A Conversation for Body Language

Universal facial expressions....

Post 1

Crescent

....disgust - wrinkled nose, raised top lip. It is the same all over the world, though the things which disgust are different. A smile is also a universal gesture, everyone knows what a smile is, and even of you are faking it (there are muscles around the eyes, very hard to control, that kick in if you really smile smiley - smiley The face made if angry is also universal, as is sadness. I think fear is also another. All over the world these are the same, though what causes them may be different smiley - smiley Until later....
BCNU - Crescent


Universal facial expressions....

Post 2

Fragilis - h2g2 Cured My Tabular Obsession

I would agree with these.

I think the most interesting non-universal gestures are those that mean "yes" and "no." If you wander too far off the beaten path, you will find that some cultures shake their head for "yes" and nod for "no." Confusing!


Universal facial expressions....

Post 3

Pitzel

A tangent on the real smile thing:
A real smile will fade after a few seconds. Forced or fake smiles will last much longer.


Universal facial expressions....

Post 4

Cheerful Dragon

Also, a real smile will move more muscles on one side of the face (the right side, I think), whereas a fake smile will move more muscles on the other. This is because of the relationship between the emotional centre of the brain and the muscles that get used for smiling. Smiles are seldom perfectly symmetrical.


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