Why Mens Non-Verbal Facial Expressions Can Make Women Nervous
There are many stereotypes that exist when it comes to the differences between men and women. This is especially true when it comes to communication styles between the two sexes. We expect men to be somewhat without emotion when communicating. For women, however, the opposite is true. Our expectation is that women should be the happy, cheerful sex, which is reflected in the smiley-face syndrome. Many miscommunications can occur because female and male facial styles vary so profoundly.
Although men might take on an air of neutrality, there is actually no such thing as neutrality in communication. Women perceive negatively. Mens masking of facial expressions causes uneasiness in women. This is why women often view and interpret mens monotonic facial expressions as punishing and admonishing or as negative feedback.
The monotonic face is one of the reasons women feel uncomfortable with men. Males can appear unavailable and emotionally inactive because it has political value to them; this is the ultimate nonverbal way for them to express their masculine control.
When a woman cant take a read...