Those who have long been loyal royal watchers will remember the photos…<\/p>\n
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Gone was the seemingly innocent, inner joy.\u00a0 The smile had faded.\u00a0 So had the warm glances in her one time prince\u2019s direction.\u00a0 As her public appearances increasingly lacked her infectious smile and persona, Princess Diana\u2019s body language began to communicate what she couldn\u2019t \u2014 wouldn\u2019t \u2014 or perhaps didn\u2019t want to verbally articulate.\u00a0 Her nonverbal behavior conveyed something deeper… something more.\u00a0 It began to tell us that royal as it was, her marriage was in trouble.\u00a0 What Diana didn\u2019t say told us more than what she actually did.<\/p>\n
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Nonverbal behavior is perhaps in some sense, a language all its own.\u00a0 It is at times deeper and at times different than anything spoken.\u00a0 It is at times more powerful and poignant.\u00a0 Perhaps it\u2019s why a picture is worth a thousand words.\u00a0 Nonverbal behavior is a picture that either confirms or contradicts our message.<\/p>\n
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Such as…<\/p>\n
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When JFK, Jr. saluted his father as the coffin passed by him.\u00a0 Then only 3, John John stepped forward, raising his arm, staring intently.<\/p>\n
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What did his nonverbal behavior convey?<\/p>\n
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An honor and love for his dad.<\/p>\n
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Or when…<\/p>\n
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Since December of 1993 \u2014 when LeRoy Butler, who scored after a Reggie White fumble recovery and lateral against the then L.A. Raiders \u2014 and later popularized by receiver, Robert Brooks \u2014 many Green Bay Packers jump into the end zone stands after scoring a touchdown.\u00a0 The move is affectionately referred to as the \u201cLambeau Leap.\u201d<\/p>\n
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What does this nonverbal behavior convey?<\/p>\n
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A joy and celebration of the points scored.<\/p>\n
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Or when…<\/p>\n
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The tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square in June of 1989.\u00a0 As Chinese protestors were being forcibly removed by the Communist government, an anonymous man positioned himself in the middle of the street as the tanks approached.\u00a0 He stood still directly in the armored vehicles\u2019 path, waving at the tanks with 2 shopping bags.<\/p>\n
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What did his nonverbal behavior convey?<\/p>\n
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A courage and coming in peace.<\/p>\n
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Last week at the vice-presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky, much post-debate commentary on both the news networks and social media centered not around substance \u2014 which both candidates significantly offered \u2014 but instead on the nonverbal behavior of the current vice president.<\/p>\n
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Granted, for some reason, the U.S. continues to elect vice-presidents who have some extremely prominent quirk (regardless of party affiliation)<\/em> that makes many question the leader\u2019s actual credibility.\u00a0 For yes, on this night, VP Joe Biden laughed heartily, repeatedly, and consistently when Rep. Paul Ryan was speaking.\u00a0 It was odd.\u00a0 The most unusual aspect from the Intramuralist\u2019s perspective was that Biden laughed out loud and smiled hugely even when the subject was as sobering as people out of work or Iran building a nuclear bomb.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What did his nonverbal behavior convey?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What couldn’t he, wouldn’t he, or didn’t he want to verbally articulate? \u00a0Was his nonverbal communication more powerful and poignant?\u00a0 Did it confirm or contradict his message? \u00a0And I wonder if what Joe Biden didn\u2019t say tells us more than what he actually did.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Great questions. \u00a0I can’t tell.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n Those who have long been loyal royal watchers will remember the photos… Gone was the seemingly innocent, inner joy.\u00a0 The smile had faded.\u00a0 So had the warm glances in her one time prince\u2019s direction.\u00a0 As her public appearances increasingly lacked her infectious smile and persona, Princess Diana\u2019s body language began to communicate what she … <\/p>\n