Do You Have a Trustworthy Face?

Photo courtesy PDPhoto.org

Whether fair or unfair, most people make judgments about others based on appearance. Scientists believe that people determine the intentions of others by looking at their face and facial expressions. In fact, one quick glance at a person's face is all it takes to influence how you feel about them.

With the help of a computer program, scientists from Princeton University have determined the types of faces people consider to be trustworthy or untrustworthy. Characteristics of a trustworthy face include a U-shaped mouth and upturned eyebrows. Characteristics of an untrustworthy face include lips that are curled at the edges and eyebrows that are turned down.

It was also determined that people make evaluations about dominance based on facial observations. If you have a squared, broad chin, you have a characteristic of a dominant person. People with baby face characteristics are considered to be least dominant.

Scientists believe that face-seeking is a hard-wired phenomena in humans. There is also speculation that the brain contains a special mechanism that is used for evaluating faces.

Learn more about this study, see:

• Whom Do We Fear Or Trust? (Science Daily)