Facial Expressions and Eye Movement in Communication Process

FACIAL EXPRESSIONS:

Face is a constant source of information to those around us. The length and style of your hair and the amount of makeup you wear suggest your economic status; interest in fashion anf even your politics – all of these things can speak 4 you before you even open your mouth.

When something makes you happy or sad, your nerves send a message to the face, which causes the muscles to contract or relax. The feedback you get from these muscle movements is one of the cues that tells you what emotional feeling you are having. This process is a form of internal self-feedback.

There are 7 emotions that can be noticed from facial expressions: happiness, fear, sadness, anger, disgust, contempt and suprise.

EYE BEHAVIOUR: Functions:

1. They provide us with information about people with whom we interact (»small, eyes« - are associated with cheating, lying; large pupils – are perceived to be happier, attractive; small pupils – perceived to be angry and unattractive. =pupils accur in the context of other facial features.). Eye contact also provides us with information. (speakers who never look up from their notes while speaking are nervous or highly formal; speakers who do – are perceived to be more friendly, sincere, relaxed).

2. It serves to regulate interactions. Using more direct eye contact is an excellent strategy to use if you ever think you are losing an audience. Eye contact allows you not only to gain the attention of others but also to direct the conversational system.

3. It exercise social control. Dominant communicators tend to look more at others during conversations than do submissive, especially when they assume the speaking role.

4. It allows us to express intimacy, our feelings to others (gazing to eyes of someone you love). It allows us not only to collect information but also to regulate the level of interpersonal intimacy.

5. The fifth function is facilitation of goals. It is associated with our use of eye behaviour to accomplish some action. (teacher glare to student)