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Scientific Blackpill: Difference between revisions
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→People accurately perceive a man's mental health from facial appearance alone
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These three disorders were partly chosen because of the differences in the symptoms and pathology between them, and because the traits related to these disorders are also present to a greater or lesser extent in sub-clinical (below the diagnostic threshold for the disorder) populations. | These three disorders were partly chosen because of the differences in the symptoms and pathology between them, and because the traits related to these disorders are also present to a greater or lesser extent in sub-clinical (below the diagnostic threshold for the disorder) populations. | ||
253 observers (Women N=173, Men N=73, "not reported" N=7) rated the composite photos in regards to their perceptions of the target photographs mental health, masculinity, and attractiveness. An | 253 observers (Women N=173, Men N=73, "not reported" N=7) rated the composite photos in regards to their perceptions of the target photographs mental health, masculinity, and attractiveness. An additional group of observers were recruited to rate physical health (N=50). | ||
The images were presented in a fashion that ensued that each observer rated every composite image only once for a single parameter (i.e mental health, attractiveness etc.) This was to avoid halo effects and other biases that would potentially distort the mean ratings of the images. Observers were also instructed to rate occluded images of the stimuli, such as the inner facial features only and the eyes only. | The images were presented in a fashion that ensued that each observer rated every composite image only once for a single parameter (i.e mental health, attractiveness etc.) This was to avoid halo effects and other biases that would potentially distort the mean ratings of the images. Observers were also instructed to rate occluded images of the stimuli, such as the inner facial features only and the eyes only. | ||
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The ability to perceive mental disorders through facial appearance was hypothesized to be related to signalling theory, specifically the researchers speculated that is in the organism's favor to generally send "honest signals" of various traits, (even socially undesirable ones), because of the threat of a false signal being discovered to be false and this leading to the signaller being punished for their "deceit" in sending a false signal to others. So even though it would likely be maladaptive for the mentally ill to honestly signal their disorders in such a fashion, at the population level this would be potentially out-weighted by the benefits of honest signals in relation to more favored traits. | The ability to perceive mental disorders through facial appearance was hypothesized to be related to signalling theory, specifically the researchers speculated that is in the organism's favor to generally send "honest signals" of various traits, (even socially undesirable ones), because of the threat of a false signal being discovered to be false and this leading to the signaller being punished for their "deceit" in sending a false signal to others. So even though it would likely be maladaptive for the mentally ill to honestly signal their disorders in such a fashion, at the population level this would be potentially out-weighted by the benefits of honest signals in relation to more favored traits. | ||
The researchers stated that this finding also implies that those who suffer from mental health disorders are at risk of being trapped in a "viscous cycle" where their accurately perceived mental health | The researchers stated that this finding also implies that those who suffer from mental health disorders are at risk of being trapped in a "viscous cycle" where their accurately perceived mental health cause others to shun and exclude them, and otherwise induce negative reactions in observers, and this social isolation and mistreatment results in worsened mental health. | ||
The researchers suggested that possible effects of physical appearance, in regards to the etiology and strengthening of mental disorders represented a largely unexplored element of psychology. | The researchers suggested that possible effects of physical appearance, in regards to the etiology and strengthening of mental disorders represented a largely unexplored element of psychology. | ||