In my coaching I find that my clients from Asian cultures have a hard time understanding and being understood by Americans. The findings in the study below lead me to believe that they are looking at a different part of the face for information about emotions.
Culture Is Key To Interpreting Facial Emotions
Science Daily (Apr. 5, 2007) — Research has uncovered that culture is a determining factor when interpreting facial emotions. The study reveals that in cultures where emotional control is the standard, such as Japan, focus is placed on the eyes to interpret emotions. Whereas in cultures where emotion is openly expressed, such as the United States, the focus is on the mouth to interpret emotion.
Across two studies, using computerized icons and human images, the researchers compared how Japanese and American cultures interpreted images, which conveyed a range of emotions.
"These findings go against the popular theory that the facial expressions of basic emotions can be universally recognized," said University of Alberta researcher Dr. Takahiko Masuda. "A person's culture plays a very strong role in determining how they will perceive emotions and needs to be considered when interpreting facial expression"
These cultural differences are even noticeable in computer emoticons, which are used to convey a writer's emotions over email and text messaging. Consistent with the research findings, the Japanese emoticons for happiness and sadness vary in terms of how the eyes are depicted, while American emoticons vary with the direction of the mouth. In the United States the emoticons : ) and : - ) denote a happy face, whereas the emoticons :( or : - ( denote a sad face. However, Japanese tend to use the symbol (^_^) to indicate a happy face, and (;_;) to indicate a sad face.
When participants were asked to rate the perceived levels of happiness or sadness expressed through the different computer emoticons, the researchers found that the Japanese still looked to the eyes of the emoticons to determine its emotion.
"We think it is quite interesting and appropriate that a culture that tends to masks its emotions, such as Japan, would focus on a person's eyes when determining emotion, as eyes tend to be quite subtle," said Masuda. "In the United States, where overt emotion is quite common, it makes sense to focus on the mouth, which is the most expressive feature on a person's face."
These findings are published in the current issue of The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology and are a result from a collaborative study between Masaki Yuki (Hokkaido University), William Maddux (INSEAD) and Takahiko Masuda (University of Alberta). The results also suggest the interesting possibility that the Japanese may be better than Americans at detecting "false smiles". If the position of the eyes is the key to whether someone's smile is false or true, Japanese may be particularly good at detecting whether someone is lying or being "fake". However, these questions can only be answered with future research.
Email or share this story:Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
What A Connection!
"Most Likely To End Up Together," says Patti Wood, body language expert, in OK Weekly Magazine. Zac Efron's and Vanessa Hudgens' nonverbal body language towards each other causes Patti to make this statement. Patti reveals it all at the link!http://www.scribd.com/doc/34273546/OK-ZacVanessa
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
Why They're Hiding Their Love
Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere might be trying to hide their love for each other but Patti Wood, body language expert, reads their nonverbal body language in several photos for Life & Style Weekly. It's evident that this couple is definitely attracted to each other. Patti's insights are at the link!
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
About Patti Wood, Corporate Speaker
Patti Wood MA,CSP is credited for bringing the body language to the national consciousness by The New York Times. Patti has been researching, writing and speaking on Body Language since 1982. She consults with Fortune 500 companies, the media and law enforcement on the topic. Her audiences rave about her high energy and content rich programs. Time Magazine recognized her nonverbal communication course at FSU as one of the top college courses in the country. She was even called, “The Babe Ruth of Body Language” by The Washington Post.
To view a client list or program descriptions go to www.PattiWood.net. She is interviewed on an average of twice a week by media around the world including; CNN, PBS, National FOX News Network, BBC, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Regis and Kelly, CBS, VH1, E! Entertainment, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Reuters, UPI, ESPN, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, The Miami Herald, Men’s Health, The Chicago Tribune, Details, SPIN, Elle, People, ESPN, and is quoted in; US Weekly, The New York Post, The London Times, The Los Angeles Times, In Touch, Oprah Magazine, Life and Style, Glamour, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, First for Women, InStyle, The Toronto Sun, Psychology Today, TV Guide, Women’s Own, Seventeen, Ladies Home Journal and Redbook and more as a body language expert. Patti is a CSP, a Certified Speaking Professional, an earned designation of the National Speakers Association designed to recognize "Masters is the Industry."
Her broad knowledge and research on nonverbal communication led her to positions as the national spokesperson for Wrigley’s Spearmint gum®, Benadryl®, Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion® and the Natural Dentist®.
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
To view a client list or program descriptions go to www.PattiWood.net. She is interviewed on an average of twice a week by media around the world including; CNN, PBS, National FOX News Network, BBC, History Channel, Discovery Channel, Regis and Kelly, CBS, VH1, E! Entertainment, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Reuters, UPI, ESPN, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, The Miami Herald, Men’s Health, The Chicago Tribune, Details, SPIN, Elle, People, ESPN, and is quoted in; US Weekly, The New York Post, The London Times, The Los Angeles Times, In Touch, Oprah Magazine, Life and Style, Glamour, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, First for Women, InStyle, The Toronto Sun, Psychology Today, TV Guide, Women’s Own, Seventeen, Ladies Home Journal and Redbook and more as a body language expert. Patti is a CSP, a Certified Speaking Professional, an earned designation of the National Speakers Association designed to recognize "Masters is the Industry."
Her broad knowledge and research on nonverbal communication led her to positions as the national spokesperson for Wrigley’s Spearmint gum®, Benadryl®, Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion® and the Natural Dentist®.
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://PattiWood.net. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
What Their Smooch Says
OK Weekly asked Patti Wood, body language expert and Success Signals author, to weigh in on the "smooch" between Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz. What did their body language reveal? Patti has all the details at the link!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/34273548/OK-AshleePete
Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at http://pattiwood.net/. Also check out the body language quiz on her YouTube Channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.
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