Age-differences in interpreting the valence of ambiguous facial expressions: evidence for multiple contributing processes

ABSTRACT

Surprised facial expressions, which are ambiguous in valence, are interpreted more positively by older adults than by younger adults. To evaluate the processes contributing to this age difference, we varied the spatial frequency of the surprised-face stimuli. When faces were presented in a low-spatial-frequency band, it biased participants to rate them negatively. Although this occurred for both younger and older adults, the older adults’ ratings of the low-spatial-frequency faces were more positive than that of the younger adults. This suggests that there is an age-related reduction in the default negativity of interpretations. We also found that older adults, as a whole, rated the high-spatial-frequency faces more positively than did younger adults. However, this effect was eliminated for the subset of older adults with poor high-spatial-frequency perception abilities for whom these faces were difficult to perceive. Thus, older adults’ more positive interpretations of surprised faces may also reflect cognitively-effortful regulatory processes.

KEYWORDS:

• Emotional faces
• low spatial frequency
• aging
• positivity effect

Acknowledgments

Our thanks to Kriti Cadambi, Megan Chesher, Dimitrius Ellisen, Briana Kennedy, Ringo Huang, Melissa Ortiz, Jordan Seliger, and Rico Velasco for assistance with data collection and coding.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Notes

1. Within block 2, two of the HSF surprised faces and two of the LSF surprised faces were previously seen in broadband format during block 1. Excluding these trials does not affect any of the reported results.

2. Three older adult participants were unable to use the chin rest due to physical disabilities or discomfort. Excluding these participants does not change any of the reported patterns of results.