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Embodied simulation and the search for meaning are not necessary for facial expression processing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2010

Jacob M. Vigil
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161. [email protected]@unm.eduhttp://www.unm.edu/~psych/faculty/sm_vigil.html
Patrick Coulombe
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1161. [email protected]@unm.eduhttp://www.unm.edu/~psych/faculty/sm_vigil.html

Abstract

Embodied simulation and the epistemic motivation to search for the “meaning” of other people's behaviors are not necessary for specific and functional responding to, and hence processing of, human facial expressions. Rather, facial expression processing can be achieved through lower-cognitive, heuristical perceptual processing and expression of prototypical morphological musculature movement patterns that communicate discrete trustworthiness and capacity cues to conspecifics.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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