For many, face masks have become the symbol of the global fight against COVID-19. But while face masks’ medical benefits seem to be clear, little is known about their psychological consequences, particularly on emotion recognition. Drawing on theories of the social functions of emotions and rapid trait impressions, researchers from University of Groningen in The…
Read MoreFace Pareidolia: An Everyday Phenomenon and Human Condition
What is Face Pareidolia? Have you ever heard of face pareidolia? This everyday phenomenon where people see faces in everyday objects is a human condition that relates to how our brains are wired. Once considered a symptom of psychosis, it arises from an error in visual perception. According to new research led by David Alais…
Read MoreCan Puppies and Dogs Read Body Language? What Research Says.
Recent research out of the Arizona Canine Cognition Center suggests that puppies are born ready to read body language and are capable of communicating and interacting with humans at a very young age with no formal training required. Domestic dogs are born to socialize with humans because we bred them that way; the human-dog relationship…
Read MoreWhat Triggers Emotions in Humans?
What are some examples of things that trigger emotions? Getting stuck in traffic? Being hungry? Watching the news? How your partner squeezes the tube of toothpaste (yes, this is one of my pet peeves!)? Most emotion scientists believe that emotions are triggered by how we evaluate events. These events include not only what happens around…
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