Patti Wood Body Language Expert Blog

Why did George Zimmerman Buy the Gun?

If you would like an explanation as to why George Zimmerman bought the gun used in the Travon Martin shooting here is a very informative piece on the incidents in Zimmerman’s neighborhood and personal life leading up to theTravon Martin shooting. It's long, but it's worth the read...

http://news.yahoo.com/george-zimmerman-prelude-shooting-194235114.html

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.

Make-up Artist and Photographer for Patti’s New Headshot on her Newsletter and Website

We got so many requests about the details of my new headshot I decided to blog it.

The artist that did my make-up for the shoot was SUNNI. She is so talented.

To book her go to: http://www.siggers.com/SuniCosmetics/SuniCosmetics.htmlat

Siggers Hair Salon is off LaVista Road on the other side of 285 from Northlake Mall.

Another true artist is Enid Grigg. She did the wonderful photography and lighting and photoshoping of the headshot. She is a genius and you should go right now and book her for a headshot if you need one http://www.enidgrigg.com/ . Enid Grigg is my professional photographer. She has many talents and she has done corporate headshots for years. She did the videos of me on the stool in the black top on my website home page http://www.pattiwood.net/ as well as the fun photo shoot I did of different body language postures and what they mean that I did for CBS.com http://www.bodylanguagelady.blogspot.com/search/label/throat.

Life Lesson Quote for April 22, 2012

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

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's Rough Notes from CNN and HLN Interview on Zimmerman's Body Language

Check the link below to view the video on YouTube!

Overall I see Zimmerman; defiant at times angry, upset and pained to have here is parents testimony.

See my notes below on how chained handcuffs may affect body language and make anyone angry. There is only one small piece of tape showing his sitting down so you can see the handcuffs.

In Courtroom, at beginning of bond hearing, Zimmerman is defiant and angry. With the facial muscles around the mouth held tight he appears to be showing classic signs of anger he is biting down hard, and thrust the chin up and forward. This body language says, “Don’t mess with me.” In body language we go forward with are bodies to attack. When someone is pumping themselves up to fight they may as Zimmerman is doing here, push their chests up and out and lead with their jaw.

CNN video tittles “Zimmerman’s dad” He has gashes on head”

As Zimmerman listens to his dad describe his injuries his shoulders are back head is up. One of the few times he blinks normally. Lawyer tweaks questions of Zimmerman’s father, “Did you see any pictures of that? Zimmerman does an eyes shutter closing his eyes to the situation.

Zimmerman is pained to have his father questioned. When the defense attorney repeats the question you see (time code: 31 to 32) Zimmerman’s head go down and his whole faces to scrunches us in pain like a child about to cry.

In other tape today

Zimmerman also shows other classic anger signals. Anger – Anger shows pull your eyebrows down and together so the inner corners of your eyes go down and towards your nose then you stare so that your upper eyelids and your lowered eyebrows meet now press your lips together tightly lips appear very thin. When someone is about to attack signal of a pressed lips tend to precede arms going out to attack. Zimmerman does lips presses of anger as well as lip puckering in distaste

There are contextual situational reasons that we may see some of the emotions in Zimmerman for example he is in chained handcuffs. In research on anger when physiologist are trying to create the emotion of anger in subjects they produce anger by holding the arms of the research subject so they cannot get free. If we are prevented from doing what we want to do, in this case Zimmerman wishes to defend himself, also when we feel that someone is trying to deliberately hurt us or denigrate us in any way the natural response is anger or fear. And if we are fearful a way stress response freeze flight fight fall or faint o reduce the fear and feel stronger is to become angry. Anger increases the heart rate produces adrenaline.

Also anger calls forth Anger. The Prosecuting attorney is very skilled. His voice is incredulous and angry and he attacks Zimmerman with his questions. Specifically asking about Zimmerman about saying he was sorry.

As he comes in the courtroom and sits with the handcuffs.

