Do not rely on facial expressions for how people are feeling
A smile does not always mean someone is happy
ARISTOTLE RECKONED the face was a window onto a person’s mind. Cicero agreed. Two millennia on, facial expressions are still commonly thought to be a universally valid way to gauge other people’s feelings, irrespective of age, sex and culture. A raised eyebrow suggests confusion. A smile denotes happiness. A frown indicates sadness.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Face blind”
From the February 22nd 2020 edition
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