Challenging physiognomy: questioning the idea that facial characteristics are indicative of personality

Wang, Yi Lin and Patrick, Jeff (2006) Challenging physiognomy: questioning the idea that facial characteristics are indicative of personality. In: Psychology Bridging the Tasman: Science, Culture and Practice, 26-30 Sep 2006, Auckland, New Zealand.

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Abstract

Physiognomy; the idea that facial characteristics are indicative of personality has persisted within the science of psychology despite some questionable supporting evidence. Indeed the idea is not unreasonable if certain premise can be supported. The aim of this research was to test three related premise in order to ascertain whether people could accurately judge the personality of a stranger from only a superficial exposure. An experiment was devised which exposed participants to one of eight video clips. The video clips were all of the same person but varied in duration, whether the eyes were visible, and whether the person was talking. One hundred and forty participants took part in the study. After watching one of the video clips each participant was asked to assess the personality of the person in the video using a standard personality questionnaire. The null results challenge the findings of previous research in support of physiognomy.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Commonwealth Reporting Category E) (Paper)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Author's version deposited according to Publisher's requirements: 'This is an electronic version of an article published in Katsikitis, Mary (Ed.) (2006). Proceedings of the 2006 Joint Conference of the Australian Psychological Society and the New Zealand Psychological Society: Psychology Bridging the Tasman: Science, Culture and Practice (pp. 465-469). Melbourne, Australia: Australian Psychological Society. ISBN 0-909881-30-8.'
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2007 01:12
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 22:45
Uncontrolled Keywords:	physiognomy; facial; personality; face
Fields of Research :	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170112 Sensory Processes, Perception and Performance 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1702 Cognitive Sciences > 170202 Decision Making 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170110 Psychological Methodology, Design and Analysis
Socio-Economic Objective:	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970117 Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/2655

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