J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2009 Nov;48(6):481-487.

Some Psychological Correlates Affecting Recognition of Neutral Facial Emotion in Young Adults

• Ha RY
• Kang JI
• An SK
• Cho HS

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Previous studies have shown the relationship between recognition of facial expressions and psychiatric symptoms. This study investigated how healthy young adults recognize neutral faces and which psychological distresses and symptoms relate to their recognition of neutral faces.
METHODS
One hundred forty-three healthy volunteers participated in this study. We used neutral facial pictures, selected from the Japanese and Caucasian Facial Expressions of Emotion (JACFEE) photo set, to evaluate participants' facial expression recognition and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) to measure and examine their psychological characteristics.
RESULTS
There were significant positive correlations between the recognition rate of neutral expressions as contempt and trait-anxiety level (r=0.21 ; p=0.01) and depression (r=0.20 ; p=0.02). This contempt-recognition was significantly negatively correlated with resilience score (r=-0.22 ; p=0.01) and the TCI self-directedness subscale (r=-0.29 ; p=0.00). Also, the TCI's harm avoidance subscale score was significantly positively correlated with the contempt recognition rate (r=0.21 ; p=0.01).
CONCLUSION
These finding suggests recognition of neutral faces as contempt may be related to psychological distress, including trait and temperament characteristics. This negative bias toward neutral emotion (expressions) may affect interpersonal relations and social functioning in a healthy population.

Keyword

Neutral facial expression; Recognition; Contempt; Negative bias

MeSH Terms

Affective Symptoms
Anxiety
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Bias (Epidemiology)
Depression
Facial Expression
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Polymethacrylic Acids
Temperament
Young Adult
Polymethacrylic Acids