86 I Can Read You Like a Book R
him, either. Lids can be used by adults in similar fashion. One way
is to close the eyes to prevent seeing something that does not mesh
withwhat they are trying to portray. It helps maintain stability and
prevent displaced expectations. Similarly, averting the eyes is not
uncommon. We see this in people who do not know how to deal
with people with disabilities. The more sophisticated version comes
when someone knows you can read eyes, and closes the eyes as a
solid barrier against discovery.
In deliberately using eyelids, a person might also do one of the
following:
ƒ Close the lids partially as a barrier to further con-
versation or contact.
ƒ Squeeze one eyelid shut as part of expressing extreme
disbelief.
ƒ Wink, as a flirtation, a sign of “okay,” or “I under-
stand,” or as a request for approval, depending on
what the rest of the face is doing.
ƒ Squeeze both eyelids shut to express pain, emotional
or physical, or profound concentration.
Blink rate
Everyone has a normal blink rate, which is his baseline. When
I ask questions that are not stress-inducing, the rate is constant.
When the stress increases, whether from emotional stimulus or
fear of discovery that he is lying or bluffing, the blink rate may
