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Updated: Jun 6, 2026
09:49
Holistic Facial Composite Creation and Subsequent Video Line-up Eyewitness Identification Paradigm
Published on: December 24, 2015
Still another confounded face in the crowd.
Dean G Purcell1, Alan L Stewart
1Psychology Department, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309, USA. purcell@oakland.edu
Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|November 25, 2010
Summary
Experiments question the anger-superiority effect in schematic faces. Low-level features and facial surrounds, not just affect, influence perception, impacting reaction times (RTs) for angry and neutral faces.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Previous research suggested an anger-superiority effect using schematic faces.
- The Öhman faces, while avoiding grayscale issues, may introduce confounding factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of low-level features and facial surrounds in the perceived anger-superiority effect.
- To re-evaluate the validity of experiments using Öhman's schematic faces.
Main Methods:
- Utilized neutral schematic faces preserving spatial relationships of angry/happy faces.
- Manipulated facial surrounds and target face position within crowds.
- Measured reaction times (RTs) to assess perception.
Main Results:
- RTs for neutral faces were indistinguishable from angry/happy faces when spatial relationships were preserved.
- Target face position significantly influenced the advantage for angry and neutral faces.
- Removing facial surrounds reduced the anger advantage, primarily by improving happy face performance.
Conclusions:
- The perceived anger-superiority effect may be confounded by low-level features and facial surrounds, not solely by facial affect.
- Öhman's schematic faces present a confound similar to modified grayscale faces.
- Further research is needed to isolate the true effects of facial affect on perception.
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