Darina Kataeva

Who hasn’t had the desire to understand what his interlocutor is thinking? Is he deceiving you? How does he really feel about your opinion? How we would like to find answers to these questions, because then we would know in advance whether we should trust this person and what to expect from him. However, everyone has such an amazing opportunity if you know the secrets of microfacial expressions. With its help you will understand how to learn to read people's thoughts by their faces!

Secrets of facial microfacial expressions

Different facial expressions on a girl

To learn how to read people's thoughts from their faces, you need to understand how a person's facial expressions and his consciousness are connected. Micromimicry is a person’s emotional reaction, which finds its manifestation in the slightest movements of our face. Nonverbal psychology studies this relationship. According to her theory, there is verbal communication, that is, real, and there is nonverbal communication - without using language, but with the help of facial expressions, gestures and voice intonation.

A person’s thoughts and his facial expressions are inextricably linked; moreover, contraction of the facial muscles occurs both voluntarily and involuntarily, so sometimes we are not able to fully control our emotions, which are clearly visible on the face. Your ability to read the thoughts and feelings of your interlocutor and the effectiveness of your communication depend on good knowledge and practice. You should be especially careful when facial expressions do not correspond to a person’s words, because this already indicates the slightest manifestation of a lie.

There is nothing supernatural or extrasensory about understanding a person's thoughts. The muscles around the eyes, cheeks, wrinkles near the nose, lips - these are clues through which you can understand the true attitude of another person to current events. With the help of such facial cues, we recognize 7 main types of emotions.

Happiness

A person experiencing joy and satisfaction will not hide his feelings. Facial language indicates his feelings. The corners of the mouth rise, the nasolabial folds stretch towards the cheeks, and wrinkles form. It’s easy to recognize this human emotion, but sometimes doubts arise if a person’s eyes say the opposite.

Astonishment

Sincere surprise is expressed in the involuntary raising of the eyebrows, widening of the eyes and opening of the mouth, while the lips form an oval. Surprise is the easiest emotion to fake. However, there are secrets with which you will understand how new and amazing the thought you uttered is. Notice the wrinkles on the forehead and the appearance of shine around the pupil of the eyes. They indicate the sincerity of the interlocutor.

Anger

One of the most unpleasant emotions that people find most difficult to hide. The main indicators of anger are folds between the eyebrows, wide nostrils, raised extreme corners of the eyebrows, narrowing and straining of the eyes. Pay special attention to the mouth: it is either tightly closed, as if constrained, or open, but the lips are square and the jaw is pushed forward.

Disgust

If the interlocutor or the situation itself, this will be evidenced by his narrowed eyes, raised cheeks, flared nostrils and wrinkled nose. The upper lip will involuntarily rise up, as if curled. Eyebrows droop down in disgust.

Fear

The manifestation of even the slightest fear is indicated by eyebrows that are raised, but not arched. They are rather in a horizontal position. The eyes open wider than usual, but there is no shine in them, unlike surprise. Additional clues to the presence of fear are flared nostrils and a slightly open mouth.

Sadness

When a person is upset, his eyebrows remain flat, but at the same time they move down along with the skin above the eyes. The lips are compressed, the corners of the mouth move down, the lower lip moves forward and puffs out.

Contempt

Contempt is indicated either by a gaze or from top to bottom. The mouth and lips are in the same position, they are constrained, but at the same time a half-smile appears. Eyebrows, eyes and wrinkles do not change position.

How to recognize a lie by facial expressions?

Scientists have proven that there are two neural connections in the brain that are responsible for microfacial expressions. When these connections begin to “fight”, as a result, different interpretations of emotions appear. The connection between gestures and facial expressions plays a special role in detecting deception.

• Looking to the side. Averting one's eyes indicates a person's lack of interest in the events around him or the desire to hide information. Sometimes the opposite reaction appears - a gaze into the eyes. This reaction occurs when a person knows that it is not recommended to look away when being deceived.
• Nervous lip biting. Such a movement indicates the interlocutor’s anxiety or desire to lie.
• Frequent blinking. This reaction is a consequence of an unexpected question or a stressful situation, from which the only way out is to get out and lie.
• Instant nose touches. Scientists say that when lying, the nose begins to itch, so the deceiver wipes it with a sharp movement.

How to apply knowledge about microfacial expressions?

Given that each emotion manifests itself differently, remembering all the features is not so easy. Practice and patience play a big role. Remember the expressions of one emotion, and look for its manifestations in the eyes of your interlocutor. To understand this science, you can even practice on a close friend or loved one. Watching him, draw a conclusion, and then ask whether you were right in your judgments.

If you want to understand a person's thoughts, start with the elementary: look into his eyes! It is this part of our face that is the mirror of the soul. It is almost impossible to fake the sparkle in the eyes, so they indicate a person’s attitude to the events around him.

Don't forget about the connection that a person shows. The presence of sincere emotion is manifested in the complete harmony of these non-verbal signs. If an imbalance occurs, this indicates the manifestation of lies.

Possible mistakes:

• The idea that you can understand the emotions of any person. There are people who know how to control themselves and their every move. Often these are “gamblers” or chess players, whose success directly depends on restraint and self-control.
• Generalization. Do not forget about the mentality, culture and nationality of a person. It is difficult to make a German smile, but this does not indicate insincerity, while Americans cannot calmly react to a “stony expression” on their face.
• Jumping to conclusions based on just one emotion. Each person is individual, so it is recommended to get to know the person better before drawing conclusions.
• Recognition of a person’s thoughts is used when communicating with a stranger, a teenage child, a boss or subordinates, and with the opposite sex. In these situations, it is extremely important to know what the other person is thinking!

December 29, 2013, 10:25

What do you pay attention to when making your first impression of a person? Various options come to mind: clothes, physique, timbre of voice, behavior and... face. Yes, it’s where people spend their gaze the longest. Facial features are a kind of calling card and reveal the full range of a person’s character. Some will doubt this until they remember that the face consists of muscles. And frequently used muscles leave an imprint of lived emotions and feelings on the face.

The face will tell not only about character - it will reveal the truth if there is reason to doubt the truthfulness; will convey real emotions in the face of hypocrisy and, most importantly, the face will not deceive, unlike words. Psychology has made great progress in this direction. Now everyone has the opportunity to develop the ability to understand human non-verbal language.

