Sep 27, 2006
Emotions and faces: part of Executive Intelligence
By: Alvaro Fernandez
Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg, when discussing different Frontal Lobe, functions in his Wisdom Paradox book, adds that “Executive intelligence” includes “the ability to penetrate other people’s minds, and that starts with an interest in other people’s minds.”
What do we call a window into other people’s emotions? A face.
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Paul Ekman has conducted extensive research on identifying emotions through facial expressions. As part of that research, and as part of the power of discipline and training, he learned how to consciously manipulate 42 facial muscles, including many that in most of us are beyond our control, and even awareness. |
Based on primary and secondary research, he found that there are seven emotions expressed in the face in universally consistent ways:
- Sadness
- Anger
- Surprise
- Fear
- Enjoyment
- Disgust
- Contempt
Even more interesting: according to his research, feelings and facial expressions influence each other. This is, not only a sad person will naturally look sad, but a person who intentionally smiles will feel more content than a person who doesn’t.
You can read his advice on how to recognize feelings in order to communicate better, focused on doctor-patient relationships but useful to everyone (including patients who may want to make sure to get their point across).
Why is this relevant for Frontal Lobe functions? well, as part of your decision-making, you may benefit from knowing whether someone is lying to you, and you can refine your guess based on 10 tips that can let you know if someone is lying to you.
Question: from left to right, top then down, what universal feeling does each face indicate?
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Anger Fear Surprise
Contempt Enjoyment Sadness
Very good, Pat!
Anger Fear Surprise
Contempt Enjoyment Sadness
[...] 43. Can you read these faces. [...]
I think the face you are calling “Contempt” looks more like “Disgust” to me. But the meanings of those words could be considered similar.
I mean, if I am disgusted by someone or something – then – at that moment – I am viewing them with contempt.
anger, fear, surprise
disgust, enjoyment, contempt
fury or anger,
shocked surprise with fear,
nice surprise or pretend surprise or conveying interest in conversation,
disgust (she seems to be saying “ewww!”)
happy
sad but only surface deep sad.
1. anger or contempt
2. fear
3. surprise
4. disgust
5. enojoyment and
6. sadness
Anger, fear, suprised, disqusted, happy =D, and sad
anger, fear, surprise, disgust or contempt,enjoyment, sadness
I read them as anger, fear, surprise, disgust, enjoyment,and sadness.
I equate the face that I recognize as disguest with a voice saying, “Ewwww.”
I thought the METT labeled them happiness instead of enjoyment and disgust instead of contempt…
1. I am so angry
2. I am completely mortified
3. I’m pretending to listen but really I am not.
4. I smell something funny
5. I am so totally like, bored.