The interpretation of facial expressions is of vital importance in interpersonal relationships, because it helps us understand the emotions of our interlocutors. If you are able to grasp the moods and thoughts of others, you will be able to establish greater intimacy with loved ones and in the workplace you will be able to manage relationships with colleagues and customers more effectively. However, you will need to be very careful, as the slightest variation in facial expressions could indicate completely different emotions.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Interpreting Facial Expressions
Step 1. Focus on the eyes
These are the most communicative and expressive part of the face. By carefully observing a person's eyes, you will be able to guess their state of mind.
- The pupils dilate in moments of excitement or when there is little light. If you are in a well-lit place, look at the size of the pupils. The dilated pupil indicates interest.
- Our pupils narrow when we perceive something offensive or negative, blocking the view of any unwanted images.
- A person might look at you sideways if they don't like you or if they don't like what you are saying. He probably doubts your words and actions. If you notice this attitude, address the problem and clarify your ideas better.
- Receding eyes are a sign of insecurity or discomfort. You can capture these emotions even from a fleeting glance. Any break in eye contact shows that your interlocutor is not fully present.
Step 2. Look at the lips
The labial muscles are extremely delicate and their movement reflects various moods and reactions. When a person starts talking, his lips part slightly. Pay attention, as you must always show that you are open and available to someone who wants to talk to you.
- Puckered lips indicate tension, frustration, or disapproval. A person with pursed lips is trying to stifle his emotions by avoiding speaking.
- The protrusion of the lips in the shape of a kiss is an indication of desire. Pronounced lips could also suggest uncertainty, such as lips sucked inwards. This attitude is often referred to as "biting your lips".
- Also pay attention to grimacing or twitching of the lips. Although subtle, these changes are indicative of cynicism and a lack of confidence in the situation. Even a person who lies may have slightly pursed lips.
Step 3. Check the movement of the nose
Although the movements of the nose are less expressive than those of the eyes or lips, its position in the center of the face facilitates its interpretation.
- If a person dilates his nostrils, he is probably angry or disturbed by something and is preparing to attack the other person.
- The nose may wrinkle from a bad smell, but also from an unpleasant vision or thought. If a person is absorbed in his thoughts, he may wrinkle his nose when he thinks about something he doesn't approve of.
- Sometimes the capillaries inside the nasal cavity dilate, so that the nose appears red and swollen. This situation occurs when a person lies and in that case they may even scratch their nose, causing more irritation.
Step 4. Study the movements of the eyebrows, which are indicators of multiple expressions of body language
Despite the limited number of muscles that regulate the movement of the eyebrows, they are very evident and suggest different emotional states.
- The frown of the forehead occurs in conjunction with the movement of the eyebrows. If someone frowns and raises their eyebrows, they are probably questioning your behavior or are surprised.
- When the eyebrows are lowered, the eyes are slightly hidden. When associated with a lowered head, this attitude suggests a desire to hide the movement of the eyes.
- Lowered and set eyebrows are a sign of anger or frustration. They may also suggest maximum concentration on the part of your interlocutor.
- Also note the horseshoe-shaped groove in the center of the forehead. Defined by Darwin "muscle of pain", when it is wrinkled it indicates suffering and sadness.
Part 2 of 3: Understanding the Different Emotions
Step 1. Try to interpret happiness
An open smile is the most obvious way to show happiness. Unlike when you grin, only the upper dental arch is shown while you smile. The lower eyelids are raised.
There are many types of happiness, ranging from contentment to intense happiness and this variety of emotions can be captured through similar facial expressions
Step 2. Try to recognize sadness
Pay close attention to the eyebrows whose inner corners are raised. A sad person frowns.
- Also look at the inner corners of the upper eyelids that drop slightly to the eyes.
- Sadness is an intense and difficult emotion as opposed to happiness. In addition to facial expressions, you may also notice a drop in energy in a sad person.
- Sad people may also become more reserved and withdrawn.
Step 3. Try to recognize the emotion of the surprise
Surprise is triggered only by a sudden and unexpected event. The face manifests surprise through wide eyes with raised upper lids and open mouth. In case of a less striking surprise, you may notice a slight smile of satisfaction on the lips.
- The eyebrows are raised.
- A person may frown at an unexpected event, but they may also be greatly upset. Shock, a slightly more excessive emotion, can be associated with fear or disgust.
- Any sudden outburst of wonder or amazement could cause surprise.
