall level of sincerity? (What’s their Sincerity Quotient?)
• Are they feigning a weakness?
• If so, what is it?
• Are they trying to Gain my Empathy?
• Why?
• If so, what is it?
• Are they trying to Gain my Empathy?
• Why?

The vast majority of the time, those who make the R2E2 expression are trying to rationalize — to convince themselves of something — AND, more importantly, they’re also trying to recruit you/convince you to be a Co-Rationalizer via the manipulation of your Empathy.

 

 

Did you notice DeSantis’ facial sweating? Could he be ill? Possibly. The lights could be hot or the room temperature could be elevated — but probably not. This is most likely secondary to his anxiety or other causes (1:12).

 

 

At multiple times, DeSantis displayed an Index Finger (forefinger) Point (1:20–22, 1:25–27, and to a lesser degree at 0:20–0:21).

Index Finger Pointing is extremely negatively received across all cultures around the World. With rare exception, it’s a rapport destroyer.

SUMMARY: On multiple occasions during this interview, Governor Ron DeSantis displayed a highly repetitive Lateral Jaw Movement with a secondary and less pronounced forward vectoring (jaw jutting) component.

The degree of repetitiveness of this particular jaw movement demonstrated in these examples is NOT routine body language behavior. With extremely high likelihood, the cause of this jaw movement is a secondary manifestation of a specific and diagnosable medical condition.

More specifically (after other medical conditions are ruled out), with considerably high likelihood, Ron DeSantis’ repetitive jaw movement is most probably secondary to effect of drug(s) — specifically, a stimulant (i.e., cocaine), colloquially, known as ‘Cocaine Jaw’.

All those familiar with stimulant abuse who would recognize ‘Cocaine Jaw’ are encouraged to comment.

Interested in learning Body Language/Nonverbal Communication & Behavior Analysis in Group-Zoom sessions? Want to learn how to identify a Sociopath, a Psychopath, or other Manipulative Behaviors? We’ll be meeting the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month (90 minutes/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details.

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This post and others accompanying it, serve 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.

Body Language Analysis №4694: Ron DeSantis asks Reporter, "Are you Blind?!" (Video, Photos, and Analysis)

 

This morning while in Laconia, New Hampshire, Ron DeSantis was asked, “Governor, how come you’re not taking questions from voters?”

What follows is a Body Language, Paralanguage, and Statement Analysis of his response.

*The corresponding descriptions appear below each of the following images.*

DeSantis responds, “People talkin [sic] coming up to me talking to me. What are you talkin’ bout? I’m out here [inaudible] with people. Are you, are you blind?!” The reporter says, “What?” DeSantis again asks, “Are you blind?” — The reporter answers, “I’m not blind.” 

DeSantis then says, “Okay, so people are coming up to me and talkin’ to me whatever they want to talk to me about.”

 

During 0:19, as DeSantis says, “I’m out here [inaudible] with people”, the candidate displays a Lip Curl.

A Lip Curl is a description given to the evanescent dynamic of the lips curling/flaring outward in a disproportionate and melodramatic manner relative to normal lip configuration necessary for the pronunciation of the word being spoken.

A Lip Curl is a highly reliable indicator of the thought-emotions of:

• Braggadocio
• False Bravado
• Righteous Indignation
• Pretentiousness
• Deception
  
  

DeSantis then asks (the first time), “Are you Blind?!” Note as he says, “Blind”, his head oscillates back and forth (side-to-side) as well as moving forward. This is an example of a “Self-Righteous Head Wiggle” (SRHW).

A Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is fairly rapid (high frequency) and of varying amplitude movement of head from side-to-side. While it’s often extremely short in duration (a microexpression or near-microexpression, as we see here) and at other times it lasts longer.

Please watch the video several times (even at slower speeds) as an image does not capture the motion and nuance of this dynamic nonverbal behavior.

The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is typically displayed by individuals who are of relatively high-alpha personalities — but also by others during extra-high confidence moments and when people are expressing particularly strong opinions.

Additionally, the SRHW will sometimes have a *superimposed forward movement component* when Arrogance and/or Condescension are simultaneous (as DeSantis emotes in this, and even more so during his reiteration of the question).

