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Microexpressions, tiny facial expressions lasting less than a quarter of a second, can reveal hidden feelings. Psychologists study nearly inaudible expressions through videotapes to learn more about what people mean. Microexpression interpretation can be useful for therapists and determining if someone is lying. Online tests are available to test one’s ability to read microexpressions.
In the 1960s, psychologist William Condon wanted to study tiny facial expressions that lasted less than a quarter of a second. He felt such a study could reveal a lot about hidden feelings, since most people made facial expressions called microexpressions so quickly they didn’t realize they were doing it. Studying an exceptionally short film, just over four seconds long, frame by frame, he realized that tiny micro-expressions and tiny movements could reveal a lot about how a person truly felt. This has led other psychologists to study nearly inaudible expressions through videotapes to learn more about what people meant, instead of relying on more obvious longer gestures or facial expressions and dialogue alone.
The idea that body language can convey meaning beyond our words is not new. If you wince when you offer to do something you don’t actually want to do, it could very well be conveying your true feelings. But many people are able to control a certain amount of their body language, especially long-lasting gestures or facial expressions. We can smile even if we don’t feel like smiling, or avoid shrugging when we enter someone’s dirty house.
This idea of microexpression suggests that we may occasionally drop our smile or shrug our shoulders slightly, just for a fraction of a second. Some people may be very good at understanding and grasping these expressions, and some may not. Psychologist Paul Ekman, who worked with John Cleese on a four-part series called The Human Face which aired on the BBC networks in 2001, initially believed that some people seemed to have a knack for reading a microexpression, while others didn’t perceive them. to everyone. He has since changed his mind and now suggests that most people could be taught to notice and interpret microexpressions.
Where would microexpression interpretation be useful? For a therapist, reading these expressions can be a big job. People often, without even realizing it, mask their feelings with words instead of owning them. Some interpretations of microexpressions could be used to determine if someone is lying. This could be important if you were interviewing someone for a job, or if you were playing something like poker and wondered if your opponents were bluffing.
There are interesting microexpression tests available online, so you can check how good you are at reading these expressions. You can even slow down each expression to get a look at what certain facial gestures connote. It’s a fun way to find out if you have a knack for this type of reading or if you need further training to become a microexpression expert.
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