Science in Action: Facial Expressions

Are facial expressions learned or innate? Dr. David Matsumoto of San Francisco State researched this issue by studying photos of blind and sighted athletes at the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Category:

Science & Technology

[cinemastereo]

whoever edited this please turn the music down a bit when he speaks. Then re-upload to youtube. Thanks.

[cindykingbiz]

The study of cultural differences and similarities in facial expressions - fascinating!

[chickenpoodle009]

You can also observe babies. If their mother smiles or laughs the baby will often follow suit, and they smile on their own accord when presented with something desirable. Newborns are no exception.

[MissJeanette69]

0:11 FAKE FROWN

[Pantalaimonish]

@TheExJedi That's scary

[TheRealAxelFury]

@fryred Note really, Ekman found that we all use facial expressions with the same meaning and to exoress the same emotions, regadless race and culture.

This study is to discover if we are born with this use of facial expressions or we learn them from our parents and other people.

all has become by obsservation of babyes: they don't express fear, contempt disgust or other expressions, besides development.

so it is interesting to see if we develop them naturally or not

[TheExJedi]

For the believers, it is "God is the one who makes people laugh or cry"

[fryred]

Wasn't this studied by Dr. Paul Ekman already??

[slissone]

They should just see what expressions blind people make!

[babybirdhome]

@spiderman1321 I can't tell if your comment is directed at this study or not, but in case it is, it's important when doing scientifically valid research that you start with a solid foundation and don't take "the obvious" for granted. Otherwise you end up with things like phrenology being accepted as valid. Previous studies have used indigenous tribes of people who we believe had no contact with the outside world, but that couldn't be known for 100% certain, so these results are important.

[Humintell]

@raven61775 The study involved people who are congenitally blind-blind from birth. There is no way they could have remembered or seen other people making these expressions.