PROFILING FOR THE POLITICAL OBSERVER

PROFILING FOR THE POLITICAL OBSERVER

     During my career, I had the opportunity to learn some techniques to interpret (read) the meaning of various forms of body language displayed by persons being interviewed - profiling if you will - but certainly not to the same extent as one might see on such television programs as "Criminal Minds." There are subtleties in ones facial expressions, eye movements, stance, that can be used to understand a suspect's or witness's state of mind and whether they are being open, honest, or closed, dishonest, obstructing.

     One of the prime gestures one might look for is the classic crossed arms. Simply put, the arms crossed at the chest is considered by psychologists as universal and interpreted with the same defensive or negative meaning - displayed by persons who feel uncertain, insecure, and yes...who are lying. Both arms, folded together across the chest is an attempt to place a barrier between that person and someone or something(s) they don't like for example the free press. Hiding behind a barrier from something we don't like is a response we learn from childhood as a protection; for example, hiding behind a chair, a table, or mother's skirt. As one grows older however, this behavior becomes less acceptable and one may adopt the technique of folding one's arms tightly across their chest whenever a threatening situation arises. One is thus creating a conscious or unconscious barrier to block out what one perceives as a threat or an undesirable circumstance.

     The higher primates also display this behavior to protect themselves from an attack from the front. One thing is certain however, and that is when a person is nervous, has a negative or defensive attitude, they will habitually tend to fold their arms in front of their chest, showing that they indeed feel threatened.