Abstract
Basic facial emotion recognition is suggested to be negatively affected by puberty onset reflected in a “pubertal dip” in performance compared to pre- or post-puberty. However, findings remain inconclusive. Further, research points to an own-age bias, i.e., a superior emotion recognition for peer faces. We explored adolescents’ ability to recognize specific emotions. Ninety-five children and adolescents, aged 8–17 years, judged whether the emotions displayed by adolescent or adult faces were angry, sad, neutral, or happy. We assessed participants a priori by pubertal status while controlling for age. Results indicated no “pubertal dip”, but decreasing reaction times across adolescence. No own-age bias was found. Taken together, basic facial emotion recognition does not seem to be disrupted during puberty as compared to pre- and post-puberty.
Highlights
The transitional age phase of adolescence can roughly be defined as ranging from early (11–13 years) over middle (14–17 years) until late adolescence/ emerging adulthood (18–22 years; Arnett, 2000; Steinberg, 2008)
This study aimed at investigating the “pubertal dip” phenomenon and tested whether there is an own-age bias, i.e., an enhanced processing of adolescent compared to adult emotional faces
In contrast to our hypothesis, we did not find any evidence for a pubertal dip in basic facial emotion recognition
Summary
The transitional age phase of adolescence can roughly be defined as ranging from early (11–13 years) over middle (14–17 years) until late adolescence/ emerging adulthood (18–22 years; Arnett, 2000; Steinberg, 2008). Key-developmental tasks in adolescence are forming more complex peer relationships, first romantic relationships and the detachment from parents (Lerner and Steinberg, 2004). Well-functioning basic facial emotion recognition is crucial for the transitional phase of adolescence. Adolescents need to be able to quickly and accurately identify the facial emotions of their parents and peers in order to act appropriately. Adolescents first need to identify if their mother is angry or their best friend is sad to respond and try to calm down the mother or to cheer up the best friend
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