Read minds: Microexpressions.

[trisomination]

Good evening.
I came across this months ago through the show Lie to Me. Was bored eventually and watched only a season, but whatever.
A microexpression is basically a facial expression we can`t control or fake. It`s just showing on your face what you feel in a matter of milliseconds. You can read more about it here.
I always knew what people were feeling, but without wanting to or needing to name it. When I saw this show, I researched it and found out I was a natural.
Being a natural means that you don`t need any training or very little to get 100% expressions right. I got for my first ever 14-expressions test 98%.
It`s just so interesting to see people on the streets and watch them do everyday things, but it`s much more fun to know how they feel.
I annoy my friends all the time with this, just blurting out how they feel. It`s really funny to see them get annoyed so easily
There`s a online test here.
Just wondering, how many time did you get it right and how many times wrong?

 

[Grove]

6/10 right. I'm not so great at this.

 

[Anthile]

That was easy. 10/10

But... some of these people look weird.

 

[Cavallier]

That test was little hokey because it was one picture of emotion spliced for a millisecond between an emotionless picture. That's not exactly how micro expressions work but it was interesting anyway.

10/10

 

[Starfruit M.E.]

7/10 but in person I can usually catch this stuff. In that case you see the persons face and the context of that face, and then the movement into and out of the microexpression. I agree with Cavallier though that this test isn't really how they work. And the faces we watch for are usually not so exaggerated either.

 

[TheHmmmm]

Don't really have time to take the test, but I was interested in this stuff after I heard something called FACS (Facial Action Coding System) that apparently identifies all of these microexpressions and explains them. I was tempted to buy the CD until I read that it was around $240.

I'll stick to my pre-installed BS detector.

 

[WorkInProgress]

I only missed #7, thinking the guy was surprised instead of scared. When I think about it I really haven't seen many guys be scared, especially to the point of making that face.

 

[trisomination]

Seems this is natural for INTPs. Really interesting, maybe from observing people so much
If anyone wants the software, I can send it to you. Just PM me, but keep in mind I haven`t bought it.

 

[Vegard Pompey]

I think I got just about every one of them wrong.

 

[Words]

^
Ditto. It leaves me one option at first, but when I start to think about it more...the possibilities arise.

 

[Ska]

I am the opposite of a natural at this...

 

[trisomination]

Don`t worry, the training is really fun and easy. The show Lie to Me helps a lot too!
Or just observing people.
It`s really useful, you`ll find it of use too someday...

 

[Da Blob]

There are several old threads around discussing this topic. Generally, Paul Ekman is seen as The Expert in the field, do an author search, in an academic database some time... He has really done some interesting work with Davidson...
The idea that the right hemisphere is focused on avoiding threat, while the left is focused on viewing change in the environment as opportunity and not threat, sets ups some really interesting philosophical issues....
Here's a few articles, there are a lot more if any one wants to investigate...

Davidson, R. J., Saron C. D. , Senulis, J. A., Ekman, P. & Friesen, W. V. (1990). Approach-withdrawal and cerebral asymmetry: Emotional expression and brain physiology 1. Journal of Personality and Social Development 58: 2 330-341
Davidson, R. J. (1992). Emotion and affective style: Hemispheric substrates. Psychological Science, 3, 39–43.
Davidson, R. J. (1993). Cerebral asymmetry and emotion: Conceptual and methodological conundrums. Cognition and Emotion, 7, 115–138.
Davis, W.B., Gfeller, K.E. & Thaut M.H. (1999). An Introduction to Music Therapy. (2nd ed.). Boston, MeGraw-Hill Companies

Ekman, P. (1964). Body position, facial expression, and verbal behavior during interviews. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology. 68.3 295-301.
Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V., O’Sullivan, M. & Scherer, K. (1980). Relative importance of face, body and speech in judgments of personality and affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 38: 7 270-277.
Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V. & Simons, R. C. (1985). Is the Startle Reaction an Emotion? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 49: 5, 1416-1426.
Ekman, P., Davidson, R. J., & Friesen, W. V. (1990). The Duchenne smile: Emotional expression and brain physiology II. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 342-353.
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1974). Detecting deception from body or
face. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29,288-298.
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1975). Unmasking the face: A guide to
recognizing emotions from facial clues. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-
Hall.
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1976). Measuring facial movement. Journal
of Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior, 1, 56-75.
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1978). The facial action coding system.
Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1982). Felt, false, and miserable smiles.
Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 6, 238-252.
Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V, & Ancoli, S. (1980). Facial signs of emotional
experience. Journal of 'Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 1125-
1134.
Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V., & O'Sullivan, M. (1988). Smiles when lying.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 414-420.

Ekman, P., Roper, G., & Hager, J. C. (1980). Deliberate facial movement.
Child Development, 51, 886-891.

 

[CoryJames]

7/10 right, but yea, that test seemed a bit unprofessional and unrealistic. In real life you would have context, and a progression of expressions to work with.

 

[Abraxas]

10 / 10

The test was pretty simple. The facial expressions were a bit exaggerated, as most of you pointed out.

Don`t worry, the training is really fun and easy. The show Lie to Me helps a lot too!
Or just observing people.
It`s really useful, you`ll find it of use too someday...

I've never watched the show. I find observing people the best way to train one's "lie detection skills". It also helps knowing someone with pseudologia fantastica.