Bjornsdottir, R. T., Hensel, L. B., Zhan, J., Garrod, O. G. B., Schyns, P. G. and Jack, R. E. (2024) Social class perception is driven by stereotype-related facial features. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 153(3), pp. 742-753. (doi: 10.1037/xge0001519) (PMID:38271012)
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Abstract
Social class is a powerful hierarchy that determines many privileges and disadvantages. People form impressions of others’ social class (like other important social attributes) from facial appearance, and these impressions correlate with stereotype judgments. However, what drives these related subjective judgments remains unknown. That is, what makes someone look like they are of higher or lower social class standing (e.g., rich or poor), and how does this relate to harmful or advantageous stereotypes? We addressed these questions using a perception-based data-driven method to model the specific three-dimensional facial features that drive social class judgments and compared them to those of stereotype-related judgments (competence, warmth, dominance, and trustworthiness), based on White Western culture participants and face stimuli. Using a complementary data-reduction analysis and machine learning approach, we show that social class judgments are driven by a unique constellation of facial features that reflect multiple embedded stereotypes: poor-looking (vs. rich-looking) faces are wider, shorter, and flatter with downturned mouths and darker, cooler complexions, mirroring features of incompetent, cold, and untrustworthy-looking (vs. competent, warm, and trustworthy-looking) faces. Our results reveal the specific facial features that underlie the connection between impressions of social class and stereotype-related social traits, with implications for central social perception theories, including understanding the causal links between stereotype knowledge and social class judgments. We anticipate that our results will inform future interventions designed to interrupt biased perception and social inequalities
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This research was funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 759796) awarded to REJ; the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/P000681/1) awarded to LBH; the Economic and Social Research Council (ES/K00607X/1), Wellcome Trust (UK, 107802Z/15/Z), and Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative/Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (MURI-EPSRC, USA, UK; 172046-01) awarded to PGS. |
| Keywords: | Social class, facial features, person perception, reverse correlation, stereotypes. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Bjornsdottir, Miss Thora and Jack, Professor Rachael and Garrod, Dr Oliver and Hensel, Miss Laura and Schyns, Professor Philippe and Zhan, Dr Jiayu |
| Authors: | Bjornsdottir, R. T., Hensel, L. B., Zhan, J., Garrod, O. G. B., Schyns, P. G., and Jack, R. E. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience |
| Journal Name: | Journal of Experimental Psychology: General |
| Publisher: | American Psychological Association |
| ISSN: | 0096-3445 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1939-2222 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2024 American Psychological Association |
| First Published: | First published in Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 153(3):742-753 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy |
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