A British study has shown that facial movements, particularly eyebrow and eye movements, influence others' impression of a person's confidence in their answers. Certain expressions may make speech appear more confident, while others may suggest hesitation or doubt.
The British Daily Mail reported on Saturday that the study was conducted by researchers from the University of Glasgow and published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. It aimed to investigate the role of facial expressions in shaping others' perceptions of a speaker's confidence in what they say.
The study involved 44 participants from Britain and China, who watched videos of virtual speakers answering questions with the words "yes" or "no." Researchers modified the eyebrow and eye movements in the videos while keeping the speech and tone of voice unchanged, then asked participants to rate the level of confidence reflected in the answers.
The results showed that raising the eyebrows and partially closing the eyes may enhance the impression of confidence, while lowering the eyebrows and narrowing the eyes may give an impression of hesitation or doubt. These patterns were observed among participants from both British and Chinese cultures.
The researchers clarified that facial expressions do not merely accompany speech but also contribute to shaping how others interpret spoken messages. Previous studies had focused more on words, tone of voice, and speech speed when assessing confidence and hesitation.
The study highlights the role of facial expressions in daily communication, but it does not mean that these movements necessarily reveal a person's actual level of confidence or the truthfulness of what they say. Their interpretation is influenced by the context of the conversation and other factors.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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