Body Language For Dummies®, 2nd Edition

Chapter 4

Watching Facial Expressions

In This Chapter

Communicating your feelings when words are inappropriate

Recognising facial expressions that reinforce the spoken message

Masking emotions

Expressing a range of emotions

Face it. No matter what you say, people are going to believe the look on your face rather than what you tell them. Try as you may to hide your feelings, the curl of your lip, the glint in your eye, or the flare of your nostrils gives the game away. Second only to your eyes, your face, when moving, is your most expressive feature.

Facial expressions exert a powerful control over the type and amount of communication between individuals. People make personality and other judgements about each other based on what they see on their faces. Rightly or wrongly, people believe that someone with an attractive face has many other positive attributes.

Sometimes letting your expression do the talking is more appropriate than blurting out what you’re thinking or feeling. At other times you may need to reinforce your spoken message with a physical gesture, or express emotions ...