Asked his name he reply’s “George Michael Zimmerman” on head forward and chin up imperious shoulders back.

We see him take a breath micro facial cue . “as his lawyer says” anything he says, see his lips close on NBC NEW. Time stamp 17. showing he wants to keep something in, slight indication what is coming out next is not the truth.

I wanted to say, I am sorry, for the loss of your son, I did not know how old he was I thought he was a little younger than I am. I did not know that he was armed or not’ All addressed with his head to the lawyer his heart straight forward.

When prosecuting attorney said (time :37 “ no to the mother and father CNN 10:54 in courtroom. His nose flares, his brow leaps to up see the folds and his eyebrows went up asymmetrically his lips purse in distaste in slight anger. See how his chin stays up. He is confident.

Prosecutor says, “You told that to the police,” Zimmerman:58 presses his lips up and gives an asymmetrical grimace (Neocortex logical brain and emotional limbic brain in conflict. / note his eyes he glares. He is mad, but trying to suppress it and he feels caught in the lie.

“Who did you make that statement too?” Zimmerman replies, “Aahhhh” shakes his head no again as Prosecutor says, “I believe you gave five statements total” (Time code 1:21) He shakes his head no while saying, “Yes sir I am sorry, all the names blend together. Has micro facial cue again eyebrows up big smirk asymmetrical revealing anger and fear then purse.
“I don’t remember exactly what verbatim,” His paralanguage is more abrupt he gives a vocal strike on the word verbatim. He gives an eye block (time code 1:40)
Time code 2:10 time on the clock10:56. You left a message for them to tell them that. Zimmerman furrowed brow lips again pursed in distaste.
Prosecutor, “Why did you wait so long to tell Mr. Martin” Zimmerman at time code Zimmerman reply’s in soft submissive voice, “I don’t understand the question, I am sorry.” (time code 2:17) But he follows it wish a lip press of frustration, and a tongue thrust (sticking out his tongue to attack the prosecutor) showing he does understand the implication of the question and is mad>

Body Language baseline in the First Court Appearance Rather than have what I normally see the turtle head bow their head erect posture, facial musculature stoic

Squirrel in the headlight Fear response especially when he first walks in White and Wide Increased sympathetic nervous system activity and elevated adrenaline anyone would have that, blinking increased.
Baseline Zimmerman’s body Language before First Court Appearance Turtle head bow their head erect posture, facial musculature stoic.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert/videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-R1OajhBsU

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/national/judge-to-decide-if-zimmerman-can-leave-jail

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.

Body Language Recommendations for networking event, group job interviews, group auditions and reality show competitions and parties.

A client of mine, who is now being considered for a reality show, recently sought some last minute coaching advice. Here are my rough notes to him that you may want to consider and adapt for your use when you are at a meeting or job interview networking event.

1. Be very present and connect with each person you speak with.

2. Focus on them completely when you’re with them. That is the number one behavior of a charismatic person.

3. If you are in room with other candidates, producers etc., get there early, stand near the door and introduce yourself and introduce people to each other.

4. You are a life of the party guy, very smart and very witty and I would coach you to be your wonderful self.

5. Find something fun and cleaver to say about the day, the food or the ambiance.

6. Find a fellow auditionee to have a little fun and laugh with so they can see how much fun you would be as a team member.

7. Spend quality time with and make yourself memorable to the decision makers thank them at the beginning and be the last one to thank them at the end be grateful and happy to have a chance to be there.

8. I was so impressed with you and your fun lively story telling ability when I we worked together I know they will love you.

Most important get out sticky notes or 3 by 5 cards
Write questions you know they will ask
Write questions you hope they won’t ask
What situations your fear may come up one question/fear for each sticky note.
Turn each note over and come up with an answer you are comfortable with.
Come up with a few questions you can ask others to open them up and get them comfortable
Mix it up, be serious and be funny mix it up. Then have a few friends take the sticky notes and ask you the questions