I Can See it All Over Your FaceSari Goldstein and Jake Brown

Background

Ekman and Friesen, 1971

Culture is a huge factor

Prior study showed facial pictures to college-educated people

Hypothesis

The specific facial expressions that correspond with basic emotions are universal

Experiment #1 189 Adults, 130 children without Western

culture and 23 adults with experience with Western culture

Adults: 3 Photographs of different facial expressions with a brief description of a story corresponding to an emotion in one of the photographs

Children had two photographs (1 Correct 1 Incorrect)

Results Higher in children than adults

Adult women were more hesitant and had less contact with Westerners than men

No difference between Westernized and non- Westernized adults in correctly matching the photo and emotion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjDhyfxyJCg

Historical Significance Facial Expressions are universal and biologically

"hardwired" at birth

Helps address the evolution of humans: Expressions helped animals adapt to their environment

Increased ability to survive

Further Discussion

Studies used to diagnosis kids with autism

Which facial feature is the most crucial in recognizing facial expressions?

Facial feedback theory

Emotions Revealed