Body Launguage- what does it tell you?

Question

"Body Tells

Fidgeting and awkward hand movements are also thought to be signs of deceit - the assumption being that when people are lying they become agitated and this gives rise to nervous movements of the hands. There is a class of gestures called "adaptors" which consists of actions like stroking one's hair, scratching one's head or rubbing the hands together. When people tell lies they sometimes feel guilty or worried about being found out, and these concerns can cause them to produce adaptors. This tends to happen when the stakes are high or when the liar isn't very good at deception."

Stroking the hair etc? Now watch this..
http://videos.sapo.pt/tO4KDFd97f4wrB8fNCdY
Mmmm....Liar Liar pants on Fire, Gerry!!

dolly, yep, i remember that. Will try to find the link, thanks.

dave, lol, no, I just use babelfish translation...or anything I see on other forums, I copy, if I think its interesting.

This person DOES speak it though, and posted this- "I sought to weigh up the ‘local feeling’ right from the start and by showing a genuinely impartial approach I have been able to converse with officers in most Portuguese cities from Porto to Portimão. Even with the PJ in Lisbon.
Usually, the officer who answered would put me through to a higher ranking officer with whom I have been able to converse. The fact that I was able to discuss the situation in their own language has helped a lot because they rarely come across people who take an real interest in their country and can speak Portuguese fluently.
I am not suggesting for a minute that anybody has ever revealed any ‘confidential’ information to me but, as I say, I have been able to get a ‘feel’ and if they became very incensed about this whole situation I wouldn’t like to tell you what they would come out with.
What I have said so far is based con such conversations not only with police officers but also with hoteliers and ot

and when he asked them (the PJ) if the McCanns would be charged with abandonment, they replied " As an officer said to me during an informal conversation in Portuguese some weeks ago:
For child abandonment alone? That would be far too easy.
An then, referring to their typical sandwiches, he added: We don’t just want the bread.
WE WANT THE HAM AS WELL"

In this clip, from ABC news, its not the body language that struck me, but the fact that twice, when Kate was talking, Gerry seemed to jump in there and take over? Its almost as if he was worried what she was going to say next?
http://www.abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=3312008&

Answer 1

I must point out that Kinesic study (body language) is as individual to each subject as their fingerprint, one cannot generalise or assume that because a subject scratches their head that they are being deceptive.

Basically a Kinesic interviewer has first to determine what is called a 'baseline' (q's asked when known truthful answers are given ie: reaction to questions, name, date of birth, hair colour etc., the interviewer can then (after years of training) by using these 'baseline' factors, determine whether a subject is being deceptive in further answers.

Study of Kinesics:

The principles of basic kinesics, including how to determine behaviour from speech and body language, illustrates how behaviour is often exhibited in written statements. In any Kinesic interview/interrogation, these behavioural attributes are shown to indicate the "psychological fingerprint" of a particular person, which then can be combined with diagnoses of verbal and non-verbal behaviour to develop an interview/interrogation that is specifically profiled for a particular subject.

In the analysis phase, behaviours are observed and decoded to determine the subject's truthful and deceptive behaviours, and oral and/or written statements are taken and assessed.

The art of interview and interrogation is a skill that must be learned, practiced, and honed.

(but you're not going to listen to me are you ?)

Answer 2

I was thinking this the other night when O'reilly had a body language expert on his show. I would like to see what a proffesional body language expert has to say about this case. I have seen 2 different ones talk about the body language of the guy that had TB that came back into the US and they both pretty much said the same thing. It is interesting to here their intake on it and would love to hear what they think of the McCanns. There is definately something to say about their body language but I will be honest...The way the act is not what has made me suspicious of them. Alot of good actors out there ya know. For me its the inconsistencies in the story, the pact, all the very important people in their midst and the fact that statisics are that the family would more likely have something to do with.

Answer 3

It tells me Gerry is hiding something, without any shadow of a doubt.

You might remember in one of my previous postings I mentioned his give-away body language when the German journalist popped the question about people thinking the parents were involved. Gerry answered that it was the first time he'd heard that, they couldn't possibly be because they were with a large group of people, etc. The second he stopped talking he closed his eyes and looked down - a classic sign that he was hiding something.

Your clip bb2002 shows more classic "I'm hiding something" body language as you point out. I feel pretty sure this won't be lost on the Portuguese police.

Incidentally I've not seen any suspicious body language from Kate. The only thing I've noticed she does is when she's allowed to speak, she often takes a split-second glance at Gerry once she finishes. That is an unconscious sign that she is looking for approval and strongly suggests that she is under Gerry's control. That would certainly fit in with Gerry's apparent domineering and boorish personality.

Answer 4

body language is pertinant to understanding how a person is feeling and how the situation they are in is affecting them, what you must remember however is that this is a man that is under extreme amounts of pressure-he is on tv for a starter-can anyone here say with their hand on their heart that they wouldnt sweat, feel anxious and show signs of nervousness knowing that thousands, perhaps millions of people would be watching you-and your every move as it seems when observing the amount of scrutiny he has been put under on here just for scratching his head twice!?! There is no proof here that he is acting like a guilty person

Answer 5

yes, i read an article similar to this. it was during a press conference with the media kate and gerry were both present a questioned t the effect of 'if the mcccann's think of madeleine'? and kate replied 'she knows we love her' but kate then placed cuddle cat on the table between herself and the reporter and and expert commented on this saying this is a sign of being untruthful and the gesture of cuddle cat is one of creating a barrier between herself and the reporter, kinda like creating a comfort zone.....this was pointed out and i thought hmmmmm!

Answer 6

I think it would be extremely interesting to see the body language of the friends in the pact of silence about the night Madeleine went 'missing'. They would not be so schooled as Gerry. I cannot believe that one of those nine (was it nine of them) has not cracked yet. How about putting the pressure on them, there has got to be a weak link with one of them. It just needs one to have a conscience and regret the pact, we are talking about the life of a child!

Answer 7

sorry bb cant do links dont know how but the video where they were asked by the reporter did they have something to do with her abduction, kate grabs gerrys hand and keeps rubbing it until he finishes answering then she stops when he stops talking

edit do you have to install babelfish on your computer bb

Answer 8

body language can be picked up unconciously , that is why so many people suspect the mc canns are hiding the truth and not being totally honest

what they are doing is picking up on the body language and their gestures without realising it . the words dont really matter as only 20% of communication is about what is being said

i am gobsmacked that he shows no emotions whatsoever when he speaks of his daughter , not even a raised voice .
this man is too concious of his tone and voice to think about his body language he has leakage its creepy what do the experts think about it or are they gagged along with the jouranalists

Answer 9

They know something alright, unfortunately with the backing of our government, they will not be called to account -- unless the Portuguese have them banged to rights and everything sewn up good & tight. OH How i hope they will be brought to book.

Answer 10

I'm as sceptical as most on here when it comes to Gerry McCann but come on - he scratches his head twice. Hardly a hanging offence is it?

Better luck next time!