I'm beginning to think that the only people taking the time to learn about body language are poker players. I play the game but usually online, because I like the mathematics of the game and let's just leave it at that.
One of the biggest tells in ANYTHING, not just poker, is happy feet. The feet and legs are the least concentrated part of the body (when people are trying to conceal emotion) and it is where leakage is most likely to occur. Think of a 2-4 year old who just got a new present, he/she cannot stop running in place they are so excited.
Even if you cannot see the feet you can usually tell by looking at slight movements in the shoulders; there is even one professional player who has long hair and every 500-600 hands shows happy feet by a barely perceptible three or four bounces of his hair that lays on his shoulders.
One note of caution for the detective or manager using body language to be better at your job- moving feet or fidgeting feet can signal a desire to remove oneself from the room, or boredom so please take the movement of feet and legs in the context that you observe it.
While playing cards, especially when first looking at dealt cards or after the flop, and... "happy feet are seen or felt- you're not to happy with what is dealt."◦
Friday, June 4, 2010
Poker Series: Happy Feet
Monday, January 11, 2010
PART TWO: A Four-Domain Model for Detecting Deception: Emphasis
Written by Guest Contributor Joe Navarro.
Joe Navarro is a 25 year veteran of the FBI where he served on the National Security Division's Behavioral Analysis Program. He is on the adjunct faculty at Saint Leo University and the Institute for Intergovernmental Research where he teaches nonverbal communications. For 35 years he has been teaching and utilizing the study of nonverbal communications as well as its practical applications in everyday use and in forensic settings. He has lectured throughout the world including Wayne State University School of Medicine and at the Baylor College of Medicine - Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in Houston, Texas. Mr. Navarro brings together his academic background, scientific research, and practical experience catching spies to the art of observing and interpreting human behavior. Mr. Navarro is also the author of: Advanced Interviewing Techniques: Proven Strategies for Law Enforcement, Military, and Security Personnel
When people speak, they naturally incorporate various parts of their body, such as the eyebrows, head, hands, arms, torso, legs, and feet, to emphasize a point for which they feel deeply or emotionally. This movement proves important to investigators because, as a rule, people emphasize when genuine. Liars, for the most part, do not emphasize with nonverbals.
They will think of what to say and how to deceive, but rarely do they think about the presentation of the lie. When compelled to lie, most people do not realize how much emphasis or accentuation enters into everyday conversations. For the interviewer, emphasis accurately reflects reality or the truth.
When liars attempt to fabricate an answer, their emphasis looks unnatural or is delayed; they rarely emphasize where appropriate, or they choose to do so only on unimportant matters. People accentuate both verbally and nonverbally in their interactions. They emphasize verbally through voice, pitch, tone, or repetition. On the other hand, they emphasize nonverbally, which can prove even more accurate and useful to investigators. People who typically use their hands while speaking punctuate their remarks with hand gestures that emphatically illustrate or exclaim.
They also may thrust forward, point, or pound the desk as they emphasize. Others accentuate with the tips of their fingers, either touching things or gesturing with them. Hand behaviors compliment speech, thoughts, and true sentiments.
Raising eyebrows (eyebrow flash) or widening eyes also emphasizes a point.
When interested, people lean their torsos forward and, often, employ gravity-defying gestures, such as raising up on the balls of their feet as they make a significant or emotionally charged point. While sitting down, some emphasize by raising the knee to highlight important points. Occasionally, people will add emphasis by slapping their knee as it comes up, indicative of emotional exuberance. Gravity-defying gestures symbolize emphasis and true sentiment, both of which liars rarely possess.
In contrast, people de-emphasize or show lack of commitment by speaking behind their hands or showing limited facial expression as if to control their countenance because they are not committed to what they are saying.
Deceptive people often show deliberative, pensive displays, such as touching fingers to their chin or stroking their cheeks, as though they still are thinking about something, rather than emphasizing the point they are making. They are evaluating what they said and how it is being received, which is inconsistent with honest behavior.
