204 W H A T EVERY BODY IS SAYING
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON THE FACEBecause the face can convey so many different expressions and because
we are taught to mask our facial displays at an early age, anything you
observe on the face should be compared with the nonverbals of the rest of
the body. In addition, because facial-cue behaviors are so complex, it may
be difficult to interpret whether they reflect comfort or discomfort. If
you are confused as to the meaning of a facial expression, reenact it and
sense how it makes you feel. You will find this little trick may help you
decipher what you just observed. The face can reveal a great deal of in-
formation but it can also mislead. You need to look for clusters of behav-
iors, constantly evaluate what you see in its context, and note whether the
facial expression agrees with—or is in contrast to—signals from other
parts of the body. Only by performing all of these observations can
you confidently validate your assessment of a person’s emotions and in-
tentions.