To learn how to read facial and body signals, first find the answer to the questions - what is facial expression and how is it related to speech. There is a lot of information on this topic on the Internet, but not all of it is truthful and comprehensive. In this case, it is better to take lessons from professionals in the field of psychology so as not to store useless garbage in your memory.

It is worth paying attention to the German management coach - Vera Birkenbiel. She has made advances in the study of how the brain works and has developed lessons based on her research.

Her book “The Language of Intonation, Facial Expressions and Gestures” was compiled over several years, where Birkenbill voiced the results of observations and experiments with facial expressions and gestures. Therefore, the book gives a detailed description of the processes that occur with the face and body when a person experiences emotions.

Birkenbill refers to the definition of facial expressions as changes that occur on the face, including psychosomatics, head movement, direction of gaze and posture.

In an easy and understandable form, the author lays the foundation for understanding body language: the book is structured as a question and answer game. Certain information is given, and then tasks for consolidation. Vera Birkenbiel describes the types of emotions, and then suggests choosing a family photo and reading the emotions of all family members. So, with the help of this book, it will become much easier for beginners to step further and find out what secrets psychology hides.

Facial expressions and gestures in communication

The language of gestures and facial expressions is complex, so one book is not enough to understand it correctly. Often the expression of emotions is mixed - at one moment there is a signal of anger, then joy, and then a second of surprise. So, by isolating a specific emotion, all that remains is to guess what the person actually felt. Therefore, after learning the basics, you need to learn how to combine all human signals into one whole.

Let's consider the basic facial emotions that are often present in conversation:

• Astonishment. Is a sudden and short emotion. Few people know that surprise is neutral, it does not belong to the definition of joy or sadness. The fact is that a person is influenced by the following emotion, which replaces surprise in a split second.

Signs: The emotion affects three parts of the face and differs in external features. The eyes open wide, while the lower eyelid remains relaxed. The lips part slightly and the eyebrows rise high. With reserved people, surprise is expressed only by eyebrows with a neutral face.

• Fear. A vividly experienced negative emotion that causes changes in the human body. The skin turns pale and sweats, the pulse increases sharply, and the hands tremble. This emotion constrains a person and makes it difficult for him to move. Fear is depleting from the inside, so it cannot be experienced for a long time.

Signs: Eyes are open and tense. The lower eyelid is slightly pulled up. The eyebrows are raised, but not as much as in the case of surprise. The lips are tense and the corners of the lips droop down. If only the eyes indicate fear, then the fear is weak or controlled.

• Disgust. People experience this emotion differently. For one it will cause nausea, and for the other it will only make a slight wince in the face. Disgust is often experienced along with anger. Anger appears at something or someone for causing disgust.

Signs: Disgust is mainly transmitted through the nose and mouth - the upper lip rises, which leads to the wrinkling of the nose. With strong disgust, the mouth opens, sharply indicating the nasolabial folds and tense cheeks.

• Anger. Refers to dangerous emotions because it provokes harm. During outbursts of anger, this emotion overrides the mind, and a person commits actions that he later regrets. Also, anger affects the somatic processes of the body - the skin turns red, veins on the face and neck stand out, and the body leans towards the offender. The duration of anger depends on self-control. The stronger the internal control, the less time it will take to come to your senses.

Signs: Usually all parts of the face are involved. The eyebrows move and form folds on the forehead. The eyes may be squinted or wide open. The mouth is either tightly clenched or tense, as if the person wants to scream.

• Joy. A positive emotion that makes people feel good. The meaning of joy is different for everyone and is caused in four cases: Pleasant sensations; relief; improvement; excitation.

Signs: Lips are stretched and the corners are raised up. The cheeks are tense, the nasolabial folds are clearly marked, and wrinkles are formed on the temples.

• Chagrin. Caused by three reasons - disappointment, loss and a feeling of hopelessness. It proceeds passively. The face turns pale, the shoulders droop, the head hangs on the chest, and the lips and cheeks droop under the influence of their own weight. The effects of grief or sadness can last from a few minutes to several years.

Signs: The inner corners of the eyebrows are raised, the eyelids are relaxed, the corners of the mouth are downturned or trembling.

Some human emotions can intertwine with each other and form mixed ones. For example, anger can appear simultaneously with sadness and disgust. Then you should pay attention to the facial expressions and gestures that appeared last.

Depending on the sincerity of these emotions, types of facial expressions are distinguished:

• involuntary (caused reflexively);
• arbitrary (conscious or as an element of art).

Gestures and facial expressions of a man in love

A person who shows sympathy changes his facial expressions, gestures, intonations, posture and movement. A man himself does not understand his non-verbal signals of sympathy, but the female nature is very receptive to them, so the woman is the first to figure out what these signals mean.

• When a man is next to a woman he finds attractive, his body unconsciously turns towards her. He wants to appear better, so he smooths his hair, adjusts his watch, tie, or brushes off non-existent specks of dust from his clothes.
• One of the most striking gestures of sympathy is putting your thumb in the belt of your trousers to give meaning to your gender. He also emphasizes physical strength in front of a woman, due to the space he takes up - keeping his hands on his hips or stretching his legs forward.
• In conversation, his intonations will become lower and chesty, and eye contact will increase. Sympathy will also affect facial expressions. The man will smile more often, sometimes even intensely, his eyes will open wider and his lips will part.

Female psychology is much more complex, so she uses more enticing techniques, from straightening her hair to swaying her hips and intimate glances.

TV series "Lie to Me"

For such fans, the scientific series “Lie to Me” was filmed, based on the research of Professor Paul Ekman. This series is a complex work, where the key thread is the psychology of people and solving crimes, through reading facial expressions and gestures. If you read Paul Ekman's book on The Theory of Lies, you can better understand what certain moments that characterize the series mean.

The main character is sure that the definition of a lie is visible in every person. Based on barely noticeable signs - facial expressions, intonation and gestures, the doctor and assistants help in police investigations. They analyze what posture, rapid breathing and heart rate indicate. The series clearly shows what human psychology hides and how to detect a lie through careful observation.

