Emotion Faces Chart
A reference of named facial expressions for common emotions, with the tell-tale cues that show up on a face, so feelings are easier to read and name.
About this tool
Faces carry an enormous amount of emotional information, and reading them is a skill we build over a lifetime. An emotion faces chart names the common expressions and spells out the cues that go with each one: a furrowed brow for anger, wide eyes and raised brows for fear, a downturned mouth for sadness. Putting names to faces helps both with reading other people and with recognizing your own state.
Decades of research suggest a small set of emotions show up on the face in fairly recognizable ways across many cultures, including happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust. There is real scientific debate about how universal facial expressions truly are, since context and culture shape both how we show and how we read emotion. So this chart is best treated as a helpful guide to common cues, not a lie-detector or a rulebook for what someone 'must' be feeling.
Charts like this are especially useful for children, for social-skills and autism support, and for anyone building emotional literacy. Naming the expression is the first step. From there you can talk about what might cause that feeling, what it might need, and how to respond to it in yourself or someone else.
- Ekman P, Friesen WV. Constants across cultures in the face and emotion. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1971;17(2):124-129.
- Barrett LF, et al. Emotional expressions reconsidered: challenges to inferring emotion from human facial movements. Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2019;20(1):1-68.
Emotion Faces Chart FAQ
What is an emotion faces chart?
A reference that names common facial expressions and describes the cues that go with each, like a furrowed brow for anger or wide eyes for surprise, to make feelings easier to read and name.
Are facial expressions the same in every culture?
A small set of emotions show up on the face in fairly recognizable ways across many cultures, but context and culture also shape how we show and read emotion. Treat the chart as a helpful guide, not a strict rule.
Who is this chart for?
It is especially useful for young children, for social-skills and autism support, and for anyone building emotional literacy. Adults use it as a quick reference too.
Can I tell exactly what someone feels from their face?
Not for certain. The same expression can mean different things depending on the situation, and people vary in how openly they show feelings. The chart helps you start a conversation; the best way to know is to ask.
How is this different from a feelings chart?
A feelings chart lists emotions with word descriptions. An emotion faces chart focuses on what each feeling looks like on a face, which helps with reading expressions in yourself and others.