Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Facial expressions refer to the various movements and configurations of the face that convey emotions and communicate nonverbally. They play a crucial role in social interactions and can be universal or culturally specific.
Emotion recognition: The ability to identify and understand others' emotional states based on their facial expressions.
Cultural display rules: Societal norms and expectations regarding the appropriate expression, intensity, and suppression of emotions in different cultures.
Microexpressions: Brief, involuntary facial movements that occur when someone tries to conceal or suppress their true emotions.