The ability to understand facial expressions and gestures will change your life. You will improve your relationships with colleagues and become closer to your relatives. Learn to distinguish truth from lies and achieve success in your career. It's surprising that one in three people don't value these skills.

Moreover, there are many ways to obtain information - books, magazines, the Internet, films, documentary programs and even TV series. You don't have to make sacrifices to make life better - open a new page in the book and life will open a new page for you!

Physiognomy is a science that studies the reflection of a person’s psychological characteristics and emotions on his face.

In the modern world, people are increasingly interested in psychology and study books on techniques that help reveal the inner content of their interlocutor.

Facial expressions, gestures, and posture that a person takes during communication much more accurately convey the real thoughts and feelings of the opponent. Knowing how to read them, you can easily determine what a person is thinking about and how close he is to you. And if you use your knowledge correctly, you can adapt to a person and achieve what you want from him.

Psychology of Gestures

1.Protection

When there is danger or unwillingness to show one’s inner state, a person tries to hide from everyone, instinctively closing himself off from the outside world. This can be seen by the hands on the chest or the cross-legged position. When a person takes such a pose, there can be no talk of any open feelings; he does not trust his interlocutor and does not want him to interfere in his space.

An additional barrier to communication can be an object that the interlocutor holds in front of him, for example, a folder or papers. He seems to distance himself from the dialogue, keeping his distance.

Clenched hands into fists indicate the opponent’s readiness to enter into an open conflict and it is better not to provoke this person.

2. Openness and predisposition

Managers or training presenters often resort to these gestures to instill confidence in the client.

When talking, a person smoothly gestures with his hands, open palms up, or connects his fingers at a short distance from the chest, in the form of a dome. This all speaks about the openness of a person, that he is ready for dialogue, he does not hide anything and wants to finish off the interlocutor’s predisposition towards himself.

The fact that a person is relaxed at the moment is evidenced by unbuttoned top buttons on clothes and leaning towards the interlocutor during communication.

3. Boredom

Such gestures are aimed at conveying information about the lack of interest in the conversation, and perhaps it is time for you to move the conversation to another topic, or end it altogether.

Boredom is indicated by shifting from one foot to the other, hand supporting the head, tapping the foot on the floor, looking at the situation in the area.

4. Interest

When showing sympathy for the opposite sex, women, for example, adjust their makeup, hairstyle, finger a lock of hair, sway their hips while walking, have a sparkle in their eyes, and a directed long gaze when talking with their interlocutor.

5. Uncertainty

The interlocutor’s doubts can be indicated by moving an object in his hands or fingers between each other, a person rubbing his neck, or fingering a piece of clothing.

6. Lies

Sometimes a person speaks very confidently about something and it seems to be true, but intuition suggests that there is a catch somewhere. When a person lies, he subconsciously rubs his nose, earlobe, and may even close his eyes for a short time. Thus, he himself tries to isolate himself from this information by transmitting signals to you.

Some children cover their mouths when they lie in an attempt to stop the lie. As they grow up and gain experience, they can veil this gesture with a cough.

Psychology of facial expressions

1. Joy, happiness

The eyebrows are relaxed, the corners of the lips and cheeks are raised, and small wrinkles appear in the corners of the eyes.

2. Irritation, anger

The eyebrows are brought together in the center or pubescent, tense, the mouth is closed and stretched into a single straight line. The corners of the lips look down.

3. Contempt

The eyes are slightly narrowed, the corner of the mouth is slightly raised on one side, the lips are frozen in a grin.

4. Surprise

The eyes are rounded and slightly bulging, the eyebrows are raised, the mouth is open, as if it wants to say the letter “o”.

5. Fear

The eyelids along with the eyebrows are raised, the eyes are wide open.

6. Sadness, grief

Empty look, extinct. The eyes and eyelids are drooping, wrinkles form between the eyebrows, the lips are relaxed, the corners look down.

7. Disgust

The upper lip is tense and raised, the eyebrows are practically joined together, the cheeks are slightly raised upward, the nose is wrinkled.

This, of course, is only a small part of facial gestures; the rest can be studied independently by reading books on physiognomy. Psychology is a very interesting science that never ceases to amaze with its discoveries in the field of studying people.

Until now, society firmly holds the opinion that physiognomy, graphology, palmistry, phrenology and similar sciences are the legacy of medieval obscurantism, that they have nothing in common with true science and therefore should be thrown out of modern knowledge as superfluous and useless suitable ballast.

And indeed, there was a time when such a harsh review was partly fair - then these sciences, together with magic, astrology, cabalism and other so-called occult knowledge, were engaged in predicting the more or less distant future. However, in our time, these sciences have come into close connection with purely positive sciences, such as anatomy, physiology and anthropology, and, using their data, have adopted a positive method of research.

The soul of a person emerges especially sharply in his appearance, or physiognomy - it is not for nothing that people have an idea of ​​the face as a mirror of the soul. And in fact, our habits, our aspirations, our passions, in a word, everything that makes up our personality, our “I” - all this is reflected on the face, giving it one or another feature, often elusive, but unconsciously striking to the experienced observer .

The ancient art of face reading began thousands of years ago during the time of the Yellow Emperor, when it was used by Eastern healers to diagnose diseases. The purpose of this alternative medicine was - and is - to prevent health problems and provide recommendations regarding nutrition, exercise and meditation in order to stop diseases when they first appear.

This art has endured for centuries and its popularity is based on the fact that it can help people better understand themselves, their work colleagues, friends and family members.

Physiognomy

Physiognomy- These are the characteristic features and facial expression of a person. The face is divided into three zones – upper, middle and lower.

• Intelligent- the upper part of the face, it occupies the entire forehead, starts at the hairline and ends at the eyebrow line. The size and shape of the forehead determine mental activity and real understanding of life.
• Emotional– the middle part of the face, includes the space below the eyebrows to the very tip of the nose, i.e. equal to the length of the nose. It reflects the degree of sensitivity, spiritual depth and inner content.
• Vital- lower part of the face. It starts from the line of the nostrils, consists of the lips, chin and gives an idea of ​​a person’s energy, his love for pleasure and base instincts.

