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Body Language Read of J Lo and Drake by Patti Wood Body Language Expert

Jennifer Lopez and Drake have everyone talking about their new romance after they both posted an intimate photo of themselves snuggling up to the camera. Is their relationship all for show or is it the real deal? HollywoodLife.com reached out to top body language expert Patti Wood who gave us the EXCLUSIVE 411 on this sexy pair.


There’s no mistaking that Jennifer Lopez, 47, and Drake, 30, look like one happy couple in the adorable photo they both shared on Instagram on Dec. 28. And body language expert Patti Wood agrees! “It’s significant that JLo’s eyes are closed because she’s typically looking at the camera. In this photo, she’s in the moment with Drake,” Patti explains. “The eyes closed is a very vulnerable way of presenting herself non-verbally. In the moment means she’s actually experiencing the connection with him.” Awe!
What about Drake? Is he just playing games with the megastar or does he have real feelings for the beauty? “I like how Drake’s arm is wrapped around JLo and how his hand is wrapped lightly around her wrist with his relaxed fingers. This shows that Drake is confident and relaxed,” Patti tells us. “It makes the moment more tender as well. I think she feels cherished by him, that he’s a sweetie-pie. Her body is relaxed. She’s cuddled in.” We love it!
As we told you earlier, J.Lo seems to be quite taken with the Canadian singer. In fact, the mother of two is “smitten” with Drake, a source revealed to PEOPLE.  “Jen is looking forward with excitement to the new year. She keeps hanging out with Drake, and he has visited her house,” a friend of J.Lo’s told the outlet. Sounds serious!


Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Let’s Celebrate Christmas till July

Let’s Celebrate Christmas till July
Rough Draft by Patti Wood

 Spent two hours untangling the Christmas lights
 Strung them up, then they didn’t work right
 Went to three stores to find more in white
 Decorating the tree will take all night

I’m keeping up all the Christmas lights
Santa can see them next time he flies by
I’m not taking down our tree all bright
Let’s celebrate Christmas till July

Not packing up the boughs down the banister
I’m not retying all those big red bows
Not baking more cookies for the canister
No more cooking for me. You heat up all I froze

I’m keeping up the Christmas lights
Santa can see them next time he flies by
I’m not taking down our tree all bright
Let’s celebrate Christmas till July

I’ve picked up and vacuumed this house enough
I’ve filled ten garbage bags with all our trash
I’ve battled crowds and traffic to buy you stuff
Let’s enjoy it and next year give me cash

I’m keeping up the Christmas lights
Santa can see them next time he flies by
I’m not taking down our tree all bright
Let’s celebrate Christmas till July

I want to sit with my feet up by the fireplace
And listen to each Christmas carol
I want us together not rushed let’s feel God’s grace
And drink a little mulled wine, make that a barrel

I’m keeping up the Christmas lights
Santa can see them next year when he flies by
I’m not taking down our tree all bright
Let’s celebrate Christmas
Let’s celebrate Christmas
Let’s celebrate Christmas tilllll July


Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

14 Signs You Have Great Charisma

Patti shared her insights on Charisma with Marissa of Reader's Digest....Read her insights below:
14 Signs You Have Great Charisma
Do you have a magnetic personality? Find out here.
BY:  Marissa Laliberte
You’re a fantastic listener
You might think people get charisma from their way with words, but a lot actually has to do with what they do when they’re not in the spotlight, says Patti Wood, body language expert and author of Snap: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma. “When you really look at charismatic people, it’s often how they make the other person feel that identifies them as charismatic, which I think is one of the magical secrets about it,” she says. If you act interested in others, they’ll have a better impression of you, which is why charismatic people also happen to be great listeners. Holding eye contact, leaning in, ignoring your phone, and using these other habits of great listeners make the talker feel like the only person in the room,.

 You ask follow-up questions
Active listeners aren’t just waiting to pass the time until they can talk again—they really care about understanding what the other person has to say, says Ron Riggio, PhD, professor of leadership and organizational psychology at Claremont McKenna College and author of The Charisma Quotient: What It Is, How to Get It, How to Use It. “Listening is not just ‘did I hear the sounds going through my ears?’ but ‘can I decode it?’” says Dr. Riggio. “Your talking should be to draw out more information from the other person or for clarity.” Asking questions to make sure you’re understanding correctly will help you understand the other person better and build your own charisma. Avoid making these mistakes of bad listeners.

