4. Social Perception Flashcards
Name the 4 aspects of social perception.
a) Nonverbal Communication
b) Attribution
c) Impression Formation
d) Impression Management
Define non-verbal communication.
An unspoken language of facial expressions and body language.
What forms can non-verbal communication take?
- basic channels
- movement
- gestures
- handshakes e.g. strength of grasp
- touch
- tone of voice
What are the basic channels of non-verbal communication?
- facial expression
- eye contact
- body posture
How can non-verbal communication vary between cultures?
- emotional experiences
- personal space boundaries
- touch habits
- gestures
Describe a study that shows the differences between cultures in non-verbal communication.
FREQUENCY OF TOUCH STUDY
London: 0
Paris: 2
Puerto Rico: 180
Recognizing deception
- micro-expressions (fleeting facial expressions e.g. frown followed quickly by a smile)
- inter-channel discrepancies (eyes inconsistent with face)
- non-verbal speech aspects (pitch, errors, hesitations)
- eye contact (blink more, pupils dilate)
- exaggerated facial expressions
Name the two views re. social function of facial expressions.
READOUT VIEW - strong link between emotions and facial expressions - though can be suppressed
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION VIEW - smile as a function of whether other people can see it;
- emotional expression not only indicators of emotions but also causes
- fear is caused not only by fear stimulus but by presence of expressed fear
FACS
Facial Action Coding System
Ekman & Friesen, 1976
- based on anatomical studies
- facial action units plus frequent combinations
- emotions universally easily recognized through their facial expressions: disgust, fear, sadness, happiness, surprise, fear
Is social perception a genetic disposition or a cultural convention?
- comparative observation
- cultural differences
- developmental evidence
- blind people
- angry-face phenomenon
Developmental evidence for our social perception
Emotional repertoire of newborns (Steiner 1979)
- sweet fluid: smile
- bitter substance: disgust
- loud noise: shock
Facial expressions in blind people
(DARWIN 1872)
(EIBL-EIBESFELDT 1973)
- no learning by mitation possible
- 5 children born deaf and blind
- basic emotional facial actions inherited (but coarser and more abrupt than in unimpaired children)
Explain the angry-face phenomenon.
- if genetic, there should be SURVIVAL VALUE
e. g. it should be easy to detect facial expressions signalling impending aggression
Name the scientists who investigated the angry-face phenomenon.
Hansen & Hansen 1988
- detection of angry face in crowd vs detection of happy face in crowd
- crowd size was manipulated
Outline facial feedback theory
— facial expressions can influence emotions just as emotions can influence movement of facial muscles
