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| Triangular-shaped face. Psychologists have found that a downward pointing triangle can be perceived to carry a threat. (Credit: © Viktor Kuryan / Fotolia) |
ScienceDaily.com — New research from the University of Warwick
Psychologists have found that a
downward pointing triangle can be perceived to carry threat just like a
negative face in a crowd.
In a paper published in Emotion, a journal of the
American Psychological Association, Dr Derrick Watson and Dr Elisabeth Blagrove
have carried out a series of experiments with volunteers to find out if simple
geometric shapes can convey positive or negative emotions.
Previous research by these
scientists showed that people could pick out a negative face in a crowd more
quickly than a positive or neutral face and also that it was difficult to
ignore faces in general.
The researchers carried out a series
of experiments asking volunteers to respond to computer-generated images. They
were shown positive, negative and neutral faces, and triangles facing upwards,
downwards, inward and outward.
This latest study shows that
downward triangles are detected just as quickly as a negative face.
Dr Watson said: "We know from
previous studies that simple geometric shapes are effective at capturing or
guiding attention, particularly if these shapes carry the features present
within negative or positive faces."
"Our study shows that downward
pointing triangles in particular convey negative emotions and we can pick up on
them quickly and perceive them as a threat."
Dr Blagrove added: "If we look
at cartoon characters, the classic baddie will often be drawn with the evil
eyebrows that come to a downward point in the middle."
"This could go some way to explain
why we associate the downward pointing triangle with negative faces. These
shapes correspond with our own facial features and we are unconsciously making
that link."