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Body Language Read of Fed Chair, Bernanke 60 Minutes Interview

Body Language Read of Fed Chair, Bernanke 60 Minutes Interview by Scott Pernelli. was by MSMBC to analyze Bernanke's body language and I also talked to AOL.com and NBC.com. I am a body language expert and a media coach. I was interested in how confident Bernanke appeared during the interview. If his goal was to instill confidence, he really didn’t give a good interview. He looked scared, close to tears at times and defensive when he was asked the tough questions.
The editing of the interview was interesting. They always ended with his response to a tough question both in the first segment break then at the very end. You really see the primacy and resencey persuasion theory effects I talk about with my media clients and public speaking workshop attendees.
If you saw the interview edited to just his statement of the Feds plans he is confident.

I will put up a link to the video and links to any press quotes of my read.


In The first segment in the darkened room chair to chair with the 60 minutes interviewer, Scott Pernelli, Bernanke often appears to lack confidence in his responses, his voice cracks, he retreats and head tilts. He confidently responds to his plans, but not to our future. Also it was clear he was very tired in this first segment. It looks like Bernanke didn’t sleep the night before; in fact I had written that in my notes then in the second segment Pernelli asks, “What keeps you up at night?”
Bernanke responds to the first question from Pernelli, “When is this going to end” by smacking his lips together. This indicates that his mouth is dry, a sign of nervousness and in this case his facial expression and smack indicate he wants to be careful and thoughtful in his response. Sure enough he gives a slowly delivered prepared answer rather than a fast confident, spontaneous answer.
I wish there was a two shot. If you look at his head placement his head is “off center” and pulled slightly back. That indicates his fear and defensiveness. The off center placement may be due to where the interviewer is seated or matching and mirroring of Pernelli, but a confident person who has one clear vision typically holds their head in center position. Head tilts back and forth like he does throughout the interview read as if he was flip flopping on his beliefs. I advise my media coaching clients to be careful of head flopping because it can be read so negatively. Also the way Bernanke is pulling back his head slightly as he begins each statement shows a lack of confidence in the answer. What we want to see is someone who moves his head and body forward with confidence. His head is also slightly tilted to the side, though again this may be a response to how the interview or camera is set up. But to the public a tilted head held throughout statement shows deference, uncertainity and in this case makes us feel like he is afraid of our negative response to him and what he is saying. Frightened children tilt their head when they are telling their parents they did something wrong and fear punishment. It is not the normal head placement for a power government employee.

“We do have a plan and we are working on it but I do think we will get it stabilized. Again his head tilts. He does hit the right words strongly the do and the will showing the correct paralanguage emphasis to instill confidence. But then he hesitates in the middle and stumbles verbally and uses a BUT that seems to cut one half of the sentence from the other. That can happen subconsciously when you’re sure about one thing you're saying but not the other. Also look how he pulls his head back. Specifically how the right side of his face pulls back and “retreats as he goes into the next sentence and he changes his vocal delivery and says, now I am seeing the interviewer model the head tilt
The interviewer steeples (think of him holding a king's crown out in front of himself when asking him about the end of the recession that is an aggressive way of asking.) And Bernanke does get vocally defensive and picks up the pace saying the begining of the next answer very quickly.
We will see an end of this decline, stop “I hope”

You seem to be saying we are not heading into a depression,
“I think we have averted that, pause that risk. I think we have gotten past, that risk. This delivery makes me feel that he has compartmentalized his statement. He thinks we have averted THAT risk, but to me obviously feels there are other risks. (I listened to the rest of the video and just found out his research specialty was the great depression. He really does define it differently. )

Listen to his voice as he is asked if he made a mistake letting Lehman brothers fail. His voice is actually cracking, you can hear the stress, and the voice sounds like he is on the edge of tears.
…people said let em fail...and he shakes his head no. Showing he really didn’t believe we should let them fail. Then he says, “… and I think (again that word) I knew BETTER than that.

