Reading faces: Ability to recognise true and false emotion

Abstract

Social interaction involves exchanging of feelings, and the human face emitting facial signals is essential in this process. Our skill sets to identify truth from falsehood in facial appearance allow us to intelligently interact and function adapting to our constantly changing social environment. The question that this chapter raises relates to the versatility of social intelligence in deceitfulness and control of body language inclusive of facial features. On the other hand, do people have the ability and social skills to make accurate interpretation of observed expressions in deciphering truthfulness from falsehood? Interaction is dynamic, and as socially intelligent humans, we are often in the role of both the deceiver and the truth seeker.