We all display micro-expressions that sometimes give away what we really think, regardless of what side of the political aisle we’re on.
Flip these two:
Let us know your thoughts…
What Do These Men Have in Common?
January 20th 2009 - 03:58pm
66 Comments
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[...] I happened upon this Fox blog of real footage of Barack Obama mentioning McCain and visibly shooting the bird. And Donald Rumsfeld sporting his own [...]
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Wow, you think they sent ‘another’ message?
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I haven’t noticed any micoexpressions. What I DID see was that they both used the middle finger to touch their face. To me that’s emblem that “slipped”. Whether or not there were microexpressions, I don’t know. Generally, It might be easier to detect them on training CDs rather than real life. I don’t know…
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… Having said that, Donald Rumsfeld seemed a bit smug when he touched his face with his middle finger. I’m still not sure what it all means though, nor what I can see vs. what I cannot. Practice makes perfect I guess.
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When Obama talks about congragulating McCain he scratches his face quite a bit. As Dr. Lightman would say, “He’s lying,” in that perfect Tim Roth accent. Also Rumsfeld is obviously dissapointed in his performance and simply avoids the answer when he scratches his nose. In the pilot episode Lightman said something about there being tissue in your nose that begins to itch when you lie. Funny, to see not just Republicans lying or Democrats, but to see politicians lying in general to please their audience. Lightman would be so happy.
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Whitney January 22nd, 2009 at 10:17 am
I couldn’t hear any sound but I watched the Obama one.. and the first thing I saw was him scratch his nose and his chin.
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These guys are lieing really badly. Their faces show all the right details.
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Hedwig595 January 22nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm
That is very intriguing! I’m definitely going to be looking for these clues in my daily conversations now! This is such a cool science!
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Alex Cichy January 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Gee, I watched these two clips a couple of times each.
But as far as what they have in common, I couldn’t finger it out.
Reading digital expressions is sometimes difficult. -
Isabella January 22nd, 2009 at 12:19 pm
They’re lying their buts off ahahah
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JD Gallegos January 22nd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
They both scratch their face with the middle finger. Not sure the true meaning behind that though.
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Ok so they’re both touching their faces. What exactly does this mean? Indication of deceit? it doesn’t make sense in context.
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alex cervino January 22nd, 2009 at 5:19 pm
is it they both rubbed there face with there middle finger? (by the way i love the show, and ‘m in love with reading people’s faces)
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In both videos, it shows contempt lol!
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The men both were constantly touching their faces, and both touched the sides of their noses while their mouths acted as if surprised. Maybe they were thinking, nervous, or lying. The micro expression is hard to determine.
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I guess Obama and Mr. Rumsfeld let their fingers do the talking! I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone do this in public unintentionally, now I’ll have to keep an eye out for this one!
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My thoughts on what these two men have in common? They gave me THE sign of what they both intend(ed) to come?
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they both scratch their nose
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I really enjoyed the premiere of Lie To Me, and in all these I saw contempt.
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Frank Lossy January 22nd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Both showing the finger, Obama while praising McCain’s campaign, and Rumsfeld when replying to a hostile questioner.
Congrats, Paul, on this excellent teaching TV program. Unfortunately for me, the microexpressions seen are much more prolonged than in your training video, so I don’t think they’ll help me as much as I’d wish in develping lie detection skills.
Did you ever find time to look at the VHS video I sent you of Meet the Press, with Reagan’s Chief of Staff making a ?microexpresson when asked if Reagan was showing signs of AD even before he left office?
Warm regards,
Frank
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Katia Bobry January 23rd, 2009 at 11:37 am
both give the finger
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Obama is interrupted by comments from the crowd so I think it’s important to note that just in case his glance to the right and slack jaw glance to the right and momentary look of mild surprise or bemusement may have been a reaction to whatever comment or comments came from the crowd, in effect, that microexpression may have been irrelevant to his own comments and thoughts that we are interested in. After that, he clearly touches around his nose, as does Rumsfeld, with his middle finger likely signifying contempt and that he is “hiding something” which is likely that he doesn’t agree with what he himself is saying… aka lying. More context would be useful including the most recent events each man might have in mind at the time of their comments. Rumsfeld is hiding that he wants to tell the questioner to “F off”… a lot of contempt! I love this show! I’m watching the pilot for the 5th time since Tuesday and it’s Saturday. I’ve never ever been infatuated like this with a TV show. I should add that I did read something about micro-expressions a year or so ago and was enamored with the idea at the time. I would love a career in this field. I may have to consider it. They say, “find a job you love and you’ll never work another day in your life.” I think I could love a job in this field. At 37, and burnt out on the financial services industry once again, second bubble I’ve seen pop up close (tech and real estate), can ya blame me?