There have been four rescues of AIG of over a….why is that necessary,
Watch Bernanke carefully- again you can see him get chocked up. Let me first say, (By the way this is a common bridge statement I teach my clients who are going to be interviewed by the media. It allows you to go to a planned statement you as the interviewee have written or practiced ahead of time. I think he did a good job of holding back his anger, but gracefully using the words causes me the most anger... angst. His voice gets strong for a bit here.

Later I thought we were close to a global financial meltdown.
How close
It was very close.

It’s not tax money… talks about printing money his voice stresses again.

When asked about the multiple bailouts. He slumps back in his chair and again his voice falters in mid sentence showing a lack of confidence. “Part of the issue is well, pause; you know the economy has gotten….. That has meant again he stutters out.
The interviewer gets usually aggressive and brings his entire body towards Bernanke and stays in Bernanke’s space that is not creating a neutral response. He is really trying to get Bernanke back up …really pushy and says, “There are so many people across this country that say, to hell with them.”
Bernanke is doing some odd partial head nods that go from side to side disagreement to up and down agreement. Then he gives another prepped response, “Let me give you an analogy…pause stutter... if I might. As a media coach. I would have had him just strongly go into the analogy that is a really weak bridge statement to use in response to a question that strongly delivered.
He voice gets much stronger as he talks about the stress tests they are giving to the bank. He feels really good and confident with this plan. I wish he had said this earlier as I think by this time the viewing public would be disgusted and tuned out the significance of the stress test plan.

Next he sounds really scared. Wow this was not a strong way to end this segment. The last thing you say and do effects your personal credibility and a show like this can choose the segment that airs before a long commercial break.
Keep you up at night... Here Bernanke blinks and pulls back his head as he says, “The biggest risk is that we pause you know, that we don’t have the political will he shakes his head no, we don’t have the …
In which case, we can’t (he pauses and shakes his head no,) we can’t count on recovery. (His voice breaking.


The read of the Job segment
Bernanke asked, “How long before we get those jobs back?”
Freeze at 14:50 He does a head sadness bow and a head back retreat and gives a window shade blink you are obviously right.
If you freeze there you can see his sadness
Four or five years for jobs to come back. His voice cracks.
Bernanke is sitting in a very guarded protected position. His legs are crossed away and he has his arms and hands in a defensive arm and hand position protecting his ventral front (His belly.)

Some people think that the six hundred billion is a terrible idea,
Bernanke moves forward and actually sounds agitated and angry… his voice speaks up and he energetically says “I know that some people think that ...ahhh pause ahhhh... What I think there.
His hand goes gently forward as he says the word policy. (He believes the policy is sound)
This fear of inflation is much overstated. He shakes his head in strong, quick up and down motions; He moves his head in a strong and angry manner.
Now he says myth we are printing money, we are not printing money what we are doing is….
He gets riled up here as he continues. He is good at saying what the Fed is doing.
He is really talking fast as he talks about how they can halt inflation… really fast compared to his baseline.


It looks like Beranke didn’t sleep the night before.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

How You Say Things Matters, Exercise for Nonverbal Communication.

Job recommendations for the poor employee. I just read this in Nigel Risners wonderful newsletter. Go through the recommendations and read them out loud using different inflections to emphasize certain words. Paralanguage can make a really big difference to meaning of a message.

I thought your students might enjoy this. I think I will use it as a nonverbal exercise and have people say the recommendations out loud with different vocal inflections.


Ever have to write a letter of recommendation for a less-
than-adequate employee? Or, make a decision about hiring
someone you aren't sure of? In his never-ending desire to be
helpful, my friend Bill Barrows forwarded these key phrases.
You never know when they might come in handy--or serve as
fair warning!

Regarding an employee who is chronically absent:
"A man like him is hard to find."
"It seemed her career was just taking off."

For the office drunk:
"I feel his real talent is wasted here."
"We generally found him loaded with work to do."
"Every hour with him was a happy hour."

