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Lance Armstrong came clean to the American public on Thursday night when he admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance enhancing drugs in each of his seven Tour de France wins. But was he really being truthful? After so many lies, its difficult to believe him now. And a host of body language experts have already examined Armstrongs non-verbal communication to make their own determinations.
Photo: OWN
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![Dr. Lillian Glass, author of a book on body language, told said that: [Lance's] body language revealed that he did not want to be giving the interview with his chin scratching, and fingers over his mouth and head scratching.](http://p2.trrsf.com/image/fget/cf/67/51/images.terra.com/2013/01/18/armstrong-scratch-head.png)
Dr. Lillian Glass, author of a book on body language, told said that: [Lance's] body language revealed that he did not want to be giving the interview with his chin scratching, and fingers over his mouth and head scratching.
Photo: OWN
Dr. Lillian Glass
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Over in the UK, Professor Patrick O'Donnell from the University of Glasgow analyzed the interview and said that despite his superficial contrition, Armstrong showed the opposite through his actions. An apology should be accompanied by non-verbal communication that shows contriteness and that would be deferential and show sadness and sorrow, but what he does it point to himself, first with one hand and then with two, indicating, in effect that he is still the dominant male who can puff out his chest and take pride in his activities.
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Professor Patrick O'Donnell
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When Armstrong is confronted with accusations that he was a bully and mastermind of doping activities, O'Donnell says the cyclist can't help but let out a smile or two. He cannot resist making little smiles as he reflects on bullying experience and as a bullying mastermind, reflecting he is taking pride rather than genuine remorse.
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Blanca Cobb, another body language expert, said for the most part his body conveyed what he said but there were some inconsistencies. Legs crossed, hands on the lap, showed confidence, but when faced with some tough questions his anxiety increased forcing him to rub his hands in what is known as a pacifying action to calm himself.
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Blanca Cobb
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Another English body language expert, Robert Phipps, said from the outset, Armstrong showed he would not be totally forthcoming. "It was quite obvious from the start that he wasn't going to be that forthcoming as he sat with his right leg crossed over the top of his left leg. This is known as the figure four block, as it created an immediate barrier between him and Oprah, wrote Phipps on his website. "He also gave block off signals with his hands and arms, interlocking his fingers would indicate that he was withholding answers, which fitted perfectly with his lip tightening, his hand coming up to cover his mouth again and again so not being totally upfront and honest."
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Robert Phipps
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Patryk Wezowksi, founder of Center for Body Language, said that micro-expressions like raising one side of the lip corners means that Armstrong was either proud of his actions or had contempt for them like when he described the doping system they had in place.
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Patryk Wezowksi
![Dr. Lillian Glass, author of a book on body language, told said that: [Lance's] body language revealed that he did not want to be giving the interview with his chin scratching, and fingers over his mouth and head scratching.](http://p2.trrsf.com/image/fget/cf/619/464/images.terra.com/2013/01/18/armstrong-scratch-head.png)
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Lance Armstrong came clean to the American public on Thursday night when he admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance enhancing drugs in each of his seven Tour de France wins. But was he really being truthful? After so many lies, its difficult to believe him now. And a host of body language experts have already examined Armstrongs non-verbal communication to make their own determinations.
Photo: OWN
