Emotions: Facts vs. Fiction

Science doesn’t back three of the most common beliefs people hold about emotions.

Many people believe a person is happy when he or she smiles, or is sad when he or she frowns. Contrary to popular thinking, however, facial expressions are poor indicators of how a person feels. Hundreds of studies reveal that people who are experiencing the same emotions may move their faces in a variety of ways. Take anger, for example: Research shows that people who are angry scowl about 30% of the time, but they also may smile or put on a stern face instead.

Another common belief is that emotions manifest in the body through a unique, recognizable pattern of physical changes. Science suggests otherwise. People’s bodies react in different ways when feeling the same emotion. Moreover, physiological changes, such as an increase or decrease in heart rate or blood pressure, do...