The pupils dilate during moments of stimulation, or in low lighting. If you are in a location with constant light, notice shifts in pupil size. A large pupil suggests some sort of arousal or interest. Our pupils shrink when we see something offensive or negative. This constriction blocks off any unwanted images. A person may squint if they do not like you or what you’re saying. They also may be suspicious of your words and actions. If you notice this occurring, address the issue and clarify what you’re saying. A darting eye suggests insecurity or discomfort. You can also detect these feelings through sideways glances. Any break in eye contact proves that a person isn’t fully present.
A lip that points inward is called a pursed lip. The pursed lip indicates tension, frustration, or disapproval. A person with a pursed lip is restraining whatever emotion they are experiencing, effectively holding the words back by tightening their lips. Puckering the lips into a kiss shape indicates desire. A puckered lip may also suggest uncertainty, as can a sucked in lip. This is often referred to as “swallowing the lips. " Pay close attention to grimaces or twitching in the lips. While very slight, these tiny changes indicate cynicism or disbelief in circumstances. A liar will also give themselves away with a slightly twitching lip.
The flared nostril is a common shift. When it widens, it allows more air to pass in and out, preparing a person for combat. Flared nostrils indicate that a person is experiencing anger or displeasure. The nose may wrinkle as a result of a bad smell. Beyond the literal interpretation, a metaphorical “bad smell,” such as an unpleasant sight or thought, causes the nose to wrinkle. If a person is thinking, they may wrinkle their nose when they have a thought that they don’t approve of. Sometimes, blood vessels in the nose will dilate, making the nose appear red and swollen. This will occur when a person is lying. They may also scratch their nose, irritating it further.
The wrinkling of the forehead works in tandem with the eyebrows. If the forehead wrinkles and the eyebrows raise, the other person is likely questioning your behavior or surprised by their surroundings. When the eyebrows lower, the eyes will be slightly concealed. When paired with a lowered head, this suggests a desire to hide the motion of the eyes. Eyebrows that slope inward while being pulled down suggest anger or frustration. They also may suggest intense concentration. Look out for a horseshoe-shaped fold between the brow. Known as “Darwin’s grief muscle,” this peculiar symbol displays grief or sadness.
There’s a large spectrum of happiness. Ranging from contentment to bliss, this wide variety of emotion can all be detected by similar facial expressions.
Look for loose eyelids that droop over the eyes slightly. The opposite of happiness, sadness is a dangerous and potent emotion. In addition to the facial changes, you may notice a drop in energy in a sad person. Individuals experiencing sadness may also become more reserved and withdrawn.
The eyebrows will be pulled up very high. A person may frown when experiencing surprise, but this frown might edge the emotion toward shock instead. A slightly more extreme emotion, shock can have a certain element of fear or disgust attached to it. Any sudden blast of wonder of astonishment might lead someone to feel surprised.
Fear is our natural response to danger. If you see someone experiencing fear, look for a source of this response. This emotion is often related to the behaviors of escape and avoidance. Remember that fear is different than anxiety. Fear always comes from an external threat, while anxiety is generated from within.
Think of the mouth as silently mouthing a “blegh” sound, as if the person has just seen something revolting. The lips will hang loose, and the upper lip will pull up. While disgust might come as a response to eating or smelling something disgusting, the emotion can also be vividly imagined. Both experiences will provoke the same facial expression.
The mouth may be tight, or it may be open wide into a large scream. Their head might be lowered a bit, and the jaw may be thrust forward.
The lip corner will tighten up and raise on one side of the face. This is often referred to as a sneer. There may be a slight smile attached to contempt, as if the person is enjoying their disapproval of your actions.
Even a basic understanding of the seven basic emotions will help you read macroexpressions. These universal expressions include joy, surprise, contempt, sadness, anger, disgust, and fear. You’ve no doubt experienced these seven expressions, so you’ll have an easy time reading them in a macroexpression. If a person is expressing these feelings through a macroexpression, they are most likely attempting to get you to respond to their emotion. In the case of sadness, they may be asking you to comfort them. If you’re faced with a macroexpression of contempt, however, they might be trying to intimidate you. Know that it’s easiest to manipulate a false emotion through macroexpression. Because it lasts longer, it’s easier to settle into the performance of this emotion. Don’t allow yourself to be deceived by false macroexpressions.
When someone attempts to conceal an emotion, there may be some “leakage” of their actual emotion. This slip typically occurs in the microexpression. If you aren’t paying close attention to the face, you may miss the real emotion this person is feeling. If you’re hoping to get a deeper understanding of a person, you must be sensitive to microexpressions. An intimate knowledge of how someone is feeling is crucial to developing sensitive personal relationships. While a macroexpression may tell the truth, there’s a chance that a person may be trying to elicit a response by “putting on” this emotion. When paying close attention to microexpressions, you’re less likely to miss the actual emotion.
Subtle expressions also may not be a full expression of one emotion. In a microexpression, a full emotion flashes for a short period of time. A subtle expression, however, may only contain pieces of a full emotion. These tiny expressions may be key to discovering deception, as the slightness of their occurrence can be concealed more easily than a microexpression.
When trying to analyze someone’s confidence, you can look at their posture. If they’re standing tall with their shoulders back, this person feels comfortable in their body. Any slouching suggests a lack of confidence. If a person is being honest with their emotions, they’ll be able to hold solid eye contact with you. Any shifting in their eyes may suggest that they are lying. A person’s manner of speaking can be wrapped up into body language. An even tone of voice will prove that the perceived facial emotion aligns with their internal emotion. Remember that certain psychological or cultural differences may factor into both body language and facial expression. You want to confirm your initial opinions about this person by continuing to get to know them. Initial readings are very useful, but may not always be completely accurate.
