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The Book of Tells (Peter Collett)[unlocked]

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THE BOOK OF TELLS<br />

lifting the visor on a helmet - it shows that no threat is<br />

intended. When the glasses are placed on the forehead<br />

they create a 'four-eyed' spectacle, with the 'eyes' <strong>of</strong> the<br />

glasses above and the real eyes below. Because the eyes <strong>of</strong><br />

the glasses are larger, they take on the signalling role<br />

normally performed by the eyes. <strong>The</strong>y become 'supernormal<br />

stimuli', creating the impression that the person<br />

has extra-large eyes - in other words is like a baby. All<br />

along the French Riviera - in fact anywhere where people<br />

are carefree and on display - you'll see women strolling<br />

along, looking confident, well dressed and with their sunglasses<br />

perched on their head. If you were to ask them why<br />

they are wearing their glasses on their head they'd probably<br />

say it's a convenient place to put them. However, the<br />

real reason why they do it is to make themselves look<br />

youthful, unthreatening and attractive.<br />

Eyebrow <strong>Tells</strong><br />

In adults, eyebrow position can convey several messages,<br />

depending on what's happening with the eyes. <strong>The</strong>re are<br />

four basic postures involving the eyebrows and the eyes:<br />

(1) Eyebrows in repose and eyes in repose - this is the<br />

expression <strong>of</strong> the face at rest; (2) Eyebrows in repose and<br />

eyes widened - this is the threatening facial expression <strong>of</strong><br />

anger, sometimes involving lowering <strong>of</strong> the brow;<br />

(3) Eyebrows raised and eyes widened - this is the facial<br />

expression associated with the prototypical fear response;<br />

and (4) Eyebrows raised and eyes in repose - the facial<br />

expression <strong>of</strong> submission.<br />

<strong>The</strong> ancient Romans used the term super cilium, literally<br />

86

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