Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3759: Nicole Kidman's and Jimmy Fallon's Almost Date Redux - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Nicole Kidman was on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show earlier this week. This was round two of reminiscing on "Jimmy's and Nicole's almost date" of years past.

One of the more obvious nonverbal signals you may notice is that Kidman and Fallon both blushed - Jimmy moderately - while Nicole did so profusely. While blushing is certainly not a requirement for sincerity, when blushing IS present, it's strongly correlated with an overall sincere personality (but not necessarily in that moment). Yet this was not the most interesting body language exemplified in this clip.

What follows is a more nuanced nonverbal display.

This image was captured at 5:28 - which was just before Jimmy Fallon first mentions Keith Urban (Kidman's Husband). In addition to her blushing, notice Nicole's backward leaning torso, closed eyes (a prolonged blink) and her crossed arms (all quite beta body language).

A few seconds later (above), Kidman leans forward as she positions the back side (dorsal aspect) of her index and middle fingers touching the base of her chin while she begins to disclose her surprise. Although Nicole is still projecting some beta qualities here (e.g., her right arm remains across her torso), she has definitely "dialed up her alpha" via this particular left hand configuration signifying a deliberate (planned) disclosure.

A moment later (above) these same two fingers straighten and their tips making contact with the underside of her chin as Kidman comes closer to her denouement. This change of finger configuration is indicative of increased adrenaline and its accompanying anxiety.

And in this final image - even closer to her "reveal" moment - only Nicole's index finger (aka "forefinger", which signifies the greatest alpha status and higher adrenaline) remains "standing". Here her anxiety also has grown even further. In this instant she's in a state of emotional dissonance - where she feels both "in control" - yet also nervous.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3558: Mila Kunis Nixes Ashton Kutcher's choice regarding Their Baby's Name

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3756: Amy Adams, Anxiety and Hesitancy to Disclose

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3754: Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3725: Donald Trump Challenges Hillary Clinton to a Drug Test before Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3715: Mike Pence Denies Saying Vladimir Putin is a Better Leader

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3705: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debate - Trump: I'm 'smart' for paying no taxes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3673: Anthony Weiner, Huma Abedin separate after Sexting Scandal

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3633: David Duke's Duplicity & The US Senate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3061: Jimmy Fallon Blew a Chance to Date Nicole Kidman (Part I, 2015)


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3558: Mila Kunis Nixes Ashton Kutcher's choice regarding Their Baby's Name - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Conan O'Brien had Ashton Kutcher as a guest on his show last night - and among other things Kutcher spoke about the name of his daughter (Wyatt) and possible names for their unborn son (due date in the next 2-3 weeks). What follows is a partial nonverbal analysis of two related moments.

While Kutcher did not say the name that he and Mila Kunis have chosen - Conan did ask him about it - and at 0:37, Just after Kutcher says, "... so I think we have a name", he places his right index finger over his mouth (lips) as he also looks away from Conan (image above). In this moment he is quite literally shushing himself.

Conan then says, "Was there a name - that you came up with - but it got nixed? ... that you th, think is cool?"

Kutcher responds, "Yeah, I had, I - there was a rallying cry - from a collective that believed in the name 'Hawkeye'."

At the beginning of this response Ashton Kutcher, stutters, while placing the ends of his fingers over (in front of) his mouth (during 0:41 - 0:43). This is another related body language tell signaling a "hesitancy to disclose".

Ashton Kutcher is an alpha male - and he's certainly confident in most of his actions and words. But he's not overly confident - he's not arrogant. Thus while most of the time his nonverbal signals project emotional comfort, assertiveness and other alpha qualities - speaking with fingers or hands in front of (or touching) one's mouth is a lower confidence illustrator (if touching the mouth, these gestures then become classified as MAPs [Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers]).

Such a variety behavior is a good example of a "real-world", everyday mix. The fact that he (or anyone), with some frequency, displays a bit of beta behavior (yet primarily alpha) is also sincere and helps to make Kutcher likable, approachable - and from a Hollywood standpoint - more bankable.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3557: How Megyn Kelly really feels regarding Bill O'Reilly

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3755: Donald Trump, Empathy and Facial Expressions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3753: Donald Trump in The White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3721: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton - The Handshake That Wasn't

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3691: Natalie Portman's Emotional Tell

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3611: Salma Hayek, Danny Trejo and a Tattoo - Body Language


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3557: How Megyn Kelly really feels regarding Bill O'Reilly - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Megyn Kelly was a guest on CBS This Morning earlier today promoting her new book, Settle For More.

