Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThisCheck for Emotional Leaks
The micro-expressions that flit across people's faces often expose what they're truly feeling or thinking, as opposed to what they'd like us to believe, explains Ekman. But these ultra-brief facial movements, some lasting a quarter of a second, aren't a cinch to spot. Even professionals trained in the art of lie detection -- police personnel, judges, attorneys -- can't always isolate them. And deliberate liars tend to layer on other expressions, like smiling, to further disguise a lie.Still, there are giveaways. "It isn't the frequency of a smile that matters, but the type of smile," says Ekman. "There are smiles of true enjoyment, which involve not just the lips but the muscles that orbit the eyes. And there are masking smiles, which are made to cover fear, anger, sadness or disgust. If you're a good observer, you can see a trace of one of those emotions leak through."
So here's hoping the next time someone lobs a lie our way, we'll know just how to catch it.
From Reader's Digest - August 2006
Reporting by Nancy long Tafoyaa
9 Medical Myths Busted
Video: How to Eat Healthy While Traveling
10 Great Gift Book Ideas
How to Cope With a Depressed Spouse
Joke: I was leading a tour through Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico…
Advertisement 
