August 12, 2008 | Nikolaas N. Oosterhof and Alexander Todorov*
Nikolaas N. Oosterhof and Alexander Todorov explore the functional basis of face evaluation, highlighting that people automatically assess faces on multiple trait dimensions such as trustworthiness and dominance. Using behavioral studies and computer modeling, they develop a 2D model of face evaluation, identifying two orthogonal dimensions: valence and dominance. These dimensions are approximated by judgments of trustworthiness and dominance. The authors build and validate models for representing face trustworthiness and dominance, showing that valence evaluation is sensitive to features signaling approach or avoidance behaviors, while dominance evaluation is sensitive to features signaling physical strength or weakness. They demonstrate that important social judgments, such as threat, can be reproduced using these two dimensions. The findings suggest that face evaluation involves an overgeneralization of adaptive mechanisms for inferring harmful intentions and the ability to cause harm, accounting for rapid but not necessarily accurate judgments from faces.Nikolaas N. Oosterhof and Alexander Todorov explore the functional basis of face evaluation, highlighting that people automatically assess faces on multiple trait dimensions such as trustworthiness and dominance. Using behavioral studies and computer modeling, they develop a 2D model of face evaluation, identifying two orthogonal dimensions: valence and dominance. These dimensions are approximated by judgments of trustworthiness and dominance. The authors build and validate models for representing face trustworthiness and dominance, showing that valence evaluation is sensitive to features signaling approach or avoidance behaviors, while dominance evaluation is sensitive to features signaling physical strength or weakness. They demonstrate that important social judgments, such as threat, can be reproduced using these two dimensions. The findings suggest that face evaluation involves an overgeneralization of adaptive mechanisms for inferring harmful intentions and the ability to cause harm, accounting for rapid but not necessarily accurate judgments from faces.