Is there really an importance to analyzing body language in political communication? In the following lines, we will dive into the world of body language to understand its nature and its significance, especially in the political arena.
Body language consists of gestures, signals, and movements that have a significant impact on the receiver. Historically, this form of communication was marginalized and regarded as inferior to verbal language. However, numerous scientific studies have pointed out that non-verbal cues such as gestures and signals hold a large percentage of influence in our daily communication. These cues rank as the most influential form of communication, followed by vocal tone and then the actual words used. The impact of non-verbal language surpasses that of verbal communication. Studies have found that only a small portion of human communication is conducted through words, with the majority occurring through physical gestures and signals.
Simply put, body language is a set of physical movements an individual uses to convey a message to others. These movements can involve the hands (gestures), facial expressions, or body posture. For example, the famous “victory” hand signal is instantly recognized as a symbol of triumph. Similarly, a clenched fist is often a sign of defiance, a gesture used by former U.S. President Donald Trump after an assassination attempt on July 13, 2024.
In this study, we explore the definition of body language, its importance, and its meanings, before shifting to an analysis of body language during the first televised debate of the U.S. presidential elections on September 26, 1960, between the young Senator John F. Kennedy and President Richard Nixon. We will then highlight the analysis of the debate held on June 27, 2024, between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden, a debate that caused a significant division within the Democratic Party. After the debate, many voices within the party called for a reconsideration of Biden’s candidacy for the upcoming U.S. presidential election on November 5, 2024.
Then, we turn our attention to the first U.S. presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and the presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is replacing Joe Biden. The debate took place in Philadelphia on September 10, 2024, where several body language signals from the presidential candidates were observed, each carrying significant meaning. These signals are analyzed in this article.
Political Implications of Body Language
In the past, studies focused on the body solely from a biological standpoint, without considering its social and political significance. However, the body has always held importance in classical political thought. For instance, in Aristotle’s “Politics,” the state is referred to as a “body politic.” Political thinkers have long recognized the significance of the body, and many sociologists and philosophers have also given it considerable attention. Some studies have explored the social dimensions of the body, such as Ted Polhemus’s questions in his book “The Social Dimensions of the Human Body.” He raises inquiries such as whether body expression is inherited or learned, and whether it is universal or changes according to culture. Topics like posture, bodily decoration, and body language have also been studied in this context.
Body language encompasses every movement of the body, from facial expressions to hand gestures and foot movements. It is a non-verbal communication tool that allows individuals to convey information without using words.
Through body language, a person can display a variety of positive and negative emotions. There may be gestures and signals that indicate acceptance or agreement, or disagreement, disapproval, hatred, or anger. Facial expressions can communicate happiness, sadness, surprise, frustration, or boredom.
The eyes play a significant role in conveying messages. For instance, happiness can be seen in slightly raised lower eyelids and wrinkles forming beneath them, as well as wrinkles at the outer corners of the eyes. Eye contact also has great meaning—there are looks of love, happiness, fear, hope, anxiety, relaxation, thoughtfulness, anger, sadness, fatigue, or distraction.
There are also several head gestures with specific meanings, such as lowering the head, tilting it to the right or left, and raising the chin, which is often associated with pride, overconfidence, or even arrogance.
A handshake can also reveal power dynamics between individuals. The position of the right hand during a handshake is particularly telling. If both palms are at the same level, it suggests an equal relationship between the two people. However, if one person’s palm is facing downward, it suggests an attempt to dominate, while an upward-facing palm indicates submission.
In the political realm, power dynamics are frequently revealed through body language. Non-verbal gestures of dominance include not smiling, raising one’s head high, and speaking with a loud voice. Submissive gestures, on the other hand, might include lowering one’s head or expressing anger while speaking in a deferential tone.
Another dominant gesture is pointing a finger at someone. Crossing one leg over the other while seated can also be a sign of superiority. Additionally, touching another person’s belongings, such as their bag or the chair they are sitting on, is a subtle way to assert control.
One of the most famous U.S. presidents known for his awareness of body language was Bill Clinton. He often extended his arms to indicate accessibility and his closeness to the public, creating the impression that he was easy to approach.
