New research in a paper called Detecting Deception from Emotional and Unemotional Cues by Gemma Warren, Elizabeth Schertler and Peter Bull suggests that subtle expressions, not microexpressions, could be a more accurate tool in detecting deception.
Many people know that microexpressions are hidden signs of emotions that are uncontrollable and last a fraction of a second. These microexpressions were once thought to be an effective method to detecting deception, yet this new study suggests that subtle expressions, not microexpressions, could be the key to catching liars.
In their study, Warren, et. al recorded videos of individuals being either truthful or deceptive. This video footage was designed to generate an emotional or unemotional response. Individuals were then asked to evaluate the level of honesty in those videos and complete the Microexpression Training Tool (developed by myself and Dr. Paul Ekman) and the Subtle Expression Training Tool (SETT). They concluded that the overall performance for emotional lie detection was “significantly positively correlated with reported use of facial expressions and with performance on the Subtle Expression Training Tool (SETT), but not on the Microexpression Training Tool (METT).” This study implies that subtle expression training is positively correlated with emotional lie detection.
What are subtle expressions and how are they different than microexpressions?
Subtle expressions are just as their name suggests: subtle. They occur when a person’s emotional response to a situation, to another person or to the environment around them is of low intensity. They also occur when a person is just starting to feel an emotion.
Learning to see subtle expressions is different than learning to see microexpressions. Being able to see microexpressions of emotion requires that you learn to spot a full expression of emotion visible on the face for a short time: micros “flash” for ½ second or less. Contrary to this, when you study subtle expressions, you learn how to identify the emotion a person is feeling from slight, subtle variations of the expression being shown.
Want to learn how to detect subtle expressions? Try our SubX Professional Training or our SubX Lite– Our unique training tool is one-of-a-kind and found nowhere else. Complete with 70 practice images, SubX was originally funded by and developed for governmental agencies in the United States. Learning subtle expressions really is the “next step” in learning how to detect deception. If you would like additional training after you’ve taken SubX or SubX Lite, try our SubX Additional Training. Complete with 70 practice images, you can set the speed to adjust your needs and improve your ability to detect subtle expressions.
How is our training different than SETT?
SubX features a baseline test, 13 instructional videos, a practice test with 70 color images and a post test. SETT features no baseline or post test and contains only 37 practice images in black and white.
SubX features instructional videos complete with full video and audio capabilities whereas SETT training contains only written verbiage.
SubX also contains better images-representing multiple ethnicities, genders and age groups whereas SETT features images from only one individual.
SubX contains an instructional video on how to identify expressions when portions of the face are hidden or covered. SETT does not contain this feature.
SubX training was developed for and funded by top governmental agencies in the United States.
Want to try a FREE demo of our SubX Training? Click Here!
