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How To Talk Without Saying A Single Word
Have you ever talked to someone and noticed they are mad? What about when they are sad?
Emotions are constant in our daily life. Facial expressions are the primary medium to display emotions. They are part of our non-verbal communication and help us quickly identify the mood of a person. What is interesting is that with so many different faces we are able to recognize the same message. This encoded information (facial expressions) is a self-preservation mechanism.
Imagine that you are in a foreign land and you see an angry person staring at you. Chances are that you will not approach that person.
SIX MAIN EMOTIONS
Social psychologists have identified six emotions that are recognized across cultures. The six emotions are: Anger, Fear, Disgust, Happiness, Surprise and Sadness. All of these emotions cue us to react to situations prior to engagement. In everyday life, it helps us read the mood of our coworkers, peers, and friends. Facial expressions not only transcend cultures, but age as well. Facial expressions are so vital to us that even babies display them. We can see the same facial emotions in a baby.
You can also test this by mimicking any of the six emotions (Anger, Fear, Disgust, Happiness, Surprise and Sadness) and see the reaction of the people around you.
Facial expressions complement verbal communication. Have you ever felt confused when talking to someone and their face does not match the expressed emotion? It is like they are saying two different things. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced man relies on the language of the first”. When their message is not congruent, we tend to challenge the validity of their message. The first thing in our mind is that the person is lying.
In addition to complementing verbal communication, facial expressions are vital to the American Sign Language or ASL. Sign language uses a combination of hand gestures and facial expressions to convey a message. In most instances the incongruent messages occur if the gestures do not match the facial expression.
When you need to convey something important to someone, what do you prefer: saying it face to face or over the phone?
I prefer “face to face” because I like to see the reaction of people. Maybe it is a way for me to validate their message with their expression.
What about you, “Face to face” or “over the phone”? Are facial expressions important to you?
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About Me
Hi! My name is Roberto Montanez. I have always been curious about the way we do things and how we react to different situations. Even the most mundane things in our lives, I find interesting.
I have a M.S. in Psychology and have worked for a few years in the field of psychology and education. Working with people in the clinical setting and in the classroom has helped me gain a unique view about our world. More >>
Roberto,
You hit this out of the park! An exceptional article highlighting what many people have to rely upon daily for communication – facial expressions.
Though I am not deaf, my family relies heavily on my facial expressions due to complications from Lou Gehrig’s disease – how it has impacted my ability to communicate. This has been one of the more frustrating and fearful aspects of this illness – not having others uderstand me – and especially when there is a need!
Interestingly, those around me regularly have learned to “read” my expressions along with the whisper sound I can manage when off the ventilator as well as reading my lips. I loved the quote you used … I’m forever being told by my sister that “my eyes give me away.”
I didn’t mean to ramble on about me – it’s just that your article grabbed me because I live it … and I don’t think people really understand/realize the interplay of facial expression and communication.
Keep ‘em coming!
Peppy
Check Peppy | The Peppywrites Chronicles latest post…I Am Woman Hear Me Roar – woof- woof
Peppy,
Thanks for your insight. Your comment provided me with another perspective that I neglected to present in this article. Facial expressions, and body language, plays an essential role in situations like the one you just described.
Thank you for sharing and commenting. I always look forward to your feedback.
Yeah, if it is a emotional talk, it better go for face-to-face talk so there will be no misunderstanding.
Check Dana latest post…HTC Thunderbolt- The first Verizon Wireless’s 4G Cell Phone
Dana,
Nice to see you again! I am a face-to-face person. It provides direct feedback to what is being discussed. Thanks for commenting.