Patti Wood Body Language Expert Blog : 05/01/2023

Body Language Reveals In the TV Show Succession, Touch Tells Between the Siblings On Succession.

Here are some of the insights on the body language of the siblings I shared for this article. The link to the full article is in the comments. 

Succession’s Heirs: Touch Me Gently
Body language experts evaluate the Succession kids' bizarre hugs
May 27, 2023 By Kyle Mullin Photography by Macall Polay/HBO WEB EXCLUSIVE
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Succession’s characters often reveal more with their body language than with anything they say. This is in part due to the privilege and trauma of billionaire news baron wannabe-heir Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) and his siblings Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) whose awkward movements and physical interaction are wince-worthy. That trauma stemmed from their manipulative, outburst prone father, the late Logan Roy (Brian Cox). But the ruthlessly successful businessman also endowed the squabbling siblings with enough wealth to alienate them from the comparative peasants they need to interact with.

When the siblings gingerly reach out to one another – wary of betrayal, but desperate for validation — their odd gestures convey multitudes. Their body language also draws attention when they simply speak or sit. Ken’s halting tone is a prime example of the former, while Roman’s oddball posture stands out as the latter.

Since the Roys’ eccentric and acidic behavior has turned so many viewers into armchair psychologists, we asked true experts to weigh in. Patti Wood holds an MA in body language and nonverbal communication. Woods has been called “the Babe Ruth of body language experts” by The Washington Post. She is also working on a book about body language in cinema, which includes It’s a Wonderful Life and The Godfather. Former FBI agent Joe Navarro utilized his body language expertise to catch real life crooks. He has since appeared in numerous viral videos in which he breaks down the nonverbal communication of politicians, gangsters and more. His book What Every BODY is Saying is an international best seller.

[Author’s note: spoilers follow]

In an early first season episode Wood was struck by the siblings’ cold, derisive nonverbal communication while doctors tended to their ailing father. More recently, Wood was focused on another dynamic: that infamous recent episode when Logan suddenly dies and Roman becomes uncharacteristically earnest. At one point Roman not only reaches out to his half-brother Connor (the always hilarious Alan Ruck), but lunges at him (director Mark Mylod told GQ the strange hug between Roman and Connor was not in the script, but instead happened between the actors “organically in a lovely, clumsy way.

All reactions:

Patti Wood

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.

Amy Robach Body Language at Half Marathon, What does it mean when you wear a promise ring around your neck?

Here is the article on the nonverbal

https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/8174306/amy-robach-tj-holmes-affair-marathon-body-language/amp/?fbclid=Iw

Bryan Kohbeger's Body Language at his Idaho Murder Arraignment by Patti Wood

I will post my article on Bryan Kohbeger's Body Language at his Idaho Murder Arraignment when it goes live. Here is the link to the video I analyzed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OoeK6XqTGE

How Do You Encourage Reading in Your Children? A Nonverbal Communication Expert Recommendations.

As an expert in nonverbal communication, I would recommend the placement of books all around the home. Placement that may communicate honor and respect for the books, such as organized placement on shelves and placement that indicates easy accessibility like low-level coffee tables, low-level side tables, and low-level bookshelves for children.

It's also interesting that children will model their parent's nonverbal behavior. Children will also watch how their parents and older siblings hold and focus on their books, specifically, does it hold their undivided attention, do they stare intently at it, hold it close, curl their body around it, and other subtle nonverbal cues such as and if they carry a book with them when they leave the house, do they see their parents reading a book as they wait at the doctor's office, or they see that their parents read in bed before sleep, or after dinner in the living room instead of watching TV or in a cozy spot, or at the beach, etc, they are more likely to model that reading ritual.

For example, my dad studied a lot and had his textbooks that filled their shelves in the bedroom and also had a stack of steamy bestsellers on his bedside, and he had a subscription to several newspapers including the Wall Street Journal and many many magazines that where left on the coffee table, my parent's bed and side tables always available to read. I started reading the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Newsweek, and a host of other magazines and his potboiler novels when I was ten or so.

Now have bookshelves filled with textbooks and other books on my expertise (nonverbal communication) in my house. I have over 1,000 books in my house! And I always have novels stacked on my bedside table and books and magazines of all kinds on my coffee table.

Workplace Bullying and What You Can Do About It.

I speak and write about how to avoid workplace bullying and how to deal with it in the workplace.

Here is an article I contributed to on bullying.

What does workplace bullying look like?

Patti Wood, a human behavior expert, spoke to us about what bullying can look and sound like.

She says there are physical cues to look out for, such as a head jutting forward, teeth-baring, and space invasion. It can look like vocal intimidation, “Raising the volume of the voice, lowering the voice, speeding up or slowing down, punching certain words, or growling”.

