48 research outputs found
The role played by language in the interpretation of emotional facial expressions
No full textThis thesis examines the role played by language in the interpretation of emotional expression. Language labels may indirectly influence such tasks, organising and reactivating a useful repository of semantic knowledge (e.g. Barrett, Lindquist & Gendron, 2007). This proposal was explored using a series of semantic satiation experiments (Lindquist, Barrett, Bliss-Moreau & Russell, 2006). Participants repeated words 3 or 30 times before deciding whether two faces matched in emotional expression. Word type was manipulated across experiments (emotion labels, neutral labels and non-words); an indirect account would only predict reduced accuracy when participants experience semantic inaccessibility, achieved via massed repetition of an emotional label. However, reduced discrimination was found both after 30 (vs. 3) repetitions of any word, and two non-linguistic activities. Findings then suggest that the massed repetition decrement arises via a non-semantic mechanism, such as response uncertainty (e.g. Tian & Huber, 2010). However, an emotion-specific effect of language was also consistently observed. Participants showed facilitated performance after 3 and 30 repetitions of an emotion label, but only when it matched both expressions in the pair. This may suggest that language labels directly influence early emotion perception (Lupyan, 2007, 2012), or provide strategic support during paired discrimination (e.g. Roberson & Davidoff, 2000). A perceptual threshold procedure was used to test the direct assumption. Participants repeated an emotion or neutral label before deciding whether a briefly presented face did, or did not, display an emotional expression. In comparison to the neutral baseline, participants showed no facilitation in performance following exposure to emotion labels that were ‘weakly’ or ‘strongly’ congruent with the subsequently presented expression. Overall, findings inconsistently support the notion that language shapes the interpretation of emotional expression. This prompts discussion of how task demands may influence language-driven recruitment of conceptual knowledge, and the time-course across which these linked elements influence interpretation
Tell me again about the face: Using repeated interviewing techniques to improve feature-based facial composite technologies
No full textFacial composite technologies are used to produce visual resemblances of an offender. However, resemblances may be poor, particularly when composites are constructed using traditional `feature' composite systems deployed several days after the crime. In this case a witness may have forgotten important details about an offender's appearance. Engaging in early and repeated retrieval attempts could potentially overcome this issue. Experiment 1 showed that more recognisable feature composites were produced after participants had provided detailed face recall during two supported retrieval attempts, which included instructions to reinstate the context in which the target had been seen, free recall and cued recall. The first recall attempt was completed on the same day as viewing the target individual, and the second two days later, and immediately before composite construction (traditional forensic procedure). Experiment 2 showed that repeated interviewing only incurred a benefit when the same day interview provided ample retrieval support. The results suggest how traditional forensic procedures can be easily modified to improve the quality of feature composites, and thereby facilitate the detection of offenders
Interviewing and visualisation techniques: Attempting to further improve EvoFIT facial composites
No full textVictims of and witnesses to crime are asked to describe an offender using cognitive interviewing techniques (CI), before constructing a visual likeness of the face. The aim of the current experiment was to investigate whether composite construction using the EvoFIT holistic system would benefit from the parallel use of three enhancement techniques. The study manipulated the type of interview used to elicit a face description (CI vs. holistic cognitive interview, or H-CI) and trialled a visualisation technique for selecting faces (no visualisation vs. visualisation of external features). Also included was a new construction procedure for EvoFIT that requested constructors to focus on the region around the eyes when making face selections. Based on past research, it was anticipated that both the H-CI and external-feature visualisation would promote construction of a more identifiable composite (compared to when each technique was not used). Rather unexpectedly, the results revealed that neither technique improved correct naming of composites, yet an interaction was observed: visualisation of external features led to a benefit that approached significance when used in conjunction with the H-CI (cf. CI). However, when no external-feature visualisation was used, composites were better named following the more usual CI (cf. H-CI) protocol. Results are promising for the new method of face selection, which was used by all participants (focusing on the eye region). Indeed, in the baseline condition, where this was the only `enhancement' method used, naming of composites was 55% correct. Arguably, focusing on the character of the face during the H-CI may instate a processing style that is not well aligned with the new procedure of selecting faces according to the eye region. To overcome this misalignment of processing stages, we propose to ask constructors to focus on this region of the face during the H-CI itself. Implications for theory and police practice are discussed
Why can people with developmental prosopagnosia recognise some familiar faces? Insights from subjective experience
No full textDevelopmental prosopagnosia is a relatively common visuo-cognitive condition, characterised by impaired facial identity recognition. Impairment severity appears to reside on a continuum, however, it is unknown whether instances of milder deficits reflect the successful use of spontaneous (typical) face recognition strategies, or the application of extraneous compensatory cues to recognition. Here, we explore this issue in two studies. First, 23 adults with developmental prosopagnosia were asked about their use of spontaneous versus compensatory face recognition techniques in everyday life, using a series of closed- and open-ended questions. Second, the same participants performed a computerised famous face recognition task where they were asked to provide reasons why they could make any successful identifications. Findings from both studies suggest that people with developmental prosopagnosia can successfully, and quite frequently, use compensatory strategies to recognition, and that these cues support the majority of instances of preserved familiar face recognition. In contrast, 16 of the 23 participants were able to spontaneously recognise familiar faces on at least some occasions, but there were vast individual differences in frequencies of success. These findings have important implications for our conceptualisation of the condition, as well as for diagnostic practice
When Two Fields Collide: Identifying "Super-Recognisers" for Neuropsychological and Forensic Face Recognition Research.
