US President Donald Trump has a notoriously weird handshake.
It's practically a meme now. It's well-established that Trump often tends to pull recipients in close, throw in a couple of pats here and there, and take his time finishing up the handshake.
So, what's going on with this handshake technique? Is it just a lifelong habit or is it a conscious effort to signal power?
Business Insider asked body language expert Patti Wood to take a look at six recent Trump handshakes. She broke down the potential meaning behind each one:
SEE ALSO: Management experts break down Trump's leadership style during his first 100 days as president
Barack Obama, Former President of the United States
Wood says that the Nov. 10 handshake between Trump and Obama conveyed tension. She says that both parties seemed to adopt defensive postures while shaking hands.
"This shows deep lack of trust for each other," she said in an email. "As they shake hands, Trump pulls Obama in toward him, to show he is going to be the one in charge. If you look at their facial expressions as they shake hands, you will see both men have their lips tightly pressed together. And their chins are pulled up and wrinkled with distaste."
Youtube Embed:http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZVpKI_9MDeg
Width: 800px
Height: 450px
Neil Gorsuch, US Supreme Court nominee
Wood says that Trudeau made an effort to look powerful when he encountered Trump during their Feb. 14 meting.
"Notice how he takes his non-shaking hand and grasps the outside of Trump's left shoulder," she said in an email. "He gives the faint appearance of power, but a real power move would have been to place his non-shaking palm on the shoulder of Trump and press down, or at least go higher on the arm. In this move his hand is too low and he gives more of a squeeze that shows more affection than power."
Youtube Embed:http://www.youtube.com/embed/hwttrGDyVDs
Width: 800px
Height: 450px
Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan
When Trump and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe sat down in the Oval Office on Feb. 10, things got kind of weird. Their handshake lasted nearly 20 seconds, and prompted Abe to look away with a surprised or bemused expression.
Wood says that Trump initially put himself in a subordinate and open position by offering his hand to Abe with his palm up, only to turn the tables and pull the prime minister in closer.
"Trump likes to break expectations, and you can see that he did by Abe's response," she said in an email.
Youtube Embed:http://www.youtube.com/embed/GWbP8eC-SIw
Width: 800px
Height: 450px
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
March 29, 2017 at 11:02PM
http://ift.tt/2o8kvil
from Áine Cain
http://ift.tt/2o8kvil
No comments:
Post a Comment