Body Language & Emotional Intelligence

With last week's Brexit vote and its far reaching ramifications, the people of the United Kingdom elected to leave the European Union.

During his address the following day, David Cameron also announced his resignation. As with every address to his country, this Prime Minister transmitted a multitude of nonverbal tells - and one of these which very much jumps-out is discussed below.

























During his speech PM Cameron alternately rested each foot on the base of lectern (which was 2.0 - 2.5 inches high).

























This action shifted his weight significantly along with tilting his torso and lowering his shoulder on the opposite side.
























David Cameron is a very experienced speaker - and yet this is a common rookie mistake. It's a highly significant anxiety indicator. Of course the Prime Minister is also only human. And although he "should be" allowed to be nervous - we don't expect this behavior from a head-of-state.


























Depending on the other nonverbal signals with which it is clustered, resting one's foot on the base of a lectern can sometimes project aloofness - but here David Cameron is certainly not aloof. His nonverbal signals project a tentativeness.

A person with an alpha emotional tone who's projecting power, confidence and assertiveness will have both feet flat on the ground - about shoulder's width apart (and slightly less for women). Conversely a person with a beta mindset will often lift a foot (or a portion of it) - as does Cameron. Never try to close a sale (or negotiation) unless the prospective customer has both feet flat on the floor.

Of course it's not every day the leader the United Kingdom resigns.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3602: Samantha Cameron's Beta Behavior - How Not to Stand Beside the Prime Minister

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3292: Empathy, Yawning and Dogs

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3553: Donald Trump, Deception, Facial Touching and Empathy 

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3412: Affluenza Teen Ethan Couch is on the Run

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3386: Lady Steals from KID! Black Friday 2015

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3356: Anna Faris and Chris Pratt are Dressing their Son Up as a Dinosaur for Halloween

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3333: Did Bill Clinton ask Donald Trump to Run for President?



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Last Friday David Cameron gave a speech outside Number 10 regarding the Brexit. He also announced his intention to resign. His spouse Samantha stood off to his left according to protocol. What was not protocol however was the way she was standing.





Note that her left arm is reaching behind her back with her hand holding her right arm at the elbow. This arm configuration is both casual and tentative. In the alpha-beta body language continuum - this stance is considerably beta and indicative of relatively low confidence and emotional discomfort. While she is only human, and of course very disappointed in the prior day's turn of events - a person should never stand in this manner while on stage or next to a person giving a speech - particularly when that person is a head-of-state.













This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. 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 – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3601: Casey Neistat & Candice Pool - Water Spit Challenge - Laughing and Mirror Neurons

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3599: The Brexit, David Cameron announces his Resignation and Protection

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3597: David Cameron, The Brexit and Suppressing Emotions

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3581: Hillary Clinton and Likability

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3470: Taylor Swift's Speech at 2016 Grammys

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3469: Leonardo DiCaprio and Dame Maggie Smith on BAFTA Awards Kiss Cam - The British Academy Film Awards

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3445: Harrison Ford Re-enacts 'I Love You' Scene from Star Wars - The Graham Norton Show

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3457: Chelsea Clinton refers to Bernie Sanders as "President Sanders


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On Thursday the citizens of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. The final Brexit voting tallied at about 51.9% to leave the EU, while 48.1% voted to remain.

Yesterday David Cameron gave a speech outside of Number Ten, where, among other subjects, he announced his intention to resign from his position of Prime Minister.

From a nonverbal communication perspective, there were several very significant tells. The one discussed here is particularly illustrative.

Beginning at 1:25 in the video above, Cameron continues saying, "This will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced ..."

During 1:35 - 1:36, as he says, "... are protected ...", he initiates a buttoning of his suite jacket. In this moment his body language behavior was highly congruent with his verbal language. He very much desires to protect the UK (and himself) - and the buttoning of his jack demonstrates his own beta behavior and the desire to be protected.

Of course if you're outside and it's cold, the issue is temperature - however this is rarely the case. 

One time you NEVER should attempt a crucial part of a negotiation, try to close a sale or ask for something important - is just after the person with whom you're speaking buttons (or zips or pulls together) their jacket - for they have just metaphorically donned their armor.

