  You make your voice heard
“Charismatic people are good listeners but also interrupt more to get heard,” says Wood. “But you have to be likable when you do it.” Only interrupt if you have a particularly powerful idea to contribute, and keep it positive—people won’t resent the interruption if you’re complimenting them or boosting spirits. Also, make sure you speak loudly enough to make an impact. Reserved people might have to raise their voices to what feels like yelling to reach a level that seems normal to others. Avoid falling into these annoying speaking habits.
You're willing to show emotion
People with magnetic personalities won’t keep on a poker face when they’re expressing themselves. “Whatever the emotion is, it’s right there on their face and matches the word messaging,” says Wood. They use a big grin when they’re happy, and use angry gestures when they’re frustrated. People like knowing your true colors, so revealing how you feel will help you connect better. Don't miss these other habits of naturally charming people.

You can keep your reactions contained
On the other hand, knowing how to filter your emotions to fit the situation shows charisma. “It’s being authentic as opposed to being transparent, which is everything I believe or feel comes out immediately,” says Dr. Riggio. “Authenticity is regulating that to a certain extent.” No matter how much you’re fuming, for instance, you can contain your anger without making a big scene. Read this to improve your emotional intelligence.

You show empathy without saying a word
Not only do charismatic people show emotion when they’re talking, but they also wear their hearts on their sleeves when they’re listening. Specifically, those emotions are in line with the feelings the other person is expressing. “A charismatic person will not have a big, dumb smile on their face when someone is telling something horrible,” says Dr. Riggio. “Your face shows sadness and sympathy and you may not have to say anything.” The other person will walk away feeling like the two of you really connected. Find out if you have exceptional empathy.

You look cheerful, even when you aren’t smiling
Everyone has a resting face—you know, the one when you’re staring blankly without showing much emotion—but some look happier than others. If yours looks friendly and welcoming, you’ll seem warmer and more approachable. But if you look like you have a grimace, even when you’re perfectly happy, people could be put off, says Wood. Take a look in the mirror. If your resting face looks unhappy, making a conscious effort to change it could give you big results. “When you make small changes to your facial expressions, the way you sit, or the way you stand, it creates a whole cascade of chemicals within your system so you change how you feel,” says Wood. You might find your friendly face creates a cheerful attitude. Try these other little tricks to feel happier all year.

You use big, upward hand gestures
“Up” body language, like holding your head high, turning up the corners of your mouth, and lifting your arms for hand gestures, makes you seem like a happier, lighter person. “You can be a conductor and your body becomes the baton and is bringing the conversation of your group upward,” says Wood. “It makes people feel euphoric and above the norm.” Not only will you look more fun to others, but you’ll also start to feel it for yourself. Those movements create endorphin-like chemicals that improve your mood, says Wood. You can also build trust with these body language tricks.

You hold eye contact without looking creepy
Laser-focused eye contact shows you’re listening hard, which will show you care about what others have to say. But turning it into a stare-down can make the listener feel intimidated or uncomfortable. “It’s intense and just borderline of staring,” says Wood, “but what charismatic people do is they put in not just the power aspect of eye contact but the likability of smiling and nodding.” Don't miss these awkward habits that actually build trust.

You’re good at reading emotions
Adjusting reactions to fit the situation is a skill of charismatic people. But they wouldn’t know how to adapt if they weren’t good at reading between the lines when others are talking. They don’t just look at facial cues, which are the first thing people will try to control when hiding their emotions. “A really good charismatic person is going to look beyond what’s being presented in the face,” says Dr. Riggio. “Look for subtle cues and inconsistencies.” For instance, you might notice that a smile looks forced, or that excessive fidgeting makes a person seem anxious.

You have drawn-out hellos and goodbyes
Spending a long time greeting someone or saying farewell will show you’re genuinely excited to see that person and aren’t just rushing through formalities. “Spend that time and really connect and want to hear about them,” says Wood. “When you make someone feel special, you seem special.” Sprinkle in these magic phrases that make anyone trust you.



You aren’t cliquey
Introducing yourself to people from different generations, backgrounds, and cultures will help you seem charismatic, no matter who you’re with. “The more you get out and interact with people, the more you understand the diversity of people,” says Dr. Riggio. “Not everyone reacts the same way.” You’ll be able to adapt better to different situations without losing any authenticity. Try these mental shifts to improve your sensitivity.


You don’t always keep your hands to yourself
A brief touch—the “safe zone” is from the fingertips to the elbows—when telling someone you enjoyed meeting them or loved their presentation could make you more memorable, says Wood. “It shows warmth and likability and makes the other person feel singled out and special,” she says. Just make sure you follow the etiquette of your office. If any touching is frowned upon, you’ll want to keep your hands to yourself.