When, instead, an *overlying Backward motion/pulling away dynamic* is displayed (not seen here), there are feelings of Disgust, Contempt, and/or feigned-disbelief/disbelief is being felt.

Another common feature of the SRHW is a temporary increase in pitch (vocal frequency), volume, as well as speaking speed (i.e., words per second). Note each time DeSantis says, “Blind”, his pitch increases. 

This paralanguage/verbal elevated pitch-change is virtually always simultaneous with the Self-Righteous Head Wiggle.

There’s often a similar side-to-side motion of the torso (as is seen to a mild degree in this example) — and sometimes even with the jaw (not seen here).

Prolonged eyelid closure (not seen here), although not a necessary component of the SRHW, when seen simultaneously, is an amplifier of self-righteousness, disgust, and/or contempt.

The Self-Righteous Head Wiggle is one form of nonverbal hyper-swagger and nonverbal arrogance.

 

Immediately after the first time he asks, “Are you blind?!”, DeSantis displays a Loose Tongue Jut.

A Loose Tongue Jut is an indication of the thought-emotions of:

• “I’ve just said/about to say something stupid”

• “I’ve just/about to mess up”

• “I’ve been/about to be caught”

• “I’ve just lied/about to lie”

Take care not to confuse a Loose Tongue Jut, with a Tight Tongue Jut, or a Wide-Open Tongue Jut — as these three nonverbal behavior signals have completely different meanings.

 

The second time he says, “Are you blind?!”, DeSantis’ Torso jerks his torso even closer toward the reporter (compared with the first iteration), but without a side-to-side motion component.

This forward-thrusting of the torso, particularly from a person in power, is especially arrogant and aggressive. It’s often a component of an invasion of personal space (intimate space) and will feel this way even when the person may be technically outside this space.

 

When used in reference to a person or group of people — particularly people who are present, DeSantis’ backward, Thumb-Arm Jerking dynamic (seen during 0:23, also with a pen in his hand) is a significantly negative gesture.

This is a form of pointing — and although it’s less offensive than the universally highly-offensive index finger (forefinger) pointing, it’s still quite dismissive, derogatory, degrading, arrogant, and contemptuous.

It’s a body language dynamic that very much says, “You (they) belong in back of me”, “You’re (they’re) inferior to me”, “You (they) don’t belong here”, “Get out of here”, etc.

Note DeSantis did not answer the reporter’s question. Talking with voters is not equivalent to answering their questions. This is a classic technique used in the context of deception — appearing to answer a question, but not actually answering the question.

Moreover, bullies, chronic liars, and manipulators (considerable Venn diagram overlapping) will often shout rhetorical, accusatory, and intimidating questions at the person asking the question — getting them to back down. Does this behavior look familiar?

 

SUMMARY: In this short video, Ron DeSantis displays multiple signals of Deception. In addition, he displays Arrogance, Contempt, Manipulation, Bullying, and Self-righteousness. His behavior is highly consistent with Impulse Control Disorder and Low Self-Esteem.

Interested in Learning Body Language/Nonverbal Communication and Behavior Analysis in Group-Zoom sessions? We’ll be meeting the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month (90 minutes/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details.

Ω

This post and others accompanying it, serve 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.

Body Language Analysis №4693: Brie Larson at Cannes Film Festival Press Conference (Video, Photos, and Analysis)

 

Last week, the Cannes Film Festival opened with “Jeanne du Barry” written, co-produced, and directed by Maïwenn — in which she also co-stars, playing the role of Jeanne du Barry alongside Johnny Depp as Louis XV.

Brie Larson won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and BAFTA Awards as Best Actress in 2015 for her portrayal of Joy “Ma” Newsome in “The Room”.

What follows is a nonverbal, verbal, and paralanguage analysis of Ms. Larson’s response to a particular question from a journalist at the Cannes Film Festival.

Note: I’m a strong advocate of #MeToo and #WomensRightsAreHumanRights.

This analysis is not a critique of Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, their relationship, their behavior, or the recent defamation lawsuit. 

In one of the pressers for the festival, Brie Larson was asked, “…As thee [sic] sort of outspoken and very vocal, um, ah, advocate for Times Up and Me Too, I’m curious how you feel about Johnny Depp’s film opening the festival and do you plan to see it?”