For an employee with no ambition:
"He could not care less about the number of hours he had to
put in."
"You would indeed be fortunate to get this person to work
for you."

For an employee who is so unproductive that
the job is better left unfilled:
"I can assure you that no person would be better for the job."

For an employee who is not worth further consideration
as a job candidate:
"I would urge you to waste no time in making this candidate
an offer of employment."
"All in all, I cannot say enough good things about this
candidate or recommend him too highly."

For a stupid employee:
"There is really nothing you can teach a man like him."
"I most enthusiastically recommend this candidate with no
qualifications whatsoever."

For a dishonest employee:
"Her true ability was deceiving."
"He's an unbelievable worker."


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Speaking on Body Language at Turner Broadcasting

I will be speaking today at Turner Broadcasting Studios.
Here are two links to the releases they put out about the event.
http://exm.nr/fh3Qfd

http://pitch.pe/105335

There will be live twitters of the event as well.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Airport Security, The Body Language of New Pat Downs and Scanning

I love my country. I wanted to make sure I said that first as I am about to analyze the nonverbal factors that may be causing passengers to have trouble with the new scanning and pat down procedures at the airport.

In the last two weeks I have gone through the new screening procedures eight times in five different cities, Atlanta, Cincinnati, San Antonio, Ft. Lauderdale, and Tyler Texas. I went through the scanner each time and oddly, each time I was patted down, extensively. Apparently, little blonds with glasses fit the terrorist profile. The new security checks are more than a little intrusive. In fact, if they did it any better they would have to buy me dinner first. However, I am certainly willing to do it, to insure we are secure while flying. There are nonverbal issues with the procedure. We can talk about “personal freedoms and profiling but truly we just don't like our personal space invaded. Americans sense of self, their personal space, is external rather than internal. In the US and most of North America we feel that our body, our space, does not end at the external body. It does not stop at skin and hair, but extends out from the body a good sixteen inches or more. When we are in any crowd, and especially long lines like the security at Airports like Atlanta Hartsfield or Chicago O'Hara we already have to be inside the body bubble wall of dozens of people so we may be fearful, or defensive before we even get to the main check point. Our intimate body bubble is bigger in front than it is in back and smaller around our feet. So people can stand closer to us when they are behind us queuing in line than when they are facing us. This kind of queuing is unique because we know we may already be stressed about traveling, we know we are going to be evaluated and go through the stress of mini checks and handing over our personal artifacts to the conveyor belt where it may be lost or evaluated and taking off our shoes and feeling quite vulnerable as bare or sock footed we gingerly step toward strangers in uniforms.

To be scanned, you lift up your arms above your head and hold them with palms flat out. This again makes you feel extremely vulnerable to attack. All your body windows are exposed. Anyone can hurt your very easily when you're in this position. In that same vulnerable moment you know there is someone looking at your body on a screen even more exposed. Then there is a pat down where you stand in similar position and have someone not just invade your space but touch you. It is all very stressful. The word stress that evolved from Latin word "districtia" means "to draw or pull apart." The Romans even used the term to describe "a being torn asunder." Most of us who have been through a busy airport's security check can probably relate to this description.

0—18 inches. The "Intimate Zone" we normally reserve for friends and family. It’s what I call “kissy face” distance. We also allow others to encroach this zone in a few other situations; contact sports, dancing and in greeting and goodbyes. In North American culture this space is almost like an extension of your body. Standing 18 inches from someone you can only see their face their hands and feet are out of vision range. If you get closer than 18 inches everything blurs. This makes you vulnerable to attack. At this distance. you will be able to smell and touch the other person and they can smell and touch you. So at this distance you want to make sure you have used your deodorant and brushed your teeth. This distance is used for sexual contact,comforting someone or attack. Whenever you perceive a threat, imminent or imagined, your limbic system immediately responds via your autonomic nervous system. Your adrenal glands release adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) and other hormones that increase breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. This moves more oxygen-rich blood faster to the brain and to the muscles needed for fighting or fleeing. Adrenaline causes a rapid release of glucose and fatty acids into your bloodstream. Also,your senses become keener and your memory sharper. So the event of going through security is heightening your perception. Other hormones shut down functions unnecessary during the emergency. For example, the immune system goes on hold. That's why chronic stress increases your chances of getting sick. With your mind and body in this temporary state of metabolic overdrive, you are now prepared to respond to a life-threatening situation and or a security check. No wonder we resent it. After you go through a perceived danger your body would typically try to return to normal, but once your stress response is activated the system wisely keeps you in a state of readiness for the next saber tooth tiger, or gets you ready to get to your gate, get on the plane and sit next to a stranger for several hours.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/newsmaker-body-language-and-pat-downs-112310