Step 4. Identify the fear
First look at the eyebrows and eyes. The eyebrows are raised but converging and the eyes wide. The lips may also be stretched and retracted towards the eyes.
- Fear is a natural reaction to danger. If you see someone scared, try to figure out the trigger. Fear is often linked to flight and avoidance reactions.
- Do not confuse fear with anxiety. The first is triggered by external factors, while the causes of anxiety are intimate and difficult to identify.
Step 5. Notice the disgust
The wrinkled nose is one of the main characteristics of the expression of disgust. In addition, the eyebrows are lowered and the mouth is open.
- Imagine that the mouth is uttering the "yuck" sound silently, as if the person had just seen something disgusting. The upper lip is raised and the cheeks rise causing the lower eyelids to rise.
- Although disgust can be the natural response to an unpleasant smell or taste, an unpleasant emotion and thought could also determine the same facial expression.
Step 6. Identify the anger
When trying to identify anger, look at the eyebrows. They are usually lowered and tending to come together in the center, forming a wrinkle. The upper and lower eyelids are strained.
- The lips may be pursed, or parted, as if the person is screaming.
- The head may be slightly lowered and the jaw pushed forward.
Step 7. Identify contempt
Contempt, used mainly to express disapproval, manifests itself through the raised chin, to look down on anyone who has insulted you.
- It occurs only on one side of the face, where the corner of the mouth tends upwards. This movement is often referred to as a grin.
- There may be a slight smile associated with the contempt, as if the person is happy to disapprove of your actions.
Part 3 of 3: Assessing Situations
Step 1. Interpret the macroexpressions
When trying to interpret facial expressions you will need to start with macro expressions. Usually a macroexpression lasts from a quarter of a second to four seconds. These expressions involve the whole face, communicating complete emotion.
- Even a basic understanding of the seven primary emotions will help you read macro expressions. These universal expressions are joy, surprise, contempt, sadness, anger, disgust and fear. Surely you have already experienced these seven emotions firsthand, so it won't be difficult for you to interpret them.
- If a person expresses these emotions through a macroexpression, they most likely want to share their mood with you.
- In the case of a sad person, they probably want to impose their suffering in the eyes of others so that they can be supported. If you are faced with a macro expression of contempt, however, perhaps your interlocutor is trying to intimidate you.
- Because macroexpressions last longer, they often inaccurately project a person's feelings at a given moment. Therefore it is easier to simulate an emotion through a macroexpression. Don't be fooled by fake macro expressions.
Step 2. Capture the microexpressions
These on average last from 1/15 to 1/25 of a second, making identification more difficult. Although a macro-expression can reveal a person's state of mind, it is easier for the truth to be revealed through a micro-expression.
- When someone tries to hide an emotion, their real state of mind may escape you. This oversight occurs especially in the case of microexpressions. If you do not pay close attention to the face, the emotion of your interlocutor may escape you.
- When you know how to recognize micro-expressions, you become more sensitive to the emotions of others.
- Although a macroexpression can reveal the truth to you, it is possible that a person tries to steal a reaction by "faking" this emotion. When you pay close attention to microexpressions, the real emotion is less likely to escape you.
Step 3. Catch subtle or partial expressions
They have a shorter duration than microexpressions, so a lot of attention is needed to grasp them. These expressions occur before the emotion is fully felt, as a natural reaction to what is happening.
- Subtle expressions may not be the complete expression of an emotion. Microexpression is a very fast expression, while a subtle expression can be limited to only one part of the face and contain only a few fragments of a complete emotion.
- Subtle expressions are essential for unmasking a person who lies, because they appear just when you want to hide an emotion.
Step 4. Associate emotions with body language
Once you have mastered the interpretation of facial expressions, you can start studying body language. The latter, together with facial expressions, is a fundamental element of non-verbal communication. Recognizing the body's signals will help you better understand those around you.
- If you are trying to figure out if a person is confident, you can look at their posture. If she stands straight with her shoulders back, she feels comfortable with her body. The drooping posture indicates a lack of confidence.
- If a person is honest, they will be able to maintain eye contact. Any movement of the eyes could indicate that he is lying to you.
- A person's way of expressing himself is part of body language. A quiet tone of voice indicates that the facial expression reflects his mood.
- Remember that body language and facial expressions may be affected by certain psychological and cultural factors. To confirm your initial opinion about a particular person, you should get to know them better. Initial interpretations are useful, but they do not always turn out to be true.
