Unit VIII:Motivation & EmotionModule 42

Expressed Emotion

Detecting Emotions in Others 42-1

Expressed Emotion

• Emotions are expressed on the face, by the body, and by the intonation of voice.

• This nonverbal language of emotion is universal.

42-1

Detecting Emotion

• A feigned smile may continue for more than 4-5 seconds while a genuine smile will have faded by then.

• Women are much better at discerning nonverbal emotions than men.

Which of Paul Ekman’s smiles is genuine?

42-1

Culture & Expressed Emotion 42-2

Experienced Emotion

Researchers isolated 10 emotions. Most of them are present in

infancy, except for contempt, shame, and guilt.joy anger interest

disgust surprise sadness fear

Emotions

present in

infancy:

42-1

Culture and Emotional Expression

When culturally diverse people were shown basic facial expressions, they did fairly well at

recognizing them.

Can you

recognize:

•disgust?

•anger?

•fear?

•happiness?

•sadness?

•surprise?

42-1

The Effects of Facial Expressions 42-3

The Effects of Facial Expression

Facial feedback effect – the tendency of facial muscle states to trigger corresponding feelings such

as fear, sadness, or happiness.

Attaching two golf tees to the face and making their tips touch causes the brow to furrow,

which causes feelings of sadness.

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Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon

• This feedback effect holds true for our actions as well.

• When we feel happy we are more willing to help others.

Doing good also promotes

good feeling, which has led

some life coaches to assign

daily “random acts of

kindness”

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