Angelina Jolie's Awkward Pose on the Red Carpet

What is this all about?  This has become the body language issue of the week!

It is meant to be sexy. When a beautiful woman shows "more" skin that is usually covered by fabric, guys cannot resit the urge to look, and hope for more and more skin. It does not matter if the woman is in a pioneer dress to the ankles, if we see the skin of the lower leg, it has the same effect.  Guys are very primitive when it comes to sexuality. There is a lesson here for every woman.

The best at this was... believe it or not... Jessica Rabbit...

Off course it is a whole lot easier when you're a cartoon.

But it falls short when it is practiced, contrived, and not at all natural. Hindsight is 20/20, but if she would have consulted me about the pose I would have told her to move around naturally in a circle when the photographers wanted a shot of her in the dress, move into the pose, and immediately out of the pose, and under no circumstances hold the pose.  The photographers would have caught her at her most sexual and it would have seemed natural.  Also notice how she holds her head and her facial expressions, she is going for a certain coy look.  A look that does not fit with the setting, it would work great for the after Oscar party, but not on the red carpet.  

What she does great is the angles with her arm...

◦

Angelina Jolie's Awkward Pose on the Red Carpet

Russell Brand's Next Movie is a Comedy

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Wednesday July 28, 2010. Russell Brand runs out of St Bart's Church in NYC with red marks on his face and in his undies while filming Arthur.

Unless you learned to run with two casts on both of your arms, it is not normal or natural to run with your arms so far from the body. Here we see him do it to appear even larger.◦

Russell Brand's Next Movie is a Comedy

Terrible Bus Accident Yesterday Shows Us the Concept of "I'm Ready to Work"

Firefighters work a school bus accident that killed two and injured nearly 50 children in a chain reaction accident on Interstate 44 near Washington, Missouri on August 5, 2010. Two school buses carrying band members from a St. James, Missouri high school were headed to an amusement park for a day of fun when the accident occurred. A child in the bus and one in a pickup truck were killed.

If you are a supervisor for a group of individuals that do physical jobs that require the workers to use their muscles there is one clear gesture that the workers can do that is a signal they are ready to work. Take a look at the above photograph, then look at the below photograph.



Notice the arms. In the first photograph the workers all are occupied or had just completed some work and their arms are at their sides. In the second photograph we see these workers with their hands resting on their hips, arms bent outwardly. We've seen this gesture before, and is done to appear larger/bigger. When you see this it is a sign that they are ready to work, or in this case do something- probably anything- to help.◦

Terrible Bus Accident Yesterday Shows Us the Concept of "I'm Ready to Work"

Sam Warriner Wins and Hold Her Hands up in the Classic Greek Winning Pose

Sam Warriner of Whangarei celebrates winning the Tauranga Half Ironman at Mount Manganui on January 9, 2010 in Tauranga, New Zealand.



Real Smile...◦

Sam Warriner Wins and Hold Her Hands up in the Classic Greek Winning Pose

High Confidence Shown Here; and a Bit of Disgust

Russian education minister Andrei Fursenko at a plenary meeting of the Russian State Duma.

Anytime we feel so comfortable to place our hands behind our head as seen in the above picture it is a sign of high confidence. First it is an anti gravity pose; secondly it opens up his torso to the world (and to attack); and lastly whenever we place our bands behind us (as royalty often has, especially behind their backs) it is saying I am completely comfortable.

Notice the lips, they are showing some disgust. I searched online for other pictures of this guy and found a more neutral facial expressions (because some people's lips naturally are formed in a disgust shape) and found the following picture:


So I think we can be clear he is feeling disgust.◦

High Confidence Shown Here; and a Bit of Disgust

Janine Driver: Body Language on the Job

Our body language sends signals to our bosses and co-workers all the time. Body language expert, Janine Driver shows us some gestures that could impact your career.◦

Janine Driver: Body Language on the Job

As If They Need To Appear Bigger: Sumo Wrestlers

A file photo dated 06 January 2010 shows Mongolian sumo grand champion, or Yokozuna, Asashoryu performing dohyo-iri, or the ring entrance ceremony at Meiji Shrine in central Tokyo. Asashoryu announced his intention to retire from professional sumo wrestling on 04 February to take responsibility for his drunken assault on a man.

Dohyo-iri is is a ring-entering ceremony where the wrestler will make himself bigger by widening his stance and as we see here opening his arms. It is done to intimidate their opponent.

We can see variations of this in everyday life: people will place their hands on their hips, arms out to the sides with bent elbows.

Most people feel most comfortable when they are standing with their feet shoulder width, if you see them out farther, it is to appear larger.

Men before a fight will often take in a large breath expanding their torso which serves both the purpose of taking in oxygen, and to appear larger; sometimes this is done at a night club to impress the object of their attraction.◦

As If They Need To Appear Bigger: Sumo Wrestlers

James Cameron and His Wife Suzi Amis Shows Ownership and Closeness

James Cameron and his wife Suzi Amis arrive at the 62nd annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles on January 30, 2010.

