The 1960 NIXON-KENNEDY debate was the first-ever election debate to be televised. And for the first time in history, the nation was divided in their opinions on who would win, depending on whether it was seen on the television or heard on the radio. The discrepancy was due to how the candidates were perceived nonverbally.

When we experience positive emotions, various parts of the body point upwards, defying gravity. This video snippet, a Malcolm Turnbull interview, is a good example of gravity-defying body language. Turnbull defies gravity several times, elevating his body as he raises on his toes, each time he talks about positive outcomes.

While verbal communication may conceal emotion, nonverbal behaviours can give away the secrets of the emotional state of others, acting as a gauge of positive and negative emotion. When we experience positive emotion, various parts of our body defy gravity pointing upwards.