Thread by @DrGJackBrown

THREAD: Body Language Analysis No. 4238: OJ Simpson - The Lost Confession (Continued - Part II) • Nonverbal and Emotional Intelligence • • #OJSimpson #bodylanguage #LostConfession #EmotionalIntelligence #EQ #Nonverbal #Murder

1/ This is the second analysis of OJ Simpson from the recently aired The Lost Confession. The interview was conducted in 2006. What follows is another analysis of a few key moments of this exchange.

2/ JUDITH REGAN (beginning at 46:52): "You park in the alley - "

OJ SIMPSON: "Yeah"

JUDITH REGAN: "And - you put on - a wool cap and gloves - "

OJ SIMPSON: "Ahhh - in the hypothetical, I put on a cap and gloves - yeah"

3/ JUDITH REGAN: "Right. And, ahum - you reached under the seat for - "

OJ SIMPSON: "Ahhh - a knife. I always kept a knife in that car for the crazies and stuff - 'cause you can't travel with a gun ..."

4/ As he says, "... hypothetical, I put on a cap and gloves ...", Simpson first smiles (47:01) - sincerely but partially suppressed -

5/ And then very briefly laughs (47:02)

6/ Then, during 47:04, we see Simpson display another sincere smile. Note that teeth do NOT have to be exposed in order for a smile to be sincere (but when teeth ARE showing, the vast majority of times, it should only be the upper teeth ...

7/ ...[exceptions include when there is a crescendoing to - or decrescendoing from sincere laughter, a downward tilted head/neck, and/or an elevated camera/viewing angle]).

8/ The other components of a Sincere Smile (aka Duchenne Smile) - and all displayed here are:

• Relaxed (noncontracted) Forehead Muscles
• Partially closed eyelids
• Concave-up, dynamic furrows in the lower eyelids

continued ...

9/ ... Components of a Sincere Smile (continued):

• Contracted Cheek Muscles (Zygomaticus major)
• Upward-Vectored mouth corners

10/ Two components which are not required for a sincere smile, but are often simultaneous - and are also displayed here include:

• Dimples: The majority of times, those individuals who form dimples will do so during sincere smiles - but this is not always the case.

and ...

11/ • Blushing: Although not required for a sincere smile, when blushing occurs in the presence of a smile, the smile is ALWAYS a Sincere one - and here it betrays Simpson's Embarrassment, Deception, and Guilt.

12/ During 47:05, Simpson then displays an evanescent but crucial expression - a Forward Lip Purse (not to be confused with a Lateral Lip Purse). Because this is so brief, it's also classified as a Microexpression.

13/ A Forward Lip Purse is one profoundly important nonverbal example of Hesitancy to Disclose - more specifically, it signals a Clandestine Disagreement and/or a Clandestine Plan.

Notice too, that Simpson is still suppressing his smile - while continuing his blushing.

14/ Moreover, OJ Simpson also blinks frequently during 47:04 - 47:06. Blinking more frequently (above a person's baseline rate) is a non-specific signal of Anxiety.

15/ During 47:06, we see another brief nonverbal display - this time of Anger (although here, it's not short-lived enough to be classified as a Microexpression) - as Simpson's eyebrows are lowered and also drawn together.

16/ During 47:07, Simpson then contracts his lips (more so his lower lip) over his teeth in a classic Tight-Lipped Display.

17/ This is another nonverbal signal of a Hesitancy to Disclose. The term "Tight-Lipped" is an idiom which is believed to have been coined by one of the most astute observers of human nature in history - William Shakespeare.

18/ Duping Delight (Ekman) is a term used to describe one form of a Suppressed Smile - when the Smile is Out of Context - and during the perpetration of a lie.

19/ It signals the emotional dissonance of a person who's experiencing true joy-happiness in the belief that they perpetrating a lie - but not getting caught - and yet the simultaneous desire to not smile too much (lest they disclose their deception).

20/ At times OJ Simpson seemed not to care about smiling and laughing out-of-context. At other times he tried (unsuccessfully) to suppress his smile.

21/ Summary: This brief nonverbal cluster of OJ Simpson shows him displaying various degrees of sincere smiling - and blushing - yet highly out of context.

22/ In addition, Simpson displays several signals indicating his hesitancy to disclose information. In this setting, such behavior is highly correlated with deception.

23/ Chillingly, Simpson is taking pleasure in an action which few other people would find joyful - attempting to hide and/or believing he is hiding his guilt in the murder of two people - Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

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