Politics as Performance
Some studies define politics as performative, suggesting that politics is inherently a form of performance, where performance itself becomes political. In this sense, the politician’s act is often compared to theatricality, where the image of the politician can overshadow the substance of their words.
Sociologist Erving Goffman, in his book “The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life,” explains that a person’s expression to convey an impression to others involves two types of signals. The first includes verbal symbols, which represent traditional, narrow communication. The second involves the concept of performative physical expression, which is a broader form of communication. His work focuses heavily on analyzing communication from the perspective of non-verbal body language. Face-to-face interaction differs from performance in that the latter centers around a main participant in the communicative event (the point of reference) in contrast to the audience, who are the observers. Goffman emphasizes that everyone plays a role in life, which ties closely to the concept of personality.
The focus on the spectacle means that the state becomes televised, and the body language of the political leader becomes crucial in influencing the masses through spectacle. American history is full of examples, such as the young President John F. Kennedy, who was among the first to recognize this in the early 1960s. From that point on, television became the primary medium that contributed to Kennedy’s early fame.
Various studies and analyses have attributed John F. Kennedy’s victory in the 1960 U.S. presidential election largely to his body language and strong television presence. He was likened to a movie star. On September 26, 1960, the first televised debate in American history took place between then-Vice President Richard Nixon and the young Massachusetts senator, John F. Kennedy. Some studies proved that the televised debate had a significant impact on public opinion. For instance, some voters who first listened to the debate on the radio favored Nixon and were convinced by his ideas, but when they watched the televised version, they changed their vote to Kennedy.
In this debate, Nixon’s body language can be analyzed by noting that he had an injured foot, which was apparent in his stance on stage, making him appear tired and weary, especially as he had just been released from the hospital before the debate. Nixon also wore makeup and was sweating during his speech, which some attributed to dishonesty, drawing surprise from viewers. Some felt that he seemed eager to leave early. He often leaned backward while standing on stage, which gave the impression that he wanted to withdraw and distance himself from the audience. In contrast, Kennedy refused to wear makeup and had just returned from a vacation before the debate, which made him appear youthful and energetic. It is reported that Kennedy had trained extensively to maintain eye contact with the camera before the debate. Post-debate polls favored Kennedy, with much of this attributed to his television image and body language. Most who watched the debate remembered Kennedy and Nixon’s appearances more than their political views or their discussions of issues like U.S.-Soviet relations.
The First Debate of the 2024 U.S. Election: Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden
In the first debate of the 2024 U.S. presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, Biden’s performance drew the most attention from voters and political analysts. Biden appeared frail and pale, walking very slowly onto the stage and speaking in a quiet, hesitant voice, with frequent pauses.
Following intense media and public criticism, Biden attributed his poor performance to exhaustion from traveling, despite reports that he had returned to the U.S. from his European trip two weeks before the debate. His fatigue caused him to close his eyes frequently during his speech, negatively affecting the viewers.
Biden and Trump did not exchange handshakes, a traditional gesture in American debates, emphasizing the deep animosity between them. Trump, known for his emphasis on handshakes in front of the media, often places his palm down during a handshake to assert dominance, sometimes even pulling the other person’s hand toward him, further signaling his desire for control.
During the debate, Trump exuded confidence through his body language, using hand gestures to persuade the audience of his views. He walked across the stage with more energy than Biden, in stark contrast to former presidents Barack Obama or John F. Kennedy, who always appeared youthful and energetic in debates. Obama, for instance, would often run up steps to appear lively and full of energy. Trump also carefully chose his attire, wearing a red tie and blue suit—the colors of the U.S. flag—leaving a positive impression on American voters. Trump also used facial expressions, such as raising his eyebrows during Biden’s speech, signaling suspicion and doubt, conveying his lack of confidence in his opponent and trying to show this to the audience.
Analyzing eye language, Biden’s gaze expressed exhaustion, physical weakness, and weariness, while Trump’s conveyed disdain and anger toward his opponent. Occasionally, Trump forced a smile, described as a deflective pseudo smile. He would also deliberately look upwards, a gesture suggesting overconfidence or pride, even bordering on arrogance.