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at Patti@PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Posted by Patti Wood MA CSP Corporate Speaker and Trainer
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OchoCinco and Owens Making Comments About Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromarti and Body Language Read - Cocky or Ready to Play?

This is a body language read of OchoCinco and Owens on a show on the Versus Network.
I usually just report on the body language and don't editorialize but in this case these players were putting other players down and thinking they were cool. I was not impressed. I actually like the rowdy, loud team members who shout and jump up with raised arms and high fives saying, “We are going to win!” “We are going to pulverize them!” Athletes do that to get their limbic brain pumped with adrenaline and other hormones so blood goes to their brain and limbs so they can move and “fight.” Glucose gives them intense focus. That is fun! That energy is contagious and gets the fans fired up.


OchoCinco and Owens will be facing the New York Jets on Thursday night in a nationally televised game and they will be going up against Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two of the best quarterbacks in the game. Revis and Cromartie will be charged with the responsibility of shutting down OchoCinco and Owens, which leads to this exchange in the video.

http://www.versus.com/tocho-show/videos/tocho-jet-promo/


Questions about the overall exchange and demeanor of the two:

Are they dismissive? Is it in fun? What is the overall tone and tenor? What can you tell us about their delivery that would give some insight into their intentions throughout their delivery? Are they uncomfortable? Cocky? Joking? Self-assured?

The guys were reading their pre-written lines off a teleprompter with a delivery that was stiff and awkward rather than alpha cool dude energetic. Even when OchoCinco used the bullhorn, his body (head, shoulders posture) didn’t go up with enthusiasm nor did his paralanguage, (voice tone, volume, speaking rate) show he was energized. They appeared so cool with the relaxed shoulders, torsos/stomachs, relaxed back and low energy, slow vocal delivery by both guys they didn’t even have to work hard or give it their all in this piece.

Why do they choose to call Revis and Cromartie “Ren & Stimpy?" Does that make it obviously a humorous statement or is that a slight?

The nonverbal delivery, I'm sure, was planned as a comic put down. If they wanted it to be a powerful put down it would have been given spontaneously with a strong stare and vocal emphasis.


How would an athlete who has these statements directed at him react?

As a media coach I would tell Revis and Cromartie not to be worried. Chad OchoCinco (Johnson) and Terrelle Owens are over confident. If Revis and Cromartie are questioned directly by the media about the "Ren & Stimpy," I might suggest a comment such as “Let’s let go of thoughts of cartoon cats and dogs. Let's be great sportsmen and play great football for all our great fans.”


How about carrying over onto the field, what is the impact? If they are joking in their comments, would that mean that they are taking them lightly? If they’re serious and putting them down, does that mean that they might be prone to be too cocky?

It is clear from all this planned buffoonery and their poor delivery of it that they think they are too cool for school.

Final question, number six I know. Can you give me a three sentence intro about you? I’d like to give you a solid plug and while my editor is anti-plugs, we need to do our best here to get you out there, right? Patti Wood MA, CSP in a media couch, who has been researching, reading and speaking on body language since 1982. Author of “Success Signals –Understanding Body Language.


Okay, and here is a bit of background on OchoCinco from a story I did on him a few weeks ago:
http://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/how-ochocinco-embraces-fans-of-the-enemy/?src=twrhp


Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.