Saturday, September 15, 2012  Nonverbal Communication Analysis #
2116: Michele Bachman's Hands and Seeing between the lines
During the 0:14 - 0:18 segment and again at 0:19 of this video,
Michele Bachmann (R-MN) points with both hands/index fingers at
her audience. The two-handed index finger (aka forefinger) point
is almost exclusively used in political settings - specifically
where the speaker is in front of a crowd with similar
ideologies. It is rare (and extremely unwise) to see it
displayed when a candidate is trying to garner votes from the
independently-minded. Forefinger pointing with even one hand
(seen at 0:26) should never be used outside a highly partisan
political audience scenario - as it is a cross-culturally and
universally offensive gesture.   The two-handed point is used to
try and demonstrate a super-alpha, highly assertive/aggressive
stance - and here Ms. Bachmann is displaying it deliberately and
consciously. To the casual observer it may appear that the
congresswoman is highly confident