You give great visualizations
People will remember what you said better if you leave them with a clearer picture. “I can say ‘this car had this sort of black shininess to it’ or I could say ‘it had a black sheen like a raven’s feathers,’” says Dr. Riggio. “Now I’ve given you a little more to visualize. You’re seeing the raven’s feathers.” Charismatic people seem like more engaging speakers by sprinkling in examples and imagery. These magic phrases will help you nail public speaking.




Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Stevie Nicks Concert

If you get a chance to see Stevie Nicks in concert go! We had seats up close on the floor, though we were standing and dancing to her fabulous music the entire time. It was the concert of a lifetime. Throughout the concert she said to use music to lift you up and inspire you.





Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Hitler Documentary - Starts November 22 at 10pm ET on AHC

Hitler - Starts November 22 at 10pm ET on AHC




The six part Hitler Documentary is airing in the US. I was the body language expert for the series.
I had studied his speaking body language as a project in my masters program in Body Language and for the series I immersed myself in videos of him for months. It was quite a process.

The series airs on the American Hero Network.  If you google it you will a menu to put in your
zip code and cable/internet provider and it will tell you the station it comes on.


Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Donald Trump Kisses Daughter Ivanka


REX/Shutterstock
Well, this is uncomfortable. Donald Trump got some support from his daughter, Ivanka, at a rally in New Hampshire on Nov. 7, and cameras caught him going in for a kiss on the lips with her in front of the crowd. Gross!

Donald Trump, 70, is surely appreciative of all the campaigning his daughter, Ivanka Trump, 35, has done for him in his quest for president…but he sure did show it in a questionably affectionate way. A photo from the GOP candidate’s final rally before the election appears to show him almost kissing his daughter right on the lips!

The whole thing is especially disturbing, though, because of the way Donald’s described his daughter in the past. Back in May, a former Miss Universe winner described a conversation she allegedly had with the former pageant-runner, during which he reportedly asked her, “Don’t you think my daughter’s hot? She’s hot, right?” Brook Antoinette Mahealani Lee described the situation as “weird” and “creepy” — especially since Ivanka was just a teenager at the time!

Donald and Ivanka also creeped the public out back in February, when a throwback photo surfaced showing her seated on his lap and cupping his neck, while his hand rests affectionately on her waist. Um, seriously!? GROSS!

After the New Hampshire rally, Donald and his family returned to New York City, and headed to the polls on the morning of Nov. 8 to cast their votes. Dozens of voters actually booed the potential president as he arrived at his voting station, although he seemed pretty unfazed as he plastered a smile on his face and shook hands with supporters. Hillary Clinton, 69, seemed to receive a much warmer welcome when she showed up to the polls in Chappaqua, New York!

Link to actual article in Hollywood Life




Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

How Can The Way A Person Laughs Give Insight Into Their Personality and Other Insights on Laughing

1)      How can the way a person laughs give insight into their personality? Though we may use are thinking brain to analyze something said to see if it’s funny the actual laughter are not fully controlled response, they are. Laughter vocalizations and body movements are primal physical reactions rather than logical rational word language. Though we do have different laughs and laughter we modify depending on how we feel and how others are laughing, our laughter itself is primal and not consciously controlled, or not controlled initially. Laughter is primarily a “Play” signal to bond us together socially.

2)     Does reading body language help give us insight as well? Nonverbal communication involves using all the senses to read someone. So we hear the many nuances of the laugh and see how the persons face and body move when they laugh to completely read them. For example if someone laughs and their head goes back and their mouth opens wide and their chest and torso move with the laughter we read that they are fully engaged in big full laugh.

3)     Is laughing (when it is sincere) something we do automatically, without putting a lot of thought into it? Most of the time our laughter is spontaneous and unconscious it is a primal “play” signal. It’s very difficult to control real laughter consciously. However we do read social cues to match others laughter and bond through the language of laughter in social situations with this spontaneous play laughter. There is also a second kind of laughter researchers call volitional laughter (fake laughter) that we may use under stress we use along with to smooth out social situations say when the boss tells an off color joke we don’t think is funny or to send negative messages in passive aggressive, “I was just joking” way. Volitional laughter is designed to show superior power, and or to “laugh at” in a way to cast someone out of the group.

