Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated Positivity
Smiles play an important role in social perception. However, it is unclear whether a similar role is played by static facial features associated with smiles (e.g., stretched mouth and visible teeth). In dental science, maxillary dental protrusions increase the baring of the teeth and thus produce pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.514016/full |
| _version_ | 1828978516323991552 |
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| author | Lijing Chen Lijing Chen Jiuhui Jiang Xingshan Li Jinfeng Ding Kevin B. Paterson Li-Lin Rao |
| author_facet | Lijing Chen Lijing Chen Jiuhui Jiang Xingshan Li Jinfeng Ding Kevin B. Paterson Li-Lin Rao |
| author_sort | Lijing Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Smiles play an important role in social perception. However, it is unclear whether a similar role is played by static facial features associated with smiles (e.g., stretched mouth and visible teeth). In dental science, maxillary dental protrusions increase the baring of the teeth and thus produce partial facial features of a smile even when the individual is not choosing to smile, whereas mandibular dental protrusions do not. We conducted three experiments to assess whether individuals ascribe positive evaluations to these facial features, which are not genuine emotional expressions. In Experiment 1, participants viewed facial photographs of maxillary and mandibular protrusions and indicated the smiling and emotional status of the faces. The results showed that, while no difference was observed in participants’ perception of the presence of a smile across both types of dental protrusion, participants felt more positive to faces with maxillary than mandibular protrusions. In Experiment 2, participants completed an Implicit Association Test (IAT) test measuring implicit attitudes toward faces with maxillary vs. mandibular protrusions. The results showed that participants had more positive attitude toward faces with maxillary than mandibular protrusions. In Experiment 3, individuals with either maxillary or mandibular protrusions completed the same IAT test to assess whether any preference would be affected by in-group/out-group preferences. The results showed both groups had more positive attitudes toward faces with maxillary protrusion, indicating that this preference is independent of the group effect. These findings suggest that facial features associated with smiles are viewed positively in social situations. We discuss this in terms of the social-function account. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:18:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aad52f01328d49d4b4d5c1e845f82312 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:18:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-aad52f01328d49d4b4d5c1e845f823122022-12-21T22:56:13ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-03-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.514016514016Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated PositivityLijing Chen0Lijing Chen1Jiuhui Jiang2Xingshan Li3Jinfeng Ding4Kevin B. Paterson5Li-Lin Rao6School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSchool of Stomatology, Peking University, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, United KingdomCAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaSmiles play an important role in social perception. However, it is unclear whether a similar role is played by static facial features associated with smiles (e.g., stretched mouth and visible teeth). In dental science, maxillary dental protrusions increase the baring of the teeth and thus produce partial facial features of a smile even when the individual is not choosing to smile, whereas mandibular dental protrusions do not. We conducted three experiments to assess whether individuals ascribe positive evaluations to these facial features, which are not genuine emotional expressions. In Experiment 1, participants viewed facial photographs of maxillary and mandibular protrusions and indicated the smiling and emotional status of the faces. The results showed that, while no difference was observed in participants’ perception of the presence of a smile across both types of dental protrusion, participants felt more positive to faces with maxillary than mandibular protrusions. In Experiment 2, participants completed an Implicit Association Test (IAT) test measuring implicit attitudes toward faces with maxillary vs. mandibular protrusions. The results showed that participants had more positive attitude toward faces with maxillary than mandibular protrusions. In Experiment 3, individuals with either maxillary or mandibular protrusions completed the same IAT test to assess whether any preference would be affected by in-group/out-group preferences. The results showed both groups had more positive attitudes toward faces with maxillary protrusion, indicating that this preference is independent of the group effect. These findings suggest that facial features associated with smiles are viewed positively in social situations. We discuss this in terms of the social-function account.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.514016/fullImplicit Association Testimplicit attitudemandibular protrusionsmilesocial-function accountmaxillary protrusion |
| spellingShingle | Lijing Chen Lijing Chen Jiuhui Jiang Xingshan Li Jinfeng Ding Kevin B. Paterson Li-Lin Rao Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated Positivity Frontiers in Psychology Implicit Association Test implicit attitude mandibular protrusion smile social-function account maxillary protrusion |
| title | Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated Positivity |
| title_full | Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated Positivity |
| title_fullStr | Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated Positivity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated Positivity |
| title_short | Beyond Smiles: Static Expressions in Maxillary Protrusion and Associated Positivity |
| title_sort | beyond smiles static expressions in maxillary protrusion and associated positivity |
| topic | Implicit Association Test implicit attitude mandibular protrusion smile social-function account maxillary protrusion |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.514016/full |
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