Our brains have been processing sophisticated information via our senses for millions of years. So why is it we are still (36) to lies Why aren’t we better at discovering the deception of others
The language of the face is (37) . Almost our first sight as new-born baby is our mother’s face smiling at us. Not only are we immediately (38) to respond to faces, but right away we can also (39) surprise, pleasure and distress. The constant visual dialogue, as parent and child (40) expressions back and forth, is (41) for the young brain. It is how we build a (42) of other minds--we feel happy when we smile, so someone else smiling must be (43) the same.
(44) , says Paul Ekman, a leading researcher in the subject. "Wherever you are, anger, happiness, fear, disgust sadness and surprise look the same."
But we make all sorts of false assumptions about faces. Attractive people, for instance, may get the benefit of the doubt. We sometimes assume they are kinder, cleverer and more honest than those with less regular features. Then we have other unconscious biases about certain kinds of face. In a woman, (45) .
These are just some of the ways we fool ourselves. So why aren’t we better at detecting liars Because for millions of years humans have been in battle with each other to develop better techniques for deception. (46) . In fact, one theory claims that the ability to cheat, to make others in the group think an expression means friendship rather than anger, is one of the most important factors driving human development.