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Symbolic Gestures (Emblems)
Working with David Matsumoto, Paul Ekman is identifying the vocabulary of symbolic gestures in a number of cultures (what David Efron more than sixty years ago called Emblems). An emblem has a precise meaning or set of meanings known to all members of a culture or sub-culture. It is the only true body language, and is culture-specific. We will be using methods developed by Paul Ekman and used twenty years ago to establish the emblem vocabulary in the United States (dissertation of Harold Johnson), Iran (dissertation of Carol Trupin), and Israel (thesis of Nitza Broidie). Funding is expected to begin by February 2007.
DIWS (Dangerous Intent Warning Signals)
Continuing work on the identification of facial expressions of immediate deadly intent, covering both premeditated and loss of control attacks. New work will ask people who recently survived a physical assault to create the expression they saw utilizing computer software. This work is likely to begin in the winter of 2007, pending funding.
Cultivating Emotional Balance
This project, which combined some of Paul Ekman's approaches to emotional skills with contemplative practice, was initiated at the request of the Dalai Lama. It has since been directed by Margaret Kemeny at the University of California, San Francisco. Paul Ekman is now rejoining the project to help in the completion of the analyses and write up of findings on the impact of 50 hours of training on the physiology, self reported emotion, and expressions of school teachers. Expected completion is June 2007.
Deception and Demeanor
Paul Ekman continues to work with Mark Frank in the planning and execution of a number of studies of how deception may be betrayed through demeanor. Paul Ekman was a co-investigator of the study that examined lying and truth telling about having committed a harmful act by political extremists. The most recent study, on which Paul Ekman is a consultant, involves lies about the intent to commit a harmful act.
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