4)     Do we always laugh the same way, or are there different ways we laugh at different times/in different situations perhaps? According to research we laugh 30 times more frequently in social situations rather than in solitary situations we have two major kinds of laughter, spontaneous and volitional laughter. We laugh when things are funny, but we also laugh under stress and even during or after trauma not to ignore the stress but to prepare ourselves to endure it!

5)     What does it say about you if...
A)    You clap your hands when laughing? You want to show how playful you are and want others to join the play.
B)    You usually cover your mouth? You are not sure you are laughing approximately
C)    You throw your head back? Free spontaneous laughter
D)    You put your hand on heart? Often to show your laughter is heartfelt, and if higher at times to try to contain overwhelming laughter as in your chest hurts from laughing.
E)    You crinkle your nose? To show playfulness and that you can’t believe how sweet the situation is, funny because we usually crinkle the nose in extreme pleasure, but in this case we are showing extreme displeasure.
F)     Is there another way of laughing we left out that you think is important to mention?

6)     Is there anything else you think is important to add when it comes to discussing how the way you laugh can reveal your personality? I have quite a few more things here. But the major thing is I have developed a survey to test how your laugh reveals your DISC personality type. I put a few of the questions at the end of this document with the answer key in the survey (do you wouldn’t have the letters D I S or C in the actual survey so if you wanted to you could put the survey and the key in the article. Let me know.


1.      Women laugh much more than men in social situations (just like smiling)

      1,200 case studies, researchers found that while both sexes laugh a lot, females laugh more. In cross-gender conversations, females laughed 126% more than their male counterparts, meaning that women tend to do the most laughing while males tend to do the most laugh-getting

2.  It’s complex and involves many parts of the brain

  •        Laugh The left side of the cortex (the layer of cells that covers the entire                surface of the forebrain) analyzed the words and structure of the joke.
  •        The brain's large frontal lobe, which is involved in social emotional                         responses, became very active.
  •        The right hemisphere of the cortex carried out the intellectual analysis                   required to "get" the joke.
  •        Brainwave activity then spread to the sensory processing area of the                      occipital  lobe (the area on the back of the head that contains the cells that            process visual signals).
  •        Stimulation of the motor sections

3.   It’s beneficial

  •  Laughter shuts down the release of stress hormones like cortisol. It also triggers the      production of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine, which have all kinds of                calming, anti-anxiety benefits.” Laughter is good for your body too–you use your            core muscles when you laugh and you burn calories. increases blood pressure
  •  Increases heart rate (may be good exercise for the heart and may overtax it         changes breathing
  •  Reduces levels of certain neurochemicals (catecholamines, hormones).
  •  Provides a boost to the immune system.


      4. The first laughter appears at 3 and half to 4 months.




Patti Wood, MA - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Trump and Clinton Laughter and the Candidates and Body Language Expert


Trump does laugh, but it’s a more of a quick heh heh. You don’t see him in public with his head back laughing.  His laugh would be quick.  He is a driver on the DISC personality inventory with some Influencer.  I have done several research studies on DISC and various body language movements including laughter.
Clinton is a C controller with Driver. C's typically laugh more internally rather than externally. And C's only luagh when they really mean it so it's been hard for her to fake her smile for the public, 


High D Driver personality motivated by: Control, Dominance and Challenges.  Their personality moves outward and direct through their body language. They are expressive with their non-verbals. Their fists fly through the air and their language can be colorful. If they overuse their tendencies, they may move to quickly or interrupt and not let your finish your sentences. Confident and very direct

High I Personality – Influence – DiSC Behavioral Styles are motivated by: Popularity, Status and Approval.  Their personality spirals out and upward in it’s expression. They laugh easily and generally elicit smiles and laughter you. Their enthusiasm can be contagious. If they overuse their tendencies, they can be perceived as insincere or flippant. Infectious Laughter Entertains Others

High S Personality – Steadiness – DiSC Behavioral Styles are motivated by: Traditions, Status Quo and Stability.  Their personality is inward and reserved, constant and subtle. Their slow movement and gentle energy is inviting.  If they overuse their tendencies, they can be indecisive and slow to action. Maintains Low Profile

High C Personality – Conscientious – DiSC Behavioral Styles are motivated by: Order, Precision and Proper Ways.  Their personalities have have the lowest level of natural movement. They appear formal and structured. If they overuse their tendencies, they can appear rigid and are often perceived as critical and serious. People often tell them to “Lighten Up!” Controlled Perfectioni


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com.
     