Therefore, in order to understand a person by his face, we need to figure out which zone of the three is more pronounced, and having learned this, we can assume what drives the personality - instinctuality, emotions or intellect.

The main facial area of ​​the face is the eye area. Its expressiveness is determined by the contraction of three main muscles: the frontal belly of the occipitofrontal muscle, the corrugator muscle, and the upper part of the orbicularis oculi muscle, i.e., the superciliary muscle. The work of these muscles ensures closing the eyes, opening them and modeling the position of the eyebrows and eyelids. The functional reserve of facial expressions here is very large: from the expression of strong will to confusion and grief. But, perhaps, the facial expressions of attention are most clearly expressed.

External manifestation of attention, of course, requires the mobilization of all senses, but in this case the expression of the eyes stands out most sharply. They are used to assess the degree of emotional mood, and the level of understanding of what is happening is read from them. The outer corners of the eyes and the ends of the eyebrows lowered down express sadness, and raised up they convey an expression of joy to the face. Concentration and will are unmistakably recognizable in a subject whose gaze is fixed, the facial muscles are tense, and the eyebrows are shifted to the bridge of the nose.

If the eyebrows are raised and brought together, and the transverse wrinkles on the forehead, connecting with the longitudinal ones in the shape of the Greek letter “omega,” signal a painful attempt to concentrate, then we can definitely talk about an expression of grief. This pattern of wrinkles is typical for the face of melancholic people - “omega melancholic people”.

By eye movement you can read grief, pleasure, rage, sympathy, compulsion. Eye movements are involved in maintaining contact with the interlocutor. By the nature of the gaze one can judge the intention of the interlocutor, the stages of the conversation, and the level of relations. With your eyes you can express approval, agreement, prohibition, permission, encouragement.

When analyzing the expression of the eyes, their size, direction of gaze, condition of the eyelids, folds around the eyes, and position of the eyebrows are taken into account. In a calm environment, raised eyebrows, horizontal wrinkles on the forehead and opening of the eyes give the face a surprised expression. Bringing the eyebrows together indicates absorption in thought, in solving a complex problem.

Close attention and full understanding of what is happening is unthinkable without a fixed, focused gaze. On the contrary, a wandering gaze is observed in people who are not interested in the essence of the issue: such a look also indicates impatience, indifference, and disappointment.

The inability to focus the gaze on something specific (“shifting eyes”), even in response to a call for attention, suggests emotional imbalance and unpreparedness for consistent, logical thinking. Very temperamental people with a sanguine character are distinguished by a lively look, harmoniously combined with the play of facial muscles. Very tired people have a heavy, sluggish, and sometimes meaningless look. Sometimes it is turned into the distance, sometimes downward, the eyebrows are drawn together, and vertical folds form on the forehead.

To accurately judge a person’s emotional state, it is necessary to take into account all components of facial expressions. Thus, with strong excitement, tense eyelids and dilated pupils are combined with stretching of the wings of the nose and clenching of the jaws. Further excessive concentration may be accompanied by opening of the mouth. A person seems to be listening to something, in this case he is more comfortable with breathing through his mouth.

Organs that are heavily loaded and trained for certain, specific facial expressions are marked by a better ability to perform their usual functions. This applies primarily to the eyes, which are controlled by involuntary muscles (iris and ciliary body), and voluntary muscles, subordinate to the III, IV, VI and VII cranial nerves. The brilliance and expressiveness of the gaze make the eyes important detectors of a person’s cheerfulness and capacity.

Emotional nuances are also captured by the direction and stability of the gaze. A person in a state of thoughtfulness looks into the distance. The depth of perception is consistent with a steady gaze in the direction of the object being studied. It seems typical to have a firm gaze from a subject evaluating or inspecting an object.

The direction of gaze depends on the contraction of the muscles of the eyeball. When the superior rectus muscle of the eye contracts, one can read on the face an expression of pride, surprise, and pious humility. The expression of feelings of shame, sadness, and oppression is caused by contraction of the inferior rectus muscle of the eye when the eyeballs turn downward. When the external rectus muscle of the eye contracts, a facial expression of contempt appears on the face: the gaze is averted to the side, the contraction of the medial rectus muscle of the eye contributes to the expression of lust.

The direction of gaze when people communicate often reflects subordination. People in a dependent position often hide their gaze. Psychological imbalance gives rise to instability of gaze (the desire to look away, hide your eyes). Functional disorders of the nervous system are also accompanied by instability of gaze. Changeability of gaze is one of the constituent elements of facial expressions.

Facial expressions

Facial expressions– integral process. It involves the reactions of individual muscles, but they are connected by a common basis, a single purpose. If a natural smile appears on a person’s face, then the state of satisfaction, joy, and delight is simultaneously reflected in other facial features. They are combined into a single complex according to the law of correspondence. It is obvious that a person’s emotional state cannot be reflected only in any one area of ​​the face. The entire facial ensemble must be included in the expression of emotions.

The shape of the face is inherited, it reflects genetic characteristics and is part of a complex of constitutional characteristics. The genetic determination of the reactions of the facial muscles expressing emotional experiences is confirmed by the early maturation of their motor complexes. All facial muscles necessary for expressing emotions are formed in the fetus by the 15-18th week of life. And by the 20th week, facial reactions can be observed in the embryo. By the time a child is born, the mechanism of facial expression is already fully formed and can be used in communication. The innate nature of facial expressions is also indicated by its similarity in blind and sighted infants. But with age, in a child born blind, the reactivity of the facial muscles fades.

Throughout life, a person acquires new facial features under the influence of speech, perception, illness, and profession. The facial expression also changes, reflecting the signs of all previous facial processes. Living conditions (climatic, material, social, family) significantly influence the facial appearance of the individual.

Changes in facial expressions throughout life are determined by the characteristics of facial muscles. Unlike all muscles of the human body, facial muscles are unique in their anatomical structure and function and differ from both striated or skeletal muscles and smooth muscles. They differ from the skeletal system in the places of origin and attachment, and also in the fact that in the complex, despite the external differences of individual muscles, they represent a single integrative system, parts of which are localized around the natural openings of the face: the mouth, eyes, external nose and ear. The anatomical features of the facial muscles also include the presence of oral and orbital sphincters, which generally do not have a direct origin on the bones.

Facial muscles differ from skeletal muscles in their development in phylo- and ontogenesis. If the latter, as a rule, originate from the muscular part of the somites of the mesoderm, then the facial muscles originate from the mesenchyme of the 2nd branchial arch (the region of the hyoid arch). This mesenchyme migrates cranially and pulls with it the branches of the 7th cranial nerve and the external carotid artery, which initially innervated and supplied the hyoid arch.

The main difference between facial muscles and skeletal muscles is their function. If the purpose of skeletal muscles is to strengthen and move parts of the skeleton, then the function of facial muscles is much more complicated. Initially, as in previous stages of phylogenesis, they complemented the functions of the digestive and respiratory systems. However, subsequently, in parallel with the development and complication of the structure and function of the central nervous system (CNS), they began to perform the functions of facial expressions, i.e. reflections on the visceral (facial) part of the skull of the emotional state of the central nervous system. In essence, facial muscles become a means of communication between highly developed biological entities at the level of the 1st signaling system. What systems and pathways establish the connection between the state and level of psycho-emotional activity of the brain and facial muscles? When expressing an emotional state, a very differentiated, sometimes multidirectional and at the same time coordinated work of several muscles simultaneously occurs, serving the different above-mentioned facial openings. Facial expression, associated with the correction of the activity of various facial muscles, is a reflection of 6 basic emotions, which are based on processes occurring in the brain, in particular in the limbic system, starting with the hypothalamus, where the primary centers of positive and negative emotions are located, corresponding to the effects of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. A special role here is given to the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, which, unlike the sympathetic division, primarily carries out targeted innervation of individual organs. A number of facts testify in favor of this. At the beginning of its course, the facial nerve is mixed, consisting of efferent somatic, parasympathetic and efferent taste fibers. Then the bulk of the efferent fibers is divided into two parts and switched to the pterygopalatine and submandibular parasympathetic ganglia. There are known connections between the intermediate nerve and the trigeminal, vestibulocochlear, glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, as well as with the somatic part of the facial nerve itself. It is known that a number of peripheral somatic nerves always contain efferent parasympathetic nerve fibers. They are present in the oculomotor, auriculotemporal branches of the trigeminal nerve. The autonomic component of the innervation of the facial muscles is also supported by the fact that the muscle tissue of the initial parts of the digestive and respiratory systems, which include the facial muscles, developed from the mesenchyme of the gill arches, the innervation of which, as for all internal organs, is carried out by the autonomic nervous system.

The participation of the nervous system in the mechanism of facial expressions has long been proven, although much in this matter remains unclear. The phylogenetic antiquity of the external expression of vital signs, the reflection of the reaction effect in the movements of the facial muscles indicates their direct connection with those parts of the brain that formed earlier than others. These include the nuclei of the brainstem, the reticular formation, and the old ancient cerebral cortex. The role of the neocortex is clearly visible at the stage of formation of external nervous activity, when facial expression is both realized and directed. Human facial expressions have reached incomparable perfection and have become an important tool of communication, a source of information about the spiritual life of a person.

The localization of anatomical and physiological regulators of facial expression in the cerebral cortex and subcortical nuclei and their connection with facial muscles through the facial nerve system is proven by clinical observations and experiments on animals. It is quite obvious that the filigree plexus of branches of the facial nerves makes possible extremely variable play of the facial muscles. From the nerve branches, bundles of nerve fibers are released, and behind them are single fibers, along which effector impulses are distributed, causing individual parts of the muscles to contract. Simultaneously with such conductors of the cerebrospinal (animal) nervous system, autonomic nerve conductors approach the vessels of the face. They initiate automatic reactions of the vessels of the eye muscles, which is manifested by the expansion of the lumen of these vessels and redness of the face, for example, with a feeling of shame. In addition, the contraction of facial muscles occurs in many cases not at all according to a signal from external nerve centers, but as if involuntarily. Thus, it is necessary to allow for the possibility of transfer of excitation from the nuclei of the facial nerve in the brain stem to the facial muscles in unforeseen situations.

The results of experimental studies on animals lead to the conclusion that the thalamus, as the most important regulatory link in the diencephalon, is responsible for involuntary, unconscious movements of facial muscles during emotional stress.

Mimic expressiveness is reproduced as an unconditioned reflex. Its formation requires the participation of: a stimulus (contact, distant, associative), the peripheral end of the analyzer (receptors) and the central nuclei of the analyzers (subcortical formations, cortex), means of muscle control and the facial muscles themselves, on the contraction or relaxation of which facial expressions depend. Regardless of a person’s consciousness, the subcortical innervation of the facial muscles causes increased tone of the facial muscles and their group contraction under certain conditions.

Involuntary contractions of facial muscles under the influence of emotional stimuli are a special type of motor reaction characteristic of the facial region of the human body. The transverse striation of a muscle does not yet indicate its absolute correspondence to other striated muscles, which is observed, in particular, in the myocardium.

The special position of the facial muscles does not cause any controversy. The reason for the automaticity of facial reactions, interpreted as expressive, is probably the subordination of their innervation to the diencephalic nuclei, which are part of the extrapyramidal system responsible for the tone of facial muscles. Automatic contractions of the latter in response to various stimuli are caused by effector impulses through the thalamus and striatum.

Involuntary, subconscious facial expressions of a person are restrained and inhibited. It is subordinate to the functions of the cerebral cortex. It is therefore quite natural that the participation of the face in various types of expression should be considered not only from the standpoint of facial motor skills, but also in the light of higher nervous activity. The cerebral hemispheres, according to I.P. Pavlov, are the most reactive and supreme part of the central nervous system, depending on the state and activity of which four psychological types are distinguished:

• sanguine– this is a strong, balanced, mobile type;
• choleric– strong, unbalanced (excitable), mobile type;
• phlegmatic person– strong, balanced, inert type;
• melancholic– weak, unbalanced type, nervous processes are inactive.

Consequently, based on facial expressions and movement patterns, one can draw a conclusion about the type of nervous activity.

