FACIAL EXPRESSION
• We convey a lot of nonverbal
Identify Facial information in our faces, and we
Expressions by tend to focus on different areas of
Facial Feature the face when we try to interpret
what each expression might mean.
We look at the eyes to determine if
someone is sad or angry, for
example, and at the mouth to check
if someone is happy.
1. Eyebrows
Eyebrows can show distinctive emotional
signals (and they're potentially as
important as the eyes for facial
recognition).
Identify Facial
Expressions by Eyebrows can be:
Facial Feature • Raised and arched (showing surprise)
• Lowered and knit together (often
meaning anger, sadness, or fear)
• Drawn up in the inner corners (which
could convey sadness)
2. Eyes
The eyes are often described as "windows to
the soul," and we often look to them to
determine what someone else may be
Identify Facial feeling. The eyes might be:
Expressions by
• Blinking quickly (meaning distress or
Facial Feature discomfort) or blinking too little (which
may mean that a person is trying to control
their eyes)
• Dilated (showing interest or even arousal)
• Staring intensely (which could show
attention or anger) or looking away
3) Mouth
The mouth can convey more than just a smile. People
often use their mouths to mask other emotions their
face is conveying—for example, a forced smile might
cover up an eye micro-expression showing someone's
true feelings.
Identify Facial
Look out for:
Expressions by
• A dropped jaw (which signals surprise)
Facial Feature • Open mouth (showing fear)
• One side of the mouth raised (which could indicate
hate or contempt)
• Raised corners (meaning happiness)
• Corners that are drawn down (conveying sadness)
Other signals to look for are:
Identify Facial
Expressions by • Lip biting (which may be a sign of anxiety)
Facial Feature • Pursed lips (showing distaste)
• Covering the mouth (which could mean they are
hiding something)
THA
NK
YOU
