How to Show No Emotion

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Plus, why some people might have a naturally emotionless face

Co-authored by Aimee Payne, MFA Reviewed by Lesly Kahn, MFA

Last Updated: August 28, 2025 Fact Checked

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Expressions & Body Language

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Speaking without Emotion

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Managing Emotions

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Zero-Emotion Face

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Tips

Looking emotionless can help you gain control of negotiations, avoid confrontations, and even seem cool. This article will help you learn how to use a blank facial expression and neutral body language to gain the upper hand in any situation. Plus, it has expert advice from licensed clinical psychologist Nicole Moshfegh on how to control your emotions in a healthy way. We’ll also talk about what it means to have a naturally emotionless face and whether it’s concerning.

How to Look Emotionless

Make your expression emotionless by relaxing the muscles around your eyes and mouth. Try to keep your posture relaxed and avoid any fidgety movements. When speaking, maintain an even tone and measured pace. Try to use words that are neutral and factual to avoid hinting at your emotions.

Section 1 of 4:

Controlling Non-Verbal Expressions & Body Language

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Relax your eyes and mouth for a more neutral expression. Take a moment to consciously relax the muscles in your face. Let go of any tension that might hint at what you’re thinking or feeling. Try to avoid frowning, which can make you seem angry.^{[1]
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- Poker players have made the expressionless poker face an art form. They play cards without any hint of excitement or nervousness.
- Make a poker face like the pros by counting to 100 in your head or focusing on taking long, deep breaths to relax and hide your emotions.^{[2]
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Use body language that’s relaxed and neutral. Your posture and gestures are a powerful way to communicate without saying a word. Avoid showing any emotion by standing or sitting up straight with relaxed shoulders.^{[3]
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Go to source} Leaning forward can make you seem eager or excited.
- Avoid crossing your arms, which is often seen as defensive. Instead, keep your arms relaxed and at your sides.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes, yawning, or looking down. They may make you seem tired, shy, or sad.
- Use deliberate hand motions. Hesitant hand and arm movements may make you seem fearful, uncertain, or excited.
- Make relaxed eye contact but avoid nodding your head or making any encouraging noises, like “uh-huh” or “mhmm.”
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Avoid fidgeting to seem calmer. Some research suggests that fidgeting—like cracking your knuckles or bouncing your leg—can help some people focus. However, many people interpret it as a sign of nerves or boredom.^{[4]
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Research source} You’ll seem calmer and less emotional if you control your fidgeting.
- Avoid cracking your knuckles, drumming your fingers on the table, or biting your fingernails.
- The urge to fidget may be a signal that your body needs a break from sitting in one place.^{[5]
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  Research source} Calmly excuse yourself to take a quick walk to the restroom or get a drink of water.

Section 2 of 4:

Having Emotionless Conversations

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Speak neutrally and logically. Channel your inner Spock and try to have conversations that express absolutely nothing about how you’re feeling. For example, if you're out to dinner and someone asks how your burger is, tell them it's medium-rare and a little greasy. Do not say it is delicious or gross, even if it is. Keep what you're saying short and to the point.
- If someone asks you how you're feeling or a question that you can't answer with facts, avoid the question by asking a question back.
- You can also give a vague or ambiguous response, like “okay” or “fine.”
- If someone asks if anything’s wrong, say something like, “I'm just tired.”
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Speak at a measured pace with an even tone. People are often more in tune with the tone of your voice than the words you’re saying.^{[6]
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Research source} Raising your pitch can indicate excitement or agitation. Dropping your pitch and speaking very slowly can make you seem uncertain or upset.
- Try to speak in a monotone, or like you’re reading an instruction manual out loud.
- Dull, informative, and without originality will go a long way to keeping your conversations low-key.^{[7]
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Don't use emotional or expressive words. Some words have very obvious emotional connections, like “angry,” “scared,” or “disgusted.” Others express an emotion or mood more subtly, like “creeping,” “sun-kissed,” or “breezy.”^{[8]
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Research source} Try to avoid obvious emotional words like “sad” or “happy,” as well as more subtle words like “determined,” “calm,” or “indecisive.” These words express just as much of your emotional state.
- Avoid using adjectives to describe words that will reveal your feelings. Don't say a movie was exciting or romantic. Instead, describe the film as action-packed or dramatic.

