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On the detection of emotional facial expressions: Are girls really better than boys?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 October 2009

Vanessa LoBue  and
Judy S. DeLoache
Vanessa LoBue
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904. vl8m@virginia.edujdeloache@virginia.edu
Judy S. DeLoache
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904. vl8m@virginia.edujdeloache@virginia.edu
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Abstract

One facet of Vigil's socio-relational framework of expressive behaviors (SRFB) suggests that females are more sensitive to facial expressions than are males, and should detect facial expressions more quickly. A re-examination of recent research with children demonstrates that girls do detect various facial expressions more quickly than do boys. Although this provides support for SRFB, further examination of SRFB in children would lend important support this evolutionary-based theory.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 32 , Issue 5 , October 2009 , pp. 397 - 398
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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