Understanding evaluation of faces on social dimensions
Abstract
People reliably and automatically make personality inferences from facial appearance despite little evidence for their accuracy. Although such inferences are highly inter-correlated, research has traditionally focused on studying specific traits such as trustworthiness. We advocate an alternative, data-driven approach to identify and model the structure of face evaluation. Initial findings indicate that specific trait inferences can be represented within a 2D space defined by valence/trustworthiness and power/dominance evaluation of faces. Inferences along these dimensions are based on similarity to expressions signaling approach or avoidance behavior and features signaling physical strength, respectively, indicating that trait inferences from faces originate in functionally adaptive mechanisms. We conclude with a discussion of the potential role of the amygdala in face evaluation.
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Social theories suggest that the interaction between power and affiliation, rather than each factor separately, is the major determinant of social perception.
“Social theories (Fiske, 2012; Todorov et al., 2008; Wiggins et al., 1989), however, suggest that the interaction between power and affiliation, rather than each factor separately, is the major determinant of social perception.”
From A map for social navigation in the human brain (2015) · cites this paper as Todorov et al., 2008
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- Authors
- Todorov, A., Said, C. P., Engell, A. D., & Oosterhof, N. N.
- Affiliations
- Princeton University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Todorov, Alexander
- Venue
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-12
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 455-460
- ISSN
- 1364-6613 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2000157509
- Cited by
- 706
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 45 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 55 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 45 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 1.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Cognitive Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Digital Kenyon (Kenyon College) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Face recognition and analysis
- Keywords
- face evaluation, facial expression perception, personality inference, trustworthiness, valence, power, dominance, approach-avoidance behavior, physical strength, amygdala, social cognition
- MeSH terms
- Amygdala, Character, Computer Simulation, Emotions, Extraversion, Psychological, Facial Expression, Generalization, Stimulus, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Judgment, Perceptual Distortion, Social Dominance, Visual Perception, Personal Construct Theory, Trust
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