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Gamblers Take Note
From McCain’s smile to Obama’s hands, our team of psychiatrists on what the candidates were really saying. By Drs. Stephen Josephson and James Pennebaker.
Dr. Josephson's diagnosis:
Hand motions:
- McCain: “McCain is over and over again doing this karate chop thing on the table—it’s aggression 101. He does a lot of frowning, sneering, a little fist action, some pointing.”
- Obama: “Generally when you have the open arms or upward and outward arm motions, it speaks to openness, positive, approachable.”
On teeth:
- Showing teeth contributed to McCain’s seeming aggression. McCain's fake smiles and sneers could predict what kind of person he is. (There are are books of people smiling, and the ones that have genuine smiles will end up married and happy 25 years later, and that the ones who are sneering end up divorced and miserable.)
McCain’s schnoz:
- “McCain did touch his nose a couple times, which it could be an itchy nose or it could be what they call a tell—a touch of deception...If you were a gambler you’d take note of it for sure.”
On the moderator:
- “Schieffer is good and very planted in his questions. And he nailed them and they’re both pretty comfortable and adroit at avoiding any embarrassment whatsoever. They’re master spin doctors.” “They’re both lying bastards.”
Dr. Pennebaker’s diagnosis:
On connection with the audience:
- “McCain is generally more personal in his language than is Obama. McCain connects more with the interviewer like Schieffer, he connects with other people more than Obama does. Obama is cool, he’s more detached; he’s not as socially connected.”
On thought process:
- McCain thinks in categories (nouns), Obama thinks in perspectives (verbs):
“McCain looks at a problem and categorizes it. Obama looks at the same problem and looks at how is this event changing over time, how is it connected to other ideas. You can see this in how they talk.”
This means Obama is more cognitively complex. “Cognitively complex means that a person is looking at an idea and making distinctions with it—what’s in this category, what’s not in this category—making finer grain distinctions.”
On verb tense:
- “In terms of orientation, McCain is focusing more on, in terms of verb tense, interestingly he talks more about the past and more about the future—he always uses more future tense.” By contrast, “Obama always uses more present tense and talks about what is happening here and now.”
Check out other opinions on the debate from The Daily Beast team.
Our Guide to the 10 Best (and Worst) Careers
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
America's Mass Murder Addiction
Lee Siegel has written about culture and politics and is the author of three books: Falling Upwards: Essays in Defense of the Imagination; Not Remotely Controlled: Notes on Television; and, most recently, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. In 2002, he received a National Magazine Award for reviews and criticism.
Bringing Down Bachmann
Benjamin Sarlin is a reporter for The Daily Beast. He previously covered New York City politics for The New York Sun and has worked for talkingpointsmemo.com.
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Dr. Josephson, "Kung Fu Fighting" karate chop imagery aside, which was very funny BTW, but the comment about showing his teeth and aggression - have you ever heard the saying "Beware the wolf who bears his teeth...he is not smiling." And speaking of teeth, they could use a whitening treatment...kind of creepy and uh, (old). (Sorry John...but get to a dentist, man)...oooh, now I am ashamed of myself.
"Obama is cool, he's more detached; he's not as socially connected"
I keep hearing that Obama is detached, and yet I have noticed that Obama is one of the more physically demonstrative politicians. He is quick to hug, kiss, or grasp an arm when greeting someone. Even at the beginning and end of the debate, Obama is right there with McCain, shaking his hand, grasping his arm affectionately, leaning in and thanking and congratulating his opponent. He is also consistently quick to reach out and touch his wife affectionately, something her body language indicates she is very comfortable with. I don't think these are the actions of a detached or socially disconnected person.
As far as connection with the audience, I felt that Obama made much more eye contact with the camera and therefore with the audience than McCain did. He also seemed much less self-absorbed than McCain, who seemed to be constantly reminding himself to smile after every comment, which seemed as artificial as his obsession with his new BFF, Joe the Plumber.
I think that what is perceived as detachment in Obama may actually be something else: a lack of neediness. Unlike McCain, Obama doesn't come across as desperately needing anything from the audience. McCain is a man who NEEDS something from us, WANTS it badly. And is barely containing his rage that he might not get it.
Cats and dogs. Obama is the cat that will hang out with you, but will never let you know he needs your company. McCain is the dog that will yap at you and bite at you for attention and love, long after you want him to shut up and go lay down. Later you'll find out the dog s**t in your room when you wouldn't pay attention to him.
Why hasn't anyone yet commented on McCain's rushing off the stage to embrace Joe Lieberman, leaving his wife to walk in wobbly fashion, alone, down the stage stairs?
roooth's comments rule, especially the last two lines! Very funny.
Interesting to hear the reactions of these two psychiatrists. But what does it really mean. Psychology like this assumes objective perception, but it doesn't work this way... for anyone.
McCain spoke in generalities and avoided answers. Someone needs to explain to the Republican Party and Americans in general that calling people names is not a rational or profitable behavior. Obama shared his thoughts, and had some ideas with substance. He seems to be a sensitive man who cares for the average income citizens of the United States. That may be an illusion, but it is an illusion I prefer to the ongoing corporate rape of America and the world. Greed is not just unethical, it is self destructive and pathological in the damage it does. I cannot in good conscience vote to increase corporate profits instead of cutting taxes on those of us lucky enough to be employed.
Thank you.
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