This chapter focuses on the definition and relevance of the facial appearance. The chapter starts with the description of the facial features as they are the basis of the facial appearance and crucial for the perception and recognition of faces (Andrews, Davies-Thompson, Kingstone, & Young, 2010). The distinct analysis of facial features played a significant role in the flowering periods of physiognomy. With detection of a holistic processing of faces, modern research investigates more complex whole face stimuli (Andrews et al., 2010; Tanaka & Farah, 1993). For this reason, the focus lies thereafter on holistic components of facial appearance. Additionally, the relevance of facial appearance will be elucidated.
1.1 Definition of Facial …show more content…
The frontal positioning of the eyes enables binocular vision necessary to see in three dimensions. Like all higher primates, humans have necks and matched, movable eyes, which enables panoramic vision. The eyes are seen as the psychological center of the face. Subjectively, we exist behind the eyes (McNeill, 2000). The visible eye is about one-sixth of the entire orb and it entails three interacting parts: white, iris, and pupil. Due to the contrast of white and the darker iris and pupil, eye movements are easily detectable. Since eyes contact air directly, eyelids with tear glands function as a tool to blink and to keep them wet (McNeill, 2000; Tsubota, 1998). The eyebrows and eyelashes are essential for sweat deflection. Furthermore, the eyelashes highlight the blink and the eyebrow helps to signal emotions such as anger, surprise, or fear. The nose is located in the middle of the face and is the most variable part of the face. Since the human face is flat, the nose may gather scents rising from below to assay food. Furthermore, every animal with panoramic vision has a projection of itself that interrupts its view. Bower (1974) arguments that human eyes compare the world against the nose. …show more content…
Research in face processing has demonstrated that faces are perceived largely holistically, rather than in a feature-by-feature fashion (Tanaka & Farah, 1993). Consequently, modern research on facial appearance focuses predominantly on whole-face stimuli including sexual dimorphism, attractiveness, and perceived age. The human face is sexually dimorphic with gender-differences in the size and shape of, and distance between, the jaws, lips, eyes, nose, and cheekbones (Farkas, 1981; Enlow, 1996). Masculine characteristics of facial features are a broader forehead, chin, jaw, and nose (Marečková ́et al., 2011), whereas facial femininity is characterized by large eyes, full lips, a smaller chin, and high cheekbones (Re & Rule, 2015; Rhodes, 2006). There are considerable within-sex variations in these facial features leading faces to appear more feminine or masculine than the prototypical male or female faces. In men, perceived masculinity is often used to inference specific personality traits from faces. For instance, masculine male faces are perceived as dominant and cold (Perrett et al., 1998). A broader face shape, in particular a higher facial width-to-height ratio, has also been associated with being dominant and less trustworthy (e.g. Mileva, Cowan, Cobey, Knowles, & Little, 2014). Masculinity and femininity are components of facial attractiveness. Femininity is found to be attractive in female
1.1 Definition of Facial …show more content…
The frontal positioning of the eyes enables binocular vision necessary to see in three dimensions. Like all higher primates, humans have necks and matched, movable eyes, which enables panoramic vision. The eyes are seen as the psychological center of the face. Subjectively, we exist behind the eyes (McNeill, 2000). The visible eye is about one-sixth of the entire orb and it entails three interacting parts: white, iris, and pupil. Due to the contrast of white and the darker iris and pupil, eye movements are easily detectable. Since eyes contact air directly, eyelids with tear glands function as a tool to blink and to keep them wet (McNeill, 2000; Tsubota, 1998). The eyebrows and eyelashes are essential for sweat deflection. Furthermore, the eyelashes highlight the blink and the eyebrow helps to signal emotions such as anger, surprise, or fear. The nose is located in the middle of the face and is the most variable part of the face. Since the human face is flat, the nose may gather scents rising from below to assay food. Furthermore, every animal with panoramic vision has a projection of itself that interrupts its view. Bower (1974) arguments that human eyes compare the world against the nose. …show more content…
Research in face processing has demonstrated that faces are perceived largely holistically, rather than in a feature-by-feature fashion (Tanaka & Farah, 1993). Consequently, modern research on facial appearance focuses predominantly on whole-face stimuli including sexual dimorphism, attractiveness, and perceived age. The human face is sexually dimorphic with gender-differences in the size and shape of, and distance between, the jaws, lips, eyes, nose, and cheekbones (Farkas, 1981; Enlow, 1996). Masculine characteristics of facial features are a broader forehead, chin, jaw, and nose (Marečková ́et al., 2011), whereas facial femininity is characterized by large eyes, full lips, a smaller chin, and high cheekbones (Re & Rule, 2015; Rhodes, 2006). There are considerable within-sex variations in these facial features leading faces to appear more feminine or masculine than the prototypical male or female faces. In men, perceived masculinity is often used to inference specific personality traits from faces. For instance, masculine male faces are perceived as dominant and cold (Perrett et al., 1998). A broader face shape, in particular a higher facial width-to-height ratio, has also been associated with being dominant and less trustworthy (e.g. Mileva, Cowan, Cobey, Knowles, & Little, 2014). Masculinity and femininity are components of facial attractiveness. Femininity is found to be attractive in female