Thread by @DrGJackBrown

1/ THREAD: Body Language Analysis No. 4647: When Barack Obama went toe-to-toe with Vladimir Putin in Normandy

#BodyLanguageExpert #BodyLanguage #EmotionalIntelligence #BarackObama #VladimirPutin

2/ On 6 June 2014, President Obama and Vladimir Putin met in Normandy as part of the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day.

3/ The above image was taken by Pete Souza. Souza is a photojournalist and the former Chief Official White House Photographer — for both Presidents Ronald Reagan as well as Barack Obama.

4/ Notice the long axis of each man's body. Obama, taller than Putin by approximately 7 inches, is leaning significantly toward Putin — into his intimate space.

5/ While the vast majority of times, it is ill-advised to enter into another person's intimate space (equal or closer to 18 inches/46 cm, including sometimes [but not in this example] touching).

6/ There are many social exceptions of this — on public transit, in restaurants, waiting in queue, in stadiums, in airports, on crowded streets, handshake greetings, etc.

7/ But when not in one of these or similar scenarios, entering into another person's intimate space without consent is often intimidating to that person.

8/ It's highly probable that President Obama is deliberately trying to intimidate Vladimir Putin.

9/ Lyndon Johnson (who was 6' 3.5") used to deliberately lean into other people's intimate spaces so often that it became known as 'The Johnson Treatment' (here seen with Abe Fortas, photo by Yoichi Okamoto).

10/ Obama's 'lean in' begins at his waist, but his neck and head lean in significantly further.

Putin, however, is leaning slightly backward.

11/ Now look at Putin's neck — he's pulling it both backward (away from Obama), but also retracting it down (like a turtle). He's doing this so strongly, that it gives him a significant double-chin (red oval).

12/ Putin is not overweight or obese, so the presence of a double-chin of this magnitude is quite significant.

Putin does not want to be there.

13/ Look at the lateral aspect of Putin's left neck. You can see the distended external jugular vein (bright green oval). This is an indication that Putin is in the midst of a valsava-like maneuver — and holding his breath.

14/ While it's possible that he has halitosis (or that Obama does), it's much more likely that his amygdala is emotionally triggered.

This is a fear response.

15/ Recall your HS physiology — you've heard of 'Flight, fight, or freeze'? (the full list of fear responses is longer).

Well, this valsalva-breath-holding behavior is a manifestation of Putin's fear response.

16/ Look at President Obama's eyes. Of course, we can only see his right eye — but we can clearly discern important details:

17/
• Obama's eye(s) are open wider than baseline (high adrenaline, esp. in such close proximity)
• Obama's lower eyelid is tight (anger)
• Obama is looking directly at Putin's right eye or just slightly above, at his right eyebrow (predatory/deliberate intimidation)

18/ Putin is not making eye-contact with Obama — rather, he's deliberating avoiding it. Putin's looking significantly downward — towards Obama's lower right chest. In this context, this is a classic fear response.

19/ This very close and direct-gaze of Obama's, juxtaposed and simultaneous with Putin's quite obvious gaze-avoidance, is a classic superior-subordinate behavior dynamic.

It's also classic for an anger/predation — fear/acquiescence behavior dynamic.

20/ Now look at each man's hands. Obama's right hand is palm-up and forward with fingers moderately splayed and flexed. His palm is not quite pointed at Putin's center, but just to Putin's left or perhaps at his left arm.

21/ This gesture is an example of an Alpha-Beta hybrid. Alpha-Beta hybrids have high assertiveness and project relatively high power, they're not hyper-alpha. They also have the advantage of being high rapport-building gestures.

22/ Putin's hand and arm positions are dramatic. The placement of his left hand in his pocket whilst in conversation with another world leader is an astounding faux pas. It's mind blowing.

23/ Moreover, his right arm and hand is drawn across his lower chest-upper right abdomen in what is a profound protective reaction. This arm-hand provides a temporary psychological and physical barrier against what he clearly perceives as a threat.

24/ The configuration of Putin's right hand in a fairly tight fist is significant.

25/ We cannot tell if his left hand, inside his pocket is doing similarly, however, when one hand forms a tight fist in the context of fear or a threat, with extremely high frequency, the other hand does the same.

26/ Observing each man's feet — while the left vs right separation of heels are about equal, the separation of their toes are not.

27/ Each of Obama's feet are pointing in the same direction as his hips — to the left side of Putin's body.

28/ And while Putin's right foot is pointing the same direction as his foot (to the right side of Obama's body), his left foot is rotated significantly outward — not aligned with his hip.

This is a strong signal that Putin wants to exit the conversation.

29/ Mike Pence, who, earlier today claimed to have, "...met Vladimir Putin. I stood toe to toe with him and told him things he didn’t want to hear", would do well to review Obama's body language and this moment. Putin, obviously, did not want to go "toe-to-toe" with Obama.

30/ SUMMARY: This image of President Obama confronting Vladimir Putin in Normandy is not only iconic — it also gives us insight into each man's psyche.

continued...

31/ I've been analyzing Putin since 2000, and one of his behaviors is quite clear — the further he is from Moscow, the lower his emotional comfort and the more insecure he grows. In Normandy, Obama certainly amplified Putin's insecurity.

continued...

32/ In this moment,

Obama was angry.
Putin was frightened.
Obama was Alpha.
Putin was beta.
Obama had the floor.
Putin wanted to leave.
Obama was deliberately intimidating Putin.
Putin was openly intimidated.

continued...

33/ @BarackObama, we'd love to hear what was said here.

34/ Addendum:

All those who want to/need to become skilled and more nuanced in #BodyLanguage, please email ([e-mail]) or DM me.

Ω

35/ Addendum: Putin's left hand is in his pocket is a fear response. He does not want to be there. This is a partial Turtle posture. Escaping into his shell. He want's to leave, but he has to stay. That this happens in any adult convo is mind-blowing, here, particularly so.