Izvorni znanstveni članak

Recognition of facial expressions in men and women

Boris Gregorić ; Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek
Lovorka Barbir ; Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek
Ana Ćelić ; Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek
Vesna Ilakovac ; Department of Biophysics, Medical Statistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek
Mira Hercigonja-Szekeres ; Hrvatsko Zagorje Polytechnics, Krapina
Marina Perković Kovačević ; Psychiatry Clinic, Clinical Hospital Osijek, Osijek
Maja Frencl ; Psychiatry Clinic, Clinical Hospital Osijek, Osijek
Marija Heffer orcid.org/0000-0001-6770-7359 ; Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek

Sažetak

Aim: Emotional facial expressions are cross-culturally readily recognized. Although each of the emotions could be expressed by body language, we are better tuned to facial expressions. We wanted to confirm our assumption that recognition of facial expressions of emotions is an innate ability of individual brain with gender specific pattern. Methods: This survey was based on 12 photos, with 11 basic and complex emotions and a neutral face expressed by professional male and female actors that were given to 259 participants (139 females/120 males) from late childhood to young adult age. We tested the recognition of facial expressions of the following emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, contempt, disgust, surprise, confusion, shame, worry, anxiety and anger. Results: Female participants were better than male participants in recognizing emotional expressions on male faces. Also, facial expressions on female faces were significantly better recognized than on male faces. Remarkable accuracy in detecting happiness and surprise was in contrast to low ability for detection of worry and anxiety. We found that elementary school students are less able to recognize most of the expressions. Discussion: The female accuracy might partially be connected to the gender difference of visual perception and the constant reinforcement loop consisting of recognition, perception and production of expressions. Developmental difference in recognition of emotional expressions on female and male faces is probably due to some cognitive processes accessible to training during development. Conclusions: Gender specific pattern in recognizing emotions detected in this study could explain some misconceptions and traditional roles genders played during the course of cultural evolution.

Ključne riječi

emotions; facial expression; sex differences

Hrčak ID:

129788

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/129788

Datum izdavanja:

1.12.2014.

Podaci na drugim jezicima: hrvatski

Posjeta: 8.477 *