Abstract
The negativity bias has been shown in many fields, including in face processing. We assume that this bias stems from the potential threat inlayed in the stimuli (e.g., negative moral behaviors) in previous studies. In the present study, we conducted one behavioral and one event-related potentials (ERPs) experiments to test whether the positivity bias rather than negativity bias will arise when participants process information whose negative aspect involves no threat, i.e., the ability information. In both experiments, participants first completed a valence rating (negative-to-positive) of neutral facial expressions. Further, in the learning period, participants associated the neutral faces with high-ability, low-ability, or control sentences. Finally, participants rated these facial expressions again. Results of the behavioral experiment showed that compared with pre-learning, the expressions of the faces associated with high ability sentences were classified as more positive in the post-learning expression rating task, and the faces associated with low ability sentences were evaluated as more negative. Meanwhile, the change in the high-ability group was greater than that of the low-ability group. The ERP data showed that the faces associated with high-ability sentences elicited a larger early posterior negativity, an ERP component considered to reflect early sensory processing of the emotional stimuli, than the faces associated with control sentences. However, no such effect was found in faces associated with low-ability sentences. To conclude, high ability sentences exerted stronger influence on expression perception than did low ability ones. Thus, we found a positivity bias in this ability-related facial perceptual task. Our findings demonstrate an effect of valenced ability information on face perception, thereby adding to the evidence on the opinion that person-related knowledge can influence face processing. What’s more, the positivity bias in non-threatening surroundings increases scope for studies on processing bias.
Highlights
Studies have shown that people display a preferential processing of negative information than the corresponding positive one (Baumeister et al, 2001; Rozin and Royzman, 2001; Dyck et al, 2009)
The present study investigated the influence of non-threatening information on human face processing
Neutral faces and valenced ability sentences were paired to identify whether the valenced ability information could bias the perception of neutral facial expressions
Summary
Studies have shown that people display a preferential processing of negative information (e.g., negative facial expressions, immoral behaviors) than the corresponding positive one (Baumeister et al, 2001; Rozin and Royzman, 2001; Dyck et al, 2009) This phenomenon is known as the “negativity bias” and has been investigated within different domains, such as impressions. Positivity Bias in Ability formation, decision-making, social interaction, moral judgment, etc (Baumeister et al, 2001; Rozin and Royzman, 2001) Such a bias is very common in face related studies: negative faces are preferentially processed; in terms of contextual influences on facial processing, negative information is always more influential than other information. EPN was taken as the earliest ERP component reflecting valenced personal information influence on facial perception (Wieser et al, 2014; Luo et al, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
