Age Similarities in Recognizing Threat From Faces and Diagnostic Cues

作者：Boshyan Jasmine^*; Zebrowitz Leslie A; Franklin Robert G Jr; McCormick Cheryl M; Carre Justin M

来源：Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences , 2014, 69(5): 710-718.

DOI：10.1093/geronb/gbt054

• Accuracy
• Aging
• Attractiveness
• Facial masculinity
• Facial width-to-height ratio
• Trait impressions

Background. Previous research indicates that younger adults (YA) can identify men%26apos;s tendency to be aggressive based merely on their neutral expression faces. We compared older adults (OA) and YA accuracy and investigated contributing facial cues. %26lt;br%26gt;Method. In Study 1, YA and OA rated the aggressiveness of young men depicted in facial photographs in a control, distraction, or accuracy motivation condition. In Study 2, YA and OA rated how angry, attractive, masculine, and baby-faced the men looked in addition to rating their aggressiveness. These measures plus measured facial width-to-height ratio (FWHR) were used to examine cues to aggressiveness. %26lt;br%26gt;Results. Accuracy coefficients, calculated by correlating rated aggressiveness with the men%26apos;s previously measured actual aggressiveness, were significant and equal for OA and YA. Accuracy was not moderated by distraction or accuracy motivation, suggesting automatic processing. A greater FWHR, lower attractiveness, and higher masculinity independently influenced rated aggressiveness by both age groups and also were valid cues to actual aggressiveness. %26lt;br%26gt;Discussion. Despite previous evidence for positivity biases in OA, they can be just as accurate as YA when it comes to discerning actual differences in the aggressiveness of young men.

• 出版日期2014-9