Positivity bias of a face in person perception

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the differences in structural traits of cognitive representations of desirable and undesirable faces. An experiment was conducted in which 92 female college students participated. Participants were given four targets (two with a desirable, and two with an undesirable face), with which they rated the likelihood of each target engaging in 15 behaviors (five each of positive, negative, and neutral). Results indicated that the likelihood of someone with a desirable face acting positively was rated higher than someone with an undesirable face acting negatively. Furthermore, multidimensional Scaling (ALSCAL) indicated that a more intricate relationship between positive behaviors for desirable face was evident, relative to between negative behaviors for undesirable face.View full abstract