Facial expressions are a primal mode of communication
Facial expressions section
A primal mode of communication
Humans have invented spoken language, and they are very proud of it.
They talk so much that they've ended up abandoning more fundamental methods of communication such as; touching, gestures, eye contact and facial expressions.
These fundamental modes of expression can convey more information, faster than speech can, but they can also express messages that cannot be transmitted by language.
Fetus ultrasound
Even if no one can see, the fetus is continuously conveying its emotions through facial expressions and gestures.
Adults do the same, and their face is set into motion just by thinking about something, even if no one is around.
Primates are facial expression champions
Primates have evolved away from scent signals towards visual ones; so, they use their faces extensively to communicate.
They have developed their facial muscles more than any other type of animal.
These muscles are controlled directly by the nervous system and express their emotions.
This is why facial expressions represent the most natural mode of communication.
Facial expressions are also cross-culturally understood.
Several species have hairless regions, eyebrows or colors to improve intelligibility.
Humans are apes, and they are experts at making faces.
A window on your feelings
Facial expressions happen almost instantaneously.
In fact, they occur faster than your brain can react, and can express feelings you may later want to hide.
The person relating with you knows how you feel faster than with any other means of communication.
Just one split second glance can give you a good idea of a person's emotional state.
Often, words wouldn't even do justice to the complexity and strength of the feelings you can express with your face.
Involuntary and voluntary expressions
Since we don't control the first moments of our reaction to events, you may not be satisfied with the facial expressions you put out.
They reflect your true feelings; but the way you really feel about something may not be acceptable to the people you're relating with.
So you rapidly change your expression after your conscious brain takes control.
We can talk about:
-Involuntary expressions; Occurring immediately after the stimulus.
-Voluntary expressions; Afterwards.
Boomerang facial expressions
Whenever you voluntarily put out a facial expression, it sticks to you.
The link in your brain between emotions and expressions is so strong that it can function the other way around.
You can observe that simply putting an expression on your face will actually cause the associated emotion to appear inside of you.
You can use this phenomenon constructively by displaying positive expressions.
This also works with others, and you'll find out that by showing a smiley face, you get lots of smiles in return.
Facial expressions form a complete language
I'm a very sociable person who meets hundreds of strangers every day.
I generally don't have to talk to these people to relate with them.
I use eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and postures.
I find I can express myself better and faster this way.
I consider that facial expressions form a complex and complete language. However, most humans are social and communication peewees; so they have problems expressing themselves that way, except with their family and friends.
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