Body talk

Body talk: An expert gives his take on the body language of some local notables

By Jack Broom
Seattle Times staff reporter

If he had consulted author Allan Pease first, President Bush never would have grabbed the shoulders of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"The Germans are one of the most non-touching peoples on earth. You don't invade their personal space," said Pease. "Supposedly it was a sign of endearment, but her body language says, 'What the hell was that?' "

Not all physical messages are as obvious.

Pease, a globe-trotting Australian who published his first book on body language in 1984, is out with a 14th volume, "The Definitive Book of Body Language" (Bantam Books, $23), co-authored by his wife, Barbara. The couple, who split their time between Australia and London, have sold more than 21 million copies of their books.

We caught up with Pease via phone and e-mail at the couple's down-under home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast and asked him what insights he could glean from these photos of Northwest notables.

Here's what Pease sees:

If ankles could speak

Mirror, mirror: We've got "mirroring" — and a lot more — in this shot of Gov. Christine Gregoire visiting with Chinese president Hu Jintao in Seattle last year.

Mutual respect: "Mutual positions generally mean people have mutual respect for each other." They're both upright and attentive. Gregoire looks straight at Hu, more common in Western cultures than Asian ones.

Dental visit? Hu, leaning on the chair arm, feet apart, appears relaxed, while the governor shows some tension. "Ninety-six percent of people who hit the dental chair to get drilling work done cross their ankles." Her smile is tight and she's leaning away from her guest.

Let's hope he doesn't. "She's trying to show politeness and enjoyment, but she's in fact holding back her emotions. There's a nervous anticipation, even a bit of awe, which I suppose fits. He's the leader of China; he could blow us all up if he wanted to."

Where's the beard?

Just like old times: "What he's doing there is the ancient beard gesture." We see Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates speaking at a consumer-electronics show in Las Vegas in January. "In ancestral times, men would sit around the fireplace stroking their beards when contemplating the solution to a problem."

Checking the hard drive. "Brain scans show when people do that they are going through data banks thinking about what they're going to say or how they're going to respond. He's probably evaluating what he is about to say." Pease has seen the same pose in numerous photos of Gates.

In his element. "He's definitely in control and feeling comfortable, because he's leaning in."

Mixed messages

Trust me, but: The hands and face of Seattle School Superintendent Raj Manhas are sending contradictory signals, says Pease, examining this photo of Manhas with a parent who successfully opposed the closure of an elementary school.

Open-handed. "Holding the palms out is a very old gesture also used by monkeys and chimpanzees. It shows they've got nothing in their hands or concealed under their arms. If you talk with an audience with your palms in an upward position, they not only remember up to 40 percent more of what you've said, but they like you."

Planning an attack? But the superintendent's smile, with no lower teeth visible, looks strained, and his eyes appear narrowed. "Large mammals narrow their eyes before they attack."

The net effect: "While both of these people appear to be friendly, he's forcing the fact that he's really a good guy: 'You can trust me. I'm your friend.' But his face is saying, 'I wish I was elsewhere, lady.' "

It's about this wide

Sizing it up: "This guy is what we call a 'framer' or a 'measurer.' As he talks, he's showing you the size and shape of things." In the photo, King County Executive Ron Sims is speaking to fellow Democrats during his re-election campaign last year.

Surrendering power. Intentionally or not, Sims is avoiding an "authority" pose, in which a speaker keeps his fingers together and below chin level. By raising his hands and spreading his fingers, Pease says, Sims sends a less formal message.

The bottom line: "If he's trying to show that he's got authority it would be a bad thing, but if he's trying to explain something to the group and show he's not trying to dominate them, that could be a good thing."

Connecting with a child

The right stuff. "This is a good shot, showing a lot of positives." We see philanthropist Karen Moyer, of the Moyer Foundation, helping 5-year-old Emileah Hawkins paint at the Hutch School for young cancer patients and family members.

On the level. "She's got herself on the same level as the child, even a little lower, and that's key. The farther above a person you are the more power or dominance you're expressing over them."

The eyes have it: Moyer's pupils are dilated, an involuntary response indicating a sincere interest in the child. "And we tilt our head toward people we find interesting or we like."

Plus ... "There's no forcedness in her face. Her smile is open and genuine; you can see her teeth. She's definitely comfortable. She looks like a bit of a dish, too."

Grabbing the big boss

One-sided embrace? No wonder Mike Holmgren is ecstatic. He had just coached the Seattle Seahawks to their first playoff victory since 1984 when this photo was taken in January. Holmgren "is obviously having a good time, giving the guy [team owner Paul Allen] a cuddle, not a hug. A cuddle is what you give to kids. It's very parental."

Not everyone's so comfortable. Allen appears to want to share the joy, but not the embrace. "Look at his eyes, he's in a little bit of shock there, and his smile is what we call a 'fear face,' " with the lower corners of the mouth pulled down. "There doesn't appear to be any reciprocation."

Final score: "So the football guy is having a genuine good old cuddle and Paul Allen is trying to respond as though it's OK, but his body is really saying, 'I wish you wouldn't do that.' "