From a body language perspective, Ms. Kelly shows us a particularly valuable tell just after Bill O'Reilly's name was mentioned.

Beginning at 6:46, Gayle King asks: "... I'm wondering what your relationship was like with your fellow colleagues, 'cause Bill O'Reilly was here yesterday - I don't know if you heard - and your name came up about the book - and this is what he had to say yesterday ..."

From 6:53 - 6:57 (and probably earlier, however the camera was turned toward Ms. King), The Fox News anchor/journalist displays a subtle to moderate level of disgust. This is not a microexpression - for it's longer in duration, yet many people would completely miss this nonverbal signal.

6:53 - Ms. Kelly's mid-face grows tight - particularly her upper lip and the area between her upper lip and her nose. Her nostrils are also flaring.

6:54 - Although it's still brief, this is prolonged by blinking standards. Prolonged blinking duration - or outright eyelid closure - is a disgust amplifier (as well for other emotions [Do you know which other ones?] It's not required - yet boosts the level of disgust).

6:55 - Here Megyn Kelly's disgust is decrescendoing - yet still visible. 

Conclusion: Megyn Kelly feels disgust toward Bill O'Reilly


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3756: Amy Adams, Anxiety and Hesitancy to Disclose

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3754: Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3752: Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's Handshake

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3743: Ronda Rousey's Anxiety - Anticipating Her Next Fight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3736: Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly re: Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3699: The Tulsa Police and the Shooting Death of Terence Crutcher

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2603: Sarah Palin's Body Language - She Feels Disgust toward Pope Francis and ... She Tells a Fib

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2970: Benjamin Netanyahu & Barack Obama at the White House

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3756: Amy Adams, Anxiety and Hesitancy to Disclose - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTO)

Amy Adams was a guest recently on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show to promote her recent films, Arrival and Nocturnal Animals.

Ms. Adams told a story illustrating her travel disorientation occurring while she was talking to her husband and daughter on the phone.

Delivering her denouement (during 0:43 - 0:46 ) she says, "... and I realized that I had been having this conversation from inside the men's restroom."

In the second half of her sentence, with left hand, Amy Adams rubs/flicks her thumb four times with her fingers.

First with her forefinger ...

Then with her middle finger ...

Again with her middle finger ...

She then finishes with her pinky ...

This MAP (Manipulator, Adaptor, Pacifier) signals anxiety. More specifically it has a strong tendency to occur when there is a hesitancy to disclose information.

Intriguingly, the fact Amy Adams omitted her ring finger whilst performing this display is significant for her feelings of stability in her marriage.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3755: Donald Trump, Empathy and Facial Expressions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3753: Donald Trump in The White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3745: Kris Bryant Smiles Throughout the Entire Last Play of Game Seven

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3693: Grace VanderWaal Wins America's Got Talent Season 11

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3634: Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, the Democratic National Convention, Emails and Body Language



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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3755: Donald Trump, Empathy and Facial Expressions - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

There are two primary reasons Donald Trump displays less empathy:

1.  He probably feels less empathy

2.  His forehead is heavily treated with Botox

Since he announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States on 16 June 2015, Donald Trump has rarely displayed any expression containing empathy. I've seen maybe two examples after viewing hundreds of hours of video and thousands of images. Of course, I've not seen every moment - and a person may very well display many emotions which aren't photographically captured.

In the image above, Mr. Trump is emphasizing his statement - his forehead is elevating - but his facial expression is not as animated as much as it normally would (and should) have been - because of his heavily Botoxed forehead muscles. We can see that on the far right, lateral edge of his forehead, the muscles are still functional (just above and to the right side of his right eye). 

In the image below, Mr. Trump is feeling primarily disgust with some significant anger as well. Although an elevated forehead is not required for either of these emotions, when these particular feelings are strongly, the forehead can be elevated (as it is here). Yet, once again his forehead elevation is only significantly function in its far lateral extreme (this example is seen from Trump's left side).

One could make an argument that a heavily Botoxed forehead would allow a person to display less negative emotions and thus potentially offend less people - and thus, in doing so, project more likability and build more rapport. If this approach is taken, much caution should be used to avoid excessive Botox. When such a procedure is performed, it should only be administered in the area on upper end of the bridge of the nose and just between the eyebrows. When higher regions of the central forehead are treated with Botox, it inhibits our ability to express many emotions - and perhaps the most important of these is empathy. Empathy cannot be anywhere near adequately expressed without an elevated central forehead contraction.

