A new study performed by Dr. David Matsumoto and Dr. Hyi Sung Hwang demonstrated that the ability to read microexpressions, facial expressions of emotion that can appear on the face as fast as 1/2 second, can be trained.
They present two studies that prove this claim as well as evidence for the retention of the training effects. Their study is the first scientific evidence of training efficacy to read microexpressions in normal adult populations.
These findings are important because they demonstrate that not only can people be taught the ability to read emotions on the face, but also that this ability can be retained.
See the full paper and the research for both studies here.
This fits well with what Dr. Ekman wrote in one of his books (I forget whether it’s Telling Lies or Emotions Revealed) that it’s like learning to ride a bike. Once you learn how to see it, you can’t not see it. In essence, you’re practicing every time you see a face, whether you like it or not. Personally I’m glad I discovered all of this research, although Ekman’s words were written more as a word of caution to the uninitiated, but I don’t know how someone could regret learning. Maybe if you’re not prepared to face what’s always been there but that you’ve been blind to your whole life, and not equipped to deal with it. But in that case it’s better to know about it and get help dealing with it than to go on blindly wreaking havoc in people’s lives.
Congratulations on the study Dr.’s Matsumoto and Hwang. 🙂