Personal Reaction Assignment | Homework Help Websites

Face value: Neuroscience shows how first impressions work

Save Time On Research and Writing
Hire a Pro to Write You a 100% Plagiarism-Free Paper.
Get My Paper

SAM BARAN  ABC News 8/2017

Thirty milliseconds of exposure to someone’s face is all it takes to provide sufficient information for your brain to form an impression of them.

So says Face Value, a new book based on Princeton psychologist Alexander Todorov’s research into the science of first impressions.

Professor Todorov takes as his starting point the fact that judging people based on their appearance is a relatively recent phenomenon.

Save Time On Research and Writing
Hire a Pro to Write You a 100% Plagiarism-Free Paper.
Get My Paper

“If you imagine human history compressed into 24 hours, most of the time we have lived in small-scale societies, except for the last five minutes,” he says.

As ecologist and author Jared Diamond says, it’s only in the last 7,500 years that “people had to learn, for the first time in history, how to encounter strangers regularly without attempting to kill them”.

According to Professor Todorov’s research, we judge faces along three different dimensions: attractiveness, dominance, and trustworthiness. Look at the image below. Which face seems most trustworthy?

Almost universally, people agree that it’s the face on the far right. More feminine, smiling faces are considered more generally trustworthy in every culture.

But evaluating someone’s character based on how they look at a given moment can be very misleading, Professor Todorov warns.

“The judgments might be accurate here and now, but they’re very, very lousy guides of what the person is like across time and situations,” he says.

professional writing services near me

Instead, what we see in others’ faces probably tells us more about ourselves.

Revealing our hidden biases

Which of these two faces appears more masculine to you?

In fact, both images are of the same face covered by a different noise mask — a randomly generated screen of static.

In Professor Todorov’s study, researchers showed participants androgynous faces warped by noise masks and asked discriminatory questions. Then they grouped their impressions of the faces together and merged them to visualise what enters our heads when we picture certain emotions, genders and identities.

This technique is known as “superstitious perception” because it’s only the noise masks that differentiate any one face from another. Yet when viewing the images, our brains seize upon subtle distinctions in the shape of mouths or the darkness of eyes to make judgments.

But superstitious perception can also reveal prejudices we’d rather not acknowledge. For example, blended images of ethnic groups formed by people who harbour animosity to them are more menacing and full of threat than the average.

An unacknowledged pitfall

The issue with first impressions influencing so much of our lives is that we don’t see them as a problem, Professor Todorov explains.

“People know there are lots of biases based on sexual orientation, based on race … once you’re aware of these you can create policy that prevents discrimination,” he says.

“If you think first impressions are just fine and accurate, we have a problem. They go unacknowledged underneath the table.”

There’s little harm in perceiving a face as more feminine or masculine. But that impression can affect your vote when you head to the polling booth.

“If you think dominance is an important characteristic for a leader, people with more feminine faces would be less likely to be perceived as competent leaders,” says Professor Todorov

Older man in Hawaiian shirt with Maltese terrier, also in Hawaiian shirt

PHOTO Professor Todorov’s research may explain why so many people seem to look like their dogs.

So how can we minimise the dangers of first impressions? One way is to remove them from the equation. The introduction of blind auditions for symphony orchestras in the 70s and 80s caused a drastic increase in the number of women hired.

The Oakland A’s, one of America’s poorest Major League Baseball teams, found a formula for success in hiring outstanding players who simply didn’t look like big-league hitters.

But in our media-ridden world, escaping first impressions isn’t easy. Professor Todorov’s best advice — short of broad policy changes — is to try to understand the role they play and use it to your advantage.

“You have to be aware whenever you post an image of yourself, it will be judged. You have to ask yourself: what is the context of this image? What is it for?”

And remember, sometimes the consequences of first impressions can be harmless. It’s probably the reason we think so many people look like their dogs, Professor Todorov says.

Calculate the price
Make an order in advance and get the best price
Pages (550 words)
$0.00
*Price with a welcome 15% discount applied.
Pro tip: If you want to save more money and pay the lowest price, you need to set a more extended deadline.
We know how difficult it is to be a student these days. That's why our prices are one of the most affordable on the market, and there are no hidden fees.

Instead, we offer bonuses, discounts, and free services to make your experience outstanding.
How it works
Receive a 100% original paper that will pass Turnitin from a top essay writing service
step 1
Upload your instructions
Fill out the order form and provide paper details. You can even attach screenshots or add additional instructions later. If something is not clear or missing, the writer will contact you for clarification.
Pro service tips
How to get the most out of your experience with Homework Writing Services
One writer throughout the entire course
If you like the writer, you can hire them again. Just copy & paste their ID on the order form ("Preferred Writer's ID" field). This way, your vocabulary will be uniform, and the writer will be aware of your needs.
The same paper from different writers
You can order essay or any other work from two different writers to choose the best one or give another version to a friend. This can be done through the add-on "Same paper from another writer."
Copy of sources used by the writer
Our college essay writers work with ScienceDirect and other databases. They can send you articles or materials used in PDF or through screenshots. Just tick the "Copy of sources" field on the order form.
Testimonials
See why 20k+ students have chosen us as their sole writing assistance provider
Check out the latest reviews and opinions submitted by real customers worldwide and make an informed decision.
Business Studies
Great
Customer 453413, February 27th, 2020
Database Development and Management
Thank you for helping me do this. You saved me a lot of time
Customer 464345, June 18th, 2023
Healthcare & Medical
Excellent work!
Customer 463337, November 18th, 2022
Social Work and Human Services
Thank you for the revision which was done timely and efficiently!
Customer 452703, January 23rd, 2020
Nursing
The paper was delivered on time but I requested for a revision. Overall, it was on time and satisfied with the provided 2 versions of the revised paper. Thank you!
Customer 454455, June 7th, 2020
NURSING
This writer did a wonderful job.
Customer 458101, January 19th, 2022
English 101
Excellent work thank you very much.
Customer 464665, November 26th, 2023
Technology
I want to say, "Thank you so much!" to the writer that completed the revision to my specifications. Although there are slight changes that need to be made, I am satisfied with the final product.
Customer 452455, January 19th, 2023
History
looks great
Customer 463501, October 16th, 2022
English 101
You guys rock! Plenty of work to spin it and personalize it. And most importantly, on time!
Customer 462833, April 9th, 2022
Other
Although I did not receive the paper on time, the revision came back beautifully written.
Customer 452455, June 28th, 2023
Medicine
Great job.
Customer 463301, November 14th, 2022
11,595
Customer reviews in total
96%
Current satisfaction rate
3 pages
Average paper length
37%
Customers referred by a friend
OUR GIFT TO YOU
15% OFF your first order
Use a coupon FIRST15 and enjoy expert help with any task at the most affordable price.
Claim my 15% OFF Order in Chat