Theory of Basic Emotions

The theory of basic emotions (TEB, basic emotions theory, BET), led by psychologists such as Ekman (1992), Izard (2011) and Matsumoto (2001), has been the theory that has dominated the landscape of behavioral sciences. non-verbal during the 20th century, giving a central role to basic emotions.

The basic or universal emotions according to these authors are seven: joy, sadness, anger, disgust, fear, surprise and contempt.

Emotions Associated with Lies

Certain authors such as Zuckerman, DePaulo and Rosenthal (1981) and Buller and Burgoon (1994) proposed that lying produces four types of observable behaviors, including certain emotions. These emotions may be related to the act of lying, and/or to the specific topic of lying.

Multiple Factor Theory

The proposed emotions related to lying are (Ekman, 2003): guilt, shame or fear of being discovered.

Can Emotions Be Observed?

Ekman and Friesen (1969) proposed the well-known theory of the “filtering hypothesis,” which maintains that some verbal and bodily expressions show the true emotions that the individual experiences when lying, despite the individual’s efforts to hide them. This is based on the “inhibition hypothesis”, initially proposed by Darwin (1872).

This hypothesis holds that some facial muscle actions associated with emotions (Ekman, Friesen, & Sorensen, 1969) cannot be completely inhibited, and the true emotion will be expressed anyway (Ekman, 2003).

There is no unequivocal symbol that reveals a person who lies, nor is there a single universal emotion that is expressed as a result of telling a lie. Hidden emotions are not necessarily indicators of deception, but together with other signs of deception they can indicate an intention to lie (deliberately hide or falsify information; Ekman, 2005).