Facial expressions as reflection of inner emotional state

Abstract

Throughout history, the interest in ability of recognizing diverse facial movements has not disappeared. Face conveys many clues about the complexity of personal emotional state; however, as much as a face can reveal, it can also hide and cover. In this article I explore the argument that facial expressions are reliable indicators of an on-going emotional experience, and that their precise recognition can be used as a tool for improvement of social interactions and observations of psychotherapeutic sessions. In the next pages I will address the controversial question whether some facial expressions are universal and examine the power of cultural influence on facial behaviour. Discussions about social influence on facial expressiveness have remained a subject of disputes in many scientific fields. There is no doubt that an accurate interpretation of facial behaviour requires extensive interdisciplinary knowledge from fields such as psychology, neurobiology and cultural anthropology.