Facial Expression Recognition is Modulated by Approach-Avoidance Behavior

Facial expression recognition influences approach-avoidance behaviors, but can these behaviors affect facial expression recognition? We conducted psychophysical experiments using virtual reality to investigate this reverse causal relationship. Participants responded to static 3D face stimuli generated by morphing expressions between happy and angry in Experiments 1 and 3. For Experiment 2, happy-fearful morphed stimuli were employed. Participants either approached, avoided, or were approached or avoided by the face. The results showed that participants recognized the face as angrier when they avoided it rather than when it avoided them (Experiment 1); as happy when approaching and fearful when avoiding, irrespective of who acted (Experiment 2); and as angrier when the face approached them rather than when they approached it if both parties were physically close (Experiment 3). These findings suggest that approach-avoidance behavior influences facial expression recognition. We posit that unconscious learning rooted in biological instincts creates this connection.