ARE MEN slow on the uptake when it comes to
recognizing women's moods? Well, it seems they are,
according to two York researchers. But don't blame men,
blame their brains. Somehow they got wired differently
from women's during evolution.
Lisa Goos, a doctoral student, and psychology professor
Irwin Silverman showed 58 female and 56 male
university students photographs of men's and women's
faces displaying four negative emotions: anger, fear,
disgust or sadness. Viewers saw each photo for only 30
milliseconds.
Goos and Silverman found significant differences between
the way men do and don't pick up on the expression of
anger on both sexes' faces, compared to women. Male and
female brains seem to have evolved differently in their
ability to recognize specific facial expressions ? especially
dangerous ones like anger.
Men and women both correctly perceived anger shown by
male faces more often than by female faces. However,
when viewing female faces, women participants were
correct more often than men. "Male and female
participants were equally good at perceiving male anger,
but female participants were much better than male
participants at perceiving female anger," says Goos.
Whereas men correctly noted expressions of anger on
female faces only about 31% of the time, women
correctly identified male anger 44% of the time. As well,
women recognized other females' anger 39% of the time
and men spotted male anger 40% of the time.
Goos and Silverman say the disparity between the way
the sexes notice facial expressions of anger may be due to
primitive survival mechanisms. "Male anger and
aggression is dangerous for both sexes because it tends to
be more perilous," says Goos. "An angry face may signal
that aggression is to follow, so an evolved means of
perceiving that expression quickly would be beneficial."
Goos says a number of clinical psychologists have
expressed interest in their findings because they are aware
that poor detection and recognition of anger often play a
role in difficult relationships. "They're interested in using
the information for counselling people who may have
trouble realizing when a partner is angry, or helping
people who are upset because they feel partners are
ignoring their clearly displayed anger."
Illustration: Celia Calle