No full textIn the last decade, a novel individual differences approach has emerged across the face recognition literature. While the field has long been concerned with prosopagnosia (the inability to recognise facial identity), it has more recently become clear that there are vast differences in face recognition ability within the typical population. "Super-recognisers" are those individuals purported to reside at the very top of this spectrum. On the one hand, these people are of interest to cognitive neuropsychologists who are motivated to explore the commonality of the face recognition continuum, whereas researchers from the forensic face matching field evaluate the implementation of super-recognisers into real-world police and security settings. These two rather different approaches have led to discrepancies in the definition of super-recognisers, and perhaps more fundamentally, the approach to identifying them, resulting in a lack of consistency that prohibits theoretical progress. Here, we review the protocols used in published work to identify super-recognisers, and propose a common definition and screening recommendations that can be adhered to across fields
Individual Differences Between Observers in Face Matching
No full textIncreasing evidence suggests vast individual differences in face matching performance in both lay perceivers and relevant professionals. However, the field is hampered by a paucity of psychometric-standard assessment tasks. This chapter reviews the current evidence supporting individual differences in face matching, in light of the reliability of the available tools. The potential underpinnings of these individual differences are reviewed, alongside the overlap between different continua of face-processing skills. Given so-called ‘super-recognisers’ may offer a powerful security tool in relevant settings, the identification and deployment of these individuals are critically discussed. In particular, the reliability and appropriateness of current terminology and assessment tools are considered, together with potential limitations in the performance of even the strongest face matchers. While the current conceptualisation of super-recognition can no doubt advance academic theory, this approach may not adequately identify the best individuals for real-world forensic face matching tasks
Enhanced matching of children's faces in 'Super-recognisers' but not high-contact controls
No full textFace matching is notoriously error-prone, and some work suggests additional difficulty when matching the faces of children. It is possible that individuals with natural proficiencies in adult face matching (“super-recognisers” [SRs]) will also excel at the matching of children’s faces,
although other work implicates facilitations in typical perceivers who have high levels of contact with young children (e.g., nursery teachers). This study compared the performance of both of these groups on adult and child face matching to a group of low-contact controls. High- and lowcontact control groups performed at a remarkably similar level in both tasks, whereas facilitations for adult and child face matching were observed in some (but not all) SRs. As a group, the SRs performed better in the adult compared with the child task, demonstrating an extended own-age bias compared with controls. These findings suggest that additional exposure to children’s faces does not assist the performance in a face matching task, and the mechanisms underpinning superior recognition of adult faces can also facilitate the child face recognition. Real-world security organisations should therefore seek individuals with general facilitations in face matching for both adult and child face matching tasks
Redefining super recognition in the real world: skilled face or person identity recognisers?
No full textWhile there has been growing interest in the deployment of superior face recognizers in policing and security settings, it is likely that most real‐world tasks tap person rather than face recognition skills. We suggest that changes in real‐world screening tasks and terminology are required to distinguish these individuals from laboratory‐identified superior face recognizers, who have more potential in developing our theoretical understanding of the face recognition system
