Abstract
When individuals are presented with emotional facial expressions they spontaneously react with brief, distinct facial movements that ‘mimic’ the presented faces. While the effects of facial mimicry on emotional perception and social bonding have been well documented, the role of facial attractiveness on the elicitation of facial mimicry is unknown. We hypothesized that facial mimicry would increase with more attractive faces. Facial movements were recorded with electromyography upon presentation of averaged and original stimuli while ratings of attractiveness and intensity were obtained. In line with existing findings, emotionally congruent responses were observed in relevant facial muscle regions. Unexpectedly, the strength of observers’ facial mimicry responses decreased with more averaged faces, despite being rated perceptually as more attractive. These findings suggest that facial attractiveness moderates the degree of facial mimicry muscle movements elicited in observers. The relationship between averageness, attractiveness and mimicry is discussed in light of this counterintuitive finding.
Highlights
When presented with images of emotional faces, individuals will react spontaneously with distinguishable facial expressions that mimic the observed emotion, a process referred to as ‘facial mimicry’ (Dimberg, 1982)
It was predicted that faces that were composited to be more average, would be rated as more attractive by observers. These particular emotions were chosen because they have been used in past EMG studies, and have been shown to demonstrate reliable responses corresponding to the zygomaticus and corrugator muscle regions (Chan, Livingstone, & Russo, 2013; Dimberg & Petterson, 2000; Dimberg & Thunberg, 1998)
All analyses were performed in IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). These particular emotions were chosen because they have been used in past EMG studies, and have been shown to demonstrate reliable responses corresponding to the zygomaticus and corrugator muscle regions (Chan, et al, 2013; Dimberg & Petterson, 2000; Dimberg & Thunberg, 1998)
Summary
When presented with images of emotional faces, individuals will react spontaneously with distinguishable facial expressions that mimic the observed emotion, a process referred to as ‘facial mimicry’ (Dimberg, 1982). These reactions are rapid, and can occur even when faces are presented below the threshold of consciousness (Dimberg, Thunberg, & Elmehed, 2000). Mimicry has been shown to enhance affective and cognitive empathy (Stel & Vonk, 2010; 2009). Mimicry triggers affective empathy through a process called facial feedback where observation of others’ emotions elicits facial muscle responses that send feedback to our brains leading to corresponding emotions being experienced and perceived (Stel & Vonk, 2009; Strack, Martin, & Stepper, 1988). Mimicking emotional expressions of a target individual leads to adoption of a congruent emotional experience, enhancing the ability to adopt and understand the perspective of the other (Stel & Vonk, 2009; Stel, Vonk, van Baaren & Smeets, 2009)
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