Body Language and U. S. Presidential Elections

J. J. TecceBoston College

Social Science Librarians Boot Camp

Tufts UniversityJune 1, 2012

tecce@bc.edu

PPT Slides

Elections Report

Outline•I. Body Language: Unspoken Communication

• A. What is body language?

• B. Why do we need body language?

•II. Functions of Body Language

• A. Indicator of thoughts and feelings

• B. Social Cue

•III. Eye Movements

• A. Eyeblinks

• B. Gaze aversion

•IV. U. S. Presidential Elections

•V. Demonstration DVD

•VI. Summary and Conclusions 

Body LanguageCommunication

without words

Two Functions ofBody Language

Indicator

Social Cue 

Words are not enough in communication.

Words can be weak and need enrichment.

Words can be misleading (lying) and need correction.

BODY INDICATORSposture

self-touching

body movements

smiles

eye movements

Extremes in body language are red flags.

Body Language of

Eye Movements

A little philosophy

When the eyes say one thing and the tongue another, the practiced person relies on the language of the first.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

1803-1882

A little science

Negative Hedonia and Increased Blink Rate

Variables Examples

Stress Probing interview, failure,

discussion of illness, embarrassment, listening

to a tragic story, noise

Effort Induced muscle tension

Fatigue Time on task, tryptophan

Pain Electric shock

Positive Hedonia and Decreased Blink Rate

Variables Examples

Relaxation Post-hypnosis, self-initiated thoughts,

daydreaming, meditative trance

Pleasure Methadone

Contentment Discussion of positive feelings

(towards spouse)

Achievement Feeling of achievement in learning

Summary of Research: Blink Rate and Hedonia

Variable Blink Rate

Negative Hedonia Increase

Positive Hedonia Decrease

Blink-Hedonia Hypothesis

Eyeblink frequency is increased by unpleasant feelings and is decreased by pleasant feelings.

Eye Movements

Indicators of stress

Eye Movements

Eyeblinks

Gaze avoidance

Blink Rates and Stress LevelsWhile Talking on Camera

Stress Level Rate (bpm)Low 10 - 30

Moderate 31 - 50High 51 - 70Very High 71 - 100

Blink RatesU.S. Presidential Election

2008

Blink Rate

McCain 104 Obama 62

Number of BlinksU.S. Presidential Election

2008

Blinks

McCain 10,037 Obama 6,244

Video 1

Barack Obama

John McCain

Mitt Romney

U. S. Presidential Candidates 2008

Blink Rate

McCain 140 Obama 60Romney 16

Blink Frequency and U. S. Presidential Elections

Year Faster Blinker Loser

1960 Nixon Nixon1980 Carter Carter1984 Mondale Mondale1988 Dukakis Dukakis1992 Bush Bush1996 Dole Dole 2000 Bush Gore2004 Kerry Kerry2008 McCain McCain

Conclusion

Blink frequency is an accurate predictor of U. S. Presidential

election outcomes.

Social Cue Hypothesis

In social situations, blinking can influence how one person views the

other.

Gaze Aversion

LIARClemens 18Obama 16

(1,630)

Video 2

Roger Clemens

Conclusions1. Blink frequency is increased by negative hedonic

states and is decreased by positive hedonic states.

2. The blink-hedonia hypothesis best explains research findings on blinking and psychological functions.

Q & A

Eyeblink Rates and Levels of StressJ. J. Tecce

February 5, 1996

Talking On Camera Stress Level Blink Rate*

 

No No Low 15 - 20

 

Yes No Low-Moderate 21 - 30

 

Yes Yes Moderate-High 31 - 50

Yes Yes High 51 - 70

Yes Yes Very High71 – 140

* Numerical values represent blinks per minute. According to the hedonia hypothesis, higher blink rates reflect negative feelings, such as those that occur during greater mental effort (as in talking) or during stress (as in talking to

a large audience, being on camera, or being asked an anxiety-producing question)

(Tecce, 1992, McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology).

Body Language

ActiveInactive

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Yes

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