Body Language Facial Expressions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Raised eyebrows combined with wide open eyes most commonly signal:
- Boredom
- Anger
- Surprise or disbelief (Correct answer)
- Contempt
Correct answer: Surprise or disbelief
Wide eyes with raised eyebrows is the classic facial configuration for surprise, alertness, or disbelief across most cultures.
Question 2: What facial expression involves one corner of the mouth raised while the rest of the face remains neutral?
- Sadness
- Contempt or disdain (Correct answer)
- Genuine happiness
- Fear
Correct answer: Contempt or disdain
A unilateral lip raise — one side of the mouth curling up — is a hallmark of contempt or disdain, often combined with a slight head tilt.
Question 3: In body language reading, 'nose wrinkling' typically signals:
- Deep thought
- Disgust or displeasure (Correct answer)
- Excitement
- Sadness
Correct answer: Disgust or displeasure
Nose wrinkling is a universal sign of disgust, serving as a remnant of the instinct to close nostrils against unpleasant odors.
Question 4: When someone's lower lip pushes upward and outward, this most likely indicates:
- Joy
- Anger
- Sadness or uncertainty (Correct answer)
- Surprise
Correct answer: Sadness or uncertainty
The lower lip pushing upward — often called a lip pout or lower lip extension — is a classic indicator of sadness or uncertainty.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes the facial expression of fear?
- Eyebrows raised and drawn together, upper eyelids raised, lips stretched horizontally (Correct answer)
- Brows furrowed downward, eyes narrowed, lips pressed together
- Cheeks raised, corners of mouth pulled back and up
- One side of mouth raised, nose slightly wrinkled
Correct answer: Eyebrows raised and drawn together, upper eyelids raised, lips stretched horizontally
Fear is characterized by eyebrows raised and pulled together, upper eyelids raised to show whites of eyes, and lips stretched horizontally.
Question 6: What does a 'genuine' versus 'fake' laugh look like on the face?
- Genuine laughs involve only the mouth; fake laughs engage more muscles
- Genuine laughs engage the eyes and cause crow's feet; fake laughs rarely reach the eyes (Correct answer)
- Fake laughs are louder and last longer than genuine ones
- There is no reliable facial difference between genuine and fake laughs
Correct answer: Genuine laughs engage the eyes and cause crow's feet; fake laughs rarely reach the eyes
Genuine laughter engages the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eyes creating crow's feet wrinkles, while fake laughter typically only moves the lower face.
Body Language Facial Expressions 2
Raised eyebrows combined with wide open eyes most commonly signal: