Micro-expressions: A Study of Basic Reading and The Influencing Factors on Production and Recognition

Abstract

In response to nonverbal communication in psychology, micro-expression research has gained widespread attention as a relatively new but growing field. As technology advances, researchers have developed computer-based tools and software to assist in analyzing micro-expressions. These tools use facial recognition and machine learning algorithms to more accurately detect and categorize micro-expressions. This article introduces the definition and basic types of micro-expressions by integrating related literature and further analyzes the four influencing factors including gender, cultural differences, occurrence background, and psychological states on the production and recognition of micro-expressions. Due to the limited research so far, we will establish the connection with micro-expressions with the help of facial expressions or emotions. Furthermore, three perspectives on micro-expression recognition are presented, including social safety, clinical therapy, and teaching efficiency, to illustrate the application of micro-expression recognition in current life. Finally, we suggest directions for future research on micro-expressions on interdisciplinary cooperation with other fields like brain science and so on.