Perception of traits from static and dynamic visual cues in faces and bodies H Kiiski1, L Hoyet2, B Cullen3, C O'Sullivan2, F Newell4 |
|---|
1Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland |
| Although body and facial features affect social judgements about others [Allison et al, 2000, Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 4(7), 267-278], it is unclear how static and dynamic visual features are related to the perceived traits of others. Using images of both familiar and unfamiliar characters, we examined how visual information from faces and body motion is related to trait perception. In Experiment 1, we recorded videos of 26 unfamiliar actors portraying their interpretation of either a ‘hero’ or a ‘villain’. Participants rated these body motions according to an ‘Effort-Shape’ analysis [Thoresen et al. 2012, Cognition, 124, 261-271]. We found consistent differences in the type of body motion associated with ‘heroes’ versus ‘villains’. In Experiment 2, we selected neutral expressive face images of 140 hero and villains from the media (100 well-known, 40 lesser-known). Participants categorized each image as hero or villain based on a 2-AFC design. Trait accuracy was unrelated to character recognition and was higher for lesser-known ‘villain’ compared to ‘hero’ faces. The findings suggest that specific visual features from body motion or the face are important for the perception of high-level social information such as traits [Todorov et al., 2013, Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 23, 1-8]. |
| Up Home |
|---|