While there are many nuanced facial expressions we can make, research identifies a core set of universal emotions. According to the reference provided, there are 7 universal facial expressions.
The 7 Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman's research identified these seven fundamental facial expressions that are recognized across various cultures:
- Anger - Often characterized by furrowed brows, tightened lips, and a direct stare.
- Disgust - Typically involves a wrinkled nose, raised upper lip, and sometimes a protruding tongue.
- Sadness - Features include downturned mouth, inner eyebrows raised, and sometimes a trembling lower lip.
- Happiness - Recognized by raised cheeks, crow's feet around the eyes, and upturned mouth corners (a smile).
- Surprise - Characterized by raised eyebrows, wide eyes, and an open mouth.
- Fear - Involves widened eyes, slightly open mouth, and eyebrows raised and drawn together.
- Contempt - Usually expressed by a slight tightening and raising of one corner of the mouth.
Understanding Facial Expressions
These seven expressions represent a foundation for understanding human emotion. However, it's important to note that:
- Intensity varies: The degree of each expression can vary widely, representing different levels of the associated emotion.
- Combinations exist: Facial expressions can often be combinations of these basic emotions or be more complex.
- Context matters: Facial expressions should be interpreted within the context in which they occur.
Conclusion
Therefore, while humans can display a wide variety of facial expressions, research suggests that there are seven core, universal facial emotions: anger, disgust, sadness, happiness, surprise, fear, and contempt. These seven are considered to be universally recognizable across cultures.
