Are there any body language experts in the house? I have a question…

Could you do a quick analysis of these photos of First Lady Michelle Obama with her husband Barack Obama and tell me if her closed body language indicates tension or defensiveness?

In an interview with People magazine earlier this year, Michelle revealed that her marriage to Barack wasn't perfect. Since then she seems to be cold and distant to her husband. Especially during momentary lapses when she forgets there's a camera around -- such as in these photos.

Michelle's non-verbal body language is clear and unmistakable. It's also an involuntary reaction, meaning Michelle is probably not even consciously aware that she's repulsed by her husband's touch.

What could be the problem? I know this probably sounds far fetched, but do you think Michelle really approved of White House social secretary, Desiree Rogers moving to D.C. with them?

Compare Michelle's closed body language in the above photos with Desiree Rogers' very open body language with Barack in the photo below.

Photos

  • kwallace577

    dear sandra mae rose,

    your arm should hurt by now from all of the reaching. surely you hafta know that this is THE black couple since claire and cliff huxtable. everybody is always commenting about how warm and affectionate they are...NOT whatchu tambout. please find me a diamond (cubic zirconia) post toute de suite.

    Try not to be mad at me...

    Your faithful reader (and sister in Christ),

    kwallace577

  • mizzdallas

    Can anybody tell me how to use twitter? Sandra I just added you, Im sooo confused on this twitter ish.. **sigh**

  • melinla

    Did you say you needed a body language specialist or you are a body language specialist? Just asking...

  • http://myspace.com/savagegoddess SavageGoddess

    UHM I would need to research and study this but shoot she aint the first black women to play her "position" and act content even if there are troubles in their marriage.

  • whatdoesitmatter

    She does look like his breath stinks. It may be from the smoking. ???????????

  • keely107

    Yes it displays tension, they are under CONSTANT critique from EVERYBODY, he cant smoke, his churen cant talk, and Michelle cant wear dresses!

  • pinky2083

    Oh come on Sandra!

  • keely107

    Dear Kwall:

    You can go to the >>>>>>>>>>
    Please dont be mad at ME, (smdh @ toute de suite)

    YOUR sistah in Patron,

    Keely

  • avidreader

    Or how about shyness? maybe she doesn't want to show affection to him in front of the camera? Like the other lady with her head down, maybe she's saying not in front of the lady? LOL good one!

  • Anna

    She knows her husband is fine and she has to keep her hands to herself because she forgets she's in public and is always ready to jump his bones.

  • https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

    mizzdallas Says:
    Can anybody tell me how to use twitter? Sandra I just added you, Im sooo confused on this twitter ish.. **sigh**

    *********************************************************

    Um, that's not my Twitter...

  • https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

    melinla Says:
    Did you say you needed a body language specialist or you are a body language specialist? Just asking…

    *********************************************************

    Read the post again. I said I needed a body language specialist. :)

  • mizzdallas

    @anna
    that's what I was thinking but you said it for you

  • https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

    SavageGoddess Says:
    UHM I would need to research and study this but shoot she aint the first black women to play her “position” and act content even if there are troubles in their marriage.

    *************************************************************

    Thank you! All good black women since slavery have played their positions and stood behind their husbands even if he was a dog. As long as he took care of home and provided for the kids. Now if he's in the streets, that's different. Put him out!

  • https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

    @ avidreader and Anna: you know good and well that you would not be standing with your body closed if Obama tried to hug you. There's obviously some tension there.

  • http://myspace.com/thegameoncw Bird

    I'm not a body language expert, but I know that if my man was smart and fine and charismatic and gave me two beautiful babies and was the freakin president of the United States he'd be hard pressed to keep me off of him. All couples go through mess from time to time, but I have no doubt Michelle is madly in love with him. She gets downright girly when she talks about him much of the time.

  • avidreader

    If my husband was POTUS and looked that good, I'd say cut the cameras! We have an emergency meeting in the Oval Office! LOL

  • https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

    Bird Says:

    All couples go through mess from time to time, but I have no doubt Michelle is madly in love with him. She gets downright girly when she talks about him much of the time.

    ****************************************************

    That's called putting up a front. Most black women who are married to prominent men become experts at doing that over time.

  • iscream

    That’s called putting up a front. Most black women who are married to prominent men become experts at doing that over time
    ____________________________________________
    *sigh*

    I'm no expert but in the first pic they seem to be enjoying a laugh/joke or something. What ever it was even the other woman is laughing.

    2nd Pic his hand is on her rear end and he seems to be pulling her closer. Whispering sweet nothings in her ear...

    when this is over I'm going to put it on this ass.

    Nope I don't see a problem or tension.

  • https://sandrarose.com Sandra Rose

    @ iscream: Notice how her arms are closed tightly across her chest? People do that when there is tension or they feel threatened in some way. It's your brain's subconscious way of non-verbally communicating to the person in front of you that you are feeling defensive. It doesn't matter if she's laughing, her body language tells a different story.

  • iscream

    Sandra he is holding her arms together. I would need to see what happened before he walked up to her. I need to see what happened before, this is just a snap shot. (like that snap shot you posted of her walking in the building and said she looked pregnant. You remember that?)

    & not to mention they are touching foreheads that looks like love to me.

  • teecee

    i dont see a problem, but ask the sisters who has had a man before and they will tell you, after they are dressed up and got the good hair in place, they dont get all touchy feely... you dont hug up on them or kiss them because they are going to have to get str8 again. i am surprised not one sister said so. besides why 2 40 plus yr old want to get all freaky in a room with others in front of a camera. they are educated and understand people are watching including their daughters. they could also read this blog and think something is wrong with mommy and daddy.

    now go up and hug a sister when she got on her Sunday best and you will get the same reaction. how you act in public is not a reflection of how you act in private. if he didnt love her he wouldnt touch her affectionately and smile and she wouldnt act all coy. the mating dance should be left to us professionals to confirm or deny.....

