Reading Emotions: Confusion
2015-10-21
Carrie is more than puzzled by the question she has just been asked; she is confused.
Her eyes give away her feelings of confusion in different ways.
Firstly, there is a lack of focus as she looks into the middle distance trying to find an answer.
Secondly, there are several changes in direction as she looks up and down, racking her brain for a response. This lack of focus and rapid change in the direction of the gaze is always a sign of mental struggle, discomfort or even distress.
She also wrinkles her nose and brow.
Carrie’s mouth shows her exasperation. She closes her mouth tightly, holds her breath and pushes her lips forward.
Signs to note
- gazes into the middle distance
- wrinkles her mouth and nose
- rapid change of the direction of her gaze
- narrows her eyes
- blinks
- closes her lips and pushes them forward
By John Habershon
Dr John Habershon has spent many hundreds of hours conducting in-depth interviews during his career in consumer and social research. Over the last eight years he has analysed the nonverbal responses captured on video on a wide range of topics, ranging from favorite products and advertising on TV, to bereavement and stress at work. He became involved in work for those on the autism spectrum through friends with Asperger’s in the family and has created Emotions Reader, (https://vimeo.com/ondemand/readingemotionssystem) an interactive program with quizzes to help users identify facial expressions. John has a long standing interest in understanding emotions, having gained his PhD on the psychological effects of unemployment at Imperial College, London University. He has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. http://www.momentumresearch.co.uk/