Gender biases in impressions from faces: Empirical studies and computational models

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Human Perception

Background:

• Facial trustworthiness and dominance impressions are key trait judgments.
• Previous research suggests negative correlations between these traits for female faces, implying less differentiated impressions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if impressions of female faces are less differentiated across various traits compared to male faces.
• To determine if this difference stems from using distinct facial information or varied evaluation of similar information.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multidimensional rating datasets and data-driven modeling across three studies.
• Analyzed trait judgments, intercorrelations, valence, and stereotype endorsement.
• Developed and tested impression models based on trustworthiness and dominance ratings.

Main Results:

• Impressions of women were less differentiated and more valence-laden than men.
• Similar visual facial information was used for both male and female impressions.
• Female face impressions showed higher intercorrelations, especially with stronger gender stereotype endorsement.

Conclusions:

• Face gender exerts a high-level evaluative effect on impression formation.
• Women are judged more negatively when their appearance deviates from expectations.
• Differential evaluation of similar facial information, not distinct visual cues, underlies gender differences in face perception.