Table of contents:
Video: Decode Hidden Emotions. Hints In Three Areas: Eyebrows, Eyes, Mouth - Self-development
According to Robert Green, the most important law of human nature is its denial, that is, the existence of primordial forces that control us (Robert Green, The Laws of Human Nature, 2018, Ripol-Classic Publishing House). We all have a tendency towards irrationality, to emotional contamination (when the emotions of other people are transmitted to us), to egocentrism and narcissism. Each of us has a tendency to feel jealous by constantly comparing ourselves to others, and has a dark side and aggressive tendencies. We feel a great need to feel superior to others. If we are aware of our human nature, then we can use this energy for something productive.
The most important thing in communication is to hear what has not been said
Peter Drucker, American professor, writer, theorist
Paul Ekman, who pioneered the study of emotions and their reflection on the face, found that we express seven basic emotions:
- joy,
- surprise,
- anger,
- disgust,
- fear,
- sadness,
- contempt.
He also identified 43 facial muscles that allow for about 10,000 expressions, 3,000 of which are meaningful.
The face is an open door to feelings; it conveys a huge amount of information. Micro-expressions are subtle changes that only last a fraction of a second before you begin to control them, and are triggered by the emotions you experience, revealing true feelings. Everyone has their own behaviors and overwhelming factors that reveal something deeper. This can happen when our defenses are weakened (note how the person interacts with their children, spouse, colleagues), or when we resist pressure, or when we take on new powers and responsibilities. You need to be able to read people, just as Champollion deciphered the text of the Rosetta Stone. The ability to understand a person's facial expressions and emotions allows you to find out what is hidden behind his words and reveal his real beliefs.
How to understand hidden emotions
Most often, a sign indicating a person's emotional state is an instant change in the face. It is expressed by rapid muscle movements in three areas: eyebrows, eyes and mouth. Be careful though, as micro-expressions are only pointers to deciphering emotions, but they do not reveal stimulus.
- Joy: the cheeks are raised, wrinkles appear under the lower eyelids, the mouth is wide open, the corners of the lips are drawn and slightly raised, which can deepen the nasolabial folds.
- Surprise: the eyebrows are raised and arched, the eyes are wide open, the jaw is relaxed and lowered. This is one of the fastest emotions, it lasts only a second and can quickly transform into others - anger, joy or sadness.
- Anger: the brows are furrowed, drooping and pulled towards the bridge of the nose, a vertical crease may appear between them. The eyes are wide open, the eyelids are tense, creating a ferocious and piercing look that seems extremely menacing. Nostrils are distended, lips are compressed or open in preparation for a cry.
- Disgust: A feeling of dislike that we can all cause. It is expressed by the lower part of the face. The nose is wrinkled, the cheeks are raised, the lower lip is drawn in, the upper lip is raised and exposes the upper row of teeth.
- Fear: the eyebrows are raised and slightly drawn together, the eyes are wide open, the mouth is slightly open. Emotions of fear trigger other physiological responses, such as sweating, pallor, and rapid breathing.
- Sadness: The face relaxes, the eyelids drop, the lower lip rises, the tips of the eyebrows and lips drop, the mouth forms an inverted U. This micro-expression appears when a person feels frustrated and indicates shock or a willingness to cry.
- Contempt: The feature is asymmetry. This is the only emotion that is expressed on one side of the face, on which the corner of the lips is raised and compressed, resembling a half smile. Contempt arises when a person is rejected, or is at odds with someone, or simply does not love someone. In such situations, they don't smile.
TIP
Read others with poker
When playing poker, where the stakes are usually high, you need to be able to control your emotions and keep your poker face. The slightest micro-expression can give you away and allow opponents to take the win out of their noses. Poker can teach emotional expressions and show how poorly we interpret them. You can also just sit there and watch the players experience truly physical pain when they lose a large amount of money by trying to bluff with a pair of deuces.
Fragment of the book “Small habits, big successes. 51 inspiring practices to become your best self. " Onur Karapinar. - Moscow: Publishing house "Bombora", 2020.