(It’s notable that the reporter referred to Jeanne du Barry as “Johnny Depp’s Film” [one his companies’ was a co-producer] — however, Maïwenn, not only played the title role [Jeanne du Barry] — but she wrote, directed, and co-produced it as well.)

*Please note: the analysis descriptions appear below their corresponding images*

 

At the 0:01 second mark, just as the journalist was saying, “…outspoken…”, Ms. Larson displays a Hard Swallow — a common anxiety tell. 

As he continued to ask his question, Ms. Larson nodded several times while she’s displaying a Social Smile.

As soon as “Times Up” and “Me Too” were spoken, her eyelids opened significantly — wider than baseline (indicating an adrenaline surge). 

Immediately after he says, “…Johnny Depp’s film opening …” (0:07), Ms. Larson’s smile disappears — the contour of her mouth opening is replaced with a horizontal configuration (anger).

Also, her head turns slightly away from the reporter (to her right), (disapproval and distancing herself from the question) with a mild increase in muscle tension in her midface (nostrils, area above upper lip), (anger) as well as a slight jaw jut (adrenaline surge).

After he says, “… and do you plan to see it?”, Ms. Larson looks up to her right.

Although it can sometimes be an unreliable indicator (use caution, for not everyone follows this pattern and norming their behavior is crucial), looking up to one’s right can indicate visualizing a future event or an unwitnessed past event (visually constructing).

In this context, immediately after she’s asked, “… and do you plan to see it?” (a future event), Ms. Larson does indeed look to this expected corresponding quadrant.

After Ms. Larson asks what may initially appear to be a clarification (“You’re asking *me* that?”), we note her eyebrows and upper eyelids significantly elevate.

When a question is asked rhetorically, sarcastically, or for purposes of time-stalling — eyebrows will elevate.

However, when a question is asked in a sincere context, the eyebrows will move downward.

After the reporter answers, “Yes”, Ms. Larson rotates her head to her right as she displays a momentary Fear response.

Her fear amplifies as she looks further to her right.

Then, very rapidly — Anger replaces her Fear. Note the momentary downward dynamic of Brie’s inner (medial) eyebrows, partial closing of her eyelids, and tension in her midface.

Next (0:15–0:17), although we can’t see it directly, it’s easy to infer Larson rubbing the tops (anterior surface) of both of her thighs with her hands as she says, “… know. I’m sorry, I don’t understand the …”,

As she then says, “or why me specifically”, Ms. Larson first pats, then for about 10 seconds, has prolonged contact her suprasternal notch/body of her sternum area with her right four fingers. This is one area commonly touched/self-massaged when we’re feeling anxiety.

On its long path, both the left and right vagus nerves courses through the neck. During moments of anxiety, (subconsciously) touching/massaging the neck and upper sternum (and branches of the Vagus nerve), we lower our heart rate and slow our respiration.

For this same reason we fiddle with necklaces, pull/loosen collars, and falsely adjust our neckties — when it’s not really needed. The real purpose is to diminish our anxiety by subconsciously lowering our pulse and respiration.

After she says, “… why me specifically?” (0:19) she displays a Loose Tongue Jut. This is deceptive. Ms. Larson DOES know why the journalist is asking her the question — but it doesn’t mean his question is contextual, proportional, or proper to the situation at hand.

Ms. Larson feels that the Journalist is manipulating her. She feels he’s trying to get her to wade into Johnny Depp’s and Amber Heard’s relationship (and to try to get her to endorse [and/or demonize] one over the other).

At 0:20, Brie Larson closes her eyes in an extended blink while she, again, displays another Hard Swallow (Swallowing will stimulate the production and release of saliva during a Dry Throat of Anxiety).

At the 0:28 mark, just as she removes her hand from her suprasternal notch/sternum — Ms. Larson displays a subtle, suppressed mouth smile — displaying a microexpression of Joy-Happiness — as she now knows how she’s going to answer his question to her advantage.

Did you notice the deep inhalation she also takes at this moment (also at 0:28 just as she smiles and immediately after she says, “understood”)?

