More to say: Understanding Trump and Clinton’s debate body language

It never ceases to amaze me what you can understand about a politician by simply observing them for a few minutes on a debate stage.

{mosads}In the first two presidential debates both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton subliminally — subconsciously — sent messages to the world. At times, they said one thing, and physically — simultaneously — did another.

Ah, the beauty of confusing, mixed messages. Isn’t it fabulous? Amidst our verbal communication, there lies the unspoken reality of subliminal communication.

On a subliminal level, we convey who we are without even knowing it. For some people (and you know who you are), this is a problem because whether you want to or not, you are constantly saying something without your lips even moving.

What does this say about the power of messages underneath the surface? It says that they are more powerful than we give them credit for.

In the second presidential debate, when Clinton crossed over to Trump’s side of the stage to address the audience and Trump was standing, it made for awkward body language.

We all have seen that now very famous shoot of Trump standing behind Clinton. What was Trump supposed to do? Walk around her and take a seat, or go sit in her chair, it just was simply awkward. It would’ve been better if Trump just stood there holding onto the chair instead of pacing back-and-forth.

This seesaw movement is a pre-assault indicator. There are other such indicators that we did not see Sunday night including tight lips, hands in fists by side, increase in pressure movements, chin pulled down to the chest like a bull ready to attack, darting eyes. Instead, it was almost as if Trump was simply bored and distracted.

Both Trump and Clinton folded their arms in the second debate. Our bodies have three vulnerable areas: the neck dimple, the belly button rule, and what I call the “naughty bits.” When we feel threatened, these are the areas we instinctively protect. The public perception when a candidate gestures in this way is  that they are defensive.

Clinton had her head held high throughout both the first and second debates, where as we saw Trump with his chin down and eyes closed in the second debate, as if he was bored. That’s a boon for her, as a 2004 study in Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback found that participants could more easily generate and recall positive thoughts when sitting in an upright position — with the spine straight and head held high — rather than a slumped position.

Trump leaked numerous micro-expressions of “contempt” and moral superiority. It’s the only unilateral expression on the face, where one side of the mouth is pulled up and in — in a smirk.

Dr. Paul Ekman, a psychologist and authority on facial expressions, documented 7 universal emotions — happiness, sadness, fear, contempt, disgust, anger, and surprise — exhibited on the human face by specific combinations of muscle contractions. It doesn’t matter if you’re man, woman, born in the United States or Czechoslovakia, contempt looks the same on everyone’s face.

While Trump pointed in both debates, Clinton, rarely pointed, if at all.

This was a deviation in her baseline behavior, because typically she’s a pointer. This indicates that she likely worked on it and was coached. This was a smart move help her appear her more likable. But habits are hard to break and if Clinton were to become president, her aggressive pointing would certainly be back in the limelight.

It’s highly likely that Clinton was coached to smile throughout the first debate, which was a smart move because it created a poker face, which made it more challenging for body language experts, like me to spot her major stress points. However, this fake smile may have caused more harm than good in the second debate.

The only time we saw Clinton smile was when she was under attack by Trump. This smile suggested she was overcompensating and likely uncomfortable and nervous during those moments.

A genuine smile sends the message to others that we are likeable, trustworthy and dependable — the kind of person others want to do business with, engage in conversation, or build meaningful relationships with. Here’s the catch … your smile has to be genuine! The human brain can and will spot a fake smile; it is biologically programmed to be instantly wary of the fake smile — and the person behind it.

Now I would like to give a couple quick tips on detecting deception, since this is what I’m asked about constantly when it comes to political debates are politicians in general.

Let’s think and act like investigators. When you spot the hypothetical verbal and nonverbal indicators of deception listed below, tread lightly. Remember to always first read their baseline (how a person normally behaves) and when they deviate from their baseline three times ask a powerful, unsettling question, such as “Is there any reason why you’d be nervous right now?”

Ready for this?  I know you are…  Take three deep breaths and read on.

Verbal Indicators of Deception:

An Increase in Manipulators: 
A “manipulator” is any time your man touches one part of his body with another part of his body, i.e., rub his neck, throat or leg, touch his nose, run his tongue across the front of his teeth, etc.

Navel Intelligence:
 Liars may direct their belly button toward the door once you turn up the heat.  This move is sending the signal that they want to get out of there.

They’ve Got to Move it, Move it: Liars will often adjust their bodies during or after a lie to let off the stress and anxiety.

Hopefully, by using this knowledge you can more effectively interpret the presidential candidates’ and one another’s behavior. In turn, you can make alterations to your own behavior.

Remember, you say more than you think!

Driver is the New York Times Best Selling author of “You Say More Than You Think” and CEO of the Body Language Institute.