Summary: Heavily or moderately Botoxed forehead muscles very significantly inhibits our ability to express a myriad of emotions. Not being able to display these feelings prevents our ability to adequately communicate. Building rapport and likability are profoundly important qualities for every human being - particularly when leading a country. President Elect Trump: Less Botox = More Influence.

 See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3754: Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan at the US Capitol

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3752: Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's Handshake

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3725: Donald Trump Challenges Hillary Clinton to a Drug Test before Debate

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3712: Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle - "You're No Jack Kennedy" 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3664: Benjamin Netanyahu, Viktor Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3615: Store Owner Abdullah Muflahi Interview regarding the Shooting of Alton Sterling 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3578: Megan Fox, Body Language and Dismissive Emotions


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3754: Donald Trump, Mike Pence and Paul Ryan - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTO)

This image of President-Elect Donald Trump, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence - was taken on Thursday in the US Capitol.

An important nonverbal guideline is to (almost) never put your hands beneath the table or desk at which you're sitting (An exception for this principle would include; if a person is being reprimanded by their supervisor, if the table/desk is too high, or a person may be relatively short - or other such configurations which are physically awkward. Sometimes it's also best to sit/lean back, in which case their hands/arms wouldn't be on the table/desk [if the meeting is be relatively casual and/or if you're the relative alpha personality in the room]).

However if you're any kind of leader, perceive yourself as a leader, or you want to project the alpha qualities of strength, assertiveness and engagement - your arms and hands should always be on top of the table.

Outside the exceptions of those mentioned above, when a person's arms/hands are beneath a table/desk - the most favorable interpretation is that of significant anxiety. The worst possible interpretation (depending on the other nonverbal, verbal and paralanguage signals with which it's clustered) is clandestine behavior and dishonesty.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3753: Donald Trump in The White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3706: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debates - Part II

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3672: Jessica Alba, Swass, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3635: Michelle Obama's DNC Speech and a Body Language Mistake

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


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3753: Donald Trump in The White House - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (PHOTOS)

On Thursday Barack Obama met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. After his White House visit, Donald also had a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building.

The President-Elect's face in the image above (cropped close-up below) is indicative of emotion unlike any other public display of Trump's since announcing his candidacy seventeen months ago.

In this moment, walking through the halls of the Capitol Building, Donald Trump is feeling a significant level of fear combined with anxiety.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis 3752: Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's Handshake

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3748: Donald Trump, Bill Belichick and Exaggerated Mouth Movements

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3743: Ronda Rousey's Anxiety - Anticipating Her Next Fight

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3739: Hillary Clinton's Statement regarding FBI Probe

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3664: Benjamin Netanyahu, Viktor Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3622: Theresa May's First Speech as Prime Minister


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3752: Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's Handshake - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Yesterday the President met with the President-Elect at the White House. Barack Obama and Donald Trump met for about 90 minutes and afterward they each made brief statements.

From a body language point-of-view, their handshake was particularly interesting.

Barack Obama initiates the Handshake - which is almost always wisest in terms of projecting dominance and authority.

The handshake lasted for about 2.2 seconds.

The second image (immediately above) was captured from a slightly different angle, while the other four still images here were screen-grabs from the video included at the top of this post.

Mr. Trump rapidly adopts a rather strong expression of regret. He also lacks any eye contact with President Obama during the handshake.

In this second image, the President begins to disengage from the handshake and look away responding to the reporters. At this time Barack Obama also manifests an expression of regret - although it's quite subtle. Trump's regret continues to be strongly manifested as he looks up - yet he's still not making eye contact with the President - rather he's focusing in the distant, looking past Obama.

If Trump wanted to project leadership, strength, to build rapport - or even if he were trying to intimidate Obama - he should have made eye contact. It's utterly dumbfounding just how often, otherwise very worldly and educated people (and "leaders") don't practice good eye contact (especially during handshakes).

After the handshake is complete, Trump's regret expression is maintained as the President responds to reporters.

Mr. Trump's arms and hands then adopt a (low) pseudo-prayer configuration (as he repeatedly separates his fingers and brings them back together). This is a beta body language configuration and is indicative of considerable anxiety.

