Bridging the empathy gap: or not? Reactions to ingroup and outgroup facial expressions

Ursula Hess,Agneta Fischer,Tobias Storz,Christophe Blaison,Eva G Krumhuber,Magdalena Rychlowska

doi:10.1007/s41809-022-00097-w

Abstract

AbstractPrior research suggests that group membership impacts behavioral and self-reported responses to others’ facial expressions of emotion. In this paper, we examine how the mere labelling of a face as an ingroup or outgroup member affects facial mimicry (Study 1) and judgments of genuineness (Study 2). In addition, we test whether the effects of group membership on facial mimicry and perceived genuineness are moderated by the presence of tears (Study 1) and the motivation to cooperate (Study 2). Results from both studies revealed group-specific biases in facial mimicry and judgments of genuineness. However, introducing cooperative goals abolished differences in judgments of genuineness of facial expressions displayed by ingroup and outgroup members. Together, the findings provide insights into how intergroup biases in emotion perception operate and how they can be reduced by introducing cooperative goals.

Highlights

Facial expressions are of paramount importance in the social world
Our daily interactions depend on the efficient perception and interpretation of emotion expressions (Niedenthal & Brauer, 2012) as well as the adequate reaction to these expressions (Hess, 2021)
If mimicry is absent or if the expression of an outgroup member is perceived as non-authentic, a pernicious effect on interactions can be expected, potentially resulting in what we describe as empathy gap

Summary

Introduction

Facial expressions are of paramount importance in the social world. We are moved and motivated by people’s smiles, frowns and grimaces. They inform us about others’ feelings and intentions, thereby influencing our own emotions and behaviors. Our daily interactions depend on the efficient perception and interpretation of emotion expressions (Niedenthal & Brauer, 2012) as well as the adequate reaction to these expressions (Hess, 2021). The perception of others’ expressions and our reactions are influenced by personal goals and motives, often defined by the social context (Hess & Hareli, 2019) and in particular who our interaction partners are (Fischer et al, 2019; Hess & Fischer, 2017). The present research examined how facial reactions to other people’s emotion expressions and judgments of genuineness of these expressions are influenced by knowing that the expresser belongs to a different social group

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