My Thoughts: Body Language of the Ministers

When I watch David Cameron speak in the first eight minutes, the body language between the two men is absolutely friendly and open. Both men turn their torso and shoulders towards the other, which suggests openness. They face each other at times, too.

David Cameron’s firm hand is a sign of his seriousness as he speaks. It signifies a tension, I believe, that he wants to get his message across with conviction. You see this further when Cameron makes a fist as he talks to emphasize what he is saying. Clegg also does similar gestures.

Other times, Cameron’s body actually moves slightly up and forward as if he has lifted the heels off the ground. It’s further evidence of the conviction of his statement here.

Nick Clegg listens intently to what Cameron says at 1:42 and when he lifts his head up and back, he is thinking about what Cameron has said. Both look directly at the other one speaking and at times acknowledge what the other has said.

Clegg’s voice has more tension to it than Cameron. Cameron is more flowing, and a better speaker, if you ask me. Clegg brings his emotions into his message, and it gives his speech a tone to it than Cameron didn’t have, but it also shows the seriousness of getting his message across. By his tone, I would speculate that he is more emotionally invested at this point.

Overall, as they spoke, their body language, in my opinion, was supportive of what they were saying and did not conflict their statements or show a dislike for the other person.

Body language is so different than deception detection, yet the two are tightly woven. You really need to have a firm understand of the first to understand the latter, but body language is very fluid. It changes minute by minute, whereas deception, once it occurs, get set in stone and becomes rock solid until a confession is made. Body language, however, may say one thing now and can contradict itself minutes, hours or days later. It can only be counted on for the time it is expressed. It cannot convey long term outcomes or beliefs, as they are subject to change continually.

I stopped my review at 8:00 minutes. If anyone has any interesting segments they saw after that and would like my opinion, please post it below.