What does facial expression say? What do gestures, facial expressions and human body language say from a psychological point of view? That's what a woman gets painted - that's what we look at;)

Nothing is more capable of revealing a person’s intentions than his body movements. After all, each of our thoughts is accompanied by a certain set of muscle contractions. Knowing this feature, many try to imitate their facial expressions and gestures. However, a person who knows body language immediately recognizes the true thoughts of his interlocutor. If you also want to have such knowledge, let’s take a closer look at what human facial expressions and gestures mean.

Gestures, facial expressions and postures

The main question that torments most modern people concerns how sincerely this or that interlocutor behaves with us. This can be determined, for example, by the degree of symmetry of the face. The more different the right and left sides of it are, the stronger the lies that are told to you. But not only facial expressions, but also gestures and various poses are responsible for a person’s intentions. Let's consider the most common manifestations of certain emotions and thoughts:

1. Facial expressions:

• surprise - the eyes are widened, raised eyebrows form a small wrinkle on the forehead, the mouth is slightly open and rounded;
• joy - the lips are pursed into a barely noticeable smile, and small wrinkles are visible around the eyes;
• anger - the forehead muscles are pulled down, the facial expression is frowned, the lips are tightly compressed, the nostrils are slightly dilated, and the face itself may be red;
• interest - the eyelids are slightly narrowed or widened, and the eyebrows can be raised or lowered;
• disgust - outwardly it seems that a person is choking on something or wants to spit. The nose is wrinkled, the eyebrows are lowered, and the lower lip is slightly protruded.

2. Eye microexpressions:

• any change in the expression of the eyes and their movement is a reaction to what was said;
• frequent blinking - lying or excitement;
• dilation of the pupils – enjoyment of information, interest in communication. Can also be a manifestation of suffering;
• a stopped, “glassy” look is a huge weakness;
• feeling that the eyes are shining - excitement or fever;
• “shifty eyes” - shame, anxiety, deception or fear.

3. Gestures and their meaning(it is worth remembering that the direction of a person’s thoughts can only be determined by involuntary gestures):

• open palms - a gesture of frankness;
• light scratching of the nose or touching it - lies, uncertainty or suspicion of lies in what is being said;
• fussy movements of the hands (touching objects, fiddling with something in the hands) – nervousness, wariness or embarrassment;
• scratching or touching various parts of the head (back of the head, forehead, crown, cheeks) – uncertainty, embarrassment;
• clenching fists - aggression or internal excitement;
• shaking lint from clothes is disapproval;
• scratching or rubbing the eyelid - a feeling of suspicion on the part of the interlocutor or a lie;
• rubbing the chin - the moment of decision making;
• tilting your head to the side is a sign of interest in what is being said.

4. If facial expressions and gestures in communication are not eloquent enough for you, pay attention to interlocutor's posture:

• resting your hands on a chair or table - protection from conversation or a feeling of incomplete contact with your interlocutor;
• hands behind your back and head raised high - a feeling of superiority over others;
• open (not crossed) limbs, an undone button on the collar and a slightly untied tie are a sign of trust and acceptance of the interlocutor;
• crossed limbs (the so-called closed pose) – skepticism or protection from the interlocutor;
• grasping a glass or mug with both hands is a sign of veiled nervousness;
• clasped fingers - an attempt to hide disappointment in the interlocutor or a negative attitude;
• Frequently changing positions or fidgeting – tension and internal restlessness.

These are not all the manifestations of body movements that can be noticed during the thought process of our interlocutor. Of greatest interest to many is sign language in relations between men and women. Let's take a look at some examples.

Facial expressions and gestures of lovers

Many women have always been interested in the psychology of facial expressions and gestures of men. Although the stronger sex, in turn, is also interested in how to understand that a woman is showing interest or sympathy. Let's figure out who's into what.

1. Facial expressions and gestures of men. Many women wonder how to understand that he is interested in communication and shows sympathy? Let's start with the fact that although men know how to hide their emotions, their external manifestations still betray their intentions. Let's consider what the gestures and facial expressions of a man in love are:

• an appraising glance running over the entire body - a man only needs a minute to understand whether he likes a woman;
• if during a conversation a man’s mouth is slightly open and his lips tremble a little, he experiences a feeling of sympathy;
• pose with tense muscles - demonstrating your body and wanting to be liked;
• fiddling with buttons on his trousers or jacket - he is nervous in the presence of his interlocutor;
• if a man, in the presence of a lady, sucks in his stomach and stands tall, he involuntarily tries to look better in her eyes;
• if a man offers his jacket or coat, this is evidence of the woman’s recognition as his chosen one;
• a man’s hand on a woman’s shoulder or waist – the desire to be closer and the fear of losing sight of the lady.