See also:

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

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3584: Brock Turner's Mugshot, Duping Delight and Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3580: Muhammad Ali, Donald Trump, Repulsion and Body Language

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

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3538: Barack Obama, David Cameron, Number 10 and the Brexit

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2433: Vladimir Putin & David Cameron Disagree on Syria - A Body Language Evaluation of Russian Leader

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2409: David Cameron & François Hollande - Variations on the Hand Chop & Palm Orientation


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To the surprise of many, today John Boehner announced his resignation as Speaker of the House as well as from his seat for the 8th Congressional District of Ohio. This will take effect on 31 October 2015.

Speaker Boehner is known to tear-up easier than most. Today while recounting a personal encounter with Pope Francis (less than 24 hours earlier) provided another such occasion.























There are several nonverbal behaviors often seen in an effort to squelch one's tears and prevent a crescendo into a full cry. One of these is exhibited here by Speaker Boehner.

Note his lower lip protruding. Moreover this is unilateral and occurs several times. It may also have a jaw component along with this lip movement (a lateral displacement of the jaw on the same side).

Of course, no one is sincere all the time, yet it's of profound importance is that only those individuals with relatively higher sincerity quotients display this nonverbal signal.























What other nonverbal signs indicate higher sincerity levels?

This website serves as an objective reference source for the science and art of Body Language/Nonverbal Communication. 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 – not to advance any political, religious or other agenda.


See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3320: Pope Francis speaks before the U.S. Congress - Body Language of Boehner and Biden

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3068: John Boehner Kissing Nancy Pelosi 

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2559: John Boehner's Body Language - Microexpression of Contempt vs. Facial Tic  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 3099: Jon Stewart Announces he's Leaving "The Daily Show" - A Classic Body Language Cluster

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2285:  Emotional Processing during Crying - Body Language of Survivor of Brazilian Nightclub Fire

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 1706: Amanda Knox Interview after Guilty Verdict - Body Language Tells

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2929: Jessica Alba, Sin City 2, Action Figures and the Jaw Confessional 

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The day after he announced his resignation as U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder gave an interview with Pete Williams. The above video includes a brief portion of this interview and provides significant insight into the thought-emotions of Mr. Holder as he answered these questions. What follows is a partial body language analysis.


During the 0:48 mark, we see a microexpression of fear as he speaks about situations similar to Ferguson, Missouri.

"I think part of it has to do with, um, the lack of knowledge on the part of, [fear microexpression] ah, certain communities - communities of color, to understand the fear ...."




(continued dialog from above)
"....that police officers have - in just being on the streets ...."

As he says "... have ..." (at 0:53) his mouth movements are exaggerated.
Melodramatic mouth movements are highly significant for the speaker believing that they have dominance over those viewing them.



Note this "pecking order" point-of-view often is NOT congruent with the words being spoken (or what others may believe/think about who is in charge). Such a disparity is always a red flag - for when the verbal and the nonverbal signals are in disagreement, the nonverbal is always representative of the true thought-emotions.



"... when it comes to certain police officers, the notion of implicit bias - looking at people and having stereotypical reactions to them."

More hyperbolic mouth motion is seen as Mr. Holder says, "... reactions ..." (at 1:02) again signifies his belief/knowledge in his relative alpha status.






"Well I think the, the level of vehemence that has been directed my way I think has been perhaps a little different than, um, I have seen, ah, other attorneys general have to, have to deal with."

When he says, "... little ..." at 1:25, Mr. Holder displays a classic microexpression of contempt.




(1:40 - 1:45)

".... and I don't like the idea that I'm necessarily leaving before the end of his term - but it's ah - it's the right time for me to go."

This is a moderate, intermittent nonverbal expression of regret - and is completely congruent with the verbal message.



See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2963: Barack Obama at the United Nations General Assembly regarding ISIS/ISIL, 24 September 2014 - Body Language Faux Pas

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2769: Smiling Out of Context in a Mass Shooter - T.J. Lane

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1890:  Eric Holder has (Emotional) Contempt toward Darrell Issa -  while Rep. Issa is Very Excited to be Seeking  "Contempt of Congress" against Holder

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2528: Sen. Ted Cruz, Obamacare and Filibusters - Differentiating Ego vs. Other Motives with Body Language

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2801: Adam Silver Bans Donald Sterling for Life - Alpha Body Language Tell  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2871: Kate Middleton, Andy Murray and Wimbledon - Body Language of Empathy-Fear

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2771: Australian PM Tony Abbott regarding Malaysian Airlines MH370 Search - Body Language Misinterpretations and Regret

 
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