Effects of Direct and Averted Gaze on the Perception of Facially Communicated Emotion

Research has largely neglected the effects of gaze direction cues on the perception of facial expressions of emotion. It was hypothesized that when gaze direction matches the underlying behavioral intent (approach-avoidance) communicated by an emotional expression, the perception of that emotion wou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emotion (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 2005-03, Vol.5 (1), p.3-11
Main Authors: Adams, Reginald B, Kleck, Robert E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Affectivity. Emotion
Attention
Biological and medical sciences
Cues
Emotional States
Emotions
Eye Fixation
Face Perception
Facial Expressions
Female
Fixation, Ocular
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Nonverbal Communication
Orientation
Pattern Recognition, Visual
Personality. Affectivity
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Set (Psychology)
Social interactions. Communication. Group processes
Social psychology
Stereotyping
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Summary:Research has largely neglected the effects of gaze direction cues on the perception of facial expressions of emotion. It was hypothesized that when gaze direction matches the underlying behavioral intent (approach-avoidance) communicated by an emotional expression, the perception of that emotion would be enhanced (i.e., shared signal hypothesis). Specifically, the authors expected that (a) direct gaze would enhance the perception of approach-oriented emotions (anger and joy) and (b) averted eye gaze would enhance the perception of avoidance-oriented emotions (fear and sadness). Three studies supported this hypothesis. Study 1 examined emotional trait attributions made to neutral faces. Study 2 examined ratings of ambiguous facial blends of anger and fear. Study 3 examined the influence of gaze on the perception of highly prototypical expressions.
ISSN:1528-3542
1931-1516
DOI:10.1037/1528-3542.5.1.3