Expressing Emotion

You also use nonverbal communication for affect displays: intentional or unintentional behaviors that depict actual or feigned emotion (Burgoon, Buller, & Woodall, 1996). Affect displays are presented primarily through the face and voice. You communicate hundreds, if not thousands, of real and faked emotional states with your face. You may grin in amusement, grimace in disgust, furrow your brow in concern, or lift one eyebrow in suspicion. Your voice also conveys emotions. For instance, most people express emotions such as grief and love through lowered vocal pitch, and hostile emotions such as anger and contempt through loudness (Costanzo, Markel, & Costanzo, 1969).