Face masks reduce emotion-recognition accuracy and perceived closeness

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Face masks became ubiquitous during the coronavirus pandemic, highlighting their medical importance.
• The psychological impact of widespread face mask use on social interactions remains largely unexplored.
• Existing research lacks comprehensive analysis of face masks' effects on emotion perception and social judgments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychological consequences of face mask usage.
• To test the impact of face masks on emotion-recognition accuracy.
• To examine face masks' influence on social judgments, including trustworthiness, likability, and closeness.

Main Methods:

• A preregistered study was conducted with 191 German adults.
• Participants' ability to recognize emotions and their social judgments of individuals were assessed.
• The study explored how associating face masks with coronavirus dangers affects social perceptions.

Main Results:

• Face masks significantly impaired accurate emotion categorization.
• Masked individuals were perceived as less close compared to unmasked individuals.
• Exploratory findings indicated face masks buffered negative effects of negative emotions on social judgments.

Conclusions:

• Face masks have demonstrable psychological consequences on social functioning.
• Findings suggest contexts where face mask alternatives may be necessary.
• The study informs policy decisions regarding face mask mandates and their social implications.