SUBTEXTThere is still another clue that can give away excitement or
joy: the dilation or constriction of the pupil of the eye. This is
something beyond our conscious control. It is often very difficult
to tell if another person's pupil is large or small unless he or she
has blue or gray eyes, but on a subconscious level we are aware
of eye pupil changes, and we respond to those changes.
Dr. Ekhard Hess, a psychologist, has spent a great deal of
time studying involuntary changes in pupil size, and he has devel-
oped a field of study he calls pupillometry. Dr. Hess noticed a
correlation between people's pupil size and their emotional re-
sponse. He found a wide range of responses. When we are emotion-
ally aroused, our pupils widen. When we are displeased, they
close. It is a subtle reaction, yet the subtext of the pupil size is
understood subliminally. It is another clue when matched against
the spoken word.
A final clue to emotion found in the eye is the presence of
tears. Tears are usually a clear indication of emotional excitement,
although some people can cry on demand. Tears are not always
a sign of sadness. They can send a subtext of anger, relief, distress,
and even enjoyment.
TRUE OR FALSE
What becomes very clear is that we can only detect a lie by
noting the signs of any emotional disturbance the lie causes. These
are usually due to changes in the autonomic nervous system. This
part of our nervous system also controls our blood vessels. When
our blood vessels expand, we blush; when they contract, we grow
pale. Neither of these acts is controlled consciously. They happen
without our willing them or even wanting them to occur. Someone
who blushes may be embarrassed, or ashamed. Someone who grows