Sexual body language and facial expressions of men:

• legs wide apart;
• thumb tucked into belt;
• the hand frequently rubs or touches the chin or throat;
• Also, sexual interest on the part of a man can be indicated by playing with objects of a round shape, reminiscent of female roundness.

2. no less interesting to watch, even though the weaker sex knows how to hide their intentions:

• The most common gesture of women is playing with their hair, and in particular, pushing it out of their face. Good expression of interest and desire to attract attention;
• The woman's interest can be seen in her wrists. If she keeps them in sight and shows the smoothness of her skin, then she considers the man as a sexual partner;
• stroking any object in the shape of a cylinder makes it clear that the woman is clearly hinting at closer communication with the man;
• If a woman is interested in a man, she will involuntarily place her legs a little wider than usual. It is important to pay attention to the shoes. Their socks will point in the direction of the interlocutor who interests her.
• The play of a woman with a shoe is also of great importance. Baring your legs is a clear hint of intimacy or flirting.

You can understand a lot by a person’s posture, gestures and facial expressions. The main thing is to learn to recognize how easy certain body movements are for a person. In the future, such knowledge will help you understand what kind of person is in front of you, and what thoughts and associations you evoke in him.

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

IN 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.

About the fact that a person is relaxed in this moment, evidenced by unbuttoned top buttons on clothes, 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 bulging slightly, the eyebrows are raised, the mouth is open, as if it wants to say the letter “o”.

5. Fear

The eyelids and 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 is, of course, only a small part of facial gestures; the rest can be studied independently by reading books on physiognomy. Psychology is very interesting science, which 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 to do with true science and therefore should be thrown out of modern knowledge as unnecessary and useless 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 the purely positive sciences, such as anatomy, physiology and anthropology, and, using their data, have learned positive method 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, co-workers, friends and family members.

Physiognomy

Physiognomy- This character traits and the person's facial expression. 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 a 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 the relationship. 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 components 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 ensemble of the face 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 phylogeny, 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 vegetative component of the innervation of the facial muscles is also supported by the fact that the muscle tissues 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, carried out vegetatively 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 new cortex is clearly visible at the stage of formation of the outer 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 big brain. It is therefore quite natural that a person’s participation in various types expressions 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 sedentary.

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, internal character traits and Creative skills. Male, left half of the face is associated with heavenly qi 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 the largest discovery, awarded in 1980. Nobel Prize. 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, she could not put together simple structures from cubes, she 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 shutdown 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 right side 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 pronounced 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 provides a percentage of complete personal characteristics, professional characteristics and recommendations for harmonizing personality, changing lifestyle, effective interaction with other people and the world around them.

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 biological feedback. 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.

Our facial expressions and gestures tell the world around us every day about what mood we are in and what our character is. Very often we would like to hide our true attitude to the subject under discussion, but facial expressions betray our thoughts. How to recognize whether a business partner or a close friend is lying to you and how to learn to control facial expressions yourself in order to remain a mystery to others.

those around you? Let's try to answer these questions and figure out what facial expressions mean.

Facial physiognomy is not as simple a science as it seems. Only professional psychologists can “read” 90% of a person’s true thoughts using the meaning of a person’s facial expressions. But it’s enough for us to know a few simple secrets. To begin with, let's highlight a number of emotions that are easy to distinguish on the face of the interlocutor.

Astonishment. It can often be confused with fear. What these two emotions have in common are raised eyebrows and dilated pupils. Then the differences appear. When surprised, folds appear on the forehead. The mouth either straightens or the corners of the mouth lift upward, forming a smile. But if a person is scared, then his smile will become unnatural.

Pain or sadness. When there is pain, the lips are slightly raised, the face is almost the same as when there is physical pain. The eyebrows of the face are raised or brought closer to each other, creating a fold between the eyebrows. If a person is sad, his eyebrows will be drawn down so that his eyes are almost invisible. The shoulders will be compressed and the head will be lowered.

Disdain, distrust. A person with similar facial expressions will have a raised chin. It can be complemented by one raised eyebrow, as a symbol of insincere surprise or skepticism. Pursed corners of the mouth, pulled inward, also indicate mistrust.

