F
Face platter (the) Usually performed by women, this is when one hand is placed on top of the other, with the head sitting above, as if presenting the face for a suitor to admire.
Face shield Protecting the face from a perceived threat, or cutting off a disliked visual stimulus, face shielding behaviour can range from covering the face with one’s hands to looking at an iPad.
Facial denting The pressing of a finger, the finger ends, or knuckles against/into the cheek to help relieve stress.
Facial expressions Humans have more than 10,000 facial expressions, more than any other animal. These are selected for many different reasons.
Facial touching In general, this is seen by observers as a negative display, of nervousness or the need for self-comfort. Touching the face can be a sign of deception. How and where is the face being touched?
ACS Facial action coding system Introduced in 1978, Ekman and Friesen’s system measures and identifies a series of facial movements.
False expressions A person’s false (non-felt) expression gives off a warning, even if the receiver isn’t consciously aware it’s faked. It is no wonder dolls and clowns can be creepy, people find it hard to feel comfortable with a face they can’t read. False expressions, in general, are usually slightly asymmetrical, and lack smoothness in the way they disappear.
False smile It’s not easy to fake a true smile. Often the false smile fails to engage the eyes sufficiently, and they tend to be more pronounced on the left side of the face.
Fast, Julius
Fear The feeling induced by a perceived threat. A flood of hormones put the body on alert leading to more blood heading to the large skeletal muscles, all causing behavioural change as preparation for the freeze, flight or fight response is made. Fear cues include movement away from the target, swaying, bouncing or tapping movement, heavier breathing, head slightly backwards/away, cold hands, and tightened neck muscles with the shoulders raised.
Fear facial expression A universal expression in which the eyes are wide with eyelids raised and eyebrows lowered, a wide tense mouth with the cheeks pulled down/back. A genuine fear expression is unlikely to be accompanied by an open or vulnerable posture.
Feedback loop People’s faces and bodies reflect their thoughts and feelings and this in turn affects others, who may respond in kind strengthening the first behaviour. It may be that the response in not welcome, and this allows for reaction, in real-time.
Feet/Ankle wrap When seated, people can restrain themselves (physically and perhaps mentally) by wrapping their feet and ankles around the chair's legs. Rooted and rigid, they may be withholding information.
Fexeus, Henrik
Fidgeting A displacement activity done when experiencing inner torment or frustration, fidgeting usually involves the fingers doing something non-productive. Some practices are performed to hide fidgeting, such as smoking or phone-checking. Bouncing feet can be considered fidgeting. As with fidgeting hands, the feet are releasing nervous energy.
Fig leaf (the) The hands cover the genital area, elbows tucked in beside the body, in a protection gesture. Performed when feeling vulnerable or slightly fearful. More often done by men, this is also common when feeling that eyes are upon you (spotlight) such as a line up or photo being taken. The antithesis to this is groin exposure when the legs part.
Fight An evolved response which usually manifests in the form of threat signals and becomes ‘fight’ as a last resort (unless play fighting). Pre-fight signs include a larger appearance (taking up more space), such as the chest out display, a tightening jaw, flaring nostrils, and feet in the pugilistic/starter’s position.
Figure-four seating position (the) Sometimes accompanied by the leg clamp, this position is performed with an ankle placed on/near the other leg’s knee. It may be a cue that the person is feeling competitive, dominant, apprehensive or stubborn. A masculine expression, it’s more commonly performed by men (especially Americans), showing authority and framing the genital area. It’s also associated with youthfulness as suppleness and stamina is required to maintain the position. The sole of the shoe being displayed is a sign of disrespect (especially I the Arab world and much of Asia) and shouldn't be done in the presence of the boss.
Fillers Also called hedges, these verbal fillers are adapted, copied and fashionable, with ‘like’ being the current choice-filler among the young (in the West). Phrases such as ‘sort of like’ and ‘you know what I mean’ can be used to stall as the mind figures out what it wants to say next.
Finger pointing Usually the forefinger, a jabbing emphasises the feeling being expressed. It is authoritarian, and considered hostile. Offensive in many countries, finger pointing can be a precursor to fighting. The finger represents a stick to beat with. It’s a symbolic blow, relating to the inborn behaviour of the ancient overarm blow, the favoured attacking behaviour of young children and our closest ape relatives.
Fingers crossed A conscious action with its roots in paganism and also warding off the devil. Culturally it differs but crossed fingers are often for good luck or protection.
Fingers spread A speaker may hold out a hand(s) with stiff parted fingers, a sig that they are wishing to make contact with everyone in the room. Also performed as part of the air grasp, the spread fingers emphasise a need for control.
Fingertips kiss When the tips of the fingers are kissed before the fingers are released towards the receiver(s). It may be aimed at one person but intended for a different receiver. More common in Southern Europe it usually signals praise and often of a person’s appearance. It can mean tasty.
First impressions Humans have evolved to be able to form quick and often accurate first impressions. People continue to place a great importance on first impressions, and they do discriminate, so it’s important to make other’s first impression (of you) positive ones. FIs often occur before first sight, on the hearing of a person’s name, occupation, gender, age, religion, social class etc, which can all be known before a sighting is made. Part of this FI defence mechanism is looking at a person’s hands, to decipher their intention, so an open/empty palm can help establish trust.
Fist bump Performed when two closed fists tap together in a greeting or celebratory scenario. Perhaps originating from the gloved boxers who’d touch gloves before a bout, the fist bump moved through other gloved sports (often US) before being a brotherly gesture. Its use is now widespread, overtaking the high five in popularity.
