 
Psychologist's View - Surface Tension
Who's starting to feel the pressure...?
It's nomination day in the House - and you could cut the atmosphere
with a knife.
Hasan and Shaneen received the most nominations from their peers
- James and Caroline received none.
While on the surface the housemates seem relatively calm, what's
going on underneath?
According to Dr Gareth Smith, some of the housemates are better
at concealing their inner tension than others.
Hasan talks quite freely but, "his foot tapping shows he has
high levels of stress," says Dr Gareth.
Also, when Hasan is talking in the Diary Room, his non-verbal behaviour
tells us a lot about his state of mind. For example, after making
his nominations, Hasan hangs his head in guilt. He also strokes
his hair, a sign that he is comforting himself, and he clasps his
hands together, as if he's pleading.
To the rest of the group, however, Hasan seems to hide his distress
relatively well
Shaneen, says Dr Gareth, "shows obvious signs of anxiety.
She constantly touches her hair and picks her nails to distract
herself from revealing any discomfort she feels."
James, however, shows signs that he is in control. He controls
his body language by hardly changing position and remains cheery
and polite.
Caroline oozes self-confidence. Dr Gareth says: "She places
her arms behind her head. A classic example of dominant behaviour.
In the Diary Room she remains totally composed. She walks away confidently
back to the group, sitting next to her nominee, and giving nothing
away. The nomination process has revealed that the better the housemates
are at masking their feelings, the more likely they are to remain
in the house."
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