Sex Related Factors in the Perception of Threatening Facial Expressions

Journal of nonverbal Behavior, 26 (1): 27-41, Spring 2002

Sex Related Factors in the Perception of Threatening Facial Expressions*

Lisa M. Goos, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3; lisagoos@yorku.ca
Irwin Silverman, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J

This study replicated and extended previously reported sex differences involving both viewer and target in the recognition of threatening facial expressions. Based on the assumption that the evolved cognitive mechanisms mediating anger recognition would have been designed by natural selection to operate quickly in the interests of survival, brief tachistoscopic presentation of stimulus photographs was used. Additionally, in contrast to prior published studies, the statistical methods of signal detection research were used to control for the confounding effects of non-random guessing. The main hypothesis, that anger posed by males would be more accurately perceived than anger posed by females, was supported. A secondary hypothesis, that female-posed anger would be more accurately perceived by women than by men, received partial support. Testosterone levels, measured inferentially in terms of diurnal cycles, failed to show the hypothesized positive relationship to accuracy of anger perception.

Keywords
facial expressions, anger, sex differences, evolution

Article ID: 368580
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* Reproduced with permission of Copyright Service of Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Body Language Linguaggio del Corpo Langage du Corps
Journal of nonverbal Behavior, 26 (1): 27-41, Spring 2002 Sex Related Factors in the Perception of Threatening Facial Expressions* Lisa M. Goos, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3; lisagoos@yorku.ca Irwin Silverman, Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J This study replicated and extended previously reported sex differences involving both viewer and target in the recognition of threatening facial expressions. Based on the assumption that the evolved cognitive mechanisms mediating anger recognition would have been designed by natural selection to operate quickly in the interests of survival, brief tachistoscopic presentation of stimulus photographs was used. Additionally, in contrast to prior published studies, the statistical methods of signal detection research were used to control for the confounding effects of non-random guessing. The main hypothesis, that anger posed by males would be more accurately perceived than anger posed by females, was supported. A secondary hypothesis, that female-posed anger would be more accurately perceived by women than by men, received partial support. Testosterone levels, measured inferentially in terms of diurnal cycles, failed to show the hypothesized positive relationship to accuracy of anger perception. Keywords facial expressions, anger, sex differences, evolution Article ID: 368580 ………………………………………… * Reproduced with permission of Copyright Service of Kluwer Academic Publishers.