Last update: 17 September, 2015
Microexpressions are rapid and involuntary facial expressions that occur as a manifestation of an emotion we feel. We will reveal a secret: these signals allow us to understand what the person in front of us is feeling, in fact they are innate and of a universal nature.
Learning to identify these signals will facilitate your interpersonal relationships and allow you to better express your emotions and needs, as well as those of your partner, your family, your friends, etc. On the other hand, a useful tip to understand what a person is feeling is to imitate their facial expression.
This trick allows us to understand that by manipulating body language we can experience any emotional response we desire. In other words, we have the incredible power to generate emotions through our expression.
How many facial expressions are there?
Up to now, more than 10.000 different facial expressions and 7 basic micro-expressions have been cataloged. Universal and subtle gestures that allow us to read the emotions of the people in front of us and which form the basis of the rest of the facial expressions.
The 7 basic microexpressions include:
Ira. The micro-expression of anger focuses mainly on the upper part of the face, where we lower and bring the eyebrows together. Lips are usually tight and tight, sometimes slightly parted. We grind our teeth.
A characteristic gesture of anger is to push the chin forward in defiance.
Fear. This micro-expression is characterized by stretched eyebrows and eyes wide open to be able to visualize everything that is in the visual field because we are perceiving a danger in our vicinity.
The jaw in the lower part of the face is loose, an instinctive position to allow us to scream and get some air.
The joy. Cheerfulness is shown with half-closed eyes, so that expression lines on the sides of the eyes and on the lower eyelids are evident. A trick: when a person pretends to be happy, these wrinkles do not form. Happiness is also accompanied by a characteristic smile, the more cheerful we are the more open the smile will be, to the point of showing the teeth.
Contempt. This expression can be manifested through various gestures regarding the upper part of the face. On the lower part, however, we show a very clear signal when we despise something: we raise a corner of the mouth forming a half smile.
Thanks to a study on the microexpression of contempt conducted by John Gottman, it has been shown that with this signal it is possible to understand whether a marriage will fail in the event that the people involved use each other and habitually the same among themselves.
The surprise. She is characterized by raised, arched eyebrows and wide open eyes. As for the lower part of the face, the jaw is loose and the mouth open.
The sadness. This is one of the most complicated microexpressions to fake. It is characterized by lowered eyebrows that come together in the middle. The mouth is usually curved downwards.
Disgust. This microexpression is one of the easiest to identify because it is totally concentrated in the mouth and nose. We wrinkle the nose and lift the upper lip, often showing the upper teeth. Usually when we do this, we show disapproval of someone or something we don't like.
On the net you can find several videos on microexpressions and non-verbal language. Look at them, so you can understand how to have satisfying and lasting interpersonal relationships and, most importantly, you can grow emotionally for the benefit of yourself and those around you..
Did you understand how to recognize the 7 basic facial microexpressions? We invite you to practice with your friends and family.
