Thread by @DrGJackBrown

1/ THREAD: Body Language and Behavior Analysis No. 4659: Middle Finger Nuance.
#BodyLanguage #BehaviorAnalysis #EmotionalIntelligence #DonaldTrump #PredictingViolence #ImpulseControl
Photo credit: Ed Jones/AFP via Getty

2/ This image was captured at Donald Trump's recent rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, whilst Trump was taunting the press — and thus, typically, some of his audience joined in.

3/ When individuals are extending their middle finger in the "Fuck You" gesture — its meaning is known around the world.

4/ In body language nomenclature, any gesture with a widely understood meaning is often referred to as an 'Emblem'.

5/ Take note that all four arms in this example are maximally extended (with the possible exception of the man's right arm — although it appears to be scared from an old injury and thus may still be maximally extended).

6/ The same maximum-extension is also true with all four middle fingers (again, with the possible exception of a slightly-less-than-full extension of his right middle finger — also possibly related to the old injury noted above).

7/ The remainder of all four hands also are configured in the conventional fists typically displayed in this gesture/emblem (although his fists are tighter than hers).

8/ Additionally, all four arms are being held quite high (directed at members of the press).

9/ The expression on his face is an amalgam of significant anger and contempt, while her face is close to neutral (although she is displaying slight anger with her eyes/eyebrows).

10/ SUMMARY: The more extended (locked) the elbow(s) are, the more fully extended the middle finger(s), the higher the hand(s) are held, and the tighter the fist(s) — the closer that person is, in that moment, to escalating from emotional anger to violence.

11/ Additionally, the simultaneous expression on the face should always be taken into account, when making such real world evaluations.

Ω