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Expressing pain: The communication and interpretation of facial pain signals

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Abstract

This article reviews recent theory and research on the origins, nature, and meaning of facial expressions of pain. A general model of pain expression, distinguishing experiential, encoding, and decoding processes involved in pain episodes, is proposed. Variables which are known to or may affect these processes are reviewed. Relationships between elements of the model and clinical phenomena of interest to health-care workers are discussed. The implications of findings in this area for health-care workers are examined. Areas in need of research are identified.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, V2N 4Z9, Prince George, B.C., Canada

    Kenneth M. Prkachin

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  1. Kenneth M. Prkachin
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  2. Kenneth D. Craig
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Additional information

The authors' research reported in this paper was supported by research grants to K. M. Prkachin from the Medical Research Council of Canada and to K. D. Craig from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Medical Research Council, and the British Columbia Health Care Research Foundation. We gratefully acknowledge the helpful comments on earlier drafts of Mark Costanzo, Sherry Beaumont, Linda LeResche, and Glenda Prkachin, and the issue editor, Val Derlega.

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Prkachin, K.M., Craig, K.D. Expressing pain: The communication and interpretation of facial pain signals. J Nonverbal Behav 19, 191–205 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02173080

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