Challenging physiognomy: questioning the idea that facial characteristics are indicative of personality

Paper

Wang, Yi Lin and Patrick, Jeff. 2006. "Challenging physiognomy: questioning the idea that facial characteristics are indicative of personality." Katsikitis, Mary (ed.) Psychology Bridging the Tasman: Science, Culture and Practice 2006. Auckland, New Zealand 26 - 30 Sep 2006 Melbourne, Australia.

Paper/Presentation Title	Challenging physiognomy: questioning the idea that facial characteristics are indicative of personality
Presentation Type	Paper
Authors	Wang, Yi Lin (Author) and Patrick, Jeff (Author)
Editors	Katsikitis, Mary
Journal or Proceedings Title	Proceedings of the 2006 Joint Conference of the Australian Psychological Society and the New Zealand Psychological Society
Number of Pages	5
Year	2006
Place of Publication	Melbourne, Australia
ISBN	0909881308
Web Address (URL) of Paper	http://www.psychology.org.au/publications/conference_proceedings/
Conference/Event	Psychology Bridging the Tasman: Science, Culture and Practice 2006
Event Details	Psychology Bridging the Tasman: Science, Culture and Practice 2006 Event Date 26 to end of 30 Sep 2006 Event Location Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract	Physiognomy; the idea that facial characteristics are indicative of personality has persisted within the science of psychology despite some questionable supporting evidence. Indeed the idea is not unreasonable if certain premise can be supported. The aim of this research was to test three related premise in order to ascertain whether people could accurately judge the personality of a stranger from only a superficial exposure. An experiment was devised which exposed participants to one of eight video clips. The video clips were all of the same person but varied in duration, whether the eyes were visible, and whether the person was talking. One hundred and forty participants took part in the study. After watching one of the video clips each participant was asked to assess the personality of the person in the video using a standard personality questionnaire. The null results challenge the findings of previous research in support of physiognomy.
Keywords	physiognomy; facial; personality; face
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020	520406. Sensory processes, perception and performance
	520402. Decision making
	520105. Psychological methodology, design and analysis
Public Notes	File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.
Byline Affiliations	Department of Psychology

Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9y394/challenging-physiognomy-questioning-the-idea-that-facial-characteristics-are-indicative-of-personality

Download files

Export as

Related outputs

Maximising retention of nurses: Australian evidence

Hannigan, Delphine, Patrick, Jeff and Machin, Anthony. 2016. Maximising retention of nurses: Australian evidence. United States. Chamber & Row.

A prospective longitudinal study of the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from childbirth events

Alcorn, K. L., O'Donovan, A., Patrick, J. C., Creedy, D. and Devilly, G. J.. 2010. "A prospective longitudinal study of the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from childbirth events." Psychological Medicine. 40 (11), pp. 1849-1859. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291709992224

Developing and implementing an action-oriented staff survey: Queensland Health and the 'Better Workplaces' initiative

Jury, Ceri, Machin, M. Anthony, Phillips, Jan, Goh, Hong Eng, Olsen, Shaney P. and Patrick, Jeff. 2009. "Developing and implementing an action-oriented staff survey: Queensland Health and the 'Better Workplaces' initiative." Australian Health Review. 33 (3), pp. 365-370. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH090365

The relevance of community sentiments to Australian rural youths' intention to stay in their home communities

Pretty, Grace, Bramston, Paul, Patrick, Jeff and Pannach, Wendy. 2006. "The relevance of community sentiments to Australian rural youths' intention to stay in their home communities ." American Behavioral Scientist. 50 (2), pp. 226-240. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764206290636

The economic value of psychology in Australia: 2001

Patrick, Jeff. 2005. "The economic value of psychology in Australia: 2001." Australian Psychologist. 40 (3), pp. 149-158. https://doi.org/10.1080/00050060500243459

How uniform is the structure of ability across childhood?

Dyck, Murray J., Piek, Jan P., Kane, Robert and Patrick, Jeff. 2009. "How uniform is the structure of ability across childhood?" European Journal of Developmental Psychology. 6 (4), pp. 432-454. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405620701439820

Depression anxiety stress scale: is it valid for children and adolescents?

Patrick, Jeff, Dyck, Murray and Bramston, Paul. 2010. "Depression anxiety stress scale: is it valid for children and adolescents?" Journal of Clinical Psychology. 66 (9), pp. 996-1007. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20696

Establishing links between organizational climate, employee well-being and historical patient outcomes

Machin, T., Goh, H. E., Patrick, J. and Jury, C.. 2010. "Establishing links between organizational climate, employee well-being and historical patient outcomes." Mrowinski, Vicky, Kyrios, Michael and Voudouris, Nicholas (ed.) 27th International Congress of Applied Psychology (ICAP 2010). Melbourne, Australia 11 - 16 Jul 2010 Melbourne, Australia.

Are 'magnet' principles relevant in an Australian setting?

Hannigan, Delphine J. and Patrick, Jeff. 2009. "Are 'magnet' principles relevant in an Australian setting?" Langford, Peter H., Reynolds, Nicholas J. and Kehoe, James E. (ed.) 8th Industrial and Organisational Psychology Conference (IOP 2009): Meeting the Future: Promoting Sustainable Organisational Growth. Sydney, Australia 25 - 28 Jun 2009 Melbourne, Australia.

Predicting absenteeism and turnover intentions in the health professions

Albion, Majella J., Fogarty, Gerard J., Machin, M. Anthony and Patrick, Jeff. 2008. "Predicting absenteeism and turnover intentions in the health professions." Australian Health Review. 32 (2), pp. 271-281. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH080271

Attributes of immediate supervisor in promoting trust with employees in a public sector organisation

Goh, Hong Eng, Machin, M. Anthony and Patrick, Jeff. 2007. "Attributes of immediate supervisor in promoting trust with employees in a public sector organisation." Dollard, M., Winefield, T., Tuckey, M. and Winwood, P. (ed.) 7th Industrial & Organisational Psychology Conference and 1st Asia Pacific Congress on Work and Organisational Psychology. Adelaide, Australia 28 Jun - 01 Jul 2007 Melbourne, Australia.

Rural adolescents experiencing an urban transition

Bramston, Paul and Patrick, Jeff. 2007. "Rural adolescents experiencing an urban transition." Australian Journal of Rural Health. 15 (4), pp. 247-251. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1584.2007.00897.x

An empirical evaluation of teacher effectiveness: the emergence of three critical factors

Patrick, Jeff and Smart, Roslyn. 1998. "An empirical evaluation of teacher effectiveness: the emergence of three critical factors." Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 23 (2), pp. 165-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/0260293980230205

Distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy eating behaviour: a personality trait perspective

Mullen, Kathryn and Patrick, Jeff. 2007. "Distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy eating behaviour: a personality trait perspective." Moore, Kate (ed.) 42nd Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2007. Brisbane, Australia 25 - 29 Sep 2007 Melbourne, Australia.

An insight into adolescent transition from rural to urban centres

Patrick, Jeff, Bramston, Paul and Wakefield, Amanda. 2004. "An insight into adolescent transition from rural to urban centres." Katsikitis, Mary (ed.) 39th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2004. Sydney, Australia 29 Sep - 03 Oct 2004 Melbourne, Australia.

The impact of cultural similarity and level of acquaintance on personality

Gill, Davinder and Patrick, Jeff. 2006. "The impact of cultural similarity and level of acquaintance on personality." Katsikitis, Mary (ed.) Psychology Bridging the Tasman: Science, Culture and Practice 2006. Auckland, New Zealand 26 - 30 Sep 2006 Melbourne, Australia.