Categorizing facial expressions

Categorizing Facial Expressions

Marjorie FergusonMarjorie Ferguson identified 4 types of facial expressions on the front cover of British women magazines.

Chocolate BoxHalf/ full smile• Lips together/ slightly parted• Teeth barley visible• Full/ three- quarters of face to the camera

Invitational• Emphasis on the eyes• Mouth shut with hint of a smile• Head to one side or looking back to the camera

Super-smiler• Full face• Wide open, toothy smile• Head thrusts forward or chin thrown back• Hair often wind blown

Romantic or Sexual• Includes male/ female ‘two- somes’• Dreamy• Heavy lidded• Overtly sensual/ sexual

Sexual/ Romantic

Chocolate Box Smile

Super- Smiler

Invitational

Trevor MulliumSeductive• Similar to cool/ level• Eyes less wide• Expression is less reserved but still self-confident• Milder

Carefree• Nymph like• Active• Healthy• Vibrant• Outdoor girl• Often smiling/ grinning

Practical• Concentrating• Engaged in business in hand• Mouth closed• Eyes object directed• Sometimes a slight frown• Hair often tied back or short style

Comic• Deliberately ridiculous• Exaggerated• Acting the fool• Pulling faces

Catalogue• A neutral look as of a dummy, artificial, wax like• Features may be in any position- but most likely to be with eyes

open wide and a smile• Looks remain vacant and empty with personality removed

Seductive

Carefree

Practical

Comic

Catalogue