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump's Body Language in Second Debate, Apology, Smiles and Lion Behavior

Check out the link below:


By Kevin Uhrmacher and Lazaheir lecterns, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were able to roam the stage at Sunday night’s presidential debate. And while the spoken insults and accusations will provide much fodder for political analysts in the days ahead, we invited two body language experts to dissect the candidates’ nonverbal cues.Here’s a bit about the experts, whose lightly edited thoughts about the debate are below:David Givens, who is the director of the Center for Nonverbal Studies, a nonprofit research center in Spokane, Wash. Givens also contributed to this helpful dissection of Clinton and Trump’s body language before the debate.

Patti Wood, author of the book “SNAP: Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language, and Charisma.” Wood has experience analyzing body language as it relates to anger, gender roles and apologies, which all proved helpful during the 90-minute spectacle.



The candidates walked out and, in a break with tradition, did not shake hands. Wood offered a thought about why it is so important. “A handshake … signals we are equals. Now we can come out fighting,” she wrote in an email Sunday night. The candidates did eventually shake hands, but not until the close of the debate.

‘He circles like a lion’: Trump declares his dominance
Looking to reverse his fortunes after a week on the defensive, Trump demanded attention with a display of aggressive sniffing, interruptions and emphatic pointing. But, compared with the last debate, “Donald was quite relaxed and calm,” Givens said.
“Trump came forth in full alpha-male mode,” The Post’s Karen Tumulty wrote after the debate. The experts agreed. Trump repeatedly pointed at Clinton as he lobbed accusations at her, a gesture Givens called “aggressive in all cultures.” He also compared Trump’s snorts with “a bull in attack mode.”

“I think the anger actually worked for him,” Wood suggested after the debate. “That’s his superpower.” For Trump, anger helps establish dominance and has a strong appeal, especially for disaffected voters, she said, adding that Americans are often drawn to the candidate who appears stronger.

Givens: “Trump’s constant pacing and restless movements around the stage attracted attention from Hillary's words, and visually disrespected her physical presence on the stage, as in ‘I am big, you are small.’ Wood: “He circles her during her turn. He is like a lion: going in with a biting attack, then keeping his attack energy going by continuing to move and circle.”

Givens: “Sitting is submissive; standing up is assertive. He paces [during her turn] to stay in motion, taking visual attention away from Clinton and her words. … His main message is ‘I am here, see me.’ “
Givens: “His manner of leaning hands and arms on the back of his chair as Hillary spoke was aggressive, too, as in a ‘broadside display’ of power. [It’s] common in the vertebrate world of males showing the biggest, widest parts of their bodies to intimidate rivals.”

Commenting on Trump’s ‘apology’ for the lewd 2005 video first reported by The Post on Oct. 7:
Wood: “Trump attacked Bill Clinton when he had a chance to apologize. A true apology does not include an attack.”Wood: “Clinton smiled as she began to respond to the Bill attack. [That] signals she was ready and confident. Her voice as she delivered was the strongest and angriest I have heard.”
Clinton stumbles on the smile
While Wood approved of Clinton’s performance overall, she said Clinton’s smile looked inappropriate. Both experts also thought Clinton looked comparatively weak when she sat as Trump spoke. Wood: “She stayed calm and even through most of the debates. His circling and staying close to her did not affect her, as scary as it looked to us.”
Givens: “Hillary addressed listeners sympathetically, with positive feelings and positive regard.”

Clinton reacts to Trump’s statement about using a special prosecutor to look into her “situation.” Reacting to Trump’s statements about her email scandal Trump criticizes Clinton saying she is “all talk” Both candidates react to a question asking for “one positive thing you respect in one another.”
Wood: “Because I've been analyzing her body language for a long time, I know her baseline … I think [the smile] was okay in the first debate [since] Trump rambled and had run-on sentences. [He] often did not make sense, so smiling seemed appropriate to communicate that she felt it was funny.”
The second debate was different, Wood said, because Trump spoke in more complete sentences and lobbed more serious accusations her way. This made it feel less natural for Clinton to crack a big smile.
Advice for the next debate
Trump should hew closer to his second debate performance, where he was more consistent across the entire 90 minutes, Wood said.
For Clinton, she offered some counterintuitive advice: Continue to break the rules. This may sound familiar to people who have worked in a corporate setting, Wood said. “A powerful person often breaks the rules.” (Think of the boss who shows up late to meetings.)

If Trump continues to flout the debate guidelines in the Oct. 19 debate, but Clinton sticks to her allotted time, she could look weak by comparison. Wood said she should monitor Trump and continue to establish power by going over her time limits if necessary.