Blink

Blink
by Malcolm Gladwell

This is an interesting book about the subconscious. We process by association. We deny our biases but reaction times and association tests prove faster reactions by race or gender to positive and negative values that embarrass us. But its there. The locked door. The subconscious.

Positive experiences change our subconscious reactions to race, gender, personalities, religions. When we want to open ourselves to them it can become easier.

Psychoanalysis allows us to verbalize experiences in detail and understand consciously experiences such as taste, emotional reaction, relationships, and it frees the subconscious from delayed expression in often unhealthy ways. Psychoanalysis is training the mind to process an experience at the conscious level, uncovering those unconscious reactions -- and freeing one from their possibly unwanted anxiety.

The face is tied to emotional centers in the brain, and the brain is tied to action units of the face that can create emotion. These are possibly an untapped resource in training mood, behavior relationships. In fact, one can detect lying, false motives, hidden contempt, doomed relationships, peaceful or aggressive behavior patterns in group pictures, and understand who one is dealing with quickly from the study of their facial micromovements on film or with practice in life.

Some resources on this study of facial expressions, emotions, and 'mind-reading' see Paul Ekman and Wallace Friesen, "Facial Action Coding System Part 1 and 2", UCSF 1978. Dave Grossman's wonderful book, "The Bulletproof Mind: Prevailing in violent encounters . . . and After".