It can also include targeted jokes, threats, humiliation, unjust criticism, and continued denial of requests without a valid reason. Workplace bullying can often be subtle and can include ‘gaslighting’, which is where a bully engages in abusive behavior but then denies it occurred. It’s important to be aware of both overt and subtle bullying behaviors to identify them.

Patti says you can identify bullying by noticing how you feel in the presence of someone else. If you feel bullied, pay attention to what the other person is saying or doing that could make you feel targeted.. A lot of workplace bullying can be subtle, so this can be a practical way for your employees to identify bullying.

Another marker employers can look out for is a change in workplace behavior. This can include increased absences, low morale, and changes in performance. There may be other reasons behind these changes, but noting them and enquiring can help managers monitor the early warning signs of workplace bullying.

Here is the link to the rest of the article.

https://www.expertmarket.com/uk/business-insights/workplace-bullying

PROTECTIVE POSITION' Kouri Richins’ TV interview showed red flags she was ‘hiding the truth’ about murdered husband’s death, says expert

When a journalist you work with frequently says, “When I heard about this murder Patti I ￼immediately thought of you.” ￼￼and you laugh and laugh and laugh. 
Look in the comments below for the article I did with my analysis of the body language and other cues of the mom who has been accused of poisoning her husband over a year ago and wrote a children's book about grief. 

In April, she sat down with a local news outlet to discuss a children's book that she had published on how to deal with grief after a loss.  One month later, she was arrested and charged with murder.

Here is the video of her interview that I read for the media. 
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on how she presents herself to the public in this interview. below that is my nonverbal communication read. 

https://www.the-sun.com/news/8087018/kouri-richins-tv-interview-red-flags-husband-murdered/amp/?fbclid=IwAR0NsBxs-O04qBpVdOVw81Vubz3ikGX4nLf3xgyiVlGXAXC3W__p5ragXEE

The interview I interpreted

https://www.abc4.com/gtu/a-childrens-book-to-aid-in-coping-with-grief/?fbclid=IwAR3CM3QEcmEe483AfmxzDqmDWrpol0ch5PE5QTQBsjyELgAVzEnHKVPJwA8 

A Trick To Look More Confident When Your Speak

 Years ago when I was teaching my nonverbal class at Florida State I consciously started using every principle to increase my confidence and look powerful. 

I am 5 feet 2 and blonde so I needed some help to have any presence at all to my 150 to 200 students in dark staired seating auditorium in my nonverbal communication class. One of the power-boosting behaviors that I started doing that I use to this day is using the whole room! To this day I never stand behind a podium. I use the whole stage, and always come off the stage into the audience and go all the way to the back of the ballrooms!

  I love being with my audience. I just sent my room set up for the opening speech I am giving and the client got excited that I wanted stairs to come down the front of the stage so I can easily go out into the audience! She said, she never had that request. 

I love my work!

Patti Wood body language expert, What Does Taking Off Your Wedding Ring Mean, Wife Who May Have Murdered Her Husband and Wrote a Book

Here is some of my interpretation of the murder suspect taking off her wedding ring means.

The mom-of-three showed up to the interview without her wedding ring in what acclaimed body language expert Patti Wood said was a "strong choice."

"Writing a children's book about grief after losing your husband and promoting it without still wearing a wedding ring is an interesting choice," she exclusively told The U.S. Sun.

"Everybody grieves differently, some widows want to hold on to the symbol of the union they can see, feel, and touch all the time, and some don't.

"Nonverbally, she is not just promoting the book, but the fact that she has processed her grief enough to advertise that she is single and available."

There is more of what I shared in this article.

https://www.the-sun.com/news/8094695/kouri-richins-single-tv-interview-husband-murdered/amp/?fbclid=IwAR1dlNNGPaN-4vH67cZgPLXmj13DOg93O2tykX-3IHolrHnI8WcPPeQDkj8

LORI Vallow appeared to be suppressing her anger as she was convicted of murdering her two children on Friday, a body language expert Patti Wood reveals

The "cult mom's" sentencing hearing will take place in about three months, Judge Steven Boyce said.

Patti Wood, an internationally acclaimed body language expert, analyzed Lori's behavior during the verdict for The U.S. Sun.

"She's suppressing her anger," Wood said.

Here is the rest of the article I contributed to

https://www.the-sun.com/news/8108335/lori-vallow-verdict-body-language-expert-anger/

Marine Daniel Penny’s anger outfit and posture during arrest reveal two key emotions after Jordan Neely’s death, Body Language Expert Patti Wood says

Subway Murder Suspect Daniel Penny's Body Language

Here are a few things I shared the rest are in the article.

"He believes he's highly attractive," she told The U.S. Sun after examining photos of him making his way to court.

