Hidden faces, altered perceptions: the impact of face masks on interpersonal perception

Shuai Wang; Chengyang Han; Zihan Sang; Xuhui Zhang; Shitao Chen; Haoran Wang; Gang Wang; Yiqian Xu; Xue Lei; Jixu Chen

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1203442

Hidden faces, altered perceptions: the impact of face masks on interpersonal perception

Front Psychol. 2023 Jun 21:14:1203442. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1203442. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Shuai Wang¹, Chengyang Han^{1

2}, Zihan Sang¹, Xuhui Zhang¹, Shitao Chen¹, Haoran Wang¹, Gang Wang¹, Yiqian Xu¹, Xue Lei³, Jixu Chen⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, College of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
² Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
³ School of Business Administration, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Hangzhou, China.
⁴ Chinese Education Modernization Research Institute of Hangzhou Normal University (Zhejiang Provincial Key Think Tank), Hangzhou, China.

Abstract

The pandemic has made wearing masks commonplace, prompting researchers to investigate their effects on interpersonal perception. Findings indicate masks obstruct face identification and expression recognition, with lower face cues being most affected. When judging attractiveness, masks can enhance the appeal of less attractive faces, but reduce the appeal of more attractive faces. Trust and speech perception outcomes are inconclusive. Future studies could focus on individual differences in how masks influence our perception of others.

Keywords: face mask; face recognition; facial attractiveness; speech perception; trustworthy judgment.

Publication types

Review