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Similarities and Differences in Chinese and Caucasian Adults' Use of Facial Cues for Trustworthiness Judgments

Author

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  • Fen Xu
  • Dingcheng Wu
  • Rie Toriyama
  • Fengling Ma
  • Shoji Itakura
  • Kang Lee

Abstract

Background: All cultural groups in the world place paramount value on interpersonal trust. Existing research suggests that although accurate judgments of another's trustworthiness require extensive interactions with the person, we often make trustworthiness judgments based on facial cues on the first encounter. However, little is known about what facial cues are used for such judgments and what the bases are on which individuals make their trustworthiness judgments. Methodology/Principal Findings: In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that individuals may use facial attractiveness cues as a “shortcut” for judging another's trustworthiness due to the lack of other more informative and in-depth information about trustworthiness. Using data-driven statistical models of 3D Caucasian faces, we compared facial cues used for judging the trustworthiness of Caucasian faces by Caucasian participants who were highly experienced with Caucasian faces, and the facial cues used by Chinese participants who were unfamiliar with Caucasian faces. We found that Chinese and Caucasian participants used similar facial cues to judge trustworthiness. Also, both Chinese and Caucasian participants used almost identical facial cues for judging trustworthiness and attractiveness. Conclusions/Significance: The results suggest that without opportunities to interact with another person extensively, we use the less racially specific and more universal attractiveness cues as a “shortcut” for trustworthiness judgments.

Suggested Citation

  • Fen Xu & Dingcheng Wu & Rie Toriyama & Fengling Ma & Shoji Itakura & Kang Lee, 2012. "Similarities and Differences in Chinese and Caucasian Adults' Use of Facial Cues for Trustworthiness Judgments," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-9, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0034859
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034859
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Lodge, Milton & McGraw, Kathleen M. & Stroh, Patrick, 1989. "An Impression-Driven Model of Candidate Evaluation," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(2), pages 399-419, June.
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