Emotional expression on a profile: Feature height, mouth angle, and tilt

Abstract

Profiles may vary in expression with changes in the height of the profile's features, the mouth's angle at the profile contour, and head tilt. In three experiments, we varied these factors. Features low on the profile, with mouths at an obtuse angle to the profile line and head tilted 15° forehead-forward, appear especially sad. High features with acute mouth angles suit forward, upright, and backward head tilts. Feature height, mouth angle, and head tilt on a profile are physical variables that can specify postures such as downcast heads and turned-down mouths, and thereby psychological factors. We point out alternative accounts of the height and tilt effects. © 2010 The Psychonomic Society, Inc.