(Reading People) Flashcards
7 cards from real Emotional Intelligence practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 (Reading People) flashcards as text
What is a 'microexpression' and why is it significant in reading people?
Answer: A brief involuntary facial expression revealing a concealed emotion
Microexpressions last 1/25 to 1/5 of a second and are involuntary, making them reliable signals of emotions someone is trying to hide or suppress.
When reading a group dynamic, the person others orient their bodies toward when laughing is most likely:
Answer: The formal leader or highest-status person in the group
Research shows people instinctively orient their gaze toward the highest-status or most respected individual in a group during laughter, revealing informal power structures.
Which vocal quality is the strongest indicator of emotional contagion during interpersonal communication?
Answer: Rhythm and prosody
Rhythm and prosody—the musical qualities of speech including stress and intonation—are the primary channels through which emotions are transferred between speakers.
A friend says 'I'm fine' with a tight-lipped smile and raised inner eyebrows. The most accurate reading is:
Answer: There is likely sadness or distress beneath the surface
Raised inner eyebrows combined with a tight-lipped (non-Duchenne) smile are classic signals of masked sadness, indicating the verbal message and emotional reality are misaligned.
What does 'limbic resonance' refer to in the context of emotional reading?
Answer: The neurological capacity to attune to and be affected by another's emotional state
Limbic resonance describes the capacity of two mammals to attune to each other's emotional states via the limbic system, forming the neurobiological basis of empathy and emotional connection.
During a job interview, a candidate who mirrors the interviewer's posture and gestures is most likely:
Answer: Experiencing genuine rapport or instinctively seeking connection
Mirroring often occurs unconsciously when individuals feel rapport or affinity, and research shows it increases perceived likability and connection.
Which of the following best represents the concept of 'emotional leakage'?
Answer: Nonverbal cues that reveal emotions someone is trying to hide
Emotional leakage refers to subtle nonverbal signals—foot movement, brief facial expressions, voice tremors—that betray emotions a person consciously tries to conceal.