Facial Expression Identification (FAST)

In the 70s of the last century at the University of California, P. Ekman and his colleagues developed a technique for identifying emotions by facial expression (Facial Affect Scoring Technique - FAST). FAST has atlas of photo standards facial expression for each of the six emotions - anger, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, joy - in statistical form. The photo standard for each emotion is represented by three photographs for three levels of the face: eyebrows - forehead; eyes – eyelids and lower part of the face. In addition, there are options to accommodate different head orientations and viewing directions. When using FAST, the subject looks for the similarity of emotions with one of the photographic standards, like a witness taking part in drawing up a sketch of a criminal.

Facial Activity Coding System (FACS)

The second method for assessing emotions was developed by P. Ekman together with U. Friesen (1978). It is called the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). The method is based on a detailed study of the anatomy of the facial muscles. The FACS system identifies 41 motor units, of which 24 response patterns of individual facial muscles and 20 patterns reflecting the work of muscle groups, for example, those involved in lip biting, are composed. Each unit has its own number and description not only in statistical, but also in dynamic indicators. The system also records the start and end times of each muscle activity.

P. Ekman owns a neurocultural theory of emotions, which takes into account both the innate nature of facial expression and the influence of cultural and national traditions on the expression and recognition of emotions. The model assumes that the expressive manifestation of the six basic (basic) emotions is universal and does not depend on culture, nationality and race. All people use their facial muscles in the same way when expressing basic emotions. Reflections of emotions similar to humans are also observed in animals.

Ancient Eastern system "Yin and Yang"

The art of reading faces, as mentioned above, has its roots in ancient Eastern diagnostic medicine. Doctors believed that all existing objects and the Universe are connected by a constant flow of energy. This energy is known in China as “qi”, in Japan as “ki”, in India as “prana”. Energy exists in the form of yin energy and yang energy. Yin is described as a more passive form of energy, while yang is more active. Yin and yang attract each other, like opposite poles of a magnet. Yin and yang relate to everything in the universe, and everything around us is made up of a combination of these two qualities, although some objects and phenomena are more yin, while others are more yang. Facial features may be more “frost” or “yang”, as well as emotions and character traits associated with each feature. Thin lips, for example, are considered more yang (and the character traits associated with this trait - hard work and responsibility), while full lips (and the associated tendency to relax, enjoy) are considered more "frost".

Some people may be too yin or too yang in general. A person who is easily irritated and angry becomes "yan". To correct the imbalance, such a person should incorporate more yin energy into their lifestyle by consuming yin foods (light meals such as salads and fruits, as well as more fluids) and engaging in relaxing “yin” activities such as reading, yoga and walks.

According to ancient Eastern ideas, it is believed that the left and right halves of the face are associated with different types of qi energy. For most people, the chi energy on the left side of the face tends to be more active and therefore more yang energy, while the chi energy on the right side of the face tends to be calmer - more yin. The right half of the face is considered the feminine side and typically reflects the facial features of the mother and grandmothers, while the "yang" left half represents the masculine aspect and is associated with the father and grandfathers. The feminine, right side of the face is associated with the earth's chi energy and is typically more pronounced than the left side and represents our core emotions and point of view, as well as our personal, inner character and creativity. The masculine, left half of the face is associated with the heavenly chi energy and represents logical thinking and accepted social masks. It reflects controlled emotions and represents the personality we wish to appear to the outside world.

The effect of functional brain asymmetry on human facial expressions

To see this better, you need to create two images using photographs of the right and left half of the face, which will show a noticeable difference in the facial expressions of each of the photographs. There are practically no perfectly symmetrical faces. Anisokyria also indicates facial asymmetry (facial expressions). According to E.S. Velkhover and B.V. Vershinin, anisocoria occurs in practically healthy individuals in 19% of cases, in patients with somatic diseases - in 37%, in individuals with central nervous system pathology - in 50-91% of cases. Moreover, in the vast majority of somatically ill and healthy people, the right pupil is wider than the left.

Currently, the difference in facial expressions between the right and left halves of the face is explained by the fact that the right and left hemispheres of the brain perform different functions. This was especially clearly proven in the 50s of the twentieth century by American researchers who achieved success in treating continuously occurring attacks of epilepsy by separating the right and left hemispheres of the brain through surgery - destroying the bridge between the hemispheres (corpus callosum). This operation was performed on several patients, really alleviated their suffering and at the same time led to a major discovery, awarded the Nobel Prize in 1980. It was received by R. Sperry.

Although the connections between the two hemispheres of the brain were disrupted, the person ate, performed everyday activities, walked and talked with other people without serious visible deviations in behavior. True, several observations made shortly after the operation were alarming: one patient complained that he behaved strangely with his wife and was unable to control his behavior - while his right hand hugged his wife, his left hand pushed her away. Another patient noticed the strange behavior of his left hand before visiting the doctor: while he was using his right hand to get dressed and put himself in order, his left hand was trying to unbutton and take off his clothes. Then it was noted that the right hand could not redraw the simplest geometric figures, it could not put together simple structures from cubes, it could not find simple household objects by touch. The left hand coped with all these tasks perfectly, but could not write, even very clumsily, a single word.

Thus, the right hemisphere, which controls the left hand, was superior to the left hemisphere in all activities except writing. But the right hemisphere turned out to be inaccessible, except for writing, to the function of speech. The right hemisphere was significantly superior to the left in the ability to navigate in space, in the perception of music, in recognizing complex images that cannot be broken down into simple components - in particular, in recognizing human faces and emotional expressions on these faces.

In this regard, the following study is interesting. A group of architects were connected to electroencephalographs (EEGs). The architects received a task in which they had to make an arithmetic calculation.

The EEG showed increased activity in the left hemisphere, and when it came to completing a project for the façade of a building, the activity in the right hemisphere increased. Consequently, there are differences in the functions of the right and left hemispheres (functional asymmetry of the brain). The function of the left hemisphere is to operate with verbal-sign information (logical operations, reading, counting). The function of the right hemisphere is to operate with visual images (object recognition, imaginative thinking, intuition).

