The book takes a tangent on the topic of facial expressions. Two scientists by the names of Silvan Tomkins and Paul Ekman painstakingly devised a method of reading facial expressions and determining the underlying emotions of the person based on the facial expressions with almost inexplicable correctness. I find their research interesting, but given that only about 40 people in the world have mastered their method, this obviously not an easy undertaking.
As I am nearing the end of the book, I reflect on all the different topics and themes that this book has delved in to. How we as people take in information is really an interesting thing. Sometimes we make a decision on a person, event, process in under a second’s time that might very well change our whole course in life and yet other times it make take years to fully grasp a concept presented to us. Thus far, the book has provided insight to those split second processes of thinking and deciding. It is as if the book doesn’t tell the reader necessarily how it’s done, but provides examples of it happening. We shall see how the author wraps this all up soon.
This is a good example of surivival mechanisms and heuristics. Our minds identify inherent and learned patterns as a means for instant decisions, much of which are protective. Facial recognition is a universal communicator for primal action and reaction. Sometimes, much of our learned knowledge mediates our reactions, such as the case in prejudgment. Some chalk this up to 'gut-feeling' and intuition due to pattern recognition with little cognition. Since these instatneous reactions are designed as survival mechanisms, often more than not these are correct in preservation.
ReplyDeleteAs for how it is done, the theories are wide spread and conflicting. I look forward to your future posts for providing insight.
Preston
I wish I was expert on this. When I'm speaking with someone in person and doubt what they are saying, I always think - are they lying if they look up and to the left or the right. I can't for the life of me remember which is supposed to represent recall versus producing a lie . . .
ReplyDeleteI use my innate ability to discern peoples facial expression though I can see that it is definitely a science . But once you throw cultural differences in there does that change things up? Example such as eye contact-is that less prevalent in some cultures-I know in fact it can be considered rude. Either way this is an interesting subject and the more I learn the less I know or need to learn!
ReplyDeleteMakes one think how difficult it would be detecting a lie in a culture that does not look each other in the eyes…..
ReplyDeleteI have another friend reading this book, and am interested to check it out myself.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting that you say that the author doesn't tell how it's done, but gives examples of it happening.
As for facial expressions, I think some people are just hard to read. And, I wonder how accurate intuition is, and if we should always listen to it?