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. 2012 Nov 1;48(6):1377-1380.
doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2012.05.018. Epub 2012 Jun 6.

Smiling and sad wrinkles: Age-related changes in the face and the perception of emotions and intentions

Ursula Hess  1 , Reginald B Adams Jr, Annie Simard, Michael T Stevenson, Robert E Kleck
Affiliations

Smiling and sad wrinkles: Age-related changes in the face and the perception of emotions and intentions

Ursula Hess et al. J Exp Soc Psychol. .

Abstract

There is a common belief that wrinkles in the aging face reflect frequently experienced emotions and hence resemble these affective displays. This implies that the wrinkles and folds in elderly faces interfere with the perception of other emotions currently experienced by the elderly as well as with the inferences perceivers draw from these expressions. Whereas there is ample research on the impact of aging on emotion recognition, almost no research has focused on how emotions expressed by the elderly are perceived by others. The present research addresses this latter question. Young participants rated the emotion expressions and behavioral intentions of old and young faces displaying identical expressions. The findings suggest that emotions shown on older faces have reduced signal clarity and may consequently have less impact on inferences regarding behavioral intentions. Both effects can be expected to have negative consequences for rapport achieved in everyday interactions involving the elderly.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Examples of experimental stimuli.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Summed mean ratings for target (accurate) and non target (inaccurate) emotions as a function of expresser emotion and age
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean ratings of dominance and affiliation as a function of expresser emotion and age
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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