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A new series of experiments done by neuroscientists at NYU has confirmed that people are likely to judge your personality based on your facial expression. Not only that, but it presented a new finding that suggests that people will judge others on their facial structure as well as their facial expression.
In the quest for the perfect Tinder photo or headshot for LinkedIn, we’re slowly but surely figuring out what works. Scientists in this experiment found that, unsurprisingly, smiling faces were perceived by the study’s participants as more trustworthy, while those with negative facial expressions, such as a frown or down-turned eyebrows, were seen as untrustworthy or suspicious. This only reaffirms what previous studies have shown, which is that people tend to make character judgments based on your facial expression.
Perhaps more surprising is the discovery that physical strength and ability is perceived through bone structure and facial width, not through facial expressions. When shown a variety of facial expressions, participants had little opinion of the strength of those pictured. It seems that it’s much more common to make judgements of strength based on facial structure. When shown faces of varying widths, participants always chose those with wider faces as possessing more physical strength and competence. On the other side, thinner faces were seen as weaker or less competent.
This experiment was only done on male faces, as scientists have found that female faces are just too hard to make conclusive arguments about. However, these findings can serve as tips for everyone when they're considering which picture makes them look the most approachable.
So when you pick that photo for your LinkedIn or Tinder profile, be sure to pick your happy face over your serious business face. It could be the difference between a potential employer passing over you because you just don’t look all that friendly, or someone swiping right on Tinder because for some reason, they can trust your smile.
How do you choose pictures for your profiles?
Photo Copyright © 2014 Suzanne Nilsson/Flickr
