Facial expressions are produced & interpreted similarly across many cultures, however, there are cultural differences.
The subtle differences suggest that cultures prescribe rules for facial expression and that they control and enforce these rules by cultural conditioning


Cross-cultural similarity and cultural differences of facial expressions

The face is accessory to verbal communication, providing emphasis and direction in conversation.

Facial expression is paralinguistic

- Cross-cultural similarity and cultural differences in facial expressions
- Facial expression is paralinguistic

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- Examining the kinds of emotions by examining different kinds of facial expressions

How many emotions do we experience

Breedlove, S. & Watson, N. (2017). Behavioral neuroscience, eighth edition. Oxford University Press.

Behavioral Neuroscience 8th Edition

The scheme suggests that there are 8 basic emotions, grouped in four pairs of opposites:

- joy/sadness
- affection/disgust
- anger/fear
- expectation/surprise

However, investigators do not yet agree with this number.

One popular scheme of basic emotions

Facial expressions have complex functions in communication

- Two categories of facial muscles
- Two cranial nerves
- Facial feedback hypothesis
- Impaired facial expression

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