When we are a couple and our arms wrap around the each other it is a clear sign to others that we are a couple, a close couple.

This is further shown here by Suzi Amis, who places her hand on her husbands torso; we clearly would not expect this between two people unless they were very "close" emotionally.◦

James Cameron and His Wife Suzi Amis Shows Ownership and Closeness

Jelena Jankovic and Coach Talk

Jelena Jankovic of Serbia talks to a member of her coaching staff after losing her first round match against Agnes Szavay of Hungary during day two of the 2010 Medibank International at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre on January 11, 2010 in Sydney, Australia.

This is one of those interesting pictures that tells the whole story.

Even if we didn't have the caption we can see her raised shoulders and palms facing up, she is conveying that there wasn't anything else she could do; palms open show honesty, shrug shows uncertainty.

Her coach is also saying a few things with his body language- pursed lips, not looking her in the eye, and notice the way his elbow and arms is in a triangle shape- this is often done to appear "bigger" because you are taking up more space.◦

Jelena Jankovic and Coach Talk

Confidence in the Walk

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 06: Supermodel Kristy Hinze enjoys watching the action during the final round of the 2009 Australian Open at New South Wales Golf Club on December 6, 2009 in Sydney, Australia.

The further we swing our arms while walking, the more confidence we are showing. The confidence you are showing will be broken if it is becomes too large, or over the top; this is why some models on the catwalk look silly while others look great- it is the difference between subtle and large arm motions.

When walking think energy- this usually translates to confidence.◦

Confidence in the Walk

Hands Behind Your Back

Nov 15 2009
ROBIN WRIGHT PENN.at movie opening of''The Private Lives of Pippa Lee''.at AMc 890 Broadway, NYC.

Whenever we hide our hands behind our back it must be evaluated in the context of what is occurring. This is a common pose amongst royalty, where they are secure enough not to worry about the frontal attack. When it is done to hide the hands it is a sign of unwillingness to be open, and since it would be hard to greet another with a handshake or hug it sends a signal that they would prefer to not speak.◦

Hands Behind Your Back

Do We Really Have to Be Here?

WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 08: (L-R) Kathy Miller, board member of the Vermont Grocers' Association; David Evans, lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School; Mark Caverly of the Credit Union National Association and the Electronic Payments Coalition; and Ed Mierzwinski, senior fellow in the U.S. PIRG Consumer Program, testify during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill October 8, 2009 in Washington, DC. The hearing focused on the Credit Card Interchange Fees Act of 2009 and the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Their arms and mouths tell it all. They all are using their arms to retreat, protect, and self pacify. Their body language is not open and they are on guard. Each of them have downturned corners of their mouths which is unease. The tilting of their heads is a sign of listening.◦

Do We Really Have to Be Here?

Standard Arms Crossed

When both arms are crossed it is a defensive gesture used to protect oneself, usually from an unfavorable situation. It creates a barrier. It generally means the person is not open to conversation or new ideas. It is a self hug.

Studies have universally proven a negative perception of this gesture.

If you see it in situation that is not stressful, it still means the same things, it just means it is more of a personality trait- being unsure of oneself.◦

Standard Arms Crossed

This Couple

This a great picture to analyze. WOW!

The man is in the dominant position and she is in the submissive position as she curls her body into the man. Her left arm protects him and further engulfs him in her touch- it is form of a hug. Her feet are pointed toward her interest...her man.

The man protectively holds her close by hugging her around her back. His head tilts downward towards her. His hips are tilted to the side to accommodate more surface area touching each other.◦

This Couple

Two Doctors Talking in a Nurse's Station

Here we see a great deal going on.

The doctor in the scrubs, by placing his hand on his hips, is making himself appear bigger and takes up more space.

The doctor in the lab coat is holding his hands in a self pacifying style; he is providing himself some self comfort by holding and rubbing his hands together.◦

Two Doctors Talking in a Nurse's Station

Obama More Than a Simple Handshake

ARLINGTON, VA - SEPTEMBER 11: U.S. President Barack Obama greets family members of victims of the 9/11 attack during a rememberance ceremony at the Pentagon September 11, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia. Obama joined staff and family members at the Pentagon to comemorate the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Here we see Obama give more than a handshake by touching the family member's arm it creates another touch connection, which conveys more emotion.

There are different degrees of emotion even in an handshake, there is hands only; and the free hand touches forearm or upper arm; there is the free hand on the shoulder; and there is the free hand enclosing the hands that are shaking in a "hand hug." Each progressively conveys more emotion and attachment.◦

Obama More Than a Simple Handshake

Triumph Arms

Sep 7 2009
Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins runs in the Cardiff 10k Road Race in aid of the Kidney Wales Foundation. Pictured: Katherine Jenkins Picture by: Wales News Service / Splash News

What we see here is the victorious sportsman, especially combined with the number one gesture.

