News has just been released that by the end of 2008, the Transportation Security Administration expects to have 500 “Behavior Detection Officers” in place at airports across the U.S.A. to assess facial “micro-expressions.”
According to reports, these officers are trained to detect expressions of fear and disgust because they’re often tied to deception, which could be masking illegal and dangerous behavior. So here’s a question: have you ever been fearful and disgusted in an airport? I know I get that way when I’m delayed for hours, running to make connections, and starving for decent food.
Understanding the nuances of non-verbal language is essential, not just for airport security, but for all of us. It’s easy to make assumptions that may not be valid – especially when cultural differences are involved. Before jumping to conclusions about someone’s intent, find out what’s happening behind the expression. You may discover there’s more going on than meets the eye.
