Reported June 2009

LIES SHOWN IN YOUR LIPS: The human face can be marvelously expressive, using more than 40 muscles to express any and every emotion. A few of these are recognized as culturally universal. A one sided-smile conveys contempt, while an open mouth with a turned-down lower lip and raised upper lip, along with a wrinkled nose, suggests disgust. Anger, fear, happiness, joy, sadness and surprise are also thought to be universal.

INNATE EXPRESSIONS FOR HAPPINESS: Matsumoto studied judo athletes in the Olympic and Paralympics games in 2004. He found the sighted athletes portrayed the same "true smile" expression after victory as blind athletes. The silver medalists in both competitions most often smiled but used what is called a "social smile," one that uses only the mouth muscles and not the movement around the eyes and cheeks indicative of a "true smile." Scientists hypothesize that the universality of these expressions may have developed during our evolutionary history and become innate qualities.

If you would like more information, please contact:

David Matsumoto, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
San Francisco State University
(510) 236-9171
http://www.davidmatsumoto.com

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