In the footage from her testimony during the ski accident trial, there are some interesting insights about Gwyneth Paltrow.
In the video below Gweneth describes what happened her upward hand motions as she speaks
are in synch with what she is saying which would indicate she is telling the
truth. Her voice baseline is calm, and slow so blips from her baseline are
revealing. As she replies to the
“assault” line of questioning. She blinks rapidly over her baseline and does
what I call an “Eye Shade” holding her eyes shut for a moment longer than normal
when she talks about, “this very strange grunting noise.” And she accentuates
and elongates the word grunting in a way that doesn’t seem to match or align
with the rest of her testimony. It would make more sense if the skies coming
between her legs and her legs spreading upset her more, than the grunting
noise. Yet she is emphasizing the grunting that would make it fit her narrative
of him sexually assaulting her.
She did not appear likable during the trial. Likeability is one of the four first impression factors I discuss. It has been shown to affect the juror's opinions no matter what the evidence in the jury trial. For example, she huffed and rolled her eyes and looked like a petulant teenager at certain points in the testimony. She looked like, "I don't have time for this nonsense." I found that interesting as she is an actress and could have chosen to act differently. Her immaturity was so over the top and unlikeable. That is counter to her GOOP Branding that says, "I take care of my health and exercise, and if you follow me and buy my products you will have a calm serene healthy life." Did she do that because she couldn't help herself? Was she coached to look indignant so the jury would disrespect the defendant?
In general, would you say blinking a lot while speaking is a sign that someone is lying? This is something many of us have heard, but is it actually true?
There
are many reasons why someone could have rapid blinking. When doing a nonverbal
assessment you consider the context of the situation the person is the
circumstances what’s going on with a person. Then you analyze the baseline for
that particular behavior for example normal blinking rate come ordinary
circumstances is about 40 blinks per minute and as stress increases blank rate
goes up to 70 blinks per minute or higher. Ideally, you also want a
baseline of what the normal blinking rate is, so it’s easier to rule out things like
that person has allergies or allergies for other issues like that. Then you
look at what I have named in the literature the timing of the tell. So, for example, if you look at what a person's blank rate is in a Courtroom setting how
are they blinking most of the time what is their baseline in that situation.
Then you look at how their baseline Great changes due to certain factors. For
example when they ask a question and they’re stating their response, or when
someone on the stand is saying something about them. (I analyzed OJ in the O.J.
Simpson trial in the beginning of the trial he would do a full micro facial Q
of a snarled with bare teeth when anyone on Stand said something negative about
him, at a certain point in the trial he got a new lawyer and that lawyer got approval
from the judge to give him an intense sedative and OJ lost all facial affect
for the rest of the trial.
-- Are there other
reasons someone may be blinking a lot that has nothing to do with lying? Yes, allergies dry eyes pollen in the air like there is right now in Atlanta, or
general nervousness. The first week I began doing Nightly TV interviews
for CNN and I noticed that I had a high blink rate because I both not nervous
about being on TV the bright white lights in my eyes made me blink. I also
noticed that I blink for the first 30 seconds or so of the interview but once I
calm down I didn’t blink
-- Do you have any thoughts about
Gwyneth Paltrow's body language during her testimony in the videos that have
been shared online? Is there anything you take away from her body language? If
you send me some videos I’d be happy to do an analysis for you just quick videos
would be all I need as I’ve watched some of the testimony but I’d rather look
at the videos you sent to make that analysis.
-- Anything else you'd like to add on
the topic of blinking and lying?
And Various
programs such as my establishing credibility and deception detection program,
my risk assessment program, and my interview program teach questioning
techniques to affirm you’ve made an accurate assessment. For example, if you ask
someone a question and they do rapid blinking over 70 blinks per minute as they
respond and that’s a blip from their baseline behavior you don’t say to
yourself I know they’re lying. Instead, you change the topic to something
totally different, and easy for them to answer to see if they stop blinking. And
if they do you go back later and ask the same question and see if they begin to
blink again. If it’s a critical issue that you need them to be honest about you
can even do the same process a few more times. Then say for example in a job
interview situation you would ask them what’s making them uncomfortable about
answering the question. Nonverbal assessments should never be a “hey I gotcha”
situation. Instead, you should come from a place of integrity and curiosity. The
goal should be to create connections and establish a relationship with people so
they feel comfortable telling you the truth, rather than have to fear
everyone is lying and expend energy trying to catch them. Research shows
that people who are in the presence of an honest person with integrity are
more likely to feel comfortable telling the truth
Also once you start
knowing noticing rapid blink rate is different from somebody’s normal blink rate
you will notice it. You’ll begin to watch politicians and celebrities are
interviewed on TV and your friends and family. Give your friends and family
grace! Never say hey you’re rapidly blinking I know you’re lying!
Does Blinking a Lot Mean Your Lying?
