European Journal ojSocial Psychology Vol. 24 367-381 zyxw (1994) zyx The cues decoders use in attempting to differentiate emotion-elicitedand posed facial expressions z URSULA zyxw HESS University of Quebec at Montreal zyxw and ROBERT E. KLECK Dartmouth College Abstract Dynamic facial expressions, either posed or elicited by afectively evocative materials, were objectively scored to determine the movement cues and temporalparameters asso- ciated with the two types zyxwv of expression. Subjects viewed these expressive episodes and rated each of them on a number of scales intended to assess perceived spontaneousness and deliberateness. Subsequent to viewing all stimuli, subjects reported the spec$c cues that theyfelt they had used to discriminatespontaneous from deliberate expressions. The results reveal that (a) subjects were able to accurately report the cues they employed in the rating task and that (b) these cues were not always valid discriminators of posed and spontaneous expressions. Subjects were zyxw in fact relatively poor at identifying expressions of the two types and this low discrimination accuracy was found to be afunction of the consistent use of these invalid cues. A measure of the level of perceived ‘honest demeanour of the stimulus persons based on their neutral expressions was found to relate to perceivers accuracy in discriminatingposed and spontaneous expres- sions. zyxwvuts INTRODUCTION Facial msrepresentatton of our experienced emotions, whether intentional or not, appears to be a central aspect of our social lives. The happy smile shown when an unappreciated gift has been received from a friend or relative, the neutral face This paper is based on the thesis research conducted by the first author. We would like to thank Amid Kappas for his support dunng this project. The research was supported in part by funds associated with the John Sloan Dickey Third Century Professorship and with the William H. Spoor Dialogues on Leadership Program at Dartmouth (Kleck). Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ursula Hess, Department of Psychology, University of Quebec at Montreal, C.P 8888, sum. A, Montreal (Quebec) H3C 3P8, Canada. CCC 0046-2772/94/030367-15 zyxwv 0 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 24 April 1992 Accepted zy 15 July 1993