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brownin329 January 24th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
It’s funny how people have posted that both used the middle finger when commenting as if they have never seen it before. I have seen it lots of times, usually teenagers do it and a lot more obviously!
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If you will noticwe in the video of obama not only does he touch his mouth and nose, but at one point he glanced down before he started to congatulate the senator.
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Teresa Justice January 25th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Mr. Rumsfield gave the finger but I noticed two things. He scorned the man that questioned him to grade himself. It was a mixture of anger and great dislike. He also dropped his head as if to hide his facial expression. Rumsfield scratched his nose indicating a lie. He will not let history decide.
Obama also gave the finger while rubbing his face. His lips were tightened and he appeared to express great dislike for his constituents actions. Individuals were “booing” and doing other disrespectful things when McCain was mentioned. His anger and contempt were almost masked by his hand gestures.
I believe that both men showed scorn as a result of the actions of those before them. -
The both put up they’re middle finger when answering
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gaetano January 26th, 2009 at 10:31 am
look at obama’s tongue
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ghamsin January 26th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I know what you wanna hear from us but please dont come after our President………….
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why not? every other president has been scrutinized, why would this one be immune? when you decide to put yourself in the public eye, you are signing up for being analyzed in everything you do. And we should be analyzing and critically thinking, it creates balance in the system.
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nakeysheep January 28th, 2009 at 11:34 am
The initial question was “what do these two men have in common”? The obvious answer is that they both used their middle to scratch their nose, which everyone has identified. The better question to ask to determine behavior is “what is different in these two scenarios?”. By identifying the difference, there’s a much higher chance to understand the meaning in these two gestures. Obama’s clip is longer, and we can see him consistently shifting his weight, drawing out his words, touching his nose, pursing his lips together, and then touching his lips. Specifically, right after he congratulated McCain on his tough race, he closes/rolls his eyes then licks his lips. In my mind, there was uncertainty/insecurity in Obama, and a definite lack of passion in what he said. He was definitely obligated to say it and it had no meaning to him whatsoever. Like, “whew. I said it. I didn’t want to. But I did. I’m done.”
In contrast, the setting is entirely different in the Rumsfeld clip. I don’t know who specifically he is addressing in the room, but my guess is that it is not a Rumsfeld-loving group. (unlike the Obama crowd) Rumsfeld is already stressed, so when the scruffy young man asks him the on-the-spot question Rumsfeld responds with the nose-scratch-with-the-middle-finger, a tightening of his cheekbones, pursing of his lips, and scrunching of his eybrows. He’s angry, and maybe even meant to use the middle finger.
Ok, moral of the story: Obama and Rumsfeld have similar “touching” movements, but they do not mean the same thing. Look at the context – setting, people around, and type of questions asked before you draw conclusions. There appears to be no premise for Obama purposefully using the middle finger, but there may be Rumsfeld. -
Each speaker gestured to touch his mouth while saying something. My belief is that it was while they were saying something that was less than completely truthful – an adult and sophisticated version of the childish gesture of covering one’s mouth in effort of hiding what is being (or was) said. Also, they each used the middle finger – possibly in a subconscience gesture to the person who asked them the question, because they dresented the question.
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They both rub their noses prior to stating their points. Meaning they are nervous and probably lieing about what they are about to say.
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They both gave their middle finger , we all know what that means.
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It means exactly what it means….giving the middle finger…try it yourselves its not a natural gesture to scratch with your middle finger despite if its done intentionally or not it still has the same meaning.
I love this new show…lets me know theres others out here like me
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they flicked the bird
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whoa. lol haha. middle finger on national tv
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The middle finger.
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I don’t get it
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He touch his noise when he talked
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Well done nakeysheep.
You identified a significant number of gestures.
But they both did mean the same thing.
They both had contempt for what they were saying. They both did not believe what they were saying. And they both held scorn for the question. -
Nicole Cruz February 4th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
They touched there nose. Men have a tissue on their nose that itches when they are lying. My results for the test: 27 right answers, and 1 wrong answers in 155 seconds. For a general score of: 90 and based on that score I’m A GENIUS! detecting lies.
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So who are they flipping off or is this some kind of telltale sign they are lying?
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Yeah yeah, they both touch their noses but if you look a little closer you can totally see the actual faces change to disgust. Watch them again and you can see it.
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To support my little findings, by the way, check out Obama at 0:15 and the last second on Rumsfeld. (Rumsfeld’s micro expression is a little harder to detect, he’s waaaaay too good at what he does… which in turn means not so great for us!!)