Joy. This emotion is manifested in facial expressions human lung tension of all muscles. Wrinkles may form around the eyes. The lips are stretched into a smile.

Anger. Most often accompanied by aggression. The eyebrows are shifted towards the bridge of the nose and the muscles between the eyebrows are tense. When angry, the gaze will be directed directly at the interlocutor, and the corners of the lips will be lowered down.

Facial expressions - eyes

When reading a person's facial expressions, the eyes are the main assistant. You can only get confused if the person you are studying is left-handed. In this case, you need to study his facial expressions in a mirror manner.

1. If a person looks to the left and up, he imagines some kind of visual image in his head.
2. To the right and up - the interlocutor is trying to remember a familiar visual image from the past.
3. If the interlocutor looks to the left, it means he is creating a sound image in his mind.
4. If the interlocutor looks to the right, this indicates that he is trying to remember some kind of melody or sound line.
5. If you see the position of the eyes to the left and down, it means the person is trying to remember a kinetic image (taste, smell or sensation). (exceptions are sounds or pictures)
6. If a person looks to the right and down, this indicates an internal dialogue occurring at the moment. Or your interlocutor is thinking deeply about something.

Facial expressions - lips

Using the area of ​​the mouth and lips at different times, the character of a person and his state of health were interpreted. There are 7 types of lips based on shape and size:

1. Plump, juicy lips are found in talkative people with a lively and open character, who are distinguished by a light temperament and friendliness.
2. Thin small lips with soft outlines are found in generous, intelligent and honest people.
3. Bow lips show such character traits as coquetry, frivolity, and sometimes insincerity.
4. Thin but long lips are characteristic of gentle natures, as well as eloquent and sharp ones. smart people.
5. Lips that are harmonious in all respects speak of a harmonious personality that combines different character traits.
6. A large upper lip is characteristic of a powerful and restrained person, subordinate to reason and rationality at the expense of emotions.
7. People with strong character, self-controlled, but sensual and pleasure-loving people have thick lips.

Facial expressions when lying

If you do not want to be deceived by your interlocutor, then when reading the facial expressions of his face, it is important to remember: insincerity of feelings is always asymmetry of the face. A person trying to deceive you will force their facial muscles to work differently than they want. This struggle with your own facial expressions is unlikely to go unnoticed by you. The hardest thing for a potential liar to do is fake his gaze. In practice, this turns out to be impossible. Therefore, when talking with your interlocutor, it is important to look into his eyes. If the glance is cursory, or the person looks from under his brows, they are trying to deceive you. True, if a quick glance is not directed at you from under the eyebrows, then this person is simply a coward. If your interlocutor looks directly at you, does not try to avert his gaze and hide his eyes, you can hardly doubt his sincerity.

To remain a mystery to your interlocutor and be able to maintain composure, a few exercises a day are enough. The main thing is to always keep a small mirror with you and remember a few simple techniques.

And finally. Don't try to characterize someone you don't know. The likelihood that you will make a mistake and misinterpret the person's character and emotions in this case is too great.

And if you want to remain invisible, try not to experience visible emotions. Don't look anyone in the eye, be calm and they won't notice you.

Man is such an interesting creature that all manifestations of his essence, personality and feelings are perceived with interest. Facial expressions, for example, can tell a lot of interesting details about people, even if they themselves are silent. Gestures can also reveal someone else’s state. By observing people, you can learn many interesting details that will help you understand the truth or lies, emotions, mood and other characteristics of those around you. The psychology of facial expressions is truly extensive. To study it fully, one article or even a book is not enough. Nevertheless, some rules and tips will help you learn at least basic psychological “tricks” for use in the future.

General information and definitions

Physiognomy is the art of reading a person by his external signs, in particular by his face, his expression, features and facial expressions. You can determine both internal qualities and some psychological data, as well as health status. This method cannot be called completely scientific, but many are very seriously interested in it due to its certain validity.

Facial expressions are facial expressions in which a person reveals his inner feelings, experiences, and other spiritual qualities.

Gestures are body movements, most often with the hand/hands, that accompany or replace the words of the individual performing them.

Posture is the position of the body. A person sits, stands or lies the way he likes/convenient/comfortable.

