Abstract
We examined whether visual processing mechanisms of the body of conspecifics are different in women and men and whether these rely on westernised socio-cultural ideals and body image concerns. Twenty-four women and 24 men performed a visual discrimination task of upright or inverted images of female or male bodies and faces (Experiment 1) and objects (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, both groups of women and men showed comparable abilities in the discrimination of upright and inverted bodies and faces. However, the gender of the human stimuli yielded different effects on participants’ performance, so that female faces, and male bodies appeared to be processed less configurally than female bodies and male faces, respectively. Interestingly, the reduction of configural processing for male bodies was significantly predicted by participants’ Body Mass Index (BMI) and their level of internalization of muscularity. Our findings suggest that configural visual processing of bodies and faces in women and men may be linked to a selective attention to detail needed for discriminating salient physical (perhaps sexual) cues of conspecifics. Importantly, BMI and muscularity internalization of beauty ideals may also play a crucial role in this mechanism.
Highlights
Information conveyed by both faces and bodies is of crucial importance for many aspects of social cognition
The analysis of the inverse efficiency (IEs) in the discrimination of upright and inverted body and face stimuli revealed non-significant main effects of Participant’s Gender [F(1,46) = 0.186, p = 0.668, ηp2 = 0.004] nor of Stimulus Category [F(1,46) = 1.049, p = 0.311, ηp2 = 0.022], but a significant main effect of Stimulus Orientation [F(1,46) = 51.884, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.530] and of Model’s Gender [F(1,46) = 15.518, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.252]. These main effects were further qualified by a significant 2-way interaction between Stimulus Category and Model’s Gender [F(1,46) = 73.987, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.617], and by the significant 3-way interaction of Stimulus Category, Model’s Gender and Stimulus Orientation [F(1,46) = 37.68, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.45, see Fig. 2)
We sought to investigate the perceptual ability of women and men in the configural and featurebased processing of female and male bodies and faces
Summary
Information conveyed by both faces and bodies is of crucial importance for many aspects of social cognition. By looking at the body and face of our conspecifics, we can understand who these people are, how they are feeling, and what their action is going to be (Reed & McIntosh, 2008; Slaughter, Stone, & Reed, 2004). Faces and bodies may reveal information about a partner’s health and reproductive potential.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
