#microexpression

“A microexpression is the innate result of a voluntary and an involuntary emotional response occurring simultaneously and conflicting with one another.  Microexpressions cannot be controlled as they happen in a fraction of a second. They express the seven universal emotions: disgust, anger, fear, sadness, happiness, contempt, and surprise.”

(Remember: HIGHLY SIMPLIFIED for a specific 5th Grader who is interested in acting and cartooning! If you want something more comprehensive, you’ll need to go to the library or get training.You should be able to long tap or right-click the worksheets.) 

 Exaggerated (Comedy) Smiles:

                        This person is too happy. When someone exaggerates a facial expression and holds it for a long time, they are trying to make sure you believe it. It may mean they are lying, but it also may mean they are just insecure. This is a masking expression.

You may also have noticed her eyes are wide open, now that you know the trick. If you cover half of her face, she looks surprised, doesn’t she?

Another reason she might be exaggerating is she is trying to be funny. Actors in comedies and cartoon characters often linger on an expression longer than a normal person for comedic effect. Masking expressions are common in comedies.

These are pictures of a famous comedienne and business woman, Lucille Ball. Lucy was known for her comedic facial expressions. Which smile is real?

 1.   How to Act Happy:

You can act happy ALMOST any time (more on that later); sometimes acting happy can make you happier. So, how can you fake a Duchenne smile? Here are three ways:

1.    Cover the bottom half of your face and practice in a mirror, making sure to move your cheeks and make crows’ feet. Be careful not to glare. Glaring means your eyes look angry. Your eyebrows should be relaxed and neutral.

2.    Actors often use “Sense Memory” to make an emotion look right. Make a list of things that always make you smile and pull one out of your memory when you need a real smile.

3.    “Kitten Therapy” means looking at pictures of kittens to make yourself feel happy.

4.    Find something to smile about in the moment.

 2.   When NOT to Act Happy:

You should never act happy when you need help, or to make someone else happy.

1.    If you are very unhappy, for instance if you are sick, injured, or in trouble, or someone you love is, you should not act happy. People need to know the truth in order to help you.

2.    If someone says they can only be happy if you are happy, this is a type of toxic manipulation, and toxic manipulation is a lie. You can’t make someone else happy with pretend happiness; this is about power and control, not happiness. In this case, you need to be polite and distant, like Polite Cat, and they need to learn to make themselves happy.

Expression of the Month: Bob’s “Help Me” Microexpression.

(Remember: HIGHLY SIMPLIFIED for a specific 5th Grader who is interested in acting and cartooning! If you want something more comprehensive, you’ll need to go to the library or get training.You should be able to long tap or right-click the worksheets.)

(Remember: HIGHLY SIMPLIFIED for a specific 5th Grader who is interested in acting and cartooning! If you want something more comprehensive, you’ll need to go to the library or get training.You should be able to long tap or right-click the worksheets.)

Microexpressions are fast facial expressions that appear before someone uses their masking expression. FACS, or the FAcial Coding System, is a way of reading facial expressions that allows you to figure out what someone is really feeling.

A masking expression is the face people use to cover up what they are really thinking. It could be a blank, neutral face, or they may use another emotion as a mask. Happiness and anger are easy to fake, especially if someone feels ashamed or guilty, so people often exaggerate these as masking expressions.

A masking expression can be a lie or a deception. Most often they are used to smooth over social situations or protect privacy. (You should never point out when someone is using a masking expression for these reasons. Put it in your mental vault.) 

There are six universal emotional expressions based on human biology that cannot be changed by culture or upbringing: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.

For a multitude of reasons, people often want to hide, or mask, their feelings, but they can be placed into two categories: self-focused and other-focused. Self-focused deception is selfish, as you might glean from the name. Other-focused deception is concerned with others. We will divide these into lies (self-focused) and deception (other-focused). Lies are toxic, while deception smooths social situations.

1.   Use the truth when you can.

For instance, if you answer the phone and a stranger starts asking questions, you say, “I’m not allowed to answer questions over the phone.” This is true, and it protects you and your family. But sometimes the truth isn’t the best answer. 

2.   When is it OK to lie?

It is never OK to lie. Lies are toxic and selfish. People lie because they think they are more important than other people. (There is an exception we'll get to later that's somewhere between lies and deception, but let's keep it simple for now.)

3.   When is it OK to be deceptive?

It is OK to use deception to help an innocent person (including yourself), to make a social situation go smoothly when necessary, and, of course, while creating an obvious a work of fiction.

4.   Real-Life Acceptable Deceptions

Socially acceptable deceptions are sometimes referred to as harmless untruths or white lies. Here are some deceptions that make life better.

a.    It’s a Fine Time for a Fine Time

You have had a long, hard day, but nothing too stressful, then someone at the store asks how you’re doing, but they’re obviously working or in a really good mood. If you rant about your day, you might ruin their good mood and take up a lot of time, and you know it’s not going to solve anything, so you say, “I’m fine.” This is slightly deceptive, but it’s not a lie because you’re other-focused.

(In fact, in our culture, “I’m fine” is the most common “white lie” -- so common it’s almost expected. This is why people sometimes giggle if you answer, “Fantastic!” or “Happy to be here!”)

When you shouldn’t use this deception: when you need help, or when you’re talking to someone close to you who might be able to change your mood. You should talk to people you trust when you’re having a problem.

b.   Donut Do That

You are waiting for your mom in the changing room at Target and you see a lost child yelling, “I don’t know you!” to a grownup and looking worried, so you pretend you’re friends, put on a big smile, and yell, “There you are! Your Mom sent us all out to find you! What kind of donut do you want?” You bring them to the changing room until your mom comes out or a Target employee shows up. This is deception, not a lie, because you are helping an innocent person by confusing a bad one.

When you shouldn’t use this deception: when you sense immediate danger or see a weapon. You should report it to a worker.

You should also avoid getting too closely involved when there is a grownup nearby who can help quickly, such as an employee or a parent with kids. You should always find a grownup when you can.

c.    The Twist Ending

A stranger is following you and a friend at the bookstore, they keep changing direction when you do, so you say, “I think I’ll look at the mysteries because my dad works for the police,” even though this isn’t true. This is a deception because you are scaring away someone creepy and protecting two innocent people, including yourself. When you are safe, find an employee and say you think someone is following kids around the store.

When you shouldn’t use this deception: when you need immediate help. Make your way to a crowded area away from the restrooms and exits and report creepers to the first employee you can find.

d.   Do No Harm

You see a friend who has been in the hospital a long time, and they look terrible, but you put on a big smile and say, “You look like you’re getting better!” This is a kindness, and other-focused, so it’s a deception that makes a social situation go smoothly, not a lie. (It also may make your friend feel a bit more confident.)

When you shouldn’t use this deception: If your friend is having an acute problem, like if their nose starts bleeding. You should tell them and make sure they get help.

TIP: The easiest way to find out if something is a lie or deception is to figure out whether it is other-focused or self-focused. If you know a person’s character well, this will be easy.

For strangers, you will have to look for clues in their facial expressions and body language, and you will need to remember detecting falsehoods is an art that uses science, not a science. Accept that you could be wrong before you start.