Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!
Chapter 250 - 248: I Am a Human Camera

Chapter 250: Chapter 248: I Am a Human Camera

"Micro-expression Analysis?"

Originally, several consultants who had already closed their notebooks reopened them and picked up their pens after hearing this.

This was the expression of hearing valuable information, indicating that this report presentation would introduce something new.

In the depths of their minds, they even had a premonition that something significant was about to happen here.

"Micro-expression Analysis?"

The professors in the first row, who were solidly grounded and constantly attentive to frontier research, naturally wouldn’t make the laughable claim that "Micro-expression Analysis is pseudoscience."

Most professors raised their eyebrows, showing interest.

They then subtly glanced in Bai Qinghua’s direction.

A few of the professors’ eyes lit up with excitement as they sensed a certain aura—

——the aura of a core journal!

As mentioned earlier, [Psychological Consultation] is a research field under the psychology umbrella that is very difficult to write articles on.

If one were not so concerned about linguistic precision, one might even replace the word "very" with "most"—[Psychological Consultation] is the "most" difficult research field to publish articles on under the psychology umbrella.

In the psychological consultation journal articles that are currently listed on CNKI, aside from the grandmaster figures who localize foreign techniques or even innovate new methods themselves, most people rely on unique case studies to publish articles.

However, while unique case studies can lead to publications, it’s hard to publish them in core journals because research on individual cases generally lacks the quality to be "promoted" for widespread learning and isn’t very "innovative" either.

But now, what Nan Zhubin was talking about had started to show some promise.

From the perspective of [smiling depression], he was introducing a new technique for intervention targeting a specific group of people!

From the perspective of [Micro-expression Analysis], he was developing a practical application direction for an emerging technology!

Wait a minute... Wouldn’t a slight edit allow the publication of two articles?

Two core journal articles?!

The professors once again fell into deep thought.

Nan Zhubin observed the reactions of the audience below.

This was exactly the reaction he wanted.

But that was not all.

"In 1969, at the request of a psychiatrist, the American psychologists Ekman and Frisson conducted an analysis of a video recording of a depression patient who lied to cover up their suicidal intent."

Nan Zhubin switched to a new slide and gradually presented a point that could support his theory:

"Initially, these two psychologists did not find anything unusual in the patient’s behavior from the video. It wasn’t until they played the video slowly and examined it frame by frame that they unexpectedly discovered that when the patient was responding to the doctor’s questions about future plans, there was a strong expression of agony. In the entire video, this expression only occupied two frames, lasting only 1/12 of a second."

"This uncontrollable physiological expression lasting 1/12 of a second is what we call [micro expressions]!"

People who are not in this research area would not delve into the origins of such a story, thus most of the psychological professionals present were unaware of it.

Yet, the story was novel enough in itself.

The people present had their attention drawn once again by Nan Zhubin.

"Unfortunately, although [micro expressions] originated from psychological consultation, they ultimately were not applied to it because the ’video’ requirement is very demanding in consultations."

"Even in the United States, where it originated, [Micro-expression Analysis] is mostly used in criminal investigation fields, or in psychiatric hospitals where visitors have completely lost their self-guardianship rights."

Nan Zhubin’s voice was quick and steady, swiftly presenting his viewpoint while everyone was still processing the information.

"Therefore, regarding the intervention for [smiling depression], I have two appeals:"

"First, after confirming the presence of a suicide risk in the depression, initiate a video consultation method, allowing the consultant to meticulously discern the true mental state of the visitor after the consultation—after all, suicide intervention can implement confidential exceptions policies."

"Second, based on the first point, enhance training for grassroots consultants. At least ensure that consultants facing depression patients possess the ability to analyze micro expressions through video; if possible, cultivate talent who can specialize in interpreting [smiling depression] micro expressions without video analysis."

"That’s my report."

The last slide appeared, with eight large characters as the closing: [Thank you for listening, please enlighten me].

The ending had a kind of abrupt stop quality.

As a result, it took the audience a dozen seconds to digest.

The scene fell into some silence for a moment.

Nan Zhubin’s report contained too many explosive points, and it was only at this moment that the host realized: "...Thank you, Mr. Nan, for the wonderful report. Does anyone have any questions they’d like to discuss with Mr. Nan?"

This was the usual procedure after every teacher’s report, spoken very smoothly by the host.

And so, after the host finished speaking, he noticed the principal and the dean of psychology gesturing at him, frequently motioning "Let’s get this over with."

But it was too late.

However, it didn’t matter much; even if the host hadn’t led the process to the Q&A session, someone would have asked questions anyway——

From within the crowd, Huang Xin cleared his throat, prepared to stand up.

By the way, Liu Pan, who was beside him, had long disappeared, leaving only Zhuang Junzhe with an increasingly admiring look in his eyes.

"Just now, at the end, you mentioned training psychological consultants who can conduct micro-expression analysis? Do you think this is possible?"

A voice suddenly came from the professors’ seats in the front row.

Huang Xin silently sat back down again, as this was originally the question he was supposed to ask.

Now that someone had proactively taken it up, he didn’t need to go through the motions.

...

The one who asked the question was Bai Qinghua.

At this moment, Bai Qinghua was looking at Nan Zhubin, with intense interest sparking in his eyes.

He slowly said, "The story you shared was good. But you must understand, the 1/12 second micro-expression is considered a comparatively long presence for a micro-expression; genuine micro-expressions may linger on a person’s face for even shorter durations. Do you think a consultant can master such a skill and become a human camera?"

Having a question come from the professor’s seat took Nan Zhubin by a slight surprise.

But it did not greatly affect Nan Zhubin: "Firstly, thank you for your question, professor."

"Secondly, turning a consultant into a human camera is not feasible. However, having consultants specialize in interpreting [smiling depression] in visitors is possible; that’s what my appeal at the end of my report was about."

Nan Zhubin corrected Bai Qinghua’s wording.

"Firstly, interpreting an individual’s micro expressions requires an extreme familiarity with someone’s facial activities; meticulously observing others’ expressions is often extremely impolite; however, when conducting a consultation, a consultant needs to maintain eye contact with the visitor’s face for more than forty minutes, which inherently grants them the conditions to interpret the visitor."

"Secondly, a consultant does not need to decode all the expressions of the visitor, merely need to look past the [smile] to discern [pain], and that alone is sufficient. This specific training is considerably easier than the imaginary task of ’training a consultant capable of [Micro-expression Analysis]."

The difference between specialists and generalists is significant.

It’s like in a basketball game, if you look for someone who can shoot, defend, break through, and dunk, you might only be able to find them among a handful of individuals in the NBA.

But if you just want a spot-up shooter who’s nine out of ten on three-point shots——you might just pull a few from your local community.

The "specialized interpreters of [smiling depression]" proposed in Nan Zhubin’s report were just such "three-point spot-up shooters."

Bai Qinghua’s expression grew even more intrigued: "When you say this, is there any research? Any basis?"

Nan Zhubin nodded: "Yes."

Under the gaze of thousands, Nan Zhubin calmly said: "I am such a person."

"Moreover, I am not just someone who ’specialized interprets [smiling depression]."

"I am the kind of ’human camera’ you mentioned."

"And regarding this." Nan Zhubin looked toward Lin Lulin, "I can prove it on the spot."