A Book and its Cover: The effects of dynamic and static facial expressions on the perction of personality traits

This study used three dynamic and three static images of older adult men depicting either smiling, scowling, or neutral facial expressions to examine the influence of motion on emotion identification and stereotype activation, specifically the Halo Effect, in older adults (55-85 years). To that end, two hypotheses emerged: 1) older adults will be more accurate in identifying facial expressions when viewing dynamic facial expressions than static facial expressions, and 2) participants exposed to the dynamic stimuli would experience greater levels of the Halo Effect with the greatest levels in the smiling facial expression condition. A 2 (stimulus type: dynamic and static) x 3 (Facial expression: smile, neutral, scowl) mixed design was used. Two hundred participants between the ages of 55 and 85 years, viewed either a dynamic model exhibiting smiling, neutral, and scowling facial expressions, or a static model exhibiting smiling, neutral, and scowling facial expressions. To investigate the role of motion on emotion identification an emotion accuracy question was used. Additionally, two measures assessed the presence of the Halo Effect: The Self-Assessment Manikin (e.g., arousal, dominance, and pleasure) and four social perception questions (e.g., attractiveness, honesty, pleasing to look at, and threatening). Results indicate that participants were more accurate when identifying static scowling and smiling facial expressions and the dynamic neutral facial expression. Participants also attributed more positive traits to static rather than dynamic facial expressions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2019

Author dc:creator

• Ojeda, Jonathan

Contributors dc:contributor

• Mary Radeke
• Tonya Buchanan
• Susan Lonborg

• Halo Effect
• older adults
• facial expressions
• perception
• Cognition and Perception
• Social Psychology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/1187

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-2210