Nonverbal communication is key to interaction between people. It is something that everybody does even if they are not thinking about it. The study of human body movement communicating nonverbally is called kinesics. (Gamble and Gamble Chapter 4) Facial expressions are the main way we communicate emotion nonverbally. One interesting thing about the face is that we cannot hide it from others so we try very hard to control the expressions we reveal to others but it is sometimes hard.
This reminds me of that new show on Fox called Lie to Me. It is about a man who started a company and what they do is they read facial expressions and body language to decide if people are lying. For some of them it comes natural picking out the lightning quick facial expression and for others they have to study it daily to be so good at it. The show claims that it is impossible to hide your facial expression when you are lying and nervous. No matter what you will flash an ever so quick expression of how you really feel.
Sources: Gamble, T. K., & Gamble, M. W. (2003). The Gender Communication Connection. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Pilot. Season One. (2009). Lie To Me. Fox.