Sources
David J. Lieberman, Never Be Lied to
Again (New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press,
1998), 37.
Desmond Morris, Body Watching (New
York, NY: Crown Publishers, 1985), 61 and
supra note 5, 68.
Joe Navarro has a new book releasing soon, preorder it today, Louder Than Words: Take Your Career from Average to Exceptional with the Hidden Power of Nonverbal Intelligence
Join us tomorrow when we explore the third domain...◦
Friday, December 11, 2009
Who Is Into Who?
Heidi Montag and her husband Spencer Pratt show off their love for each other as well as for the paparazzi at the Borders Books & Music store in New York City, New York on November 16, 2009 for their new book launch. The two talk about their newest book “How To Be Famous” and their love for being tailed by the photographers.
We lean towards things we like, she is leaning towards him, but he is leaning away from her.
Another thing to look for is the direction of the feet, we point them in the direction we'd like to travel- hers pointing to him, while his is not as clear.
Also notice how he is hiding his thumbs- low confidence.
While he may be a good writer, it appears he doesn't use his body language to his advantage, and it is not matching his message.
On an aside, I may be living in the middle of the heartland, but I never heard of them or know what made them famous...◦
Monday, November 30, 2009
Rusty Interview from Dateline
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
This is a study in someone who doesn't want to speak, is nervous, and shows us this with almost every movement. Things to look for are biting lips, scratching neck, nervous chuckle, pursed lips, shrugs, rubbing hands, faster blink rate, eye direction clues, answers a question with a question, torso and head pointing towards the exit.
I suggest watching this video several times.◦
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Body Language Expert Analyzes Obama's Media Blitz and ACORN CEO on FNC
Tonya Reiman appeared on the O'Reilly Factor on September 21,2009. Tonya is on of the best at analyzing clips.
The only thing I can add to the analysis is Obama's laugh is because he is nervous, not because he found anything funny. ◦
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Lie to Me's Brendan Hines Body Language Analyzed
Aug 9 2009
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - AUGUST 09: Actor Brendan Hines arrives at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards held at Gibson Amphitheatre on August 9, 2009 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Brendan is learning a few things about being photographed as a result of being one of the cast of Fox's popular Lie to Me show. Almost a real smile- if not a real smile- the way his checks are up and creating creases on the outside of his eyes. He might even have a slight tilt to his head. Brendon keeps his hands out of his pockets, although it would be better if we would see the palms... and his feet are open.
I give him an A-/B+ for the pose.
He is learning the 'rules' of body language, but if you concentrate too much on the rules you becomes slightly unnatural. Once you learn a few things you have to practice them until they actually part of your natural movements. I suspect he held this pose for a few beats too long. If you really want to appear interesting and open there also has to be movement from one of several open positions: Open arms like you would want to hug someone; one hand on heart; etc.◦
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Former 'Bachelor' star Melissa Rycroft Pic Worth 1000 Words
In this April 22, 2009 file photo, Melissa Rycroft, left, and Ty Strickland arrive at the US Weekly Hot Hollywood Style Celebration in Los Angeles.
The first thing that stands out is how he is holding her neck, it is odd. Normally a woman would protect this part of her body. It is Ty's way of showing possession of her.
Ty's hand in his pocket says he doesn't want to talk. If he had his thumb only sticking out of his pocket it would show confidence and would be "framing" his genital area- but he is not...
Ty's feet are pointed towards her, while (as you can see from the direction of her knees) she is not showing the same thing.
Melissa's right arm is out out. This is a tricky one. In stick body language this means to make oneself appear "bigger" but in the modeling and celebrity world they are taught to "create" triangles with their body for photographs. It is more interesting and appealing- check out magazine advertisements. She is also holding her purse in a defensive style, (placing object between herself and the cameras) but I don't know where else she would put it... beside it probably is an expensive accessory...
Over all she is not as into him as he is to her. Better luck next time.◦
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