What part of the face constructs the first impression of strangers and friends? : The influence of wearing a mask and sunglasses on impressions of a stranger at first meeting and of a familiar person

顔のどのパーツが第一印象を形成するのか : マスクやサングラス着用が初対面やなじみのある人物の印象評定に与える影響

What part of the face constructs the first impression of strangers and friends? : The influence of wearing a mask and sunglasses on impressions of a stranger at first meeting and of a familiar person

The purpose of this study was to experimentally examine the effects of wearing masks and sunglasses on the impression rating of a person in a COVID-19 pandemic environment. In this study, two groups were set up for the degree of familiarity with the person of the stimulus, one with a first meeting and the other with a four-year personal relationship. The experiment was conducted with first-year and fourth-year undergraduates, and the results of impression ratings using the SD method showed that for females meeting for the first time, wearing a mask decreased familiarity with the stimulus more than with the standard stimulus. For males in the first meeting group, wearing sunglasses decreased forcefulness. In the group with higher intimacy, these impressions were not reduced. Cluster analysis using the participants' consciousness of their public appearance as the dependent variable revealed two clusters, one for the high and one for the low level of awareness of others. Comparing the two groups' ratings of men who met for the first time, the cluster with low awareness of others showed a decrease in forcefulness due to the wearing of the mask, whereas the cluster with high awareness of others showed no decrease in forcefulness.

Creators Ichikawa Miki

Creators Okibayashi Yohei