Neural dynamics of personality trait perception and interaction preferences

Abstract

According to recent research, self-reported Big Five personality traits are associated with preferences for faces that are representative of certain Big Five traits. Previous research has primarily focused on either preference for distinct prototypical personality faces or the accuracy of trait ratings for these faces. However, the underlying neural correlates involved in the processing of prototypical personality faces are unknown. In the present study, we aim to bridge this gap by investigating whether participants' Big Five personality traits predict preferences to interact with individuals represented by prototypical personality faces, as well as the neural processing of these facial features. Based on theoretical considerations and previous research, we focus on trait extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism, and corresponding prototypical faces. Participants were asked to classify prototypical faces as above or below average representative of a certain trait, and then provide an interaction preference rating while face-sensitive event-related potentials (N170 and late positive potential) were measured. In line with our hypotheses, the results showed an interaction preference for faces that were perceived as high (vs. low) extraverted and agreeable and low (vs. high) neurotic. In addition, the preference for agreeable faces interacted with personality characteristics of the perceiver: The higher a persons' score on trait agreeableness, the higher the face preference ratings for both prototypical and perceived high agreeable faces. Analyses of ERP data showed that an increase in preference ratings for prototypical agreeable faces was paralleled by an increase of the late positive potential. Notably, the N170 did not show any neural signature of the hypothesized effects of personality faces. Together, these results highlight the importance of considering both perceiver characteristics as well as perceived features of an interaction partner when it comes to preference for social interaction.Protocol registration The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on the 8th of May 2023. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/G8SCY .

Fig. 1

Example trial procedure. At the beginning of each block, participants were instructed to focus on a specific personality trait, followed by a description of characteristics describing a person as above- or below-average on the trait of interest in this block.

Fig. 2

Results of the pilot study on agreeableness faces (N = 69). Participants rated faces as either above-average (1), average (0) or below-average (−1). Results of a linear mixed model using facial features as predictor for the rating indicated that prototypical high agreeableness faces are rated as significantly more representative compared to low faces (p = 0.013). Random effects are plotted per participant.

Fig. 3

Hypothesized results of the preference ratings. A. Faces perceived as highly extraverted were preferred (compared to low perceived extraversion). B. Self-reported agreeableness predicts increasing preference for prototypical high (vs low) agreeableness faces. C. Self-reported agreeableness predicts increased preference for faces perceived as high (vs. low) agreeable D. Faces perceived as highly neurotic were less preferred (compared to low perceived neuroticism). Shaded areas represent the 95% confidence interval.

Fig. 4

Detection of peak values for the analysis of the N170 (electrode sites P7 and P8, Panel A) and the late positive potential (LPP; electrode sites CP1, Cz, CP2, P3, Pz, and P4; Panel B). For the LPP, we have only indicated the early part, as it represents the most positive part of the LPP.

Fig. 5

Interaction between trait agreeableness and prototypical facial features of agreeableness faces in predicting middle (A) and late (B) positive potential amplitudes. Shaded areas represent the 95% confidence interval.

Fig. 6

Results of brain-behavior analyses. A Interaction between perceived facial features and late part LPPs in the prediction of preferences regarding extraversion faces. B Interaction between trait agreeableness, early LPPs and prototypical agreeableness faces. C Interaction between the middle LPP and trait neuroticism regarding prototypical neuroticism faces. Shaded areas represent the 95% confidence interval.