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Multiple Messages: Facial Recognition Advantage for Compound Expressions

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Abstract

The impact of singular (e.g. sadness alone) and compound (e.g. sadness and anger together) facial expressions on individuals' recognition of faces was investigated. In three studies, a face recognition paradigm was used as a measure of the proficiency with which participants processed compound and singular facial expressions. For both positive and negative facial expressions, participants displayed greater proficiency in processing compound expressions relative to singular expressions. Specifically, the accuracy with which faces displaying compound expressions were recognized was significantly higher than the accuracy with which faces displaying singular expressions were recognized. Possible explanations involving the familiarity, distinctiveness, and salience of the facial expressions are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard University, William James Hall, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138

    Debi LaPlante

  2. Harvard University, USA

    Nalini Ambady

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  1. Debi LaPlante
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  2. Nalini Ambady
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LaPlante, D., Ambady, N. Multiple Messages: Facial Recognition Advantage for Compound Expressions. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 24, 211–224 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006641104653

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