Interpretation of appearance: the effect of facial features on first impressions and personality.

Karin Marie Brandt Wolffhechel; Jens Fagertun; Ulrik Plesner Jacobsen; Wiktor Majewski; Astrid Sofie Hemmingsen; Catrine Lohmann Larsen; Sofie Katrine Lorentzen; Hanne Østergaard Jarmer

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0107721

Interpretation of appearance: the effect of facial features on first impressions and personality.

Karin Marie Brandt Wolffhechel, Jens Fagertun, Ulrik Plesner Jacobsen, Wiktor Majewski, Astrid Sofie Hemmingsen, Catrine Lohmann Larsen, Sofie Katrine Lorentzen, Hanne Østergaard Jarmer

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

Appearance is known to influence social interactions, which in turn could potentially influence personality development. In this study we focus on discovering the relationship between self-reported personality traits, first impressions and facial characteristics. The results reveal that several personality traits can be read above chance from a face, and that facial features influence first impressions. Despite the former, our prediction model fails to reliably infer personality traits from either facial features or first impressions. First impressions, however, could be inferred more reliably from facial features. We have generated artificial, extreme faces visualising the characteristics having an effect on first impressions for several traits. Conclusively, we find a relationship between first impressions, some personality traits and facial features and consolidate that people on average assess a given face in a highly similar manner.

Original language	English
Article number	e107721
Journal	P L o S One
Volume	9
Issue number	9
Number of pages	8
ISSN	1932-6203
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0107721
Publication status	Published - 2014

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Cite this

@article{c1277d91939b40d383eb176b486594ff,

title = "Interpretation of appearance: the effect of facial features on first impressions and personality.",

abstract = "Appearance is known to influence social interactions, which in turn could potentially influence personality development. In this study we focus on discovering the relationship between self-reported personality traits, first impressions and facial characteristics. The results reveal that several personality traits can be read above chance from a face, and that facial features influence first impressions. Despite the former, our prediction model fails to reliably infer personality traits from either facial features or first impressions. First impressions, however, could be inferred more reliably from facial features. We have generated artificial, extreme faces visualising the characteristics having an effect on first impressions for several traits. Conclusively, we find a relationship between first impressions, some personality traits and facial features and consolidate that people on average assess a given face in a highly similar manner.",

author = "Wolffhechel, {Karin Marie Brandt} and Jens Fagertun and Jacobsen, {Ulrik Plesner} and Wiktor Majewski and Hemmingsen, {Astrid Sofie} and Larsen, {Catrine Lohmann} and Lorentzen, {Sofie Katrine} and Jarmer, {Hanne {\O}stergaard}",

year = "2014",

doi = "10.1371/journal.pone.0107721",

language = "English",

volume = "9",

journal = "P L o S One",

issn = "1932-6203",

publisher = "Public Library of Science",

number = "9",

}

Interpretation of appearance: the effect of facial features on first impressions and personality. / Wolffhechel, Karin Marie Brandt; Fagertun, Jens; Jacobsen, Ulrik Plesner; Majewski, Wiktor; Hemmingsen, Astrid Sofie; Larsen, Catrine Lohmann; Lorentzen, Sofie Katrine; Jarmer, Hanne Østergaard.

In: P L o S One, Vol. 9, No. 9, e107721, 2014.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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T1 - Interpretation of appearance: the effect of facial features on first impressions and personality.

AU - Wolffhechel, Karin Marie Brandt

AU - Fagertun, Jens

AU - Jacobsen, Ulrik Plesner

AU - Majewski, Wiktor

AU - Hemmingsen, Astrid Sofie

AU - Larsen, Catrine Lohmann

AU - Lorentzen, Sofie Katrine

AU - Jarmer, Hanne Østergaard

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - Appearance is known to influence social interactions, which in turn could potentially influence personality development. In this study we focus on discovering the relationship between self-reported personality traits, first impressions and facial characteristics. The results reveal that several personality traits can be read above chance from a face, and that facial features influence first impressions. Despite the former, our prediction model fails to reliably infer personality traits from either facial features or first impressions. First impressions, however, could be inferred more reliably from facial features. We have generated artificial, extreme faces visualising the characteristics having an effect on first impressions for several traits. Conclusively, we find a relationship between first impressions, some personality traits and facial features and consolidate that people on average assess a given face in a highly similar manner.

AB - Appearance is known to influence social interactions, which in turn could potentially influence personality development. In this study we focus on discovering the relationship between self-reported personality traits, first impressions and facial characteristics. The results reveal that several personality traits can be read above chance from a face, and that facial features influence first impressions. Despite the former, our prediction model fails to reliably infer personality traits from either facial features or first impressions. First impressions, however, could be inferred more reliably from facial features. We have generated artificial, extreme faces visualising the characteristics having an effect on first impressions for several traits. Conclusively, we find a relationship between first impressions, some personality traits and facial features and consolidate that people on average assess a given face in a highly similar manner.

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DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0107721

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