Actor Yuval David Dominant and Virile Stance, or What?

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 30: Actor Yuval David attends the 4th Annual Independent Television Festival Opening Night Gala at the Laemmle Sunset 5 on July 30, 2009 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by John M. Heller/Getty Images)

You might recognize him from Days of our Lives...

If you see this stance in a bar...this is the most sexually aggressive posture a man can display. It highlights his genital region. When I teach body language and describe how a man could take this stance with their thumbs in the pocket or wrapped around their belt loop it always seems improbable that people really hold this stance. If you see this stance displayed towards a woman he is displaying interest- be sure to check the direction his feet are pointing.

Now to this picture and lets examine it in context. He is not attempting to be sexually aggressive. He is unclear what he should do with hands, and chooses this. Hiding his thumbs is a negative gesture. Think royalty, they may place their hands in pockets or on their lapels, but they almost always show their thumbs. Thumbs denote strength of character and ego and are often used to display dominance or even superiority. He'd be better off by putting is hands in his pocket, with his thumbs sticking out. A small change like this can make all the difference in the world of Hollywood perceptions.

Studies have shown that people wearing new, attractive clothing display thumbs more than those that are wearing older clothing...

He is displaying a social smile. Having a great social smile is one of the keys for success and longevity in Hollywood. He could make it better by tilting his head ever so slightly, (if he wanted to appear more sexual he would tilt it one way and if he wanted to appear more intelligent he would point it the opposite- but more on that in a different post) and smiling big enough so we can see about one third of the top and bottom of his teeth.

I will not apologize for being "rough" on this actor. He is no different than hundreds of others who I see and analyze on the red carpets... I recognize it is just one picture... but one of the hardest things for actors to do can be the red carpet. The biggest stars rarely have a problem with this and it comes second nature to them. They come off relaxed and confident and that is one of the reason we like to see them on TV and in movies. It is a tough business to be in; where image is everything; and to play any role or character you have to understand body language.◦

Actor Yuval David Dominant and Virile Stance, or What?