Gestures, postures, facial expressions - all this plays important role in people's lives. Not a single person can live without them, and therefore, if you learn to recognize them correctly, life will become easier and more interesting. Facial expressions and gestures in communication are used everywhere and automatically; not everyone is able to control them. Thanks to this, more observant and attentive individuals have the opportunity to study people.

Face and facial expressions

What tells you best about a person? Of course, the face. It is this that is capable of giving away a person when he experiences some emotions, reacts to something, lies or tells the truth, etc. The language of facial expressions is rich and varied. It can be difficult to remember absolutely everything, but elementary features of sincere joy, for example, or disappointment can be retained in memory. And also learn to hide your own feelings.

Despite the fact that human facial expressions and gestures are closely interrelated, they will be considered separately. So, let's go.

Reactions

Human facial expressions manifest themselves in different ways, and most often they can be seen in human emotions. The latter, in turn, are shown in reactions. Depending on their manifestation, you can find out what a person experiences from the information received. The difficulty is that some are afraid, others don’t want to, and still others are embarrassed to show their own emotions. Because of this, you will have to have time to notice the quick, involuntary reaction that appears very first. It is often almost impossible to completely control it, especially for an unprepared person. Therefore, you can identify the interlocutor, which he will most likely remove from his face in seconds, if you act quickly and extremely carefully.

Emotions

So let's continue. As mentioned just above, facial expressions in communication are manifested through the expression of emotions emanating from a reaction. Below are the most striking and significant of them, as well as ways of expressing them:

• Joy happiness. The eyebrows and lips are relaxed, the corners of the latter are raised on both sides, the cheeks are also raised, and there are small wrinkles in the corners of the eyes.
• Anger, irritation. The eyebrows are tense, brought together and lowered, the mouth is tightly closed. Often the teeth are brought together, as are the lips, the corners of which look down during anger or strong dissatisfaction.
• Contempt. Smirk. The corner of the mouth is raised on one side and a slight squint is visible in the eyes.
• Astonishment. The lips and face are generally relaxed, the eyes are rounder than usual, the eyebrows are raised up, and the mouth is slightly open.
• Fear. The eyebrows and upper eyelids are raised, and the lower ones are tense, like the whole face as a whole, the eyes are wide open.
• Sadness, disappointment. Slightly lowered upper eyelids and raised eyebrows, relaxed lips with corners looking down, as well as an empty, dull look.
• Disgust. The upper lip is tense and raised, the eyebrows are brought together, forming a small fold, and slightly lowered, the cheeks are also slightly raised, and the nose is slightly wrinkled.

Among other things, pictures will help you deal with emotions. Their facial expressions are depicted well, which clearly demonstrates inner feelings and the experiences of the people depicted. Smiles, by the way, were also not invented in vain. Their facial expressions are often quite good, which is why they are in demand when trying to convey emotions via the Internet. After all, communication here mainly takes place in letters, which are not always able to convey the sensations experienced at one time or another.

Human condition

Sometimes it is enough to observe people a little to see what they are like. Facial expressions affect a person, and not only “one-time”, but for the rest of his life. The more clearly your interlocutor showed himself, the more you can find out about him.

— Smart people most often have a large forehead. This does not mean that their knowledge is great in everything. Sometimes it happens that a person knows a lot of information in one area, but is completely ignorant in another. If your friend has a large forehead, but does not show any signs of special intelligence, perhaps he simply has not yet found his business.

— Brilliant eyes and a lively look mean that a person is passionate about someone/something. This usually happens to curious children who are interested in everything in the world. On the contrary, if a person’s gaze is dull and indifferent, it means that he is depressed, perhaps close to depression.

— If a lot of wrinkles appear in the corners of the eyes when laughing, this means that the person is kind, cheerful and cheerful.

— Bitten lips mean that a person likes to think and is most often nervous when making a decision. Sometimes people automatically begin to act this way right in front of their interlocutor, because they cannot decide something.

— A firm, developed chin (often square) shows a person’s strong will. Because people, when achieving their goals (even in an argument), tense the lower part of the face, it begins to develop. With frequent victories, the chin becomes strong and firm, which proves a person’s ability to achieve his goals. Based on this, if the lower part of the interlocutor’s face is soft, weak and undeveloped, it can be assumed that he is easy to break. He will not go to the end if a serious obstacle appears ahead.

— The more various bulges, irregularities, “hollows”, “protrusions”, etc. on the face (sunken cheeks, prominent cheekbones, for example), the more emotional and hot-tempered a person is. He is easily able to fall into and brightly and vividly throw out his experiences on those around him.