President Obama's posture - with his thighs at a significantly greater angle, with his palm-down on his thigh and his forward torso lean and tilt - is a nonverbal cluster indicating alpha status, high confidence and emotional comfort.

Conclusion: Both the President and the President-Elect expressed regret during their handshake yesterday at the White House - although Mr. Trump's level of regret was much greater. In addition, Donald Trump exhibited significant anxiety and relatively low emotional comfort - while Barack Obama projected high confidence and greater emotional comfort. This is one of the few times you'll see Mr. Trump assuming a relative beta status to anyone in his close proximity.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3744: Donald Trump - "Stay on Point", Hats, Eye Contact and Trust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3720: The 2nd Presidential Debate - Donald Trump v. Hillary Clinton

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3705: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump Presidential Debate - Trump: I'm 'smart' for paying no taxes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3672: Jessica Alba, Swass, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3636: Donald Trump, Hillary's Emails, Putin and Russia

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3610: Star Swain sings The Star-Spangled Banner at the Lincoln Memorial - Why Do Singers Close Their Eyes?

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3751: Barack Obama and Donald Trump Meet at the White House - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Today Barack Obama and Donald Trump met at the White House. It was the first ever meeting between the two men.

From a nonverbal perspective, there's a multitude of signals shown by the President and President-Elect. One moment (captured in the image below from a slightly different angle) is especially telling.

Note both men's legs - in particular the angle made by their thighs. I've analyzed hundreds of videos of Donald Trump and I've never (before) seen him sitting with his thighs splayed at a lesser angle than anyone else in the room. The angle made by the thighs is proportional to and indicative of a dominance display - and although Donald Trump's configuration here is by no means submissive - he is projecting a relatively beta emotional tone relative to President Obama's alpha. Moreover, this is the greatest seated thigh angle of dominance in which I've ever seen the President sit. Barack's body language very much saying, "I outrank you."

Another fascinating nonverbal signal in this video is the position of Donald Trump's hands. While his hands are very typically displaying in a hyper-alpha "Low Steeple" (more specifically a "Low Convention Steeple"), here his hands are configured in a significantly beta "Low Pseudo-Prayer" manner. Furthermore, in the video you'll notice his fingers repeatedly separating and coming back together again. This hand cluster-dynamic indicates a relatively high level of anxiety.

See also:

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3748: Donald Trump, Bill Belichick and Exaggerated Mouth Movements

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3742: Evan McMullin, Donald Trump and Winning Utah

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3740: Donald Trump Thanks Anthony Weiner

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3676: Colin Kaepernick Says He Be Sitting Down During the National Anthem

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3736: Newt Gingrich and Megyn Kelly re: Donald Trump

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3708: Hillary Clinton v. Donald Trump - Presidential Debates - Part IV - Hillary's Email Anxiety


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3750: Bill's Reaction to Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech - Body Language and Emotional Intelligence (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Earlier today Hillary Clinton gave her concession speech. Bill Clinton stood behind her as she spoke about calling President-Elect Donald Trump, congratulating him - and offering to work with him.

In addition to his partially suppressed tears, the expression on Bill Clinton's face in the image captured below is a particularly good example of an oft overlooked nonverbal principle - that of the tremendous disparity between an expression one thinks one is making - versus the one actually displayed.

Whenever we're far from our emotional baseline, even the most experience among us, we're extremely inaccurate at both assessment of - as well as projecting the desired (and fully contextualized) body language and facial expressions.

Bill Clinton's expression is that of "Bitter-Regret" (sometimes referred to as a "Bitter Smile"), yet 99.7% of the time, when people are making this facial configuration - although they know they're not displaying a full, sincere smile (Duchenne Smile), they believe they're squeezing out a slight smile. They think the corners of their mouths' are up-turned just a bit.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3749: Election Day - Donald Trump Caught on Camera - Making Sure Melania is Voting For Him

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3747: Jake Gyllenhaal, Dark Chocolate, Body Language and Emotional Intelligence 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3745: Kris Bryant Smiles Throughout the Entire Last Play of Game Seven 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3741: Bryan Cranston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Weddings and Tears 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3695: Donald Trump, "Take Their Guns away", "Let's see What Happens to Her" 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3656: Usain Bolt, Justin Gatlin and the 100 M Olympic Final 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3581: Hillary Clinton, Likability and Body Language



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