Section 3 of 4:

Managing Your Emotions

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Avoid hanging out with emotional people. “Try to limit your exposure to the news and things that are stressful so that you're not being consumed by it constantly all day long,” suggests Moshfegh.^{[9]
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Expert Source

Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} This includes emotional people who draw you into their drama.
- You don't need to cut anyone out of your life. Just try to respectfully avoid people who cause drama or limit contact with your more emotional friends.
- If you’re out and run into an emotional friend, have an excuse for why you can’t hang out ready to help you slip away without being rude.
- For example, say something like, “I’m sorry, I can’t talk. I’m running late for an appointment.”
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Learn to accept things and be mindful. “Mindfulness is also a very good tool to help manage emotions,” says Moshfegh.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview} A big part of looking emotionless is ignoring things that bother you. Stay in the moment and accept what you can’t change. Once you realize you don’t have the power to change something, it might not bother you so much.
- If you give up trying to control things, you’ll also have an easier time accepting it when things don't go as expected.
- Controlling your emotions and reactions is a skill you can learn. Observe how your feelings flow through you and allow them to be there.
- It’s important to accept your emotions, but it doesn’t mean you have to show them to others.^{[11]
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Desensitize yourself to your fears and anxieties. If you have a specific fear, like spiders or birds, systematically desensitizing yourself to them can help you cope with your anxiety. The first step is to practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.^{[12]
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- Try talking with someone about your fears to make them seem less frightening. Then, gradually expose yourself to a fear while you practice your relaxation techniques.
- Desensitizing yourself to spiders may involve discussing them, looking at pictures, watching videos, and observing them from a safe distance.
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Look at money to help keep your emotions under wraps. It may sound odd, but looking at money tends to make people act more businesslike.^{[13]
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Research source} Scientists have found evidence that looking at money makes us less likely to approve of outward displays of emotion or to use emotional words to express our thoughts.
- Try looking at money for about 5 minutes before interacting with other people to help you get in a practical state of mind.
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Find an outlet for your emotions. No matter how well you keep everything inside, sometimes you need to let your emotions out. According to Moshfegh, “Journaling is a very effective tool to help us manage stress and emotion.” She recommends giving yourself 15-20 minutes to write about how your day has been. Jot down what’s coming up for you. Write about anything stressful in your life or what you have on your mind.^{[14]
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Expert Source

Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Expert Interview}
- Moshfegh suggests spending time doing hobbies you enjoy or with people who uplift you.^{[15]
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  Nicole Moshfegh, PsyD
  Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  
  Expert Interview}
- It doesn't matter what activity you choose as long as you can release any anxiety you have on your own terms instead of having a sudden meltdown in front of everyone.
- Some like playing music to release emotional pressure. Others may find something like physical activities, like kickboxing, work better.

Section 4 of 4:

What does it mean to have a zero-emotion face?

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It’s a neutral expression with a relaxed face, open eyes, and closed mouth. When you have a naturally blank expression, your facial shape and muscle tone make you appear calm. It’s often the expression you naturally fall into when you’re alone.^{[16]
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- A naturally blank expression often unintentionally communicates that you want others to keep a polite distance away.
- If you want to make your resting expression more pleasant and approachable, raise your brows slightly, smile, and tilt your head a little.
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A naturally blank expression on its own is nothing to be concerned about. In most cases, a face that naturally doesn’t have much emotion is just the result of your genetics or your cultural background.^{[17]
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Greater Good Magazine
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Go to source} Less commonly, a blank or neutral facial expression might be one of many symptoms resulting from trauma, a physical or mental health disorder, or neurodiversity.
- Traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder can cause emotional numbing.^{[18]
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- Depression and antidepressant medications may cause some people to show a flat or blunted emotional affect.^{[19]
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- A flat or blunted affect may also be a symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).^{[20]
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Tips

Try not to get upset if someone you know calls you cold or uncaring. It just means that you’re doing a good job of hiding what you’re feeling.

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It’s not necessary to completely change your interests. You can still participate in sports, hobbies, or anything else you enjoy doing. Just hide how you feel about them.

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Don't choose self-harm as an emotional release. It makes you appear even more emotional because people can see that you’ve hurt yourself.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

I find watching people play poker helps me learn to keep a blank expression. I study their subtle facial expressions and body language to try and master that emotionless poker face.
If you feel yourself getting upset or excited, take a few deep breaths and consciously relax all the muscles in your face. It can help you regain that emotionless composure.
When I start feeling any emotion bubbling up, I immediately focus on controlling my eyes and relaxing my mouth muscles. Keeping a neutral face is so crucial.
If you want to perfect an emotionless look, pay close attention to your eye movements and micro-expressions. You may be conveying more than you realize.
If someone asks how I'm feeling, I stick to just the facts in a dull, logical tone. I avoid using any words that might reveal my actual emotions.
When talking to very emotional people, have an "escape plan" ready so you can politely exit the conversation before getting worked up yourself.

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