"It's obvious his appearance is important to him."

According to Wood, there was an air of confidence in Penny's upright posture and pushed-back shoulders.

"He's not showing fear, he's not showing shame," she said.

The full article is here.

"He believes he's highly attractive," she told The U.S. Sun after examining photos of him making his way to court. "It's obvious his appearance is important to him." According to Wood, there was an air of confidence in Penny's upright posture and pushed-back shoulders. "He's not showing fear, he's not showing shame," she said.

Why is the Doomsday Cult Mom Lori Vallow Wearing Braided Pigtails in Her Latest Mugshot.

I just spent the morning reading the cult mother's mug shots for the media. She is a member of the doomsday cult. I will post the link to the article this afternoon. And yes, I talked about what braided pigtails mean. I am fascinated by the Manchu dynasty and have read quite a bit about it. In that dynasty braided pigtails where were a sign of political enslavement to the Manchu dynasty.
There is so much cultural meaning in braids. In some cultures braiding can signify age, rank marital status, etc. In some cultures and religions braids are worn by mothers and wives, and in some braids are worn by widows and children after the death of the spouse/father. Yes, I know that is creepy in her case and I think that is significant. While I think her choice is more of an attempt to control the one thing she can control and make us think of her as an innocent child.

How to Look Approachable

I am a body language expert this article is from my Book SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma.

Give an eyebrow flash when you see someone you want to interact with. We raise the brow and fully stretch open the orbit of the eye when we see someone we know and like. It’s actually a signal to others that we feel they are safe; we like them and we want them to approach.

Stand to give room. One of the keys to approachability the key is to make yourself approachable is to stand in a way that shows you have room for others to approach. Men typically stand with their feet 10 to 12 inches apart indicating they have power and control over their space. So stand with your feet a couple of inches closer together.

Open up your body windows. Years ago I labeled certain parts of the body windows in the research on nonverbal communication because in my research I noticed that people open and closed certain parts of their bodies as they interacted. We know the old advice, don’t cross your arms so you look open and approachable. It’s a more complex phenomenon. You have WINDOWS at your feet, your knees, your stomach, heart, throat, mouth, eyes, and the palms of your hands and you open and close them depending on how you feel, who you are with, and what you are discussing. If you feel safe, to be approachable, ideally you should keep your windows open. For example, we tend to trust and approach people who have open exposed palms. This window is particularly important as the limbic system sees a hand in a fist or possibly a weapon as potentially dangerous so we stay back. The heart window is also important as shielding the heart indicates you are not open to approach or conversation. You are shielded from the interaction. I can give you more details about this or other body windows. if you wish.)

Relax your body as body tension makes you look apprehensive and not open to approach.

Maintain good look/look away eye contact.

Nod, and head tilt to signal you're listening to what the other person has to say

Stand and sit side by side with men. Adapt the position you take when sitting or standing with someone. Though we typically think that sitting or standing face-to-face is the best way to greet and interact with someone, the real skinny is that it depends on your gender. Five Reasons to Stand or Sit Side by Side When Talking to Men

It makes you seem friendlier.
It allows them to open up their body windows.
It makes them share and self-disclose more.
It creates more agreement between the two of you.
It lets you more readily establish rapport.

Take Care,

Patti

Which is More Challenging, Handling Angry Customers Face to Face or Over the Phone?

Both are difficult, and now there are certainly issues of personal safety that come into play in face to face in customer service interactions, but in my experience designing and conducting customer service training for a broad range of businesses is that phone interactions are more difficult.

First, the customer may have been frustrated or angered for a longer length of time before they get on the call, often escalating their emotional state.

They may have had to wait or be transferred before getting on the call with the right rep so again their negative emotions can escalate. There is an entire body of research on hold time and transferred calls' effect on customer service.

They may feel safer and shielded by physical distance anonymity, they are not right there in front of you, so even a little old lady customer who never yells or cusses in public could become a ranting maniac.

You don’t have all their body language cues to read so you can understand them and help them and relate to them personally more easily on a human level. You can exchange up to 10,000 cues with one person in a face-to-face interaction and you miss out on that rich information on the phone. It can be harder for you to relate to them if you are just going from a bad complaining customer to a bad complaining customer.

In addition, they can’t see all your nonverbal cues and may react to you as a nebulous faceless “other” the company that, “Did them wrong” the enemy instead of a living breathing real human being.

You also don’t have access to many “de-escalating” techniques, such as nonverbal listening cues, like head tilts and head nods, look/look away constant eye contact, open body windows (like open heart, open palms, relaxing posture moves, side by side engagement, the list goes on and one. On the phone, you can do vocal matching and mirroring, which is very powerful, but you have to learn all the intricacies of matching and mirroring so it is authentic.

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