Abstract
Subjects were exposed to a sequence of facial expression photographs to determine whether viewing earlier expressions in a sequence would alter intensity judgments of a final expression in the sequence. Results showed that whether the preceding expressions were shown by the same person who displayed the final expression, or different people, intensity ratings of both sad and happy final expressions were enhanced when preceded by a sequence of contrasting as opposed to similar or identical facial expressions. Results are discussed from the perspective of adaptation-level theory.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V.Unmasking the face. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1975.
Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V., & Ellsworth, P.Emotion in the human face. New York: Pergamon Press, 1972.
Frijda, N. H. Recognition of emotion. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.)Advances in experimental social psychology. (Vol. 4). New York: Academic Press, 1968.
Helson, H.Adaptation-level theory: An experimental and systematic approach to behavior. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.
Scheflen, A. E.Communicational structure: Analysis of a psychotherapy transaction. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1973.
Thayer, S. The effect of facial expression sequence upon judgments of emotion.Journal of Social Psychology, 1980,11, 305–306.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thayer, S. The effect of expression sequence and expressor identity on judgments of the intensity of facial expression. J Nonverbal Behav 5, 71–79 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986510
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986510