In order to properly anchor us, let's start with what the term "micro-expressions" means or has come to mean. In 1966 two researchers by the name of Haggard and Isaacs discovered, while looking at films of couples in therapy, what they described as "micromomentary expressions." They noted behaviors that would flash by so quickly they were difficult to see except by slowing the film down. A few years later, building on this earlier work and observing these same behaviors, Paul Ekman coined the term "micro expressions" while he was studying deception. Ekman later incorporated this into his book, "Telling Lies," which you really should read if you care about nonverbals.

What Haggard and Isaacs, as well as others, found was that our faces often reveal hidden sentiments that are being intentionally concealed. This was obviously useful in detecting issues during couples' therapy. Unfortunately, over time the term "micro expressions" grew to include too many things; failing for instance to differentiate between the truly miniscule, the small, and the larger facial distortions. There was also a failure to differentiate between the behaviors that were fast and those which were super-fast, but which had little to do with being "micro" or small. Lastly there was a failure to differentiate behaviors that are asymmetrical or that oddly freeze in place such as when we hold a tense smile at a snarling dog.

Consequently, because so many things have been lumped under the appellation "micro-expression" it is often difficult to determine what someone means, especially when they substitute "micro-expressions" for plain old body language or nonverbals. So let's see if we can add some clarity here to help you better understand behaviors of the face, which are often lumped under the term "micro-expressions" or worse they are ignored completely.

First we should recognize, as David Matsumoto has pointed out, that there are behaviors, gestures, or expressions of the face that do occur without conscious prompting which leak or reveal our true feelings or sentiments. Some of these behaviors or expressions flash before us very quickly (1/15, 1/25 of a second) and others loiter there seemingly too long. Also there are behaviors that are difficult to observe because they are so tiny (twitching muscles just under the eye for example) while others are quite large or as "large" as they can be given the size of some small facial muscles.

What is important for observers is that while these behaviors do occur, we must not attach more meaning to them than we should. Shows such as Lie to Me (now cancelled) made it seem that if you saw one of these behaviors then the person is lying. Nothing could be further from the truth. For as Ekman, Frank, DePaulo, Burgoon, and Vrij have repeatedly told us, there is no single behavior indicative of deception (Matsumoto, et. al. 2011, 1-4; Navarro 2008). There are indicators of stress, discomfort, anxiety, dislike, issues, or tension, but not deception - I'm sorry to say. In fact, rather than focus on deception, in my experience, it is far more useful to become an "Issue Detector" because that is really what we are observing.

Examining the Face:

One way to understand facial gestures or behaviors is to divide them up by what they do, not whether they are mini, micro, or macro which does not take into account speed or in some cases lengthy, asymmetrical, or rigid presentations. The following is not a comprehensive list but if you focus on these five areas you will find it easier, in my experience, to identify how others truly feel or what they think:

Facial Gestures of Nervousness and Tension:

-   Furrowed forehead

-   Squinting eyes

-   Lip compression

-   Lips that are sucked into the mouth

-   Quivering lips

-   Quivering chin

-   Corners of mouth twitching or pulling oddly toward the ear very quickly

Facial Gestures of Dislike or Disagreement:

-   Pursed lips usually mean I don't like or I disagree (seen in babies as young as four weeks).

-   Nose crinkle (nose moves very quickly up as a shortened sign of disgust)

-   Upper half of lip on one side rises as does nose

-   Rolling of the eyes

-   Eyelid flutter (usually seen when someone says something we strongly disagree with)

-   Eyelids close fail to reopen for what seems a long time

-   Squinting of the eyes (think of Clint Eastward in a shootout)

Facial Gestures to Relieve Stress:

There are any number of facial ticks which may suddenly develop or which become permanent to deal with tension. Examples are:

-   Uncontrollable blinking

-   Cheek twitching

-   Uncontrollable twitching of the eye

-   Jaw thrusts forward

-   Jaw displacement to the sides

-   Tongue biting

-   Pulling of facial hair

-   Repetitive touching of the nose or eyelid with a finger

These behavior are not only repetitive, they may increase in severity under stress and at times become very fast. Incidentally, as I mentioned in Clues to Deceit, repetitive behaviors are soothing behaviors, which is why we develop nervous ticks in the first place. The brain benefits from the repetitive muscular tick as a form of pacification; however, it can become pathological.

Asymmetrical Facial Gestures:

Gestures that involve only one half of the face fall into this category:

-   Fake smiles

-   Smile involving only half the face

-   Person smiles but the eyes squint or show tension

-   Asymmetry also applies to discord between what is said with what the body is transmitting, such as saying, "I love you" with clenched teeth or a tense face.

Facial gestures of Contempt or Disdain:

-   A smirk (corner of mouth tightens on one side, dimples, or pulls toward eye or ear )

-   Nose high haughty attitude

-   Rolling of the eyes

-   Looking dismissively askance