Obama Leaks Emotion Over Gates Affair
What does a "pursed lip" mean? In this ABC News article, the author offers the evidence of several body language experts who parse this and other facial expressions for readers.
"I think Obama was disappointed in himself that he got sucked into this," said [TJ] Walker, CEO of Media Training Worldwide. "It's so rare that he does stumble into something. Compared to the last four presidents, he gets off message and sticks his foot in his mouth less often."
Later in the article, FBI profiler Brad Garrett was consulted:
"Lip tightening is usually read as "trying to control their speech or are getting angry," he said. "It makes sense that someone as cool as Obama was probably pissed that he used that one word [stupidly] and that the press made such a big deal out of it."
Crime suspects [and others] bite, gnaw, cover their mouths, put folders over their faces -- all as an "obstruction," according to Garrett."
What do you think? I know I purse and chew my lips all the time, but am not known for my verbal restraint either. Sometimes I notice it in myself and others during times of questioning or decision-making -- or could it be the urge to "keep one's mouth shut" until the answer has been reached?
No comments:
Post a Comment