Fist clenching An obvious mood message, the clenched fist both a baton gesture and a vacuum gesture, a threat that rarely leads to the act of contact. Primates clench fists to hit in anger but also in play. Common usage is when the doer is frustrated or determined. If the fist accompanied crossed arms there is more chance of aggression due to the element of defensiveness and hiding the fists. If a fist covers the mouth it may signal concealment. A fist on the lower cheek can be a cue of boredom.
Flashbulb eyes Wide open eyes with eyelids and eyebrows raised may signal surprise or a positive emotion linked to surprise such as amazement. It’s a gravity defying behaviour.
Fleeting expressions Movements which flash across the face in less than 1/5 of a second. Such micro expressions betraying conscious displays revealing true emotion. An example is the crinkled nose that appears on a smiling face when hearing a joke the receiver finds disgusting but doesn’t want to let on. Fleeting expressions that don’t register consciously can still be mimicked (unconsciously) on an observer’s face.
Flight The body is in a state of readiness to flee – the heart beating faster, adrenalin pouring into the bloodstream, blood to brain and muscles – as the limbic brain reacts to a threat. The flight could be running, climbing, or turning, with preceding actions including the eye shuffle as an exit route is planned. Flight follows (or includes freeze) and occurs before/is preferable to fight.
Floor apportionment In a conversation, this is the speaker having the ‘floor’. There are behaviours associated with a speaker wanting to hold the floor and when they wish to (or are prepared to) let someone else speak.
Flushing An involuntary act to a spike in adrenalin, which, according to Halbertstadt & Green, is done to render leniency in the observers of our embarrassment, fear guilt or shame. The reddening of cheeks is designed to be seen so has evolved to produce a beneficial reaction from its receivers as well as opening up the doer's blood vessels in the cheeks for more oxygen. It’s a limbic reaction but depends on an awareness of being watched and a sensitive regard for their opinion.
Flustered A state of agitation, confusion or frustration that may result in rapid blinking, a reddening face, start-stop movements, dry throat clearing, busy hands such as wringing, face touching or squirming.
Foetal position The back is hunched with the knees brought up tightly against the abdomen and the forehead towards the knees. It times of extreme stress or trauma this position may be taken up. The foetal position has been observed in drug addicts experiencing withdrawal. In a less pronounced form it’s a common sleeping position, especially when the body becomes cold.
Follower (the) A person who prefers others to take control of the situation. Followers show submissive body language, such as taking up less space than normal.
Foot kicking When seated, a foot that kicks forward can be being performed unconsciously in reaction to something negative that has been seen or heard.
Foot withdrawal Look for feet moving beneath the chair in a seated position. This distancing is a sign that the person is taking up less space (submissive), and is a possible sign of holding back information or not respecting/liking their company or what they're hearing.
Forearm jerk A phallic gesture of dominance that’s used as an insult.
Forefinger baton Waving a finger at someone or pointing is symbol of attacking, acting out the beating of a stick.
Fovea 1% of the total retina, the fovea is the eye’s centre spot, a small depression where visual acuity is highest. The centre of the field of vision is focused in this region, where retinal cones are particularly concentrated.
Foveal The adjective for of fovea (see above).
Free-riders Cheats or slackers, free riders are those acting selfishly or uncooperatively. People are good at spotting free-riders and could have a mechanism for this. Free-riders will on average be more successful than the co-operators.
Freeze The first limbic response to fear or a threat. The body freezes or makes stiffened movements as a form of hiding whilst allowing the brain to decide what to do next. When engaged in deception, the freezing, of the head, hands and limbs, is common, the liar not wanting to give themselves away, but it may simply be fear that the accused in feeling.
Frontal lobe The part of the brain that controls important cognitive skills in humans, such as emotional expression, language and judgment. It’s the ‘control panel’ of a person’s personality and communicative ability. This seat of emotional self-control and understanding is not fully formed until late adolescence.
Frowning A furrowed forehead can signal that a person is anxious, sad, concerned, bewildered, or angry, and can be an intention movement, the eyes being protected in readiness. Frowning is an ancient and universal behaviour. Apes frown when they have a thwarted desire to escape. Dogs even recognise a frown in humans, and they exhibit a similar behaviour themselves when feeling sad or concentrating.
Frozen hands A freeze response to a threat. Perhaps being caught in a lie.
Frustration An emotional response to being thwarted. The perceived opposition may become the subject of annoyance or anger. When the fulfilment of a goal is denied or blocked, there may well be a display of lip compression, finger baton/pointing/fist-making/insulting gesture, scratching/rubbing back of neck, short pacing, gritting and displaying teeth, or the making of a tapping or slamming sound with the hands.
Full lips A sign of relaxation, full lips can also be a sexual signal the effect of which can be exaggerated with lipstick or licking.
Full salaam A common greeting in many Arabic-speaking and Muslim countries the salaam is a gesture of greeting or respect typically consisting of a low bow of the head and body with the hand or fingers touching the forehead.
Funnel effect Where people sit in an audience affects how much information they recall, with those in the funnel area the best placed. There is also a funnel approach to questioning used in court and sales. This questioning approach involves asking a potential customer a series of open-ended questions to get information before questions are funnelled down to yes/no answers that close the deal and get the buyer in a yes frame of mind.
Furrowed forehead Associated with effort and intensity (which could be concentration) people put greater effort into a task if they do so with a furrowed brow (than when smiling). It can signal that the doer is anxious, sad, concerned, bewildered, or angry, and it’s also a sign of disapproval.
Fusiform gyrus When looking in a person’s eyes, the fusiform gyrus is activated in the region of the visual cortex used to identify faces. The fusiform face area has been assigned the task of encoding information about faces to provide instant answers, such as do I know this person.