Key takeaways:
- Humans share 16 core facial expressions across cultures.
- These expressions appear in similar social and emotional contexts.
- More research is needed to confirm how genuine these expressions are in online videos.
A new UC Berkeley study showed that the seven billion people on Earth have something else in common. They all have 16 facial expressions in common that are used in similar contexts.
Different Emotions Smiley
Cultural differences don’t make a difference
The study found that a core set of 16 facial expressions is used consistently across cultures in emotionally significant moments, suggesting that certain expressions may be biologically rooted rather than culturally learned. Birthday parties, demonstrations, funerals, religious services, etc. These circumstances lead to the same facial responses no matter what part of the world you are from, according to a study published in Nature. However, the human face has 43 muscles whose movements can generally produce thousands of different expressions!
The study identified 16 universally consistent facial expressions related to the following emotional states:
- Fun
- Anger
- Fear
- Concentration
- Confusion
- Contempt
- Satisfaction
- Longing
- Disappointment
- Doubt
- Enthusiasm
- Interest
- Pain
- Sadness
- Surprise
- Triumph
“This study shows how remarkably similar humans are in the way we express our emotions in the most important contexts of our lives,” says Dacher Keltner, one of the authors of the study.
A trait shared by the whole species
To achieve this, researchers from the University of Berkeley, collaborated with Google. Together, they used a deep neural network, an automatic learning technology that scanned the facial expressions of people in six million YouTube videos that were recorded in 144 different countries. According to Alan Cowen, another co-author in the study, this was the first global analysis of how facial expressions are used in everyday life.
The researchers concluded from their study that universal human expressions are much richer and more complex than the scientific community had assumed. They created an interactive map and put it online to show the public the observations of the algorithm. The algorithm categorized facial muscle movements based on contextual clues such as voice tone, setting, and viewer responses. Expressions were filtered down to 16 that showed high consistency in emotional interpretation across different cultures. Researchers validated this output with manual coding and expert reviews to ensure accuracy. According to Keltner, the findings suggest that “the physical exposure of our emotions can define who we are as a species.”
By understanding how our faces reveal emotion in universally recognizable ways, we may better connect with others, even across language barriers, and support people with conditions like autism or social anxiety. With this in mind, the researchers envision that one of the applications of their study could be to help people who have difficulty reading facial expressions, such as those with autism.
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FAQs
How many facial expressions are shared across all cultures?
Sixteen facial expressions were found to be used in similar contexts worldwide.
Who conducted the study?
Researchers from UC Berkeley, in collaboration with Google.
What kind of data did they use?
They analyzed facial expressions from six million YouTube videos across 144 countries.
Are these expressions influenced by culture?
The study suggests that these core expressions appear instinctively, regardless of culture.
What emotions do the expressions reflect?
They include emotions like anger, joy, sadness, fear, confusion, and surprise, among others.
Can this research help people with autism?
Yes, the findings could support tools that help individuals better understand facial cues.
Is facial expression the only way we show emotion?
No, tone of voice, body language, and context also play a major role.
What about actors or people who fake expressions?
The study looked at everyday videos, not performances, but yes, some people can control their expressions. That doesn’t change the fact that many facial reactions still happen instinctively in real situations.
Final Thoughts
The study raises an interesting question: if we all share the same core facial expressions, what does that say about human nature? It suggests that emotions may be more hardwired than we thought, cutting across language and culture. Still, most of the data came from YouTube videos—so how spontaneous were those expressions? People often perform for the camera, especially influencers or actors, which raises valid questions about emotional authenticity and whether facial expressions alone can fully capture what someone is feeling. These are areas future research may need to explore.
References
Cowen, A.S., Keltner, D., Schroff, F. et al. Sixteen facial expressions occur in similar contexts worldwide. Nature 589, 251–257 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-3037-7
