Patti on HLN Monday, Oct.1st - Weighing in on Arnold Schwarzenegger's Body Language

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1: SOT IN SETUP TO BRING YOU IN
Stalh: I've spent time with you, and you are so much fun and youhave enormous charm. And I have to keep reminding myself about this chapter ofyour life. I do, I have to keep saying, "Wow, he did something that speaksto character." (Arnold just stares at her and doesn’t answer thequestion.)
He is very conflicted. He actually has his eyes tight and focusedin an attack glare and has his mouth in what he thinks is a neutral smile, butis actually an asymmetrical sneer. This means he would like to attack her forsaying he has done something that mars his character, “I am mad but I am tryingto keep that in and smile.”  But after the long frozen expression andsilence he finally nods his head yes and agrees with the statement.
She follows by asking, “Do you have to remind yourself or is italways there.”
We see his most difficult coming to grips with the question. Hedoes a tongue flick, his mouth is dry with stress and he has to moisten it. Hishead comes back slightly. His eyes don’t just shutter close with the badfeelings he pulls his eyes shut so there are visible wrinkles at the cornersand his mouth tightens back and you can see on freeze frame his suppressedcry of anguish. As he comes out of it he tries to pull himself together andhe says, ““It’s always there.”
Only affair 11:14 or so 
2: SOT ABOUT MARIA AND THE AFFAIRS
You write that Maria did ask you before theconfrontation with the marriage counselor “Is that your child?" He is nodding his head yes.  So you lied to her. >>Schwarzenegger: “youcan say that.” He has the composed smile that heholds as if for a photograph. Then he uses a tongue eraser to erase what hejust said, He feels he shouldn’t have made that admission.
 Stahl: was that the only affair? >> Schwarzenegger:“no, I had others. But, I mean... But, you know, it's something that'sobviously between Maria and me.” >> Stahl: she knew? >> Schwarzenegger:“yea.” >> Stahl: so it's a recurring issue with you. >> Schwarzenegger:”I’mnot perfect.”
To the questions, “So, It is a recurring issue with you?” His eyes narrow down into attack focus and he gives that tight lipped smirk hismouth pulling up on his left and he says, “I am not perfect. “ In a very softvoice as his chin comes down.  I have analyzed his body language for manyyears. His chin usually comes up defiantly in his answers to the media so herewe see his version of an admission that he was bad.
3: SOT ABOUT MISTRESS
8:32 How does money start showing up? >> Schwarzenegger: “I gaveit to her and she knew what it was about.” >> Stahl: did you think that,if you gave her money, that she wouldn't talk, like hush money? >> Schwarzenegger:“I don't think that Mildred was at all into talking. He is honest here. Hedidn’t think Mildred would talk.
19:52:54 you write... Is my child 19:53:17
You write, "I wanted Mildred to continue working in our homebecause I thought I could control the situation better that way." and Iread that to mean that, if she was in the house, you could make sure shewouldn't tell anybody. >> Schwarzenegger: “no” He does an eyeshutter here. . It was more that it would be the wrong thing to do to letthem go and not make her feel like she's being punished when I find out thatthis is my child.
What is very interesting is his response to her asking him sheremained the house keeper was that strange.  He does a lip suppression cueagain focusing to control himself here.  Interesting that then he changesusing a light almost playful voice and partial smile as he talks about thebizarreness of the situation. It reads to me as if he enjoyed the bizarrenessof the situation.  He at some level is enjoying being “cornered by her inthe interview into revealing the bizarreness of it.
4: SOT ABOUT TELLING MARIA HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR THEDAY BEFORE ANNOUNCING IT PUBLICLY
You had no idea that this was something she would not want to getback into? >> Schwarzenegger: “no”. As a matter of fact, I was thinkingthat she would say, "Wow that is amazing. Welcome to the club. Wefinally convinced you to be a public servant, just like my entire family."none of that. He seems inauthentic. Hisanswer seems pat.  He does something I call edit emotional event. This is something self-focused people do when their behavior is not metwith the reaction they want.  Here Iwould expect him to describe her emotion. Instead he pauses to edit out herreaction and instead says, none of that.  So, all of a sudden, it cameto a grinding halt and I had to now deal with the drama.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.