This gesture is also seen with the politician after an election win.

It makes the already dominant and victorious appear even more taller and brings attention to oneself.◦

Triumph Arms

Stacy Keibler Knows How to Change the Shape of Her Body in Photographs

Aug 29 2009
Stacy Keibler hosts The Fantasy Football Superdraft at Jet Nightclub in the Mirage Hotel. Pictured: Stacy Keibler Picture by: Splash News

Here we see a couple of things that anybody that is being photographed and want to make certain parts of their body smaller can do.

First, notice the angles created by her left arm and her legs- this adds interest to the photograph.

By placing her feet together, and one in front of the other it also adds interest, but more importantly adds "interest" to her legs and hips.

She has turned her hips slightly to minimize their width.

See how she holds her torso off angle to minimize her waist.

By squaring her shoulders to the camera, she has made this the biggest part of her body. This makes everything else seem smaller. Models have always know if they can twists their hips and square their shoulders they will appear to have a smaller waist and hip area.

Just in case you thought I picked one picture that happened to capture this, take a look:



and another one,

◦

Stacy Keibler Knows How to Change the Shape of Her Body in Photographs

Touch Communicates Distinct Emotions

I have been spending a great deal of time thinking about touch and how it can and does have a bearing on our emotions. My thoughts are more philosophy orientated than scientific- and then the two were merged- when I saw this journal article.

Abstract
The study of emotional signaling has focused almost exclusively on the face and voice. In 2 studies, the authors investigated whether people can identify emotions from the experience of being touched by a stranger on the arm (without seeing the touch). In the 3rd study, they investigated whether observers can identify emotions from watching someone being touched on the arm. Two kinds of evidence suggest that humans can communicate numerous emotions with touch. First, participants in the United States (Study 1) and Spain (Study 2) could decode anger, fear, disgust, love, gratitude, and sympathy via touch at much-better-than-chance levels. Second, fine-grained coding documented specific touch behaviors associated with different emotions. In Study 3, the authors provide evidence that participants can accurately decode distinct emotions by merely watching others communicate via touch. The findings are discussed in terms of their contributions to affective science and the evolution of altruism and cooperation.

To read more please visit the Touch and Emotion Lab.

The specific types of touch that were coded included squeezing, stroking, rubbing, pushing, pulling, pressing, patting, tapping, shaking, pinching, trembling, poking, hitting, scratching, massaging, tickling, slapping, lifting, picking, finger interlocking, swinging, and tossing.

The emotions were anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, sympathy,
embarrassment, love, envy, pride, and gratitude.

Humans can communicate several distinct emotions through touch, and they did so with distinct methods. Important when evaluation the interactions of others.◦

Touch Communicates Distinct Emotions

More to Love: Episode Four

Melissa and Lauren are sent home.

Wow are the producers/editors reading my blog?!?!? My techie is telling me there are a larger number of people from LA hitting the site. A larger part of my work is becoming consulting in the entertainment business so no biggie. I told him I didn't care and don't do the ip look up thingy...

Last week I made some big statements,

"They will be gone and they know it, Kristian and Danielle." I guess you can have a ring and still be gone, where was Kristian in this episode? Her minutes drastically cut!

and

"Where does Luke stand in all this? A big cardboard cutout could stand in for him." This week we see him emerge (slightly).

Onto the non verbals of this episode:

Good Wife/Bad Wife

Perhaps this clip will make it into some of my training materials. We have so much emotion. Role playing. Pacifying behavior. Subtle surprise. Truth. Head tilts. Shoulder shrugs. Eye movement. Non asymmetrical mouth positions. Sadness. Happiness and True smiles. Pursed lips. Eye direction clues. One shoulder shrug. Head tilts. Hand pointing. Social smiles. Nods. Anger. Face touching. Perverse pleasure at the expense of others pain. Watch and learn from this five minute clip showing more nonverbal and body language clues that I have ever seen in any reality TV show!




Greetings
Last week I mentioned, "Look at the greetings, it will be the best indication of the relationship. Excitement seen here is important."

Who wins?

Melissa's Greeting


Heather's Greeting


More Thoughts

Mandy clearly is showing much more emotion than she has this season. Luke is not an emotional guy, but I hear and see some things in this exchange that lead me to believe that Luke has a way to go:

- Luke does not show any emotion when she expresses 'calling a boyfriend' and shows non verbal clues that he is not planning on choosing her (sigh, mouth).
- Luke says, "It is going to get more difficult, not just for me, but for you" is a warning for her. Listen to the his voice. "not just for me" is said softer- it will not be as difficult for him as it will be for her.

◦

More to Love: Episode Four