Human Performance in Emotion Recognition and Face Memory

Abstract

The capacity to recall facial identity and recognise emotional expressions in others is vital for successful social interactions. This study investigated two opposing theories related to the processing of facial information, (1) a shared ability in emotion recognition and face memory driven by a singular visual functioning route, or (2) distinct abilities determined by separate visual functioning routes. In addition, personality variations across an Australian adult population were explored, described in terms of the dark triad of traits, including Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy. Using a correlational within-subjects design, a sample of N = 113, age and gender diverse participants were recruited via social media and the University of Adelaide Research Participation System. Participants completed the Cambridge Face Memory Test – Australian, an emotion expression/suppression recognition task, as well as the Short Dark Triad Test. The generation of emotion expression and suppression response videos allowed for recognition ability to be extensively investigated. Results of a Kendall’s correlation indicated that facial memory ability and emotion recognition were not significantly related. This supported the existence of separate abilities of facial recognition and emotion recognition. The dark triad traits were also demonstrated to show no significant relationship with emotion expression or suppression recognition ability. Keywords: Emotion Recognition, Face Memory, Dark Triad, Emotion Expression, Emotion Suppression