Differences in expressivity based on attractiveness: Target or perceiver effects?

Abstract

A significant association exists between adults’ expressivity and facial attractiveness, but it is unclear whether the association is linear or significant only at the extremes of attractiveness. It is also unclear whether attractive persons actually display more positive expressivity than unattractive persons (target effects) or whether high and low attractiveness influences expressivity valence judgments (perceiver effects). Experiment 1 demonstrated adult ratings of attractiveness were predictive of expressivity valence only for high and low attractive females and medium attractive males. Experiment 2 showed that low attractive females actually display more negative expressivity than medium and high attractive females, but there were no target effects for males. Also, attractiveness influenced expressivity valence judgments (perceiver effects) for both females and males. Our findings demonstrate that low attractive females are at a particular disadvantage during social interactions due to their low attractiveness, actual displays of negative expressivity, and perceptions of their negative expressivity.

Light makeup decreases receivers’ negative emotional experience

“…Furthermore, it remains unclear whether the role of makeup varies with the type of emotion. Evidence has supported that interpersonal interactions are affected by facial attractiveness, emotional expression, and the interaction between these two 22 , 27 . Highly attractive faces enhance the processing of positive emotions and exhibit more advantages associated with happy faces than angry faces 22 , while less attractive individuals are perceived to have more negative expressivity, although their expressions are actually neutral 27 .…”

“…Moreover, for neutral expressions, we propose an open hypothesis. On the one hand, neutral expressions with higher attractiveness are usually considered to have positive valence 27 , 28 . On the other hand, maybe different from emotional perception—emotional contagion is an interactive process, and if there was no obvious intention to transfer positive or negative emotions to the participants, the emotional experience of the receiver may remain unchanged.…”

Light Makeup Decreases Receivers’ Negative Emotional Experience

“…Facial attractiveness may have a reward value and lead to individuals experiencing positive feelings 24,25 . For example, highly attractive faces are considered to exhibit more positive expressivity than less attractive faces, such that even attractive faces with neutral expressions are usually rated as having positive expressions [26][27][28] . However, unattractive faces induce negative emotional responses 24 .…”

“…we propose an open hypothesis. On the one hand, neutral expressions with higher attractiveness are usually considered to have positive valence 27,28 . On the other hand, maybe different from emotional perception-emotional contagion is an interactive process, and if there was no obvious intention to transfer positive or negative emotions to the participants, the emotional experience of the receiver may remain unchanged.…”

“…In light of findings that facial attractiveness and emotional expressions (the magnitude of facial muscle activities evoked by emotions) may affect perceived emotional valence and arousal 27,31,32 , we maintained the same facial expression before and after makeup to ensure that only the makeup was being manipulated. Meanwhile, given that heavy and excessive makeup may have negative effects 1,2 and that light makeup is often considered more attractive and suitable 33,34 , we ensured the use of light makeup in the current study over heavy makeup.…”