Sen. JD Vance’s (R-OH) beard at the debate could be viewed — particularly to women — as “conveying aggression,” while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s (D-MN) wide eyes displayed his passion, a Politico story analyzing the body language cues from Tuesday night’s vice-presidential debate concluded.
The article, authored by Joe Navarro, a body language expert who worked with the FBI, went through eight body language cues from the debate. He touted his time with the national security division’s elite behavioral analysis program and began his analysis with Vance’s beard, which he said “matters.” In his analysis, he claimed that — to women particularly — a beard can appear to be more threatening, conveying what he described as “aggression and opposition to feminist ideals.”
He wrote:
One of the first bits of nonverbal communication to appear in the debate was on JD Vance’s face: his beard. As POLITICO Magazine has noted before, Vance is the first White House wannabe to wear facial hair in 80 years. Our appearance is fundamental to our body language, and research indicates that voters see beards as (surprise, surprise) more masculine. That can be positive to some, reading as strength and competence. But to others, especially women, it can be negative, conveying aggression and opposition to feminist ideals.
Navarro had a few other takeaways from Vance, pointing to the fact that he tapped his hand to his chest while discussing abortion, communicating “deep emotion and sincerity.”
“I can’t say whether Vance was being authentic or not — I’d have to see him perform the gesture in different contexts,” he concluded.
No…incorrect…
Vance looks youthful, confident and strong.
Walz looks like deer in the headlights.