Psychologist Albert Mehrabian described 3 components in
face-to-face communications namely, verbal, vocal and visual. Also known as the
Mehrabian Rule, this rule states that 7% of communication involves words, 38%
tone of voice and 55% body language. Usually the 3 components have to be
congruent to support each other in communication. When words and body language
fail to agree, one tends to believe the body language.
People see, observe and
judge others via their facial expressions. Facial expressions are therefore
essential for daily life to enable effective communication.
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| Often times, people express concern that their facial features are communicating unintended signals. |
communicating unintended signals such as disapproval (frown
lines), tiredness or disinterest (droopy eyelids), aging (forehead wrinkles and
crow’s feet), worry (droopy angle of mouth, eyebrow and frown lines).
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| Hyperactive corrugator muscles can send out unintended signals of worry or disapproval. |
Dental and skull deformity can also impair the ability to
express oneself, with an observer potentially misinterpreting one’s emotions or personality. For example,
people with short chin, protruding incisors, or gummy smiles may appear unintelligent.
People with huge jaw tend to appear more
aggressive and a smile may appear more like a grimace. Those with flat cheek
bones or saggy face often have down-turned angle of the mouth, thus looking angry or sad.
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| A small eye with single eyelid and wide inter-eye distance is sometimes misinterpreted as disinterest or tired |
In other words, the face can malfunction as an organ of
communication. As a great deal of human communication takes place without the
need for words, facial expression is immensely
significant in non-verbal communication.
As aesthetic medical treatment is increasingly accessible, more people are
seeking such services to improve their quality of life in terms of social
interactions, carrier development and personal satisfaction.
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| Droopy brow and deep nose-lip fold with saggy mouth angle may appear as sad or angry. |
