Faces in the News

The Jerusalem Post analyzes examples of world leaders’ body language in the press to illustrate the history of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship. 

See a still photo from the Camp David video that he refers to.

After President Obama’s news conference in which he said he was “humbled” by his Nobel Peace Prize, one of the Nobel committee members, Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, told the AP:

“I looked at his face when he was on TV and confirmed that he would receive the prize and would come to Norway, and he didn’t look particularly happy.”

She acknowledged that the prize might backfire on Obama, because it heightens the expectations for his presidency, gives fodder to his critics, and might distract from his domestic agenda.

Was the President happy about his win? Check out the video and judge for yourself.

We have fun evaluating faces and gestures on this blog, but what if lawyers could use these tactics to decipher the emotions of jurors and witnesses on trials?

Now they have a course to teach them just that!
“Reading Microexpressions of Emotion for Attorneys”

What other occupations do you think would benefit from this kind of teaching?

Last week, new “Saturday Night Live” cast member Jenny Slate said the F-word in a sketch on live television.

Watch her expression right after she says it in the video at this link.

Dr. Paul Ekman gave his analysis from viewing this video: “The long delay after she says the word and before she makes the face suggests the word and the face were probably planned and rehearsed.”

What do you think? Was it an accident or intentional?

Psychologists believe that handwriting might change when someone is lying because the brain has to work harder to invent facts, which affects the writing process.

Read the article about the study and give yourself a self-test!

You’ve all heard about the Kanye West/Taylor Swift controversy at the VMAs. The conspiracy theorists think the whole thing was staged as a PR stunt for MTV. Does Taylor look authentically surprised? Does Kanye appear to be acting?

And then the Kanye apology tour kicked in. Here’s his sitdown on Leno the next day. Does he seem sorry? Is he pretending?

From Lie to Me Exec Producer Shawn Ryan’s Twitter:
Forgot to mention in my time last week w/Paul Ekman he weighed in on Michael Vick on 60 minutes? Do you think he found Vick sincere or not?

Here’s the Vick interview. Would you call this sincere?

She addresses the question of a run for the Presidency in a Thailand interview, but then has time to phrase her answer again in the July 26th “Meet the Press.”

But what does her face and body language really tell us?

But, candidates, don’t put your hand in your pocket or grip the podium, according to ABC News.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s reaction when he talks about the just-announced iPhone from his competitors at Apple. How do you think he really feels?