Understanding Micro-momentary Emotional Expressions: A Life-Span Perspective

Facial expressions constitute the primary way in which humans convey information about their emotional state. The ability to accurately identify facial affect is therefore an important skill for establishing and sustaining social interaction and communication. With this in view, this chapter explores the quality of micro-momentary facial expressions of emotions from a life-span perspective within the Indian cultural context. To this end, the nature of micro-expressions, their basic characteristics, their measurement options, and their cultural mediation are discussed. Furthermore, the relevance of micro-expressions in interpersonal communication, interactions, health, and well-being is illustrated. Finally, the implications of micro-expressions for psychosocial functioning are discussed.