After the debate, many Democratic members of Congress expressed their desire for Biden to withdraw from the election race, mainly due to his performance in the debate, which, in their view, demonstrated his unfitness for another term as president, reflecting his mental and physical capabilities. Ultimately, the decision rests with Biden and his family, as the party has already nominated him. Biden has since announced his intention to continue in the race, apologizing for his performance in the first debate. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that his performance will greatly impact the opinions of American voters, much like the first debate influenced the electorate in 1960.
Ignore and Assert Power: The Meanings Behind the Body Language of Trump and Kamala During the Presidential Debate
The world closely followed the first U.S. presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, held in Philadelphia. This debate featured several significant body language signals from both candidates
Harris’s Determination to Shake Trump’s Hand
Presidential candidate Kamala Harris was determined to shake the hand of her opponent, Donald Trump. Trump appeared hesitant, taking his place behind the podium, but Harris walked across the stage, extended her hand, and introduced herself.
This handshake was a clear signal that Harris was not afraid to face Trump, further emphasized by her confident smile.
Harris’s Neck Tension Revealed Her Nervousness
Harris showed signs of tension in her throat, as if she had difficulty swallowing, and her neck muscles appeared tight. This kind of tension indicated nervousness. In contrast, Trump seemed calmer and less tense at the start.
Trump Avoided Eye Contact with Harris
Trump never looked directly at Harris. When she spoke, he stared straight ahead, almost as if making eye contact with her would be a weakness. His refusal to acknowledge her could be interpreted as indifference, disrespect, or even fear. On the other hand, Harris maintained direct eye contact with Trump when he spoke. Even when he avoided looking at her, she pointed at him while speaking, showing she was not afraid to engage directly with him.
Harris’s Chin Signaled Disbelief
When Trump accused Harris of being “Marxist” like her father, she looked at him with her hand resting on her chin, an expression of complete disbelief, as if silently saying, “I can’t even believe what you’re saying.”
Trump’s Discomfort
Trump often displayed strange behavior when hearing something he didn’t like. He would press his lips forward as if to kiss, a gesture typically associated with displeasure or disagreement, a behavior he exhibited frequently.
Harris Laughed at Trump
When Trump, without any evidence, claimed that immigrants were eating pets, Harris openly laughed at him, starkly contrasting his serious tone. This use of emotional contrast undermined Trump’s argument. This technique, often used in courtrooms when lawyers employ humor to diminish a serious accusation, may have been something Harris learned during her career as a prosecutor.
Trump’s “Joker” Face
When Harris criticized Trump for his actions on January 6, he responded with an exaggerated, tight-lipped smile, raising his eyebrows in a manner reminiscent of the Joker. This was meant as a dismissive gesture, filled with sarcasm or disdain. In contrast to a genuine smile, known as a Duchenne smile, where the eyes naturally wrinkle and the major zygomatic muscle pulls the corners of the mouth into an easy smile, Trump’s tightly held lips betrayed the inauthenticity of his expression. It’s a behavior he has displayed in previous debates, and it remains unique to him.
Body Language Triumphed Over Words
The first debate in the 2024 U.S. presidential race differed from previous debates. For the first time, the candidates focused more on criticizing each other than presenting a vision for American policy in the coming phase. As a result, both Biden and Trump faced criticism from the American public. The debate is typically an opportunity for candidates to convince voters that they are the better choice, presenting their ideas and views in the best possible way, but this did not happen in this debate.
Undoubtedly, body language overshadowed spoken language in this debate. Many overlook the importance of body language in political communication, considering it insignificant, but such debates highlight its critical role. There is no doubt that we now live in an era of visual imagery, where political marketing through media—whether television, known as the “cool medium,” or social media—plays an immense role, unlike older mass media like radio, once known as the “tribal drums,” where we could hear but not see. Television undoubtedly differs from cinema and other social media platforms in its impact on the public due to the distinct nature of each mass communication medium.
References
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