Currently, a large number of experimental and clinical data have been accumulated on the different roles of the cerebral hemispheres in the regulation of mental abilities and emotions. The study of the functions of the left and right hemispheres revealed the existence of emotional asymmetry of the brain, manifested, among other things, in facial expressions. According to V.L. Deglin, temporary switching off of the left hemisphere by an electroconvulsive electric shock causes a shift in the emotional sphere of a “right-hemisphere person” towards negative emotions. His mood worsens, he assesses his situation pessimistically and complains of feeling unwell. Turning off the right hemisphere causes the opposite effect - an improvement in the emotional state. T.A. Dobrokhotov and N.N. Bragin found that patients with lesions in the left hemisphere are anxious and preoccupied. Right-sided damage is combined with frivolity and carelessness. The emotional state of complacency, irresponsibility, and carelessness that occurs under the influence of alcohol is associated with its predominant effect on the right hemisphere of the brain.

For a harmonious combination of a person with the world around him, there must be a consistency of intuition and logic, spirit and mind, in which a person with his logic (the function of the left hemisphere) can realize his intuition, images (the function of the right hemisphere). From a psychological point of view, a person’s harmony corresponds to the degree of his psychological protection from life’s shocks and illnesses.

Consequently, the most complex facial reactions, reflecting the subconscious and conscious reactivity of the corresponding centers of the brain, can be carried out only if there are diverse anatomical and physiological connections between all the central and peripheral components of this integral system, carried out by neuroconductors of both the somatic and autonomic parts of the nervous system. In contrast to the somatic fibers of the facial nerve, most of which cross in the brain stem and when the cortical centers are damaged, heterolateral paralysis of the facial muscles develops mainly in the lower part of the face, emotional reactions associated with the autonomic nervous system, in relation to the cerebral hemispheres, are mainly manifested homolateral.

The part of the motor nucleus of the facial nerve that innervates the facial muscles of the upper part of the face (frontalis, orbicularis oculi) has cortical innervation from both hemispheres of the brain. In contrast, the inferior part of the nucleus, which innervates the inferior facial muscles, receives cortical innervation primarily from the contralateral precentral gyrus. Therefore, when the precentral gyrus is damaged on the opposite side, paresis of the facial muscles of only the lower part of the face occurs, but the function of the facial muscles of the upper part of the face, which have bilateral cortical innervation, is not impaired.

Thus, the state of the right hemisphere is reflected on the right half of the face, and the state of the left hemisphere is reflected on the left. This is especially important for the eyes. Until now, it was believed that the state of the two hemispheres of a person’s brain is reflected on his face “crosswise” - the left hemisphere on the right side of the face, and the right hemisphere on the left side of the face. This circumstance did not allow scientists to develop an adequate methodology for testing psychotypes. Therefore, for example, the “James Express Test” is not reliable and has not been successfully used in practice.

In healthy people, facial expressions on the left side of the face reflect the emotional state to a greater extent than facial expressions on the right side. The more obvious expression of emotions on the left half of the face is confirmed in special model experiments, in which it was shown that emotions are more recognizable in photographs composed of the two left halves of the face. To determine the mental state, we use the method of video-computer diagnostics. Using a video camera, a computer builds two new human faces. One portrait is made up of the right halves of the face (spiritual, genetic portrait), the other - from the left (life, social portrait).

The “genetic portrait” shows the determination and readiness for action of this person, and the “social portrait” shows fatigue, depression, which is manifested by drooping corners of the eyes, eyebrows, etc. Next, these portraits are compared in a computer using a special algorithm, and according to this program, the computer assigns this person to one of 49 psychological types and gives a percentage of complete personal characteristics, professional characteristics and recommendations for harmonizing personality, changing lifestyle, and effective interaction with other people. , the surrounding world.

Video-computer diagnostics, along with questionnaires, are used to determine the mental state of somatic patients (bronchial asthma, arterial hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, etc.), for more effective treatment of these patients, taking into account the mental status (anxiety, depression).

Using this method, psychophysical self-regulation of a person can occur based on visual biofeedback. If a person looks at these two portraits of himself, then he begins to realize his subconscious (repressed from consciousness) feelings. As a result of this biofeedback, the emotions in the two portraits become positive and aligned. In practice, mental processes are stabilized, a person’s intuitive and logical abilities are leveled, and the degree of personal harmony increases. At the same time, the face and eyes become more symmetrical, psychosomatic disorders decrease, the process of rejuvenation occurs (if aging occurs prematurely), the person returns to his life program, to himself.

One of the significant advantages of this method is the ability to study a person in the past. The study of early photographs, starting from early childhood, allows us to identify periods of mental trauma and the dynamics of the development of disorders. During psychocorrection, with the help of portraits synthesized from early photographs, the best of the previous states is restored.

• Do facial expressions age you?
• Facial exercise
• Studying emotions
• Guessing game
• Bad facial habits

Facial expressions are a powerful tool for expressing emotions and feelings, which can be more eloquent than any words. It is not for nothing that there is a separate genre of theatrical art - pantomime. A mime can make audiences cry and laugh by acting out the performance with his face. Imagine how impoverished communication will be if you deprive it of additional ways of conveying your internal state - intonation, gestures and facial expressions.

There are many professions for which the ability to control facial expressions is very important. This is both a vivid expression of emotions, and vice versa - the ability not to reveal one’s feelings. Actors, teachers, managers, diplomats, businessmen, TV presenters... But not only for work, you need to know how to train facial expressions - everyone should be able to convey their feelings beautifully and reliably.

In parallel with facial expressions, it is necessary to develop the speech apparatus - these two mechanisms are inextricably linked with each other. For example, there is a therapeutic complex of facial exercises for children with dysarthria - a disorder of pronunciation function. There is a “mutual guarantee” between speech and facial expressions: the clearer the speech, the better developed the facial muscles and vice versa.

But before we find out how to develop facial expressions, let's deal with an issue that worries many.

Do facial expressions age you?

There is an opinion that lively facial expressions quickly age a person: where folds often appear, deep wrinkles form over time. Is it so?

In order not to be unfounded, let's compare film actors known for their facial skills. Jim Carrey comes to mind first. He is in his early 50s and already has noticeable wrinkles, especially around the eyes. The actor himself admits that his career as an actor with the most expressive face gave him wrinkles. But at the same time, Kerry never had plastic surgery or Botox injections - since they make facial expressions more constrained, this is strictly contraindicated for a movie star. In order to slow down the aging process, Kerry uses creams.

