I Can See It All Over Your Face

I Can See It All Over Your Face

Background  Paul Ekman– Leading researcher in facial expression and emotion

 Ekman/Friesen conducted similar studies

before

 College students exposed to other cultures  Do facial expressions correspond universally to basic emotions?

Experiment  Ekman/Friesen traveled to the Southeast of New Guinea to find subjects people (Stone Age society)

Highlands among the Fore

 189 adults, 130 children out of 11,000

 Never seen a movie, lived elsewhere, spoke English, been outside the country, or experienced western culture

 Ekman/Friesen wrote stories and the subjects were asked to identify which story corresponded with which face (western faces of men, women, children all used)

Results  No differences between men and women, or adults and children, in identifying emotion

 The distinguishing between fear and surprise was the most missed connection

 The general results: Adult average correct: 75.8 %

Children average correct: 89.6%

Discussion  With cultural differences, facial expressions of emotions are universal.

 Facial expressions for emotion appear to be innate, rather than learned (and not culture specific)

 Through evolution, humans developed the ability to identify potentially threatening emotions (anger) more easily

Recent Applications  Recent studies found that children with autism appear to have difficulty recognizing facial expressions

 Ekman’s studies played a fundamental role in crosscultural psychology research

 Eyebrows are the most important feature when determining emotion

facial

Conclusion  Facial Feedback Theory: The expression on your face feeds information to your brain to help you interpret the emotion you are feeling

 Facial expressions may indicate lying

I Can See It All Over Your Face