FACIAL ATTRACTIVENESS AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIONS: IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP TO PUPIL DIAMETER? / Atratividade facial e expressões emocionais: existe relação com o diâmetro da pupila?

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2010

RESUMO

This research aimed to evaluate the role of the pupil diameter in attractiveness between individuals of opposite sex and to check the relationship between pupil diameter and some emotional expressions considered universal. Analyzed through both quantitative and qualitative methods, the research was divided into two independent studies. The stimuli for both of them were 10 volunteers faces, which the pupil diameters were manipulated to generate five different sizes (2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm). In study I, "Is there a relationship between facial attractiveness and pupil diameter?", 60 UFPB students, aged between 18 and 26 (M = 20.65, SD = 2.20), took part in the research, and the following instruments were used: visual acuity test, interview, questionnaire, answer sheet of the visual analogue scale (VAS) and two softwares. In addition, this study was divided in two procedures. In the first, the participant chose the face considered more attractive, among the five faces equal with different sizes of pupilla. From the analysis with Chi-square (X), we found that there was significant effect for the factor pupilla in both group of men (X = 21.93; p<0.05), and of women (X = 44.73; p<0.05). In the second study, the participant indicated a score of attractiveness for each face, through the scale of VAS. The results were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and revealed a significant difference for the factor pupilla [F(1, 234) = 19.06; p <0.05]. Through the post hoc test (Tukey HSD), we can say that the larger diameter pupils were considered more attractive and pupils of smaller diameter were considered less attractive. From the data obtained by interviews, it was conducted a Bardin analysis of content, with which we discovered a thematic class of attractiveness and subclasses of concept, incidence, attractive element and facial attractiveness. The results of experimental and content analyses support the idea that the pupil has a relevant role in attractiveness. In Study II, "Is there a relationship between emotional expressions and pupil diameter?, the participants, the stimuli and equipment were the same as in study I. The instruments in this study were: visual acuity test, interview, questionnaire and one specific software developed by LPNeC. In this experiment, participants must associate each displayed face with one of the six emotions (joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and contempt). The Chi-square (X) showed significant differences in factor pupilla (p<0.05). The group of men associated the diameter of 4mm to emotion Joy (X = 190.81; p<0.00) and the group of women Joined the diameter of 5 mm (X = 29.61; p<0.00). Both the group of men (X = 21.55; p <0.05) of women (X = 29.61; p <0.05) were associated Smaller diameters (2 and 3 mm) with contempt. Only the men associated fear to pupilla of 6 mm (X=30.21; p<0.05) and Surprise to pupilla of 5 mm (X=31.84; p >0.05). were not found significant differences between groups for the emotions of Sadness and Anger. In regard to the categorical analysis, it was created a thematic class of emotion, which was refered to the recognition of the specific emotions (sadness, joy and anger). These quantitative and qualitative results suggest that the pupil is related to the recognition of some specific emotions.

ASSUNTO(S)

atratividade diâmetro de pupila pupil diameter emoção attractiveness psicologia emotion

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

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