  • Daisy

    Aww they are so cute and affectionate

  • masonmom

    michelle aint goin nowhere esp since the "event planner" is close on his heels..i smell another monica lewinsky scandal coming...

  • vipatlstyle

    Well Obama use to straddle the fence.... If you know what I mean...Wife found out after the fact of having kids of his past. She was upset but decided to stay with him because of the children. But what upset her the most is when she asked him if he still had feelings for men....And he responded, "yes."

    DONT'T ASK

  • SunnyPA

    obama is a narcissist. "a healthy ego" doesn't even begin to describe his ego. you know he's hitting it from all ends.

    he's planning another prime-time press conference this month. he's probably working on a weekly series for the fall.

    in any case, michelle is a very smart woman. no doubt she's playing the "position" ... but, very happy to do it.

  • Kymystry

    sigh ... I love to see A Husband who Clearly and Openly loves his Wife ....

  • SunnyPA

    come to think of it, are there any are high-powered couples who seem genuinely affectionate? imo, it would be hard at that level of scrutiny and stress.

    everyone thought jackie and jack kennedy were the perfect couple at the time he was president ... now we know differently.

  • JustSaying

    My short reply is 'I don't agree' and it is cool that we agree to disagree.

    Peace...

  • terika83

    Could be something....but we aren't given enough to make assumptions off of the pics...who knows he could have pissed her off that those days...

  • KaraZ

    Sandra, though you're a hater in the purest form of the word, you're right about the second pic. There is some tension in that picture from Michelle, her body is turned away from his, her arms are closed which usually means STFU I don't want you in my space, but nothing negative from Barack... so at least that day I have to believe he shaved in her sink again when she told him to shave in the guest bathroom.

  • pointhimout

    sandra, even the other chick appears to be blushing, so he's probably being nasty or saying something to make her gush.

    the second pic===or, he could've stepped back and again said something that only the two of them would get after she took her stance in the room. notice how his hand is gently placed around the accent of her right ass cheek? that's not a 'nigga please get outta my ear' touch.

    mm mm mm they prolly be going at it like rabbits. i'm turned on for some reason.

  • donnia

    Sandra, when a woman is accomplished and successful in her own right: her confidence, strength and sense of self shows through. If you are not familiar with women who carry their own, you may mistake this for something else.

    Michelle is the bomb! She has The Prez on lock down. Her game is tighter than tight.

    I mean you no disrepect. However, if you would befriend more accomplished women instead of "useless" baby mamas, I think you might begin to see things through different lenses (i.e., real world).

  • http://ultimate-assistants.com ursmyle4me

    The first picture looks like her hands were already folded and everybody laughed and he leaned over on her before she could change her stance.

    The second one looks like she knows the camera is clicking and Obama is saying he don't care about the camera because he is president.

    And if they are having a marital problem moment, I doubt we will ever know it.

  • missmiami

    Seems to be some tension but Michelle is such a classy woman. I love her!!!!!!!! Maybe she is still getting used to the spotlight, late nights of hubby working/traveling and etc. No relationship/marriage is perfect.

  • Anna

    Hubby and I both rest our arms while together in pubic above our stomach. We are not being reserved, anti social or distant. Just a comfortable habit we have. A pregnant woman by nature rests her arms between her breasts and preg belly. Of course the preg belly after delivery is not so preg and we find a way to still be comfie with this "arm crossing". Ppl do point out that I am a "arm crosser", it does not mean I am not listening to what you have to say, it just means I am in my office in my comfort zone sitting back in my chair observing my enviroment. Randy Jackson on AI crosses his arms and so does Simon. I read nothing into the President and our Fisrt Ladys body language expect the fact that they can't keep their hands off each other. I will add that I like to see a couple in my generation show beautiful displays of affection and for us to get to see the pics. Jackie O and JFK showed affection that was "staged, forced or unnatural at times. I like both Jackie O and JFK but JFK died before I was born but with tv and the internet we still know who they are and how they lived and died. We have a President and a First Lady who were not born with "silver spoons", but to be born without money does not mean you throw your morals, values and hope out with the babies bath water.

  • missmiami

    BTW, I just noticed his body language (hand on her waist/butt), maybe he was saying give me some and she was backing away because it wasn't the right time. LOL!

  • Mspeng

    Maybe Michelle is like me. My husband is very outgoing and affectionate whereas I'm a behind closed doors kind of person. Many a time if you took candid snapshots of us it would look just like that...because he's touching me and I'm shy. Doesnt mean we have marital problems...plus I am like Anna, an arm crosser. I dont read anymore into it than that

  • PAHairston

    Hello All. Perhaps Michelle is aware that cameras can be everywhere, except in their bedroom and bathroom, and that her defense will always be up. I can not imagine being in their shoes. Who in their right mind would want to live under such a microscope. Hat's off to both and I think both are doing a great job. Peaceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

  • Lala11_7

    I always love coming to this blog for a good laugh...

    Let me tell you something Auntie...

    When me and my man are in public...we act accordingly...

    When we are in PRIVATE...we act accordingly...that's how its suppose to be...

    And you're talking about BLACK WOMEN PUTTING UP A FRONT?!?!? NAME ONE WHITE PRESIDENT WHOSE WIFE DIDN'T DO NOTHING BUT PUT UP A FRONT?!?!?

    Oh...but you're not going to DO THAT!!!

    SIGH!!!

  • Deep Thoughts

    This is one president I doubt he would mess up in that way lol ridiculous and this article has the undertones of wanting this to be true