Depending on the person, raised eyebrows with no expression in the rest of the face can signal mild disbelief, or even genuine alarm. Another macro expression that’s difficult to miss is raised eyebrows however, just because we notice this signal doesn’t mean we always interpret it correctly. If you do pick it up, it’s a good indicator that your conversational partner is tense or disagrees with what you’re saying (even though they might not admit it). It’s all too easy to confuse macro and micro expressions, or even miss them altogether, if you aren’t paying close attention to the face of your conversational partner.Ī brief tightening at the mouth is one micro expression that often goes unnoticed. These changes can be macro expressions, that is, visible for a few seconds, or micro expressions, visible for just a fraction of a second. One of the most telling signs of someone’s emotional state is a rapid signal, a fleeting change to someone’s face through the quick movement of facial muscles in three areas: the eyebrows, the eyes and the mouth. The key to understanding facial expressions starts with knowing what signs to look for. So how do we read facial expressions? For us, it comes naturally – though some are more adept than others.

In fact, in some professions, reading facial expressions is an indispensable part of the job.Ī trial lawyer, for instance, can’t always trust a client on the basis of his words alone physicians need to understand their patients’ emotional reactions to news about their health and counselors, therapists and teachers all rely on their capacity to discern the emotional state of people of all ages. In our close relationships, we observe the facial expressions of our partners to understand how they’re really feeling, while in the workplace, we use facial expressions to read between the lines during job interviews or important conversations where we’ve got to be sure whether someone’s telling the truth. The ability to read facial expressions is an essential tool in our personal, professional and social lives.

Paul ekman micro expressions pdf