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Edited by DifuWu, Flickety, Maluniu, Tiagoroth and 8 others

It is much easier to read facial expressions and find out what someone is feeling than is believed. You will learn how to recognise 'micro-expressions' small facial expressions that show what a person is feeling.

Edit Steps

  1. 1
    Before trying to read anyone's face, teach yourself to recognise 'micro-expressions'. These are small facial expressions, a different one for whenever someone is feeling an increase in any different emotion. They are:

    • Happiness - A smile, quite an obvious one, however, if there is no wrinkling, increase in puffiness or general muscle movement around the eyes, the person is faking the smile.

    • Sadness - Eyebrows up, lips down-turned. Eyebrows up can also mean the person is feeling guilty.

    • Contempt - One corner of the mouth rises, like a sort of 'half-smile'. In extreme contempt, the person's mouth shifts over in an odd way.

    • Disgust - The top lip is raised, showing the teeth in extreme cases, like a scorn.

    • Surprise - Gaping mouth with eyebrows raised. If this expression lasts longer than a second, the person is faking it.

    • Fear - Eyebrows raised and lower part of the mouth lowered in extreme cases. Swallowing also indicates fear.

    • Anger - Lips tightened, flaring nostrils, eyebrows pulled down and together are all signs of anger.

  2. 2
    Start looking. When you've taught yourself to recognise micro-expressions try looking for them in people you see everyday.

  3. 3
    Establish a 'baseline' in the person you're looking for micro-expressions in. A baseline is their normal muscle activity when feeling little or no emotion. Ask them normal questions. Take mental note of their muscle activity when telling the truth. You're pretty much done. Just look for micro-expressions and try and fit them in with what the person is saying.


Edit Tips

  • Watch 'Lie to Me'. It is a fictional crime drama about a scientist, who is a real scientist in forensic psychology and is known as the best in the world, who helps solve crimes with this facial expression and body language sort of stuff. All of the body language facts in the show are real. It is aired on Sky1 in the UK and aired on Fox in the US. The Pilot episode is best for learning the body language and facial expressions. The other episodes focus more on the crime.
  • These help to tell if someone is lying. If the facial expression contradicts what the person is saying, they are lying.
  • Some expressions may merge with others and will be tricky. So to decipher the differences you must practice. Such as going to school/work and looking at people talking to each other and try to tell what they are feeling or thinking.

Edit Warnings

  • Consider that some people will have practised not showing their emotions facially, someone who plays a lot of poker will be hard to read.

Article Info

Categories: Education and Communications

Recent edits by: David, TheVigil49, FunBun

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