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Factors affecting the accuracy of facial affect recognition
1Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University.
The Journal of Social Psychology
|December 11, 1991
Summary
Internally controlled, high self-monitoring students were best at identifying facial emotions. Competitive settings amplified these effects in males, with females generally more accurate than males.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Nonverbal Communication
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Locus of control (LOC) and self-monitoring (SM) are key personality traits influencing social behavior.
- Accurate interpretation of facial expressions is crucial for social interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how LOC and SM influence the ability to decode facial emotions.
- To examine the moderating effects of competitive vs. noncompetitive instructions on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- American college students completed measures of LOC and SM.
- Participants identified emotional facial expressions under competitive and noncompetitive conditions.
Main Results:
- Internally controlled, high self-monitoring individuals demonstrated superior accuracy in emotion identification.
- Competitive instructions intensified the impact of LOC and SM on emotion recognition, particularly in males.
- Females generally outperformed males in accuracy, and positive emotions were identified more readily than negative ones.
Conclusions:
- Personality traits like LOC and SM significantly impact emotional perception.
- Social context, such as competition, can modulate the expression of these trait effects.
- Understanding these factors is vital for comprehending social cognition and emotional intelligence.