What will I learn about: Our emotional reactions, particularly fear, are evolutionary hand-me-downs that remain highly attuned to the survival threats faced by our ancient ancestors?

Our emotional reactions, particularly fear, are evolutionary hand-me-downs that remain highly attuned to the survival threats faced by our ancient ancestors.

What will I learn about: The thinning of the lips is an automatic, largely uncontrollable physical reaction that serves as one of the earliest and most reliable indicators of brewing anger?

The thinning of the lips is an automatic, largely uncontrollable physical reaction that serves as one of the earliest and most reliable indicators of brewing anger.

What will I learn about: While fear and surprise both cause raised eyelids, genuine fear can be specifically identified by involuntary tension in the lower eyelids?

While fear and surprise both cause raised eyelids, genuine fear can be specifically identified by involuntary tension in the lower eyelids.

What will I learn about: A truly genuine smile can be distinguished from a polite one by the activation of the orbicularis oculi, a circular muscle around the eye that cannot be voluntarily contracted?

A truly genuine smile can be distinguished from a polite one by the activation of the orbicularis oculi, a circular muscle around the eye that cannot be voluntarily contracted.

What will I learn about: Fleeting micro-expressions that flash across the face for just a fraction of a second can reveal a person's true feelings and intentions, even when they are actively attempting to deceive?

Fleeting micro-expressions that flash across the face for just a fraction of a second can reveal a person's true feelings and intentions, even when they are actively attempting to deceive.

Theme Song

Emotions Revealed

Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life

Paul Ekman

★ 3.7 / 5(56 ratings)

Start ListeningDownload QR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App Store

Try free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

Categories:

Science Psychology

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Why are humans innately conditioned to fear ancient threats like spiders much faster than modern, deadlier dangers like guns?
💡How can you tell the difference between a genuine smile of joy and a polite, fake smile just by looking at a specific muscle around the eyes?
💡Why does a closed mouth signal uncontrollable rage in some cultures, while in Western societies it typically means anger is being kept under control?

Listen to Emotions Revealed — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from Emotions Revealed

✓Our emotional reactions, particularly fear, are evolutionary hand-me-downs that remain highly attuned to the survival threats faced by our ancient ancestors.
✓The thinning of the lips is an automatic, largely uncontrollable physical reaction that serves as one of the earliest and most reliable indicators of brewing anger.
✓While fear and surprise both cause raised eyelids, genuine fear can be specifically identified by involuntary tension in the lower eyelids.
✓A truly genuine smile can be distinguished from a polite one by the activation of the orbicularis oculi, a circular muscle around the eye that cannot be voluntarily contracted.
✓Fleeting micro-expressions that flash across the face for just a fraction of a second can reveal a person's true feelings and intentions, even when they are actively attempting to deceive.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from Emotions Revealed

Mind Map

Emotions Revealed

Origins of Emotions+

Decoding Expressions+

Detecting Deception+

Practical Application+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8

Based on Arne Ohman's 1993 experiment, why do humans develop a fear of spiders more quickly than a fear of modern threats like guns?

A. Spiders trigger a stronger physiological pain response than guns do.
B. Our fear responses are evolutionary hand-me-downs attuned to ancestral threats.
C. Modern media has conditioned us to fear natural predators more than weapons.
D. The brain's amygdala is specifically wired to detect multi-legged insects.

Question 2 of 8

Which of the following is an involuntary and highly reliable facial indicator of sadness?

A. The lowering of the outer corners of the mouth.
B. The narrowing of the eyes.
C. The rapid blinking of the eyelids.
D. The raising of the inner points of the eyebrows.

Question 3 of 8

According to the text, what is the most reliable, involuntary sign of anger that can appear even before a person is consciously aware of the emotion?

A. Flared nostrils
B. Thinning of the lips
C. A clenched jaw
D. Lowered eyebrows

Question 4 of 8

How does the expression of extreme, uncontrollable anger in Papua New Guinea differ from that in the Western world?

A. Papua New Guineans express it by closing their mouths and tightening their lips, whereas Westerners typically open their mouths and shout.
B. Papua New Guineans express it by widening their eyes, whereas Westerners typically narrow their eyes into a glare.
C. Papua New Guineans express it by opening their mouths and shouting, whereas Westerners typically close their mouths and bottle up insults.
D. Papua New Guineans rely entirely on body language rather than facial expressions to show anger.

Question 5 of 8

Because raised eyelids can indicate both fear and surprise, what specific subtle clue reliably distinguishes fear from surprise?

A. Flared nostrils accompanying the raised eyelids
B. A sharply dropped jaw
C. Tense lower eyelids that make the eyes appear frozen
D. The presence of a vertical crease between the eyebrows

Question 6 of 8

What did neurologist Duchenne de Boulogne discover is the key indicator of a genuine smile?

A. The activation of the zygomatic major muscle around the mouth.
B. A change in the pitch and tone of the person's voice.
C. The slight raising of the inner eyebrows.
D. The involuntary contraction of the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eye.

Question 7 of 8

Why was the author able to detect that the suicidal patient, Mary, was lying about feeling better?

A. Her voice lacked the variations typically associated with genuine relief.
B. He spotted a fleeting micro-expression of anguish by analyzing her recorded interview frame by frame.
C. She exhibited a tense lower eyelid, indicating extreme fear of going home.
D. Her lips thinned noticeably whenever she discussed her future plans.

Question 8 of 8

Why might a modern human experience intense, irrational road rage when stuck in a traffic jam?

A. The brain releases excess adrenaline when confined in small spaces like cars.
B. It stems from unresolved childhood traumas involving a lack of control.
C. It triggers an ancient emotional pattern related to our ancestors' need for territory and movement.
D. The loud noises of traffic overstimulate the amygdala, mimicking a predator attack.

Emotions Revealed — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
2Our emotions are shaped by evolution and still tuned to our ancestors’ concerns.
3Childhood trauma can create volatile emotions, especially when echoing ancestral patterns.
4Sadness shows itself in raised inner eyebrows, tightened cheeks and stretched lips.
5Anger appears in lowered brows, piercing eyes and thin lips, though signals differ by culture.
6The eyes reveal fear and surprise; slight cues can help you tell them apart.
7A person’s smile and voice reveal different forms of happiness, but many smiles are not sincere.
8Lies are hard to spot, but micro-expressions can guide the trained observer to the truth.

Emotions Revealed Summary & Overview

Emotions Revealed (2003) puts emotions under the microscope, revealing where they come from and how to recognize them, whether they’re yours or someone else’s. If you’ve ever wanted to know if someone was being dishonest or trying to deceive you with a friendly smile, these are the blinks for you!

Who Should Listen to Emotions Revealed?

Law enforcement officers who need to recognize the emotions of criminals and victims
Therapists and psychologists who want to help patients cope with their emotions
Empathetic people who want to connect more effectively with others

About the Author: Paul Ekman

Paul Ekman is a consulting psychology expert for police departments and security offices. He’s also helped Pixar Studios bring animated characters to life by availing them of his expertise on emotions and how they’re revealed through facial expression.