Ms. Larson takes a much deeper breath at 0:33 (and opens her eyes very wide along with retracting her torso away from the reporter) just after the reporter says, “So I’m just curious …”

Please watch the video at regular and slower speeds as it’s impossible to catch this dynamic behavior in a still image.

This example highlights the classic Statement Analysis tell of, “I’m just curious…” — When a person says this, they’re virtually never “just curious” — they’re trying to maneuver you into a “gotcha” moment.

Just after this second, deeper inhalation (anxiety), Brie Larson looks away from the reporter (0:34) — visually and mentally/emotionally distancing herself from the reporter and his question.

As Brie Larson says (beginning at 0:36), “Um, well you’ll see I guess if I’ll see it …”, she again rubs the tops (anterior surface) of her thighs with both hands — repeating a display of this anxiety tell.

Her lip smacking during 0:36 (just before she says, “Um”) is one signal that Brie Larson is transitioning back to a higher confidence level.

During 0:38, after she says, “… um…”, Ms. Larson displays a mild feigned-pout/feigned-consideration expression (note her protruding lip and jaw with mildly flared nostrils) which telegraphs her strong feelings of dismissal.

As she gives the second part of her answer, “… and, um, I don’t know how I’ll feel about it if I do — yeah”, Ms. Larson displays an elevated Central (medial) Forehead Contraction (along with medial eyebrow elevation) together with a partial (insincere) mouth smile.

Simultaneously elevated CFC + partial Mouth Smile is an expression all human beings make (on occasion) when we’re feeling:

• Incredulity (Smug Incredulity)
• Contempt (one of several manifestations of contempt)
• Arrogance (one of multiple expressions of arrogance)

Brie Larson, in this particular example, was displaying high levels of Incredulity toward the reporter.

Everyone makes this expression from time to time (hopefully not too often) — but beware of anyone who displays this expression often (this Body Language Axiom is not applicable here since we see Ms. Larson exhibit this behavior only once).

Ms. Larson’s “Yeah” after a noticeable pause — as well as her rapid blinking (distancing herself/closing a metaphorical door on the query), and tight-mouth pseudo-smile all convey her feelings of pushback about attempted manipulation by being asked this question.

SUMMARY: In this video, Brie Larson is responding to a reporter whom she felt was trying to manipulate her into choosing sides between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

We see Ms. Larson’s Body Language as she’s being caught off guard in a “gotcha” moment, displaying varying examples of anxiety, fear, some anger, incredulity, pushback, dismissal, and then reasserting her confidence.

nterested in Learning Body Language/Nonverbal Communication and Behavior Analysis in Group-Zoom sessions? We’ll be meeting the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month (90 minutes/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). One-on-One and Corporate group instruction are also available. Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details.

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This post and others accompanying it, serve 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.

Body Language Analysis №4690: Greg Abbott, Deception, and the Lip Curl (Photos)

 

A ‘Lip Curl’, when the lips flare/curl outward in disproportionate and melodramatic manner is a highly reliable indicator of the thought-emotions of:

• Hubris

• False Bravado

• Braggadocio

• Pretentiousness

• Righteous Indignation

• Deception

• Insincerity

• Agenda Driven (Manipulation is Present)

• This cannot be stressed enough: If a Lip Curl is displayed even with modest frequency, there’s a high likelihood of Machiavellian Personality (and very often, an accompanying Dark Triad or Dark Tetrad).

 

It’s a crucial tell, an out-of-context lip and mouth configuration — hyperbolic with respect to the word being spoken.

 

You’ve probably detected this subtle nonverbal behavior subconsciously (or at the edge of consciousness) but dismissed it.

 

It’s also commonly (but not always) accompanied by pseudo-accent sounding by word pronunciations — with an air of haughtiness (i.e., “Country Club Accent”).

In addition, there’s almost always a significant and simultaneous degree of jaw muscle tension/contraction present during a Lip Curl.

Interested in learning Body Language/Nonverbal Communication and Behavior Analysis in Group-Zoom sessions? We’ll be meeting the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month (90 minutes/session for 1 year, 36 hours total). Please email me at Jack@BodyLanguageSuccess.com for details (one-on-one and private corporate group instruction also available).

Ω

This post and others accompanying it, serve 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 the many varied contexts of personal and professional life.