The role of naturalness, attractiveness and intensity in facial emotion recognition

DOI: 10.5176/2251-1865_CBP52

Authors: Kerstin Limbrecht, Stefanie Rukavina, Andreas Scheck, Steffen Walter, Holger Hoffmann and Harald C. Traue

Abstract: Understanding facial emotion recognition is still one of the main topics in emotion research. Mimic expressions are not only a representation of feelings caused by emotions but are also an important communication channel in social interaction. Research of the last 20 years could show that emotion recognition differs within and between individuals. Moreover, every basic emotion seems to be processed differently in the human brain. Underlying processes are still not clear. In this study the common practice of presenting pictures of faces showing basic emotions to participants was used in a more methodological sense. Possible determining factors in facial emotion recognition like naturalness and intensity of the expressed emotion and the attractiveness of the photographed person were analyzed.

Keywords: facial emotion recognition; test system; standardization; naturalness, attractiveness and intensity