Gesticulation

Both facial expressions and gestures in communication make it clear what and how a person says:

• Open palms signify trust and openness. If a person periodically exposes the inside of his hand to you, it means that he has nothing to hide from you, and he feels good in your company. If the interlocutor constantly hides his hands in his pocket, puts them behind his back, or makes other similar “secretive” movements, he is probably not very comfortable. This could be either dislike towards you or guilt/shame for past actions.
• Hands placed near the cheek mean thoughtfulness. Usually at such moments a person thinks intensely about something, tries to figure out what to do in a given situation, etc.
• When nervous or, more likely, lacking self-confidence, a person begins to touch either his neck or objects on it such as a pendant, chain, etc. In addition, he may begin to chew on the handle.
• A nod of the head signifies agreement. Sometimes people nod uncontrollably, thereby communicating on a subconscious level that they like someone else’s opinion. Shaking your head, on the contrary, means that the person does not agree with you. Just like nodding, sometimes it happens automatically.

Poses

Open facial expressions and gestures in communication are, of course, good, but we must not forget about the postures a person takes during a conversation:

How to recognize truth and lies from a person

That’s why many people are interested in the details of our article - everyone wants to know how to read a person’s facial expressions, how to see when they are blatantly lying to you, and when they are telling the pure truth. Some ways to expose a liar are given below, but remember that, perhaps, the liar has known about such tricks for a long time and therefore uses them skillfully and dexterously, deceiving others in such a way that

1. When a person tells a lie, his pupils involuntarily constrict. If you have previously noticed the initial state of the interlocutor’s eyes, then you will understand that he is being disingenuous after the pupils become smaller.
2. When a person lies, he looks away. This happens due to the fact that he is subconsciously ashamed of the false information he says.
3. When a person is lying and knows about the previous method, he looks intently into the eyes. Most often, he gets so “played” that he barely even blinks. This can also reveal a liar.
4. The gaze of a lying person moves from one object to another, without stopping at one thing. Sometimes it's just a sign of nerves, but more often it's a sign of lies.
5. Thanks to the compression of the zygomatic muscles, a kind of half-smile, half-grin appears on the face of the lying person.
6. The direction of your gaze will also tell you whether you are hearing the truth or a lie from your interlocutor. If a person looks to the right, most likely, you are being presented with a lie, if to the left, the truth. However, this rule applies provided that the speaker is right-handed, otherwise read backwards.

Features of foreign language of facial expressions and gestures

Not everywhere they communicate in the same ways as here. Of course, this does not mean human language, but the language of gestures, postures and facial expressions. The list below, indicating specific countries and incorrect actions, will help you avoid getting into trouble with foreigners.

Asia. Watch your arms and legs. You should not be the first to touch someone else’s head and hair, because for Asians this is the most sacred thing in a person. The legs, in turn, also don’t need to be loosened, though not at all. Even an accidental touch (to any part of the body) can cause panic and even anger on the part of Asians. This is because, unlike the head, the legs are considered the “lowest” thing in the human body.

Near East. Giving a thumbs up is the same as giving a person a punch in the ass. Children, however, often show this gesture, thereby trying to tease others.

Brazil. The “everything is OK” gesture (the thumb is connected to the index finger, forming a zero, and the remaining fingers stick out “out”) here has approximately the same meaning as our middle finger.

Venezuela. The gesture “everything is okay” here denotes homosexuality.

Italy. The “Goat” gesture from rock music here signifies betrayal and failure. That is, if you show this sign to someone, you are hinting that you consider him a complete loser who is being cheated on by his other half. In northern Italy you are also not allowed to touch your chin, as this means you are giving the person the middle finger.

Fiji. A handshake is considered a trademark of the republic, which is why you should not be afraid if the interlocutor holds your hand tightly and for a long time in his. This is just a sign of politeness, and it can really last a considerable amount of time, right up to the end of the conversation.

France. The “everything is okay” gesture here denotes homosexuality, and scratching the chin is the same middle finger.

Conclusion

So, now you know what role facial expressions play in a person’s life, as well as gestures, postures and other physiological features that are difficult to control. Of course, professionals like FSB or FBI agents will not show themselves in sensitive situations, but if your environment does not consist of such “cool” acquaintances, then you can always “read” a person and learn a lot of new things about him.