This was a career-ending debate for Biden. This wasn’t a competition; it was a wipeout.
From the onset, Biden appeared frail, confused and dazed like a deer in the headlights, his normally open direct posture and eye contact replaced with a vulnerability we had not seen.
In contrast, Trump who is a big man, appeared visibly taller during Biden’s opening statement, pulling his shoulders back, lifting his chin and bouncing on his toes as if to say, “I've got this.”
Despite a shaky start marked by a lack of illustrators and gestures, and general tension his body stiff and upright, Trump regained his composure, his open palm gesturing, his heart window open, conveying sincerity and honesty essentially saying, “You can trust me, I’m here to serve.” As the debate wore on and Biden’s confidence plummeted, Trump’s increased. His gestures became bigger his stance more relaxed as he leaned into the lectern in order to connect with the audience.
Trump’s contempt for Biden was palatable, using several tactics to mock and undermine him, adopting a contempt or classic dominance, an asymmetrical smile in which one side of the lip raises in a smile with the other downturned or staying put and is a non-verbal threat signalling contempt and dominance. The dominant smile has also been shown to increase the heart rate in the receiver, and this a non-verbal threat often coupled with raised eyebrows as if to say, “Who is this guy?” adds to a sense of smugness that won’t necessarily help Trump’s likeability.
While Biden also displayed an asymmetric smile, it is important to note his baseline and general asymmetry due to brain surgery. However, this appeared more marked during this debate.
In contrast, Biden’s ducked head, turtled neck, downcast eyes, and arms locked into position on the lectern indicated uncertainty and vulnerability. Whilst Biden has previously adopted this position in the past, looking down at his notes in an attempt to gather his thoughts and reset, this was different.
It was clear that Biden was stuck in the freeze response during most of the debate.
As expected in a televised debate where the stakes are high both candidates used adaptors to self-soothe and regulate during the debate, keeping one or both hands on the lectern as crutch and swaying from side to side to self-soothe and regulate. Swaying is an adaptor or self-soothing mechanism that reduces nervous energy. It is often used in response to the release of adrenaline during periods of high stress or emotional arousal.
This Presidential Debate has several notable differences that dramatically influenced the debate, nonverbal leakage, and indicators we saw. Unlike previous debates, the candidates’ microphones will be turned off when they are not speaking, making it difficult for them to interrupt effectively
