Facial Expression and Gesture

Dr. Nancy Alvarado

Proximity

Closeness, orientation toward others, motion, all communicate social information.

Even geometric objects look social when they behave socially (e.g., cartoons).

Autistic children and adults lack this information, with consequent social deficits https://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/neuroimg/sat_movies.htm

In Group/Out Group

Knowledge of proper gesture and proxemics signals inclusion in a social group.

Cross-cultural differences produce a feeling of discomfort

Abnormal behavior also produces discomfort and exclusion.

Universals vs Culture

Gestures vary widely across cultures, with unfortunate consequences.Bush’s satanic gesture

Certain facial expressions seem to be universal cross-culturally:SmilesEkman & Friesen’s basic emotions

Evolution and Expression

Darwin’s theory of emotional expression.Dogs and other species with dominance

hierarchy use displays of aggression.Dominance displays are different than

predatory or survival-related displays. Dogs Primates

Encoding vs Decoding

A display tends to evolve along with the ability to interpret or understand that display.Signals of danger are useless without the

ability to know what they mean. Decoding and attribution are not the same

thing.

“Reading” Body Language

Faces are not “readouts” of emotion or any other internal state.People can control their expression.People can portray false expressions.

Deception protects internal privacy in a social world.

Deception makes social interaction smoother.

Nurse’s Study

Each trial includes:One person looking at a gross amputation film

but lying about it.One person looking at pretty scenery and

telling the truth about it. Your job is to tell which is which.

For each segment indicate T or F (if lying).

Most People Can’t Catch a Lie

The cues that signal lying are not those people think go with lying.

They are NOT:Shifty eyes (averted gaze)Nervousness or hesitation

Look for inconsistencies, thinking where no thought is required, micro-expressions.

Expression Varies Across Cultures

How much expression is considered appropriate varies:By sex (females more, males less)By social class (Woloff “griots,” Italian

professional mourners, upper vs lower class British and American)

By culture (Japanese forms of address, hot-headed “Latin” cultures)

Expression and Collectivism

Homogeneous, high-density, collectivist cultures emphasize social cohesion.Conformity is rewardedShame is expressed

Heterogeneous, competitive, individualist cultures emphasize individuality.Expressivity is rewardedGuilt is expressed (personal responsibility)

How Expression Regulates Affect

Emotion is contagiousDepressed people feel better, non-depressed

feel worse after an interaction. Expression affects internal subjective

experience – facial feedback.Smile in order to feel better.

Venting intensifies, not decreases affect.