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JustForFun February 7th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Although not politically oriented, in Men in Black after Tommy Lee Jones makes a condescending remark, Will Smith CLEARLY flips him the bird by rubbing his finger to his forehead.
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In the Rumsfeld video, we get an interesting look into a flashed emblematic gesture that correlates, at least in part, to speech and expression.
Upon receiving the question from the audience, Rumsfeld does indeed flash the bird; However, we could look deeper than this to see that he’s scratching his nose, which is generally a sign of disbelief in what the individual in question is saying; Followed by his response, which dodges the question entirely, and supported by averting eye contact with the individual asking the question, and we finish off nicely as Rumsfeld raises his chin to the individual, asserting his own implied superiority.
In short, his expressions and gestures are basically summed up by the middle finger he flashed to begin with.
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Wow that’s nuts. I wonder how many people I can spot this on now that I know to look for it.
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Heh easy one…middle finger
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Well, I think Obama is tallkin under the preasure of nowing that contry needs an union of forces to break these economic crysis and he is trying to end the tensions that were made on the presidency race. But he is feeling frustrated from the tone that McCain used against him due this race.
On the other hand Rumsfeld is finding this question like some idiot is judgeing him, and he is trying to avoid further dicoussion with him. But he also is feeling unsecure and smiling while giving the answer, wich I see as he has confident when saing the this words and he knows he made the right move.
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I LOVE THIS SHOW!! I find body language very intresting and this truly demonstrates that no matter how hard someone (even a politician) tries to hide their felings, they can’t, because the body NEVER lies!
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They weren’t microexpressions, just subconsious gestures. They unintentionally told us what they were really thinking.
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tea4tuna February 26th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Giving the middle finger is cultural. After watching the episode I “caught” my English boyfriend giving me the finger when he rubbed his cheek. He said the middle finger just isn’t an insult in England and he’s never done it in his life. So maybe we have to be careful who we charge with this crime…
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Sacha Kennedy February 27th, 2009 at 2:09 am
They both un intentionally stick the finger up while talking
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HAHAHAHHAHA. president obama’s ‘finger’ was hilarious! hahahahahha, i laughed sooo hard when it was on the episode!
ohh, how i love this show
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the old guy – looks down , gives the finger, a couple of blinks, tiny mirco expression of the chin thrusting forward.
Conspicuously not content with the question, knowing he cant give himself a good grade. The chin thrust was his arrogance.
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They should have anaylzed President Obama when they asked him if he supported terrorism, if he hated Israel, if he really loves Jihad and all the wacko garbage…but its too late…
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beninabox April 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 am
Enough of the middle finger nonsense! That’s cultural, not hard-wired. Since the middle finger is the longest, it’s the best one for scratching the face. And when I type the letter ‘k’, I’m not disrespecting my keyboard, not even subconsciously. It’s like guys who can’t shoot a basketball because they won’t let their wrists flex (since we all *know* a limp wrist is the sign of a sissy).
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Jessica April 8th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Well i see the middle finger as a sign of anger or just being crude for no reason at all. So i would assume they where “sub conciously” showing their anger toward who they where talking to or about.
Personaly it wouldnt surprise me if thats how obama felt anyways. I probably would have done the same thing if I was talking about him.
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I’m with beninabox. I think we get the most information from the other things in these short clips than from the gestures. I would want to see more video of these men doing this, to better judge if there is a correlation between an emotion and the gesture in each man.
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I can’t detect any microexpression, I only see emblematic slips, the middle finger is revealing anger.
This was a surprising discovery for Ekman when he was doing the experiment with nurses. -
They both scratch with their middle finger. DISGUST ANYONE!?
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giovanni July 15th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
i think when the middle finger touches the face or nose the person shows hostility against the person inderectly or the situation in which he is in
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if u pause it at 00:16 then u will see pres obama giving a angry or disturbed look on his face when talking about mc cain
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if u pause it at 00:16 then u will see pres obama giving a angry or disturbed look on his face
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[...] real-life illustrations of these telltale signs. For a jaw-dropping example, check out the clip of Obama [...]
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egor102 September 10th, 2009 at 1:42 am
they are both politicians thats all you need to know if they are lying lol
Kelly
Yousuf
Mike
Joseph
Morgan
zoe
Marae
Scott
TateJ
annie
Andy
Marion
Vince
ellis
Brian
vee
tina
john
Cassie
Urzu
Surge
Toni
Jayme
Reid
Angie
Bella
AM
Mark
ben
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