Jackie Chan is another person with rich facial expressions who is always smiling. He is a little over 60 years old, but he looks great. Of course, he also has facial wrinkles, but throughout his life Jackie has only performed operations related to injuries - no plastic surgery.

The ever-present Johnny Depp is also slightly over 50, but it’s hard to believe - it seems that he is at most 40. But there is one secret - Captain Sparrow had plastic surgery: a facelift, eyebrow lifting and blepharoplasty (around the eyes).

But the actor famous for his almost complete absence of facial expressions - Keanu Reeves - does not age at all. He is the same age as Depp and Kerry, but at the same time he looks 30. They say that Neo does not disdain Botox, but the actor himself does not admit it. His main acting tool is his eyes.

Indeed, certain facial habits leave an imprint on the face - but this happens within the allotted time, when natural wrinkles appear in a person, and not earlier. And what kind of wrinkles they will be is up to you to choose: either deep furrows from a gloomy frowning forehead, or charming rays around the eyes from laughter. And don’t forget that actors known for their ability to make faces have been doing this professionally all their lives. They filmed millions of takes and grimaced much more than a person would need in everyday life. Imagine Jim Carrey in his office. Did you laugh?

Those who are afraid of losing their youth need to remember additional factors - heredity, skin type, exposure to the sun, facial care. Massage, anti-aging treatments, creams and oils will help you not be afraid of the appearance of early wrinkles.

Facial exercise

In order to develop your facial expressions, you first need to make your face more mobile and loosen your facial muscles. Athletes do a warm-up before training - let's do this too. You need to stand in front of the mirror, put your hair in a ponytail, and pin up your bangs. The entire face should be visible.

Start vigorously moving different parts of your face, trying to develop as much amplitude as possible. Here are examples of such movements:

• Raise and lower your eyebrows;
• Open and close your mouth wide;
• Smile as widely as possible without exposing your teeth, then sharply fold your lips into a bow or “duck”;
• Open your eyes wide and squint.

It is important that when exercising on a certain part of the face, the rest are not involved. At first, this can be difficult - some muscles “pull” others along with them, and together with your eyebrows, for example, you begin to reflexively raise your lips.

These exercises should be repeated regularly, even when you have already developed facial expressions. They help muscles stay fast and flexible. At first you need to train 3-4 times a week, then you can leave one session. One lesson should last about half an hour.

As an addition to the exercises, you can make faces at yourself - this also warms up the facial muscles well.

Studying emotions

As you remember, we will need the development of facial expressions primarily in order to colorfully convey emotions. Therefore, you need to learn the appropriate facial expression and learn to apply this skill in communication. Many people do not know how to convey emotions “to order”: you ask them to portray anger, but it turns out to be a comical mask. This is because they don’t know what they look like from the outside. We will eradicate this problem with the help of the next exercise.

Stand in front of the mirror and try to portray the following emotions:

• Suffering;
• Joy;
• Astonishment;
• Disturbance;
• Fright;
• Anger;
• Hopelessness;
• Thoughtfulness;
• Delight.

If you are not satisfied with the result, look at the actors' faces in certain situations and try to imitate their expressions. If you can’t evaluate the results of your work in the mirror, take a selfie; it’s easier to draw objective conclusions from a photograph.

At sessions, the fashion model is obliged to depict all the feelings and states that the photographer gives her: “Give me some tenderness! Innocence! Aggression! You saw a kitten! They gave you a car!” And she must perform all this no worse than a Hollywood film star.

Many people think that models only need beauty and figure, but a very important role in this profession is played by the ability to be photogenic and own your face. Try to be a fashion model and portray all the emotions and reactions that come to your mind.

Guessing game

She needs another person who is also interested in exercises for facial expressions. And even better if it's a group - then you can play a fun game. It is similar to the game of “crocodile” - one participant depicts the hidden emotion, the rest guess.

Learn to do what you don't know how to do

1. Wink.

Yes, not everyone knows how to do it beautifully and playfully. Some people can simply close one eye, while others cannot even do that - they can only blink with both. Look at actors or friends who know how to wink, and repeat it in the mirror. You may have to help yourself with your hands at first, holding those parts of your face that don’t obey.

2. How to raise one eyebrow?

Evolution gave us the ability to raise our eyebrows. Besides people, only monkeys can do this - this is how they demonstrate a threat.

Anyone can raise both eyebrows, but not everyone can raise one. Those who are endowed with this superpower flaunt it left and right. Don't worry - it can be developed. We stand in front of the mirror again and begin to raise one eyebrow with our hands, holding the second. We remember which muscles work. Learn to raise your eyebrows without using your hands. Aerobatics is to quickly lift them one by one, as if playing.

3. Tongue tricks

You remember that to improve facial expressions, you need to develop your speech apparatus. Tongue exercises will not only help with this, but will also make you a star among your friends - after all, very few people know how to roll their tongue into a tube, fold it like an accordion, or reach it to their nose. True, with reaching the nose there is one prerequisite - a long tongue. But you have to at least try. But the rest of the exercises will be given to the owner of a tongue of any length. The technology cannot be explained in a nutshell - it’s better to look for a training video on the Internet.

Bad facial habits

To have beautiful and expressive facial expressions, you need to get rid of habits that spoil your facial expression and cause early wrinkles. Many of us squint, wince, grimace and frown without even realizing how much it harms us. If you know such habits, control them. And in order not to relax, periodically squint or wince in the mirror - look how ugly it is, and you will immediately have an incentive to get rid of these grimaces. If you constantly forget about self-control, ask someone close to you to remind you. Mothers deal with this best - they are more worried than anyone that their children are beautiful and charming.

***
Everyone has facial expressions - they are embedded in the brain in childhood, when babies look at their parents and copy their facial expressions. But uncontrolled facial expressions are like an ill-mannered person - they will always find where to make trouble. You can compare it to a horse riding a rider - instead of making life easier, uncontrolled facial expressions complicate it. They say about such people: everything is written on his forehead. And he would like to hide his feelings, but he cannot.

Its role should not be belittled - just the ability to correctly use facial expressions can significantly change a person’s fate. And you can start learning this skill at any time, regardless